Integrated Multiple Valve Unit

Abstract

An integrated multiple valve unit is provided as a module of hydraulic circuit components and for uniform pipe line geometry. The unit generally comprises a subplate upon the top surface of which are formed a plurality of valve assembly mounting seats in equally spaced apart relation, and a plurality of stacks each comprised of valve assemblies and a solenoid valve mounted on the subplate in the order named. Any of the valve assemblies which effect various functions may be selected and stacked, depending upon desired hydraulic circuit requirements. Each valve assembly seat is provided with a supply port, a discharge or return port and a pair of intake ports, that is the ports for connection with an actuator or the like, at the positions corresponding to the corresponding ports of the solenoid valve. At the undersurface of the subplate are formed a plurality of zigzag intake ports which are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, for example, equal to one half of the spacing between the mounting seats, and intercommunicated with the corresponding intake ports in the mounting seats. A supply port and a discharge or return port of the subplate are intercommunicated with all of the supply and discharge ports in the mounting seats through a supply passage and a discharge passage, respectively.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an integrated multiple valve unit in which a plurality of stacks each comprising a plurality of valve assemblies, which effect various functions, and a solenoid valve are mounted on a common subplate. The integrated multiple valve unit in accordance with the present invention serves as a module of hydraulic circuit components, and functions also as a pump unit.

When a plurality of valves are separately and randomly disposed and interconnected via each other with pipes or tubes in a hydraulic circuit, such as a pump unit which is used for example as a high hydraulic pressure source, the circuit becomes large in size because of the large space required for receiving the pipes, and the interconnections among the valves with the pipes become very complex. As a result, the working liquid tends to leak and the maintenance and repair of the hydraulic circuit components become very difficult. To overcome these defects, there has been proposed and demonstrated the so-called maniplate system in which the hydraulic circuit components such as valves are mounted on a common mounting plate in which are formed required passages for interconnecting the circuit components. There has been also proposed the so-called manifold plate system wherein the hydraulic circuit components such as valves are mounted upon mounting plates in which are formed the required passages for interconnecting the circuit components, and the circuit components with the mounting plates are stacked. Both the above described systems have succeeded in simplifying the interconnections between the circuit components, thus overcoming the above described defects to some extent. However, these systems have a common defect in that various kinds of plates and blocks must be provided for various kinds of hydraulic circuits which are required. In other words, these prior art systems do not provide modules of hydraulic circuit components which may be used in any hydraulic circuit.

In the attempt to provide standardized modules for hydraulic circuits, there has been proposed a built-up system utilizing the standard solenoid valves in which all of the ports are located at the specified positions. More particularly, a valve plate is provided with ports formed at the positions corresponding to the corresponding ports of the standard solenoid valve, and a valve or valves, which accomplish the desired functions, are disposed in some of the ports or the passage communicated therewith in the valve seat. Thus, standardized valve assemblies are provided, and are stacked on a subplate together with a solenoid valve. Therefore, various circuit modules may be provided. However, the spacing between the ports of the standardized solenoid valve is extremely small so that the interconnections between the hydraulic circuit components stacked upon the subplate and the connections with the pump, reservoir, actuators and the like, become difficult as the pipes obstruct each other. To overcome this problem, some passages for connections are formed in each subplate. When it is desired to collect the intake ports, for example, in the pump unit in one place, the pipes extending from the intake ports of each subplate must be bent in complex forms with or without joint-fittings, so that skilled labor and much time are required. Furthermore, the nonuniform or random pipe arrangement and the exposure of the pipes to the surrounding atmosphere are not desirable.

