US2505333A - Valve structure - Google Patents

Description

April 25, 195o T. E. MEAD 2,505,333

' VALVE STRUCTURE April 25, 1950 Filed Spt. 4, 1945 T. E. MEAD 2,505,333

VALVE STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 25, v1950 VALVE STRUCTURE Theodore E. Mead, Wilmette, Ill., assgnor to Mead Specialties Company, Inc., a corporation of Illinois Application September 4, 1945, Serial No. 614,414

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a valve structure and to improved parts therein.

An object of the present invention is to provide a valve structure in which ready assembly of the parts may be effected and the parts selectively operated to direct pressure iluid from the intake to one of two work chambers or to an exhaust port. Another object is to provide a valve structure in which threaded connections for securing the valve parts in position are eliminated and in which a very simple assembly method is made possible. Other specic objects and advantages will appear as the specication proceeds.

The invention is illustrated, in a preferred embodiment, by the accompanying drawing, in Which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional View of apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a top plan view; Fig. 3, a transverse lsectional View, the section being taken as indicated at line 3 of Fig. l; Fig. 4, a transverse sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 4 of Fig. l; Fig. 5, a transverse sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 5 of Fig. l; Fig. 6, an exploded view of the Valve and sleeve assembly; Fig. 7, a top plan view of the valve structure housed within mechanism for selectively operating the valves; Fig. 8, a side view in elevation of the structure shown in Fig. '7; Fig. 9, a front end view of the structure shown in Fig. '7; Fig. l0, a view similar to Fig. 8 but showing the actuating mechanism in diierent stages of operation; and Fig. il, a longitudinal sectional view of the valve casing and similar to Fig. l but showing one of the valves in operation.

In the illustration given, a valve casing I Il is provided with a base I I which is laterally extended to provide a firm support for the valve structure. The casing provides a pair of valve chambers running longitudinally of the casing. The inlet valve chamber I2 communicates with the outlet or exhaust valve chamber I3 through a constricted passage I4. The casing provides valve seats I5 and I5 at the points where the large chambers meet the constricted passages I4.

The valves engaging valve seats I5 and I6 are identical in construction and are shown in detail in Fig. 6. The valve head I1 is recessed on its inner side to provide a chamber I8 to receive the sealing plug I9 which may be of rubber, artincial rubber, or any other suitable flexible sealing material. Each head I'l hasV its sides cut away at lle to provide spaces within the circular chambers I2 and I3 through which fluid may readily pass. Integrally formed with the head Il is a stem 20 which projects inwardly within the narrow passage I4. Integrally formed with the head I'I but extending in the opposite direction isa boss 2I which secures a spring in alignment therewith. A sleeve 22 receives the stems 20 and abuts the sealing plug I9 of each valve head. With this assembly, the sleeve 22 serves as a means for communicating pressure from one valve head to the other and simultaneously maintains the resilient or flexible plugs i9 rmly within the recess I8 of each valve head.

As shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 3, an inlet port 23 threadedly received within a tting, communicates directly through ports 24 and 25 with the inlet chambers I2. A spring 26 in each oi the chambers I2 engages the boss 2| and urges the corresponding valve head toward its seat. The rear end of the spring 26 is received within a seat 2'I provided by the threaded plug 28 which closes the rear end of chamber I2. Communicating with one of the passages I4 is a port 29 which opens into a threaded port 30 from which a connection will lead to a work cylinder. A similar passage 3l leads from the other constricted passage I4 to a port 32 from which a threaded connection will lead to a work cylinder, etc., as shown more clearly in Fig. 4.

The exhaust chambers I3 are each provided With an outlet port 33. A spring 34, which is preferably heavier than spring 26, is mounted in each of the chambers I3 and on its inner end engages boss 2I. At its outer end, the spring 34 is received within the recess 35 of the ball plunger 36. The plunger 36 is provided with a ball extension 31 and with narrow shoulders 38 adjacent the ball extensions 3l. The casing is tapped at 39 to receive a screw 40 which overlaps the narrow shoulders 38 and serves to conne both plungers 36 in position. For disassembly it is only necessary to remove the screw 40 in order to remove both plungers 36 and their related parts.

Any suitable means for actuating the plungers 36 may be employed. I prefer to use the structure illustrated more clearly in Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10. In this structure, the valve mechanism is carried by a base 4I provided with two Vertical side walls 42. A treadle member 43 having depending sides 44 enclosing sides 42 is pivotally supported upon sides 42 by the shaft 45.

The tting 23a communicates through the side wall 42 with the inlet port 23, and the fittings 32a and 30a likewise communicate through one of the side walls 42 with the ports 32 and 30 respectively.

The treadle member 43 is provided at its forward end with a depending actuator arm 46 which lis provided at an intermediate point with a cam 4l. In normal position, the cam 4l lies between the plungers 36 and will selectively operate either one, depending upon the direction of tilting given the treadle member d3.

