Fluid handling – Systems – Multi-way valve unit
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-08
2001-05-29
Rivell, John (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
Systems
Multi-way valve unit
C137S627500, C137S884000, C251S251000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237634
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a supply and exhaust changeover valve for a fluid pressure apparatus being mounted at a supply port and an exhaust port of the fluid pressure apparatus when a trial operation, an operation check and so on of the fluid pressure apparatus are performed so that supplying and exhausting of fluid under pressure are controlled manually.
PRIOR ART
When performing a trial operation, maintenance services, and an operation check during adjustment of various fluid pressure apparatuses, it is necessary to make sure whether or not these apparatuses are operating properly, by manually supplying or exhausting fluid under pressure such as compressed air to and from the apparatuses while confirming safety. Further, in some cases, it is necessary to take precautions against unexpected events. Although opening-and-closing valves or directional control valves are generally provided in the pressurized-fluid piping for fluid pressure apparatuses, they are not suitable for supplying or exhausting fluid under pressure for the purpose of above operation checks and the like.
In order to manually supply or exhaust fluid under pressure to and from the fluid pressure apparatus as stated above, a manually operated opening-and-closing valve and the like may be provided in the piping. In the case of such an opening-and-closing valve, however, it is normally required that they can be switched between a first changeover position wherein a supply port of a fluid pressure apparatus is in communication with a fluid supply source through an introduction port of the opening-and-closing valve as well as an exhaust port of the fluid pressure apparatus is opened to the outside through the exhaust port of the opening-and-closing valve, and a second changeover position wherein the supply port and the exhaust port of the fluid pressure apparatus are both opened through the exhaust port of the opening-and-closing valve. Therefore, even if a simply structured opening-and-closing valve is installed, it cannot be conveniently utilized. Moreover, it is also required for such an opening-and-closing valve to be easily manufactured, assembled and incorporated into the piping.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore a technological object of the present invention to provide a manually operated supply and exhaust changeover valve for a fluid pressure apparatus which meets the above-mentioned requirements, can be easily manufactured, assembled and incorporated into the piping, and of which the maintenance is easy.
In accordance with the present invention, the above-stated objectives are achieved by provision of a supply and exhaust changeover valve, which is directly mounted at a supply port and an exhaust port of a fluid pressure apparatus so as to be operated manually to supply and exhaust fluid under pressure to and from the fluid pressure apparatus.
This changeover valve comprises a supply body and an exhaust body being formed separately and connected with each other by joining means. The supply body comprises a fluid introduction port, a fitting portion for connection to the supply port of the fluid pressure apparatus, and a supply passage for connecting the introduction port with the fitting portion. Further, the exhaust body comprises a fluid exhaust port, a fitting portion for connection to the exhaust port of the fluid pressure apparatus, and an exhaust passage for connecting the fluid exhaust port with the fitting portion. The supply passage and the exhaust passage of the both bodies are brought into communication with each other by a hollow retainer provided between their joined portions, and a first valve seat is provided at the midpoint position of the supply passage and a second valve seat is provided on the retainer. Furthermore, there are provided a valve member between these valve seats for alternately opening and closing the two valve seats and operating means for manually opening and closing the valve member.
The supply and exhaust changeover valve having the above construction is mounted at a supply port and an exhaust port of a fluid pressure apparatus arranged side by side, and a changeover of supply and exhaust of fluid under pressure to and from the fluid pressure apparatus is carried out by manually operating the operation means to open and close the valve member. Since the valve member to switch the flow of fluid under pressure is manually operated, it is possible to control supply and exhaust of the fluid under pressure while confirming safety. Moreover, because the above valves are directly mounted at the supply port and the exhaust port of the fluid pressure apparatus, it is very easy for them to be incorporated in the piping, which enables the valve to be most suitable for checking an operation and the like of the fluid pressure apparatus.
Also, the supply body, the exhaust body and the retainer are separately formed and incorporated in the above supply and exhaust changeover valve so that it is relatively easy to form each member compared to integral forming of the both bodies. Moreover, since it is possible to incorporate the valve member in sequence easily while assembling the above members, manufacturing of the valve can be done very easily.
Moreover, because the supply and exhaust changeover valve can easily be disassembled into such members, its maintenance is easy, its components can be replaced easily and it can be adjusted easily.
According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the first valve seat and the second valve seat are located in opposed positions, the valve member has a first poppet opening and closing the first valve seat and a second poppet opening and closing the second valve seat between the both valve seats, and the valve members and the retainer are incorporated in sequence into the above-mentioned supply body from the joint surface side.
According to another specific embodiment of the present invention, the operating means comprises a first spring provided on the side of one end of the valve member to press the valve member in one direction, a second spring for return provided on the side of the other end of the valve member to press the valve member in the opposite direction, and a manually operated operating member having a camming surface to press the valve member through the first spring.
According to another preferable embodiment of the present invention, quick-connecting pipe fittings attachable to the supply port and the exhaust port of the fluid pressure apparatus are mounted respectively at a fluid introduction port of the supply body and a fluid exhaust port of the exhaust body, and the fitting portions of the both bodies are each connectible to the supply port and the exhaust port of the fluid pressure apparatus by the same connection structure as that of the pipe fittings.
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Hayashi Bunya
Ishikawa Makoto
Narita Masaru
Oblon & Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt P.C.
Rivell John
Schoenfeld Meredith H.
SMC Corporation
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