Fluid handling – Convertible – Units interchangeable between alternate locations
Patent
1995-12-18
1996-12-24
Michalsky, Gerald A.
Fluid handling
Convertible
Units interchangeable between alternate locations
13759616, 13762569, 137884, F15B 1302, F16K 2700
Patent
active
055865704
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a directional control valve which allows a plurality of such directional control valves to be arrayed through manifold bases or directly on a rail.
2. Discussion of the Background
It has heretofore been practiced to array a plurality of directional control valves in a given direction and control the arrayed directional control valves in a centralized manner. For example, manifold bases are coupled respectively to directional control valves, and supported on an elongate rail for thereby arraying the directional control valves. Alternatively, a plurality of directional control valves are mounted directly on an elongate rail so as to be arrayed in the longitudinal direction of the rail.
If the plurality of directional control valves are arrayed on the rail through the manifold bases, then supply, output, and discharge ports for a fluid under pressure are defined in lower surfaces of valve bodies of the directional control valves in positions where they can communicate with corresponding openings in the manifold bases. For directly outputting the fluid under pressure from the directional control valves, the output ports are defined in upper surfaces of the valve bodies.
If the plurality of directional control valves are arrayed directly on the rail, then supply and discharge passages for a fluid under pressure are defined in the valve bodies, the supply and discharge passages extending through the valve bodies in the direction in which the valve bodies are arrayed (in the longitudinal direction of the rail). Supply and discharge ports communicating respectively with the supply and discharge passages are defined in lower surfaces of the valve bodies, and output ports are defined in upper surfaces of the valve bodies.
Even though the directional control valves have the same size and their valve body actuating means are the same as each other, their valve bodies have different structures depending on the location of the output ports, etc. for the array of directional control valves on the rail through the manifold bases and the array of directional control valves directly on the rail. Consequently, a plurality of types of valve bodies have to be made available in order to meet different arrays of directional control valves, which is not economical.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in order to overcome the above difficulties. It is an object of the present invention to provide a directional control valve having a valve body which allows a plurality of such directional control valves to be arrayed through manifold bases or directly on a rail, for thereby reducing a valve manufacturing cost and also reducing the number of parts of the valve to facilitate valve inventory control.
With a directional control valve according to the present invention, when a valve body is mounted on a manifold base, supply, first output, and discharge ports which are open at a first side surface of the valve body communicate respectively with corresponding openings in the manifold base.
If opposite ends of supply and discharge passages and a second output port which are defined in the valve body and extending therethrough in the direction in which directional control valves are arrayed, are closed by a suitable means, then a fluid under pressure can be supplied and discharged from the manifold base.
If the first output port is closed by a suitable means, then a fluid under pressure can be outputted from the second output port which is open at a second side surface of the valve body.
If a blanking plate is attached to the first side surface of the valve body through an attachment means, then since all the supply, first output, and discharge ports are closed, a fluid pressure is supplied and discharged from the supply and discharge passages in the valve body to the supply and discharge ports, and drawn from the second output port.
Therefore, the same valve body allows a plurality of directional control valves to be arrayed
REFERENCES:
patent: 2834368 (1958-05-01), Gray
patent: 3550621 (1970-12-01), Lansky et al.
patent: 4224957 (1980-09-01), Darves et al.
patent: 5462087 (1995-10-01), Fukano et al.
Doi Yoshitada
Fukano Yoshihiro
Michalsky Gerald A.
SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
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