U.S. patent number 3,599,673 [Application Number 04/800,323] was granted by the patent office on 1971-08-17 for electric pressure-reducing valve.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Societe Anonyme clite: Messier. Invention is credited to Rene Lucien.
United States Patent |
3,599,673 |
Lucien |
August 17, 1971 |
ELECTRIC PRESSURE-REDUCING VALVE
Abstract
An electric pressure-reducing valve is provided for regulating a
hydraulic utilization pressure by means of a low electric control
current and comprises two stages, i.e., a primary stage constituted
by a magnetic force motor and a stop-valve and jet-nozzle system,
and a secondary stage constituted by a hydraulic slide valve
servo-controlled by the pressure regulated in the primary stage.
The primary stage is wholly constructed along a single axis of
revolution: the power developed by the magnetic force motor is
directed along this axis, the movement of the stop-valve is a
movement of translation along this axis, the jet-nozzle is mounted
on this axis; the primary stage is mounted on the body of the
electric pressure-reducing valve so as to form an independent unit
which is readily removable along said axis without any risk of
upsetting the adjustments.
Inventors: |
Lucien; Rene
(Neuilly-sur-seine, FR) |
Assignee: |
Societe Anonyme clite: Messier
(Paris, FR)
|
Family
ID: |
26181729 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/800,323 |
Filed: |
January 15, 1969 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Jan 15, 1968 [FR] |
|
|
135,940 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
137/625.61;
251/65 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F15B
13/0438 (20130101); Y10T 137/8659 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
F15B
13/043 (20060101); F15B 13/00 (20060101); F16k
011/07 (); F16k 031/08 () |
Field of
Search: |
;137/625.61,625.62,625.64 ;251/65 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Klinksiek; Henry T.
Claims
What I claim is:
1. An electric pressure-reducing valve for regulating a hydraulic
utilization pressure as a function of a low electric control
current, comprising a primary stage and a secondary stage, the
primary stage comprising a magnetic force motor, a movable closure
member coupled to and displaced by said motor, a jet-nozzle placed
in front of said closure member, and an orifice plate mounted
upstream of said jet-nozzle and supplied under pressure by a
hydraulic source, the secondary stage comprising a hydraulic slide
valve controlled by the control pressure established by the primary
stage between said orifice plate and said jet-nozzle and regulating
said utilization pressure with zero hydraulic flow as a function of
the electric control current which is substantially linear for a
constant supply pressure, said primary stage being wholly
constructed along an axis of revolution Y-Y, the power developed by
said force-motor being directed along said axis Y-Y, the movement
of said closure member by said motor being in translation along
said axis Y-Y, said jet-nozzle being a body of revolution about
said axis Y-Y, means supporting the whole of the primary stage as a
removable unit along said axis Y-Y, means for supplying said
hydraulic slide valve in opposite directions, on two equal
sections, on the one hand with said control pressure and on the
other with said utilization pressure, and means providing said
hydraulic slide valve with a neutral position in which it does not
modify said utilization pressure, on one side of which it is
displaced if the utilization pressure becomes less than the
prescribed value and in which it supplies said utilization pressure
from said supply pressure, and on the other side of which it is
displaced if said utilization pressure becomes higher than the
prescribed value and in which it causes said utilization pressure
to escape.
2. An electric pressure-reducing valve as claimed in claim 1, in
which said motor of said primary stage comprises a permanent magnet
with an axis Y-Y, with radial magnetization, a coil on the axis
Y-Y, a movable core on the axis Y-Y, a magnetic circuit comprising
two end plates, a yoke with its axis Y-Y with a spacing member and
adjustable magnetic shunt means in said spacing member, a rod with
its axis Y-Y rigidly fixed to said movable core, two thin metal
diaphragms supporting said rod, an adjustable spring with its axis
Y-Y at one extremity of said rod, said closure member with its axis
Y-Y being at the other extremity of said rod, said means supporting
the primary stage as a removable unit comprising a body on the axis
Y-Y housing all said members of the primary stage.
