Manifold solenoid valve driven by serial signals

Details Manifold solenoid valve driven by serial signals Manifold solenoid valve driven by serial signals

2000-03-13

2001-01-09

Fox, John (Department: 3753)

Fluid handling

Systems

With flow control means for branched passages

C137S269000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06170527

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a manifold solenoid valve drive-controlled by serial signals and, more particularly, to a manifold solenoid valve driven by serial signals that can be used regardless of whether a solenoid valve mounted on a manifold block is a single solenoid valve or a double solenoid valve, without the need for performing a positive switching operation.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Conventionally, a manifold solenoid valve provided with a required number of solenoid valves, manifold blocks on which the solenoid valves are individually mounted and are interconnected, and an air supply/exhaust block that supplies and exhausts compressed air through the manifold blocks has been extensively used. The solenoid valves mounted on the manifold blocks generally come in single solenoid valves (normally three-port valves: hereinafter referred to simply as “single valves”) in which a passage of a main valve is switched by a single solenoid, and double solenoid valves (normally five-port valves: hereinafter referred to simply as “double valves”) in which a passage of a main valve is switched by two solenoids.
In the manifold solenoid valve, the respective solenoid valves mounted thereon can be drive-controlled by serial signals. In this case, however, the number of driven solenoids differs depending upon whether the solenoid valves are single valves or double valves, so that a control system has to be adapted to either of them. Furthermore, any of the solenoid valves respectively mounted on a plurality of manifold blocks consecutively connected are sometimes changed between single valves and double valves. Hence, there is a demand for making the control system that controls solenoid valves easily switchable.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
A technological object of the present invention is to configure such a manifold solenoid valve so that, in implementing drive control of the manifold solenoid valve by serial signals, a control system for a single valve and that for a double valve can be configured by a switching operation in a single control system so as to automatically adapt the control system to solenoid valves simply by mounting the solenoid valves on manifold blocks when assembling the manifold solenoid valve, and also to permit the control system to be automatically switched simply by replacing solenoid valves when any solenoid valves mounted on manifold blocks are changed between single valves and double valves.
Another technological object of the present invention is to provide a manifold solenoid valve driven by serial signals that permits extremely easy assembly of the manifold solenoid valve and extremely easy maintenance, and eliminates a possibility of erroneous wiring.
A manifold solenoid valve in accordance with the present invention for fulfilling the aforesaid objects comprises a required number of solenoid valves and manifold blocks on which the solenoid valves are individually mounted and which are interconnected, supplies and exhausts compressed air to and from the respective solenoid valves through the manifold blocks, and transmits serial signals for operation control through the manifold blocks to control operations of the solenoid valves by the serial signals, wherein an electric circuit component having a printed circuit board provided with female and male connecting terminals for transmitting serial signals that are electrically connected with one another, a slave chip for extracting operation signals for the solenoid valves from the serial signals, and a feeder terminal for supplying power to the solenoid valves based on the operation signals, is installed in each manifold block, a switching device for switching and setting the slave chip between a single valve mode and a double valve mode, and a single valve and a double valve mounted on the manifold blocks are provided with setting sections for switching and setting the switching device between the single valve mode and the double valve mode when the solenoid valves are mounted on the manifold blocks.
In the foregoing manifold solenoid valve, the feeder terminal provided on the printed circuit board is projected to an opening in a top surface of the manifold block, and the feeder terminal can be disposed in a position where it is interconnected with a power receiving terminal provided on the solenoid valve as soon as the solenoid valve is communicated with a passage on the manifold block when the solenoid valve is mounted on the manifold block.
It is effective to constitute the switching device for switching and setting the slave chip between the single valve mode and the double valve mode by a switch for switching between connection and disconnection of a switching terminal in the slave chip to and from a ground end, and to construct the setting section of the switching device provided on the single valve and the double valve by a pressing surface that presses the switching device to connect or disconnect the switching terminal to or from the ground end, and a flank for avoiding a press on the switching device.
In the manifold solenoid valve driven by serial signals having the configuration set forth above, the electric circuit component comprised of the printed circuit board on which the female and male connecting terminals for transmitting serial signals, the slave chip for extracting operation signals, and the feeder terminal for supplying power to the solenoid valves are provided is installed in each manifold block, the switching device for switching and setting the slave chip between the single valve mode and the double valve mode is provided on each manifold block, and the single valve and the double valve are provided with the setting section for switching and setting the switching device between the single valve and the double valve when these solenoid valves are mounted on the manifold blocks. Therefore, simply by mounting the single valve or the double valve on the manifold block, the control system therefor can be automatically switched to suit the solenoid valve. Moreover, when solenoid valves on the manifold blocks are changed between single valves and double valves, the control system can be automatically switched merely by mounting the solenoid valves.
In addition, in the manifold solenoid valve described above, simply mounting the solenoid valves on the manifold blocks allows the manifold blocks and fluid passages between the solenoid valves to be connected, and the power receiving terminals of the solenoid valves to be connected to the feeder terminals, and also permits the control system for single valves or double valves to be switched to be compatible with the solenoid valves. Hence, assembling the manifold solenoid valve or changing solenoid valves between single valves and double valves requires simply connecting the fluid passages between the manifold blocks and the solenoid valves, obviating the need for positive switching or the like of the control system, as in the case of a conventional manifold solenoid valve. Thus, a manifold solenoid valve that permits various types of maintenance to be accomplished easily and eliminates a possibility of erroneous wiring can be obtained.


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