Furthermore, in the built-up integrated valve unit, there arises in practice the problem of the distribution of the working liquid into a plurality of hydraulic circuits, except in the case where only one hydraulic circuit is formed on the subplate. That is, when it is desired to distribute the working liquid into a plurality of hydraulic circuits to actuate a plurality of actuators, and if a breakdown of one of the hydraulic circuits occurs, the check and repair of the broken circuit cannot be accomplished without stopping the other normal circuits. For example, in case of the hydraulic circuits used in the driving source in a chemical plant or the like, if a breakdown of one of the hydraulic circuits occurs, the other normal circuits must be stopped even when they are controlling the chemical reactions, thus resulting in a prodigious waste of raw materials. In some standardized solenoid valves, a pair of intake ports are formed outwardly of a supply port and a pair of discharge ports are formed further outwardly of the pair of intake ports, so that they are arranged in the form of a pyramid. As the valve spool is displaced, one of the intake ports is communicated with the center supply port whereas the other intake port is communicated with one of the discharge ports through one of the chambers on both sides of the valve spool. When both of the pair of discharge or return ports are used individually, the piping work becomes complex so that the pair of discharge ports are generally intercommunicated with each other within the solenoid body and the discharge pipe is connected only to one of the pair of discharge ports in practice. As a result, there is a difference in distance between the intake ports from the chambers on both sides of the valve spool so that the back pressures, due to the resistances of the passages from the intake ports to the ports for connection with the external pipes through the communication passages formed in the subplates and solenoid valve, cause a difference in pressures acting upon the ends of the valve spool. Therefore, the valve spool is switched, even when the solenoid of the valve is not energized, at some flow rate or the spool valve will not return to its neutral position even when the solenoid of the valve is de-energized, thus resulting in an abnormal temperature rise or burning.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention was made to overcome the above and other defects encountered in the prior art integrated valve systems, and provides an integrated multiple valve unit which may be used as a module of hydraulic circuit components and may serve to provide a uniform pipe arrangement and to facilitate the assembly.

Briefly stated, in accordance with the present invention the integrated multiple valve unit generally comprises a subplate provided with a plurality of valve assembly mounting seats spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, and a plurality of stacks each comprising a plurality of valve assemblies, which effect various functions depending upon the circuit requirements, and a solenoid valve mounted in the order named upon the subplate. In each of the mounting seats and in each of the valve assemblies, a supply port, a discharge port and a pair of intake ports, which are used in connection with an actuator or the like, are formed in the positions corresponding to the corresponding ports of the solenoid valve. At the undersurface of the subplate are formed a plurality of intake ports communicated with those in the mounting seats, respectively, and spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, for example, equal to one half of the spacing between the adjacent mounting seats. All of the intake and discharge or return ports in the mounting seats are communicated with a common supply port and a common discharge port formed in the subplate. Therefore, when the desired valve assemblies are stacked upon the subplate together with the solenoid valves, a module including the desired hydraulic circuit components may be provided.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an integrated multiple valve unit in which a stop and nonreturn valve assembly with or without a relief valve assembly is mounted upon the subplate, and other valve assemblies and a solenoid valve are stacked over the stop and nonreturn valve assembly so that even when a breakdown of the associated hydraulic circuit, valve assemblies or solenoid valve occur, it may be repaired without stopping the other normal hydraulic circuits. The stop and nonreturn valve assembly comprises a stop valve which is disposed in the supply port and is operable from the exterior of the valve assembly to close the supply port in case of emergency, and a nonreturn valve disposed in the discharge or return port. In the relief valve assembly, a relief valve is interposed between the supply and discharge ports.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an integrated multiple valve unit in which at least one valve assembly of the type in which a pair of discharge ports are intercommunicated, is inserted in each hydraulic circuit so that the problem of the difference in pressures acting on the opposite ends of the valve spool may be eliminated, thereby preventing the erratic operation or breakdown such as burning of the coils of the solenoid valves.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an integrated multiple valve unit in which adjacent to a valve assembly to be remote controlled there is disposed a valve assembly of the type in which the supply port or one of the intake ports is disconnected at the midpoint in the valve plate opposed to the other valve assemblies and is extended through the valve plate and communicated with connection ports opening on both sides of the valve plate for connection with a remote control unit or the like, whereby the desired valve assembly may be connected to the remote control unit or the like independently of other valve assemblies.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of some preferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of an integrated multiple valve unit in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a subplate thereof, fabricated by casting;

FIG. 4 is a rear view thereof;

FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are respective sectional views taken along the lines 5 -- 5, 6 -- 6, 7 -- 7 and 8 -- 8 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a front view of a subplate fabricated by machining;

FIGS. 10, 11, 12 and 13 are respective front views of a fourth, third, second, and first plate which constitute together the subplate shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 14 is a longitudinal sectional view of a relief valve assembly for a supply port;

FIG. 15 is a partly broken-away side view thereof;

FIG. 16 is a front view of a control valve assembly for an intake port;

FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken along the line 17 -- 17 of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a front view of a stop and nonreturn valve assembly;

FIGS. 19 and 20 are respective sectional views taken along the lines 19 -- 19 and 20 -- 20 of FIG. 18;

FIG. 21 is a longitudinal sectional view of a relief valve assembly for an intake prot having a passage;

FIG. 22 is a sectional view of an intercommunication valve assembly;

FIG. 23 is a front view of a joint or connection valve assembly for connecting a supply port to an exterior pipe;