3. An electric pressure-reducing valve as claimed in claim 1
wherein said means providing the slide valve with its neutral
position comprises a casing slidably receiving said hydraulic slide
valve therein, and two opposing springs, one of which includes
adjustable means, said springs acting on said slide valve for
restoring said slide valve to its neutral position, said means for
supplying the hydraulic slide valve with the utilization and
control pressures comprising at one extremity of said casing an
endpiece closing a first chamber connected to and subjected to said
utilization pressure, at the other extremity of said casing, an
endpiece closing a second chamber connected to and subjected to
said control pressure, said slide valve being provided with a blind
axial bore and grooves positioned to cooperate with grooves in said
casing for supplying said utilization pressure from said supply
pressure when the slide valve is displaced towards the first said
chamber, and in causing said utilization pressure to escape when
said slide valve is displaced towards said second chamber.
4. An electric pressure-reducing valve for regulating a hydraulic
utilization pressure as a function of a low electric control
current, comprising a primary stage and a secondary stage, said
primary stage comprising a magnetic force motor, a movable closure
member coupled to and displaced by said motor, a jet-nozzle placed
in front of said closure member, and an orifice plate mounted
upstream of said jet-nozzle and supplied under pressure by a
hydraulic source, said secondary stage comprising a hydraulic slide
valve controlled by the control pressure established by the primary
stage between said orifice plate and said jet-nozzle and regulating
said utilization pressure, at zero hydraulic flow as a function of
the electric control current which is substantially linear for a
constant supply pressure and substantially of constant slope for a
variable supply pressure, said primary stage being wholly
constructed following an axis of revolution, the power developed by
said force-motor being directed along said axis, the movement of
said closure member by said motor being in translation along said
axis, said jet-nozzle being a body of revolution about said axis,
means supporting the whole of the primary motor as a removable unit
along said axis, means for supplying said hydraulic slide valve in
opposite directions, on the one hand on a first section by said
control pressure and on a second section by said utilization
pressure and on the other hand on a third section equal to said
second section by said supply pressure, and means providing said
hydraulic slide valve with a neutral position in which it does not
modify said utilization pressure, on one side of which it is
displaced if the utilization pressure becomes less than the
prescribed value and in which it supplies said utilization pressure
from said supply pressure, and on the other side of which it is
displaced if the utilization pressure becomes greater than the
value prescribed and in which it causes said utilization pressure
to escape.
5. An electric pressure-reducing valve as claimed in claim 4, in
which said motor of said primary stage comprises a permanent magnet
having an axis Y-Y, with radial magnetization, a coil on the axis
Y-Y, a movable core on the axis Y-Y, and a magnetic circuit
comprising two end plates and a yoke having the axis Y-Y, a rod on
axis Y-Y rigidly fixed to said core, two thin metal diaphragms
supporting said rod, an adjustable spring means on the axis Y-Y, at
one extremity of said rod, said closure member being on the axis
Y-Y, at the other extremity of said rod, said means supporting the
primary stage as a removable unit comprising a cylindrical chimney
with the axis Y-Y housing all said members of the primary
stage.
6. An electric pressure-reducing valve as claimed in claim 4
further comprising a casing slidably receiving said hydraulic slide
valve, said means for supplying the hydraulic slide valve with the
utilization and control pressures comprising at one extremity of
said casing a socket-abutment and a plug defining a first chamber
having a determined section on which is applied said supply
pressure, at the other extremity of said casing, a socket-abutment
and a plug defining a second chamber having the same section as
said first chamber, on which is applied said utilization pressure,
an intermediate shoulder of said slide valve forming therein an
annular surface constituting said first section on which said
control pressure is applied in the direction which pushes the slide
valve towards said first chamber, said slide valve being provided
with two blind axial bores and with grooves positioned to cooperate
with grooves of said casing in supplying said utilization pressure
from the supply pressure when the slide valve is displaced towards
said second chamber and in causing said utilization pressure to
escape with said slide valve is displaced towards said first
chamber.
Description
The present invention has for its object an apparatus known as an
electric pressure-reducing valve, the function of which is to
permit the control of a hydraulic pressure by means of a small
electric control current.
For the same purpose, it is generally known to utilize servo
distributors. This kind of apparatus usually gives satisfactory
results, but it has the disadvantage of a high production cost.