Operation In the; operation of the apparatus, the operator will tilt with his foot the treadle. member 43 t0 selectively engage one of the plungers 35. When the plunger 35 is moved inwardly, it pushes spring 34 and thereby moves the valve Il toward its seat I6. In normal operation, the valve W is slightly unseated so that the .chamber t3 is. in communication with the pa.ssageY it. Upon the. movement just described, the valve Il Will bring the sealing plug IS thereof into airtight engagement with the valve seat r6. At'the same time, the thrust of the sleeve 22 against theplug; L9 of the opposite valve head Il will unseat that valve. and willY perm-.it the inflow ci air from. chamber l2 into the passage i4 andjthence into outlet. passage 29 or 3l, depending uponY which valve. is` being actuated', to the Correspendingv work cylinder. Upon release of the selected plunger 3S, the. valve4 plug within the inlet chamber 121 will move toits. initial.. position` engaging the valve seat. i5' and theuid pressure. within the Chamber will; hold the valve, plug i9 thereof continuously inA airsealing .engagement with seat I5. At the same time, the thrust or` sleeve 2?. will unseat the opposite valve plug lain chamber t3, and'permit air within the work. cylinder to exhaust back through passage. it into chamber It` and out through exhaust port 3,3.. The valves are extremely quick. acting.. A single inlet. eine. feeds i the inlet. chambers which are in. onen.cinnmunica` tion with each other and thus. insures the rm seating of the valves therein. In. theoperation, the` sleeve. 22 is. the. eicctive element4 in. transmitting pressure from one valve. to the other and at. the same time. the sleeve maintains the valve heads. Il, by meansof their stems received. within the; sleeve. freely in alignment withA their seats.

The assembly of the valve. structure within the valve casing in prior practices hasA been eX- tremely diicult and expensive because or the many parts and. the threaded` connections and the necessity oi threading on parts while in the valve chamber.v Iny the present. construction, a simple unitary valve body is, formed which, in a single piece, provides a hollow valve headl for receiving the plug, a steun and va spring lug. The valve plug in, such a, head would not remain in position against the air pressure which would passbehind the plug and. fome, it-outwardly, and in, prior Yrutac'tices it. has been necessary to form threaded stems upon whichl retaining nuts are threaded.. In..v the. present,- structure.. applicant is.-

able to. avoid all such, expense andY difficulty of assembly by employing, instead of a commonY inthe opposite end chamber and within passage UL The other valve isI droppedintothe chamber with its stem received within the sleeve. The s pri-nggoff that. chamber is theninserted and the endl closed. In theieur-way valve. structure` il-u lustrated ther two chambers: are lled. sunnita* therefore, pass oi through the port 32.

neously at one end of the structure before the structure is up-ended to ll the other end. It takes but a moment to complete assembly. The assembly is accurate and the parts are necessarily aligned when the assembly is completed.

In Fig. ll the actuation of one of the plungers by the. cam l? of actuator it is shown. By the inward pressure exerted upon spring 3d, the valve is urged inwardly and seals seat I6. The sleeve 22; presses against the opposing valve and moves it away from seat l5. The incoming fluid may, When the actuator member it is raised so as to engage the upperA plunger 36 and move it inwardly, the same movement of the valves will cause uid to pass out through port 38.

In the structure illustrated in Figs. 7 to 10 inclusiva the valve mechanism is completely housed within the structure provided by the base dl., treadle. member d?, and the telescoping side walls d2 and dit. The actuating lever d@ is conveniently suspended from the front of the treadle member d3 so as to actuate selectively either of the plungersv Se b y slight tilting of the treadle member.

It will be understood that the new valve structure described herein, employing the sleeve and integral head and stem parts, may be employed in single-passage air valves as well as in the nmltipley passages herein described. Further, while the inventionv has been described herein in detail. for theY purpose. of illustration, it will be understood that such details be varied widely by those. skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit of .my invention..

I claim:

1. Ina valve. structure, a casing providing a passage with spaced valve seats therein, valves facing said seats and each other, each of said valves having an integral valve stem extending toward the other valve but spaced therefrom, a sleevesnugly receiving said valve stems and havingits ends abutting said valves, and a spring urging at. leastone of said valves toward its seat.

2. In a valve Structure, acasing providing a pas sage. with spaced valve seats therein, said valveseats. being disposed at a point intermediate said passage` and facing in opposite directions, said valves having; cupped portions facing said valve seats. and each other and having central integral ste-m portions extend-ing between said valve seats but spaced from eachV other, and a centering sleeve snuglyI receiving said stems and having its ends abutting said valves, and spring means engaging at least one or" said valves to urge the same toward its seat.

3. In.` a valvestructure, a casing having a pas.- sage extending therethrough, said casing providing centrally of the passage a constricted portion providingY at itsl ends spaced valve seats facing in Opposite directions, poppet Valves slideably mounted in said passage and facing said seats and. each other, each of said valves having inwardlyextending stems, a sleeve snugly receiving said stems and spacing the'same apart, the ends ci said sleeveI abutting said valves, said casing providing also ports communicating with said passage on either sideof said valves, spring means urging one of said valves tow-ard its seat and actuating means urging the other ofsaid valves toward its seat.

4. In. a` valve' structure, a casing providing a passage and valve seats spaced therein, said valve seatsf-acing in opposite directions, valveshaving inner cupped portions facing said seats and each other,` saidv valves having inwardly-extending stems,l a sleeve4 snugly receiving said stems and spacing the same apart, at least one of said Valves having an integral stem extending in the opposite direction from the said first-mentioned stem, a

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the Y le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 10 Number Name Date Grebel etal Dec. 13, 1910 Hallstead July 20, 1926 Price Sept. 13, 1932 Anderberg May 14, 1935 McLeod Oct. 27, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Italy Nov. 30, 1936 Great Britain Apr. 14, 1936

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