FIGS. 24, 25 and 26 are sectional views taken along the lines 24 -- 24, 25 -- 25 and 26 -- 26 of FIG. 23, respectively;

FIG. 27 is a front view of a connection valve assembly for connecting an intake port to an exterior pipe; and

FIGS. 28 and 29 are sectional views taken along the lines 28 -- 28 and 29 -- 29 of FIG. 27, respectively.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a built-up type integrated multiple valve unit as assembled and generally indicated by 30 in accordance with the present invention. The multiple integrated valve unit 30 generally comprises a subplate 40, a plurality of variable kinds of valve assemblies 70a, 70b, 70c, 70d, 70e, 70f, 70g, . . . and solenoid valves 80. The valve assemblies 70 are mounted and stacked upon the subplate 40 and thereafter the solenoid valves 80 are mounted upon the stacked valve assemblies 70, as will be described in more detail hereinafter.

The subplate 40 of the first embodiment is formed by casting. As best shown in FIGS. 3 - 8, a plurality of valve mounting seats 41 (only three seats being shown) are formed in the subplate 40 spaced apart by a distance l and in each seat 41 are formed a supply port 42, a discharge port 43 and two intake ports 44 and 45 in such a manner that they mate with those of the solenoid valve 80 of a standard type. As best shown in FIG. 4, intake ports 50 and 51 are formed at the rear surface of the subplate 40 in zigzag position and spaced apart from each other by l/2 (which equals half the spacing l between the seats 41) both horizontally and vertically, and are communicated with the intake ports 44 and 45 through passages 48 and 49, respectively. At the lower portion of the subplate 40 are formed a supply port 52 and a discharge port 53 spaced apart by l/2 from each other and the lowermost intake port 51. The supply and discharge ports 52 and 53 are communicated with the supply and discharge ports 42 and 43 in the seats 41 through a supply passage 54 and a discharge passage 55, respectively, and through branch passages 56 and 57 (see FIG. 6).

In summary, the supply and discharge ports in the valve mounting seats 41 are communicated through the passages 54 and 55 and the branch passages 56 and 57 with the supply and discharge ports 52 and 53 which open at the two surfaces of the subplate 40, and the intake ports 44 and 45 are communicated through the passages 48 and 49 with the intake ports 50 and 51 which open at the rear surface of the subplate 40. Therefore, in casting the cores may be placed in the positions of the supply and discharge ports 42 and 43, the intake ports 44 and 45, and 50 and 51 and the supply and discharge ports 52 and 53. Since the passages 54 and 55 have a considerable length, the subplate 40 will be broken when more than three stacks of valve assemblies are mounted on the subplate unless the undersurface of the subplate is supported. Therefore according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, openings 58 and 59 are formed in the undersurface of the subplate 40 so that suitable core supports may be inserted into these openings 58 and 59. After the subplate 40 is removed out of the die, the valve mounting seats 41, the ports 50 and 51, the openings 58 and 59, and flanges 60 are machined so as to provide the desired smooth finished surfaces. Thereafter, the supply and discharge ports 42 and 43 and the intake ports 44 and 45 are finished with a drill, and the intake ports 50 and 51, the supply and discharge ports 52 and 53, and the openings 58 and 59 are internally threaded for connection with pipes and blind plugs. Holes 61 are drilled in the flanges 60 for inserting the bolts or like for mounting the subplate 40. Four tapped holes 46 are formed in the valve mounting seats 41 for mounting the standard type solenoid valves 80, and two tapped holes 47 are also formed for mounting other valves 70. The positions of these tapped holes must be so selected that they will not communicate with the passages 48 and 49 and the supply and discharge passages 54 and 55.

The supply and discharge ports 52 and 53 open both at the top surface and undersurface of the subplate 40 so that one of the openings at the top surface or at the undersurface may be closed with blind plugs, depending upon the connection with the supply and discharge pipe lines. This means that the supply and discharge pipe lines may be connected either at the top or under sides of the subplate 40. The openings 58 and 59 may be closed with blind plugs or may be used for connection with a pressure gage or the like.