The electric pressure-reducing valve according to the invention
presents the advantage of having a much simpler construction and,
consequently, being substantially less costly than its
predecessors.
The electric pressure-reducing valve according to the invention
comprises two stages, a primary stage constituted by a magnetic
force motor and by a stop-valve and nozzle system, and a secondary
stage constituted by a hydraulic slide valve servo controlled by
the pressure regulated by the primary stage.
The electric pressure-reducing valve in accordance with the
invention is especially characterized in that:
A. The primary stage is wholly constructed along an axis of
revolution: the power developed by the force-motor is directed
along this axis, the movement of the stop-valve is a translation
along this axis, the nozzle or jet is placed on this axis; the
primary stage is mounted on the body of the electric
pressure-reducing valve as an independent unit which is readily
removable by dismantling along the said axis, without risk of
interfering with the adjustment;
B. For a constant supply pressure, and in the absence of hydraulic
flow, the law of operation which associates the output pressure of
the electric pressure-reducing valve with its control current is
substantially linear;
C. In addition, if desired but not necessarily, the slope of the
said law of operation is independent of the supply pressure; in
other words, the same variation of intensity of the control current
always produces the same variation of the utilization pressure, and
these variations are proportional, over the range between the
maximum supply pressure and zero pressure, which are physical
limits of the utilization pressure.
In a more detailed manner, the law specified in (b) will be defined
by referring to the curves shown in FIG. 1, given by way of
nonlimitative example, in which the intensity I of the electric
control current is plotted on the abscissa and the utilization
pressure PU delivered by the secondary stage is plotted on the
ordinate. With the electric pressure-reducing valve according to
the invention, the law of current-pressure is linear (the straight
line LO in FIG. 1) for the value of the supply pressure PAO at
which the primary stage has been adjusted. On the other hand, when
the supply pressure falls to a value PA1, less than PA0, the law of
current-pressure has a level portion (the broken line L1 of FIG.
1). The utilization pressure PU first remains substantially
constant and equal to PA1 as long as the control current has not
reached a value IS, which value increases as the supply pressure
PA1 becomes lower.
This characteristic with a flat-topped portion is obviously not
troublesome in applications in which the supply pressure PA is
approximately constant, and it still remains permissible in other
applications. However, there exist applications in which the supply
pressure is variable and in which furthermore the said flat portion
may represent a disadvantage.
The invention enables this disadvantage to be eliminated when so
desired. According to a further arrangement of the invention, the
electric pressure-reducing valve can, according to paragraph (c)
above, provide a law of current-pressure which is always linear and
of constant slope, in spite of variations of supply pressure. This
law according to (c) will be defined by referring to the curves
given in FIG. 2 by way of nonlimitative example, these curves also
having the intensity I of the electric control current plotted on
the abscissa and the utilization pressure PU on the ordinate.
With this other arrangement according to the invention, for
different values of PA, for example PA1, PA2, PA3, there is
obtained a system of parallel straight lines, all characterized by
a constant ratio between the variation of the control current
intensity I and the variation of the utilization pressure PU. It
will be observed that the level pressure zones such as that shown
in FIG. 1 have been eliminated.
Briefly, following an arrangement in accordance with the invention,
in the electric pressure-reducing valve comprising a primary stage
and a secondary stage, the primary stage comprising a magnetic
force motor, a moving stop-valve displaced by the said motor, a
nozzle placed in front of the said stop-valve, and an orifice plate
mounted upstream of the said nozzle and supplied under pressure by
a hydraulic source, the secondary stage comprising a hydraulic
slide valve controlled by the control pressure established by the
primary stage between the said orifice plate and the said nozzle
and regulating the said utilization pressure, with zero hydraulic
flow, following a law as a function of the electric control current
which is substantially linear for a constant supply pressure, the
said primary stage is wholly constructed along an axis of
revolution Y-Y, the power developed by the said force-motor being
directed along the said axis Y-Y, the movement of the said
stop-valve is in translation along the said axis Y-Y, the said
nozzle is a body of revolution about the said axis Y-Y, the whole
of the primary stage being capable of removal as a unit along the
said axis Y-Y, and the said hydraulic slide valve is acted upon in
opposite directions, over two equal sections, on the one hand by
the said control pressure and on the other hand by the said
utilization pressure, the said hydraulic slide valve having a
neutral position in which it does not modify the said utilization
pressure, on one side of which it is displaced if the utilization
pressure becomes less than the prescribed value and in which it
connects the said utilization pressure to exhaust.
