초록 ▼

A valve apparatus is disclosed for use in regulating the flow of fluid between a closed hydraulic loop and a fluid source in a hydraulic circuit, where the valve apparatus provides up to four different functions including a check valve, a neutral valve, a relief valve and a pressure rise rate valve.

A valve apparatus is disclosed for use in regulating the flow of fluid between a closed hydraulic loop and a fluid source in a hydraulic circuit, where the valve apparatus provides up to four different functions including a check valve, a neutral valve, a relief valve and a pressure rise rate valve. The apparatus includes a valve seat for selectively permitting fluid communication between the closed hydraulic loop and the fluid source, a sleeve member and a relief poppet in the valve seat, a relief compression spring inside the sleeve and positioned adjacent the relief poppet and the base of the slidable member, a valve guide and an accumulator piston slidably mounted within the valve guide to define an accumulator volume therein.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A valve apparatus for use in regulating the flow of fluid between a first fluid side and a second fluid side in a hydraulic component, comprising: a valve seat having a head portion adapted to sealingly engage a passage in the hydraulic component between the first and second

What is claimed is: 1. A valve apparatus for use in regulating the flow of fluid between a first fluid side and a second fluid side in a hydraulic component, comprising: a valve seat having a head portion adapted to sealingly engage a passage in the hydraulic component between the first and second fluid sides and a body portion extending from the head portion to an opening at a second end thereof, the valve seat forming a first internal volume and having a first opening formed in the head portion to permit fluid communication between the first internal volume and the first fluid side and having at least one second opening formed in the head portion to permit fluid communication between the first internal volume and the second fluid side, the valve seat further having at least one bore formed in the body to permit fluid communication between the first internal volume and the first fluid side; a valve sleeve slidably disposed in the first internal volume, the valve sleeve having an opening at a first end and an external base at a second end thereof, the valve sleeve forming a second internal volume and having an internal base portion with a least one opening to permit fluid to pass into and out of the second internal volume, the valve sleeve movable with respect to the bore in the body of the valve seat; a relief poppet slidably disposed in the first internal volume, the relief poppet having a head adapted to sealingly engage the first opening in the head portion of the valve seat and having a body portion at least partially located inside the second internal volume; a relief compression spring located inside the second internal volume and disposed around the body of the relief poppet, wherein the relief compression spring engages the head of the relief poppet and the internal base of the valve sleeve; a valve guide attached to the second end of the valve seat, having a first end for said attachment, a second end, and an internal passage between the first and second ends, wherein the internal passage is fully open to the first end and open to the second end through a smaller diameter opening to permit fluid communication between the internal passage and the first fluid side; and an accumulator piston slidably mounted within the internal passage of the valve guide, wherein the accumulator piston cooperates with the internal passage of the valve guide to define an accumulator volume. 2. The valve apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of channel ribs located on an exterior surface of the valve seat body and at least one flow channel located between two of the channel ribs. 3. The valve apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a check compression spring disposed around the second end of the valve guide and a head surface formed on the exterior of the valve guide between the first and second ends of the valve guide, wherein the check compression spring is engaged to the head surface. 4. The valve apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a valve plug having an opening at a first end forming an internal volume sufficient to receive the check compression spring. 5. The valve apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first end of the valve plug non-sealingly engages the head surface of the valve guide at maximum compression of the check compression spring to permit fluid communication between the internal volume of the valve plug and the first fluid side. 6. The valve apparatus of claim 3, further comprising at least one rib on the second end of the valve guide to retain the check compression spring. 7. The valve apparatus of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the first opening in the valve seat head is smaller than the diameter of the accumulator piston. 8. The valve apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first end of the valve guide is attached to the second end of the valve seat by a threaded connection. 9. The valve apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of annular ribs located on the accumulator piston. 10. The valve apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first end of the valve sleeve is tapered. 11. A valve apparatus for use in controlling the flow of fluid between the closed hydraulic loop and the fluid source of a hydraulic component, comprising: a valve seat movable between a first open position to permit fluid to flow from the fluid source to the closed hydraulic loop when the pressure in the closed hydraulic loop is lower than a first predetermined pressure level and a second closed position when the pressure in the closed hydraulic loop is equal to or greater than the first predetermined pressure level; a sleeve member located in the valve seat and movable between a first position where the valve apparatus is open to permit fluid communication between the closed hydraulic loop and the fluid source when the pressure in the closed hydraulic loop is below a second predetermined pressure level and a second position where the sleeve member prevents fluid communication between the closed hydraulic loop and the fluid source; a movable poppet, cooperating with the valve seat and the sleeve member to provide a pressure rise rate function whereby the poppet opens for a limited time when the pressure in the closed hydraulic loop exceeds a third predetermined level and increases at a rate exceeding a predetermined rate and closes in a controlled manner; and whereby the poppet will open to permit fluid to flow from the closed hydraulic loop to the fluid source when the pressure in the closed hydraulic loop exceeds a fourth predetermined level. 