Next referring to FIGS. 10 - 13, the method of fabricating the subplate by machining will be described. As shown in FIG. 10, zigzag intake ports 150 and 151 are drilled in a fourth plate 104 spaced apart by l/2 in both vertical and horizontal directions. Supply and discharge ports 152 and 153 are also drilled at the lower portion spaced apart by l/2 with respect to each other and to the lowermost intake port 151. As shown in FIG. 11, two grooves 154a and 155a are formed in a third plate 103 to define the supply and discharge passages, and passages 148a and 149a are also formed at the positions corresponding to the intake ports 150 and 151 of the fourth plate 104. As shown in FIG. 12, two elongated grooves 154b and 155b, which mate with the grooves 154a and 155b of the third plate 103 to define the supply and discharge passages, are formed in a second plate 102. Holes 148b and 149b are drilled at the positions corresponding to the grooves 148a and 149a of the third plate 103. As shown in FIG. 13, a first plate 101 is provided with supply and discharge ports 142 and 143 at the positions corresponding to the grooves 154b and 155b of the second plate 102 and the grooves 154a and 155a of the second plate 102. These supply and discharge ports 142 and 143 are so positioned as to mate with those of the standard type solenoid valves. Intake ports 144 and 145 are drilled slantingly, and tapped holes 146 and 147 are formed for mounting the solenoid valves. The supply and discharge ports 152a and 153a are drilled at the positions corresponding to the lower ends of the grooves 154a and 155a of the second plate 102. Flanges 160 with holes 161 for mounting are formed at both sides of the first plate 101. These first, second, third, and fourth plates 101, 102, 103 and 104 are stacked in the order named and firmly joined together by any suitable welding method to provide the subplate 140 as shown in FIG. 9. Thus, the subplate may be fabricated by resorting only to machining such as automatic gas cutting, drilling and the like.

Next the valve assembly 70 mounted on the subplate 40 or 140 will be described hereinafter. As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, a supply port 72a, a discharge port 73a, intake ports 74a and 75a and mounting holes 76a are drilled in a valve plate 71a. The positions of these ports and holes are so selected as to mate with the corresponding ports and holes of the standard type solenoid valve 80. A relief valve 78a may be disposed between the supply and discharge ports 72a and 73a to provide a relief valve assembly 70a for the supply port. A control valve assembly 70b is illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17. The supply and discharge ports 72b and 73b, the intake ports 74b and 75b and the mounting holes 76b are drilled in a manner described above, and between the intake ports 74b and 75b are interposed flow control valves 78b and 79b. In like manner, various valve assemblies which afford various different functions may be provided.

These assemblies 70 are stacked upon the subplate 40 or 140, and the solenoid valves 80 are mounted on the stacks of the valve assemblies 70, and thereafter they are securely mounted upon the subplate 40 or 140 with screws and bolts and nuts, the bolts being inserted through the mounting holes 76 and screws through tapped holes 46 and 146. Thus, the supply and discharge ports 52 and 152 and 53 and 153, the intake ports 50 and 51 or 150 and 151, the supply ports 42 and 142, the discharge port 43 or 143, and the intake ports 44 and 45 or 144 or 145 are respectively communicated with the corresponding ports of the solenoid valves through the corresponding ports 72, 73, 74, and 75 of the valve assemblies 70. With the desired valve assemblies 70 interposed between the solenoid valves 80 and the subplate 40 and 140, a desired hydraulic circuit module may be provided. Since the intake ports 50 and 51 or 150 and 151 and the supply and discharge ports 52 and 152 and 53 and 153 are opened in the undersurface of the subplate 40 or 140 in equally spaced apart relation, the pipes may be connected to them also in equally spaced apart relation in a simple manner.

If the breakdown of one circuit occurs in the integrated multiple valve unit, it cannot be repaired without stopping other normal circuits. Therefore, according to the present invention, a stop valve and nonreturn valve assembly 70c as shown in FIGS. 18 - 20 may be interposed between the subplate 40 or 140 and the innermost valve assembly 70a. In addition to the supply port 72c, the discharge port 73c, the intake ports 74c and 75c and the mounting holes 76c, additional mounting holes 77c are drilled in a valve plate 71c at the positions corresponding to the tapped holes 47 and 147 of the subplate 40 and 140 for mounting the valve assembly 70c upon the subplate 40 and 140 with screws. A stop valve 78c, which may be operable from the exterior of the valve assembly 70c, is disposed on the side of the supply port 72c as shown in FIG. 19, and a nonreturn valve 79c is disposed on the side of the discharge port 73c. Other valve assemblies and the solenoid valve may be mounted on this stop valve and nonreturn valve assembly 70c depending upon a desired hydraulic circuit, in a manner substantially similar to that described hereinbefore. This arrangement is permitted only when the relief valve is inserted in the line communicating with the high hydraulic pressure source and with the supply port 52 and 152 of the subplate 40 or 140. However, when the relief valve is desired to be disposed on the side of the subplate 40 or 140, the relief valve assembly shown in FIG. 14 is mounted on the subplate 40 or 140 with screws which may be inserted into the mounting holes 77a indicated by the chain lines in FIG. 14. Thereafter the stop valve and nonreturn valve assembly 70c shown in FIGS. 18 - 20 is mounted upon the relief valve assembly 70a. Upon the stop valve and nonreturn valve assembly 70c are mounted other valve assemblies and the solenoid valve depending upon a desired circuit in a manner similar to that described hereinbefore.