Briefly, following another arrangement according to the invention,
in the electric pressure-reducing valve comprising a primary stage
and a secondary stage, the primary stage comprising a magnetic
force-motor, a movable stop-valve displaced by the said motor, a
nozzle placed in front of the said stop-valve, and an orifice plate
mounted upstream of the said nozzle and supplied under pressure by
a hydraulic source, the secondary stage comprising a hydraulic
slide valve controlled by the control pressure established by the
primary stage between the said orifice plate and the said nozzle
and regulating the said utilization pressure, at zero hydraulic
flow, following a law as a function of the electric control current
which is substantially linear for a constant supply pressure and
has a substantially constant slope for a variable supply pressure,
the said primary stage is wholly constructed along an axis of
revolution Y-Y, the power developed by the said force-motor is
directed along the said axis Y-Y, the movement of the said
stop-valve is in translation along the said axis Y-Y, the said
nozzle is a body of revolution about the said axis Y-Y, the whole
of the primary motor can be removed as a unit along the said axis
Y-Y, and the said hydraulic slide valve is acted upon in opposite
directions, on the one hand over a first section by the said
control pressure and over a second section by the said utilization
pressure, and on the other hand over a third section equal to the
said second section by the said supply pressure, the said hydraulic
slide valve having a neutral position in which it does not modify
the said utilization pressure, on one side of which it is displaced
if the utilization pressure becomes less than the prescribed value
and at which it supplies the said utilization pressure from the
said supply pressure, and on the other side of which it is
displaced if the utilization pressure becomes greater than the
prescribed value and at which it connects the said utilization
pressure to exhaust.
The invention, and two embodiments of the electric
pressure-reducing valve according to the invention, will now be
described with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way
of nonlimitative examples. In these drawings:
FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view in axial section of an electric
pressure-reducing valve according to the invention, providing the
law of current-pressure shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is the view in elevation corresponding to FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a view in axial section taken along the line V-V of FIG.
4, but to twice the scale;
FIG. 6 is a view in cross section taken along the line VI-VI of
FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a view in cross section along the line VII-VII of FIG.
4;
FIG. 8 is a view in plan looking from above, of FIG. 4;
FIG. 9 is a view in half-longitudinal section of the secondary
stage;
FIG. 10 shows a further electric pressure-reducing valve according
to the invention, in cross section passing through the axis X-X of
the slide valve of the secondary stage and normal to the axis Y-Y
of the primary stage;
FIG. 11 is a cross section passing through the axis Y-Y of the
primary stage and normal to the axis X-X of the slide valve of the
secondary stage, taken along the line XI-XI of FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 is a detail, in cross section through the axis Y-Y of the
primary stage, along the line XII-XII of FIG. 10, showing the
electrical connections of the operating coil.
With reference to FIGS. 3 and 5, there will be described below the
structure of the primary stage of this electric pressure-reducing
valve according to the invention.
The magnetic motor, of the polarized type, comprises a permanent
magnet 1 with radial magnetization, a coil 2, a moving core 3 and a
magnetic circuit consisting of the parts 4, 5 and 6. The airgap 7
is determined by the space comprised between the core 3 and the
part 4. The airgap 8 corresponds to the space comprised between the
said core 3 and the part 5, and the airgap 9 to the space comprised
between the said core 3 and the part 6.
The core 3 is rigidly fixed to a rod 11, the two extremities of
which are respectively suspended from two fine metallic diaphragms
12 and 13. The core 3 can thus move without frictional contact on
any other member. Two springs 14 and 15 ensure its return to its
mean position. The support 6 on which the spring 14 is indirectly
supported, comprises a screw 17 which, by acting on the cup 18 of
this spring enables the position of the core 3 to be adjusted.