12. A valve apparatus for use in regulating the flow of fluid between a first fluid side and a second fluid side in a hydraulic component, comprising: a valve seat movable between an open position to permit fluid flow from the second fluid side to the first fluid side when the pressure in the first fluid side is lower than the pressure in the second fluid side by a predetermined amount and a closed position; a valve sleeve slidably disposed in the valve seat and movable between a first position to permit fluid communication between the two fluid sides when the pressure in the first fluid side is below a first predetermined level and a second position where the valve sleeve does not permit fluid communication between the two fluid sides when the pressure in the first fluid side is equal to or greater than the first predetermined level; a relief poppet slidably disposed in the valve seat and movable between a relief open position when the pressure in the first fluid side exceeds a second predetermined level and increases at a rate exceeding a predetermined rate and a relief closed position, and wherein the relief poppet remains in the relief open position when the pressure in the first fluid side exceeds a third predetermined level. 13. The valve apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a check compression spring. 14. The valve apparatus of claim 12, wherein the valve sleeve is engaged to the valve seat when the pressure in the first fluid side exceeds the third predetermined level. 15. A valve apparatus for use in regulating the flow of fluid between a closed hydraulic loop and a fluid source in a hydraulic circuit, comprising: a valve seat for selectively opening and closing fluid communication between the closed hydraulic loop and the fluid source, the valve seat comprising a head portion, a body forming a first internal volume, a first opening formed in the head portion to permit fluid communication between the closed hydraulic loop and the first internal volume and at least one second opening in the head portion to permit fluid communication between the fluid source and the first internal volume; a slidable member located in the first internal volume, the slidable member comprising a first end adapted to engage the valve seat head, a base formed at a second end, at least one opening formed in the base, and a second internal volume formed between the first and second ends of the slidable member; a relief poppet slidably disposed in the first internal volume, the relief poppet comprising a head adapted to sealingly engage the first opening in the head portion of the valve seat and a body extending from the relief poppet head and at least partially located inside the second internal volume; a relief compression spring located inside the second internal volume and positioned between the relief poppet and the base of the slidable member; a valve guide comprising a first end attached to the valve seat, a second end, an opening formed in the second end and in fluid communication with the closed hydraulic loop, and an internal passage between the first end and the opening, wherein the diameter of the opening is less than the diameter of the internal passage; and an accumulator piston slidably mounted within the internal passage of the valve guide, wherein the accumulator piston cooperates with the internal passage of the valve guide to define an accumulator volume. 16. The valve apparatus of claim 15, further comprising at least one bore formed in the body of the valve seat to permit fluid communication between the closed hydraulic loop and the first internal volume of the valve seat, and said bore is opened and closed by the position of the slidable member. 17. The valve apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first end of the slidable member is tapered. 18. The valve apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of channel ribs formed on the exterior surface of the valve seat body and at least one flow channel bounded by two of the channel ribs. 19. The valve apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a check compression spring engaged to the valve guide. 20. The valve apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a head surface formed on the exterior of the valve guide and engaged to the check compression spring. 21. The valve apparatus of claim 19, further comprising at least one rib on the second end of the valve guide to retain the check compression spring. 22. The valve apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a valve plug having an internal volume sufficient to receive the check compression spring. 23. The valve apparatus of claim 22, wherein the valve plug non-sealingly engages the head surface of the valve guide at maximum compression of the check compression spring to permit fluid communication between the internal volume of the valve plug and the closed hydraulic loop. 24. The valve apparatus of claim 15, wherein the diameter of the first opening in the valve seat head is smaller than the diameter of the accumulator piston. 25. The valve apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first end of the valve guide is attached to a second end of the valve seat by a threaded connection. 26. The valve apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of annular ribs on the accumulator piston. 27. A valve for use between a hydraulic circuit and a fluid source in a hydraulic apparatus, the valve comprising: a check means for opening the valve to permit fluid to pass from the fluid source into the hydraulic circuit when the pressure in the hydraulic circuit is below the pressure in the fluid source by a first predetermined amount; a relief valve means formed with the check means for opening the hydraulic circuit to the fluid source when the pressure in the hydraulic circuit exceeds a first predetermined pressure level; and pressure rise rate means for temporarily opening the hydraulic circuit to the fluid source when the pressure in the hydraulic circuit exceeds a second predetermined pressure level, and increases at a rate exceeding a predetermined rate and for then closing the hydraulic circuit from the fluid source in a controlled manner. 28. The valve of claim 27, further comprising a neutral valve means for opening the hydraulic circuit to the fluid source when the pressure in the hydraulic circuit is below a third predetermined pressure level, wherein the neutral valve means is formed in the same valve assembly as the check means, and the first predetermined pressure level is higher than the third predetermined pressure level.