When a breakdown of one of the circuits occurs, the stop valve 78c is operated from the exterior of the valve assembly 70c so that the working liquid may be prevented from entering the supply port, and the counterflow may be prevented by the nonreturn valve 79c at the discharge port. The relief valve inserted in the high pressure line communicated with the supply port 52 or 152 of the subplate 40 or 140 or the relief valve assembly 70a on the subplate 40 or 140 functions normally. Therefore, only the broken circuit need be stopped and repaired without affecting the other normal circuits. When a breakdown of one of the valve assemblies 70 or the solenoid valve 80 above the stop valve and nonreturn valve assembly occurs, they may be removed when the stop valve 78c is closed. Therefore, the valve assembly or solenoid valve may be disassembled and repaired without affecting the normal functions of other circuits.

In the standard solenoid valves, two return chambers on both sides of a valve spool communicated with the two discharge ports are intercommunicated within the solenoid valve, so that only the discharge port need be used in practice in order to simplify the piping arrangement. Therefore, the back pressure caused by the resistance of the passage at some flow rates acts on the valve spool, so that there occurs a difference between the pressures acting upon the valve spool. As a result, the valve spool is switched even when the solenoid coil is not energized, or the valve spool will not return to its neutral position even when the solenoid coil is de-energized. In some cases, abnormal temperature rise or burning occurs. This problem may be overcome by the present invention which provides a valve assembly as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22. The relief valve assembly for the intake port generally comprises a valve plate 71d provided with the supply port 72d, the discharged port 73d, the intake ports 74d and 75d, and the mounting holes 76d formed in a manner similar to that described hereinbefore. A relief valve 78d is interposed between the discharge port 73d and one of the intake ports 75d. The above described arrangement is similar to that of the valve assemblies 70a and 70b, but in the relief valve assembly shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, two discharge ports 73d are intercommunicated with each other through a passage 79d. In like manner, in the relief valve assembly 70a for the supply port and the control valve assembly for the intake port 70 b, the two discharge ports 73 may be intercommunicated with a passage. At least one of the valve assemblies 70 mounted on the subplate 40 and 140 has such a construction that the two discharge ports 73 are intercommunicated with the passage 79.

The working oil returned from one of the return chambers on the sides of the valve spool of the solenoid valve 80 may be channelled directly to the discharge port of the subplate 40 or 140 through one of the discharge ports of each valve assembly. The working oil returned from the other return chamber is directed to the discharge port of the subplate 40 or 140 through one discharge port of each valve assembly, the intercommunication passage, and the other discharge port. As a result, the back pressure will not produce any difference in pressures acting on the valve spool. When the relief valve assembly 70d shown in FIG. 21 is used so as to direct the working oil under pressure to the discharge port 73d when the circuit is overloaded, the return oil will not flow from the right discharge port to the other discharge port through the solenoid valve 80, but directly flows to the discharge port of the subplate 40 or 140 from the right discharge port through the intercommunication passage formed in the valve assembly and the other discharge port. Therefore, the problem of the difference between the pressures acting upon the valve spool due to the back pressure may be also overcome.

When only the solenoid valve 80 is mounted on the subplate 40 or 140, or when it is not desired to intercommunicate the right and left discharge ports of a valve assembly because of its functional requirements, an intercommunicating valve assembly 70e as shown in FIG. 22 may be interposed between the subplate and the solenoid valve 80, or between the valve assemblies. The valve assembly 70e has the supply and discharge ports 72e and 73e, the intake ports 74e and 75e, and the mounting holes 76e formed in the manner described hereinbefore. The two discharge ports 73e are intercommunicated with each other through the intercommunicating passage 79d. When this intercommunicating valve assembly 70e is inserted into the circuit, the above described problem of the difference in pressures acting on the valve spool of the solenoid valve 80 may be also overcome, so that the maximum permissible flow rate of the solenoid valve 80 may be advantageously increased.

In the hydraulic circuits, some of the components are often required to be remote controlled. The integrated multiple valve unit is not an exception so that some of the valve assemblies must be intercommunicated with a control panel or the like. When the hydraulic circuit consists only of pipes, it may be readily extended to the control panel or the like. However, in case of the built-up type integrated multiple valve unit in which the valve assemblies and solenoid valves are mounted upon the subplate in the manner described above in ordr to standardize the circuit units and to simplify the connections with the pipes, it is extremely difficult to extend the pipes between the control panel or the like and the valve assemblies to be controlled. To overcome this problem, the present invention provides a valve assembly as shown in FIGS. 23 - 26 which serves as a joint for connection with the supply ports, and a valve assembly as shown in FIGS. 27 - 29 which serves as a joint for connection with the intake ports. In the valve assembly shown in FIGS. 23 - 26, the discharge ports 73f, the intake ports 74f and 75f and the mounting ports 76f are formed in the valve plate 71f in the manner described hereinbefore, except for the supply ports 72f. That is, the input ports 72f are formed slantly and communicated with joint ports 79f through passages 78f, and the discharge ports 73f and the intake port 74f are bent as shown in FIGS. 26 and 25, respectively, in order to prevent them from intersecting the passages 78f.

In the valve assembly 70g shown in FIGS. 27 - 29, the supply and discharge ports 72g and 73g, the intake port 74g, and the mounting holes 76g are formed in the manner described above, except for the intake ports 59g which are formed slantingly and communicated through passage 78g with joint ports 79g. The intake port 74g is bent so that it is prevented from intersecting the passages 78g.

These joints or valve assemblies 70f and 70g may be interposed between the solenoid valve 80 and the subplate 40 or 140 and between the valve assemblies 70 in the manner described above, and are communicated with the control panel or the like through the remote control pipe lines joined to the joint ports 79f or 79g of the valve assembly 70f or 79g. Furthermore, the valve assembly 70f or 70g may be mounted on the stop valve and nonreturn valve assembly 70c in a manner substantially similar to that described hereinbefore. Thus, any of the valve assemblies of the integrated multiple valve unit of the present invention may be communicated with the control panel or the like through the remote control pipe line, without the fundamental assembly being changed at all.

The essential features of the present invention have been described with reference to the integrated multiple valve unit 30 comprising three stacks of valve assemblies 70 and solenoid valve 80 mounted on the subplate 40 or 140, but it will be understood that various modifications and variations may be effected without departing the true spirit of the present invention .

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An integrated multiple valve unit, comprising

a subplate having one side provided with a plurality of mounting seats spaced by a predetermined distance from one another and each formed with an individual supply port,

an individual discharge port and individual intake ports,

an other side provided with a plurality of zigzag intake ports spaced by a distance equal to one half of said predetermined distance in longitudinal and transverse direction of said subplate and communicating with said individual intake ports,

a joint supply port communicating with all of said individual supply ports, and

a joint discharge port communicating with all of said individual discharge ports; and

a plurality of valve stacks each comprising a valve plate mounted on one of said valve seats and having a valve plate supply port,

a valve plate discharge port and valve plate intake ports communicating with respective ports of said subplate at said one side thereof,

a hydraulic valve assembly on said valve plate and communicating with respective ones of said valve plate ports, and

a solenoid valve mounted on said valve assembly and communicating via the same with respective ones of said valve plate ports,

said valve unit having said ports arranged in a configuration permitting the interposition of a device between said subplate and said valve assembly which includes a stop valve and a nonreturn valve assembly, whereby selected members of said valve assemblies can be isolated without the necessity to cut off the entire integrated multiple valve unit.

2. An integrated valve unit as defined in claim 1, wherein each mounting seat is further provided with additional tapped holes; and wherein said stop valve assembly has cooperating tapped holes corresponding to said additional tapped holes of said valve assembly mounting seat, and a stop valve disposed in said supply port, said nonreturn valve assembly being disposed in said discharge port.

3. An integrated valve assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein each mounting seat is further provided with additional tapped holes; and said valve assemblies include a joint valve assembly which has cooperating tapped holes corresponding to said additional tapped holes, and a joint port intercommunicated with one of said supply, discharge and intake ports.

4. An integrated valve unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said valve assemblies include a valve assembly having a pair of valve assembly discharge ports and a passage intercommunicating the same.

5. An integrated valve unit as defined in claim 1; and further comprising mounting means in form of registering tapped holes provided in said subplate at the respective valve seats thereof, in said valve plate, and in said solenoid valve.