Magnetic shunts 19 arranged in holes formed in a spacing member 21
of the magnetic circuit 4 permit the adjustment of the gain of the
force-current law. A closure member or stop-valve 23, fixed to the
extremity of the rod 11 opposite to the screw 17 is mounted facing
a jet-nozzle 24 with lateral outlets 25a, the whole being arranged,
as already stated, along the general axis Y-Y. This primary stage
finally comprises an orifice plate 25 protected by a filter 26.
All the elements of this primary stage are contained in a body 27
and thus constitute an independent unit, which can be extracted
from the remainder of the apparatus without risk of putting it out
of adjustment. This body 27 is extended by an endpiece 28 fixed on
the body 27 by a nut 29 (see FIG. 5). This endpiece 18 is in turn
closed by the base of the fluidtight electric socket 30.
The secondary stage having an axis X-X (see FIGS. 3, 7, 8 and 9),
comprises a slide valve 31 moving inside a casing 32 and acted upon
by two restoring springs 34 and 35. The chamber 36 (FIGS. 3 and 9),
located at one of the extremities of the slide valve, communicates
continuously with the chamber 37 comprised between the nozzle jet
24 and the orifice plate 25 (FIGS. 3 and 5), in which the primary
stage regulates the control pressure PC. At the opposite extremity
of the slide valve 31, the chamber 38 communicates with the
utilization orifice (pressure PU). The elements of this secondary
stage are mounted in a body 39 on which the primary stage is fixed
in a removable manner.
The casing 32 is held in position by the endpiece 41, which
comprises a screw 42 by means of which the law of current-pressure
can be adjusted. An endpiece 43 closes the chamber 36. Finally, on
the body 39 are provided the three hydraulic connections for supply
(pressure PA), utilization (pressure PU) and return R (FIGS. 3, 4,
7 and 8), together with the fixing lugs (not shown).
The operation of this electric pressure-reducing valve is effected
as follows:
According to the shape of the current-pressure characteristic which
it is desired to obtain, the utilization pressure PU is a
substantially linear function, increasing or decreasing, of the
current I passing through the coil 2, on the assumption that the
supply pressure PA is constant.
There is considered for example the case in which the pressure PU
is a decreasing function of I. When the current I is zero, the
stop-valve or closure member 23 occupies a position very close to
the jet nozzle 24, at a distance which can be adjusted by means of
the screw 17 in order to obtain the desired maximum pressure of PU.
In fact, this distance determines the pressure in the chamber 37.
As long as the pressure PU is less than the pressure PC existing at
37, the slide valve 31 moves towards the left (FIG. 5) and it
delivers from PA towards PU. In consequence, the pressure PU
progressively increases; the slide valve 31 closes its passages
when an equilibrium of the pressures is reached.
When the current I is not zero, the magnetic motor applies to the
moving core 3 a force which, acting in opposition to that applied
by the springs 14 and 15, moves the closure member 23 away from the
jet nozzle 24, which has the effect of reducing the pressure in the
chamber 37. The result is that the slide valve 31 is displaced
towards the right and puts the utilization PU in communication with
the return R, up to the moment when an equilibrium of the pressures
is again obtained, but at a lower value.
It is clear that the force applied on the core by the magnetic
motor has for its origin the combination in the airgaps 7 and 9, of
the flux generated by the coil 2, with the flux created by the
permanent magnet of the groove 64 of the casing, a groove 74 which
can come opposite passages 64 of the latter flux being distributed
between the airgaps 7 and 9, after having passed across the airgap
8.
It will be understood that the particular constructional features
of the electric pressure-reducing valve described above are not of
any limitative nature.
Another electric pressure-reducing valve according to the
invention, which ensures the current-pressure law shown in FIG. 2,
will now be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12.
Referring to FIG. 10, the secondary stage of this embodiment
comprises, housed in a body 51 in a fluidtight manner, as shown, a
cylindrical casing 52 having an axis X-X mounted between two
sockets 53 and 54 forming abutments and two fluidtight plugs 55 and
56 held by threaded nuts 57 and 58 screwed on the body 51. A
cylindrical slide valve 59 having an axis X-X slides freely between
the socket-abutments 53 and 54.
The casing 52 is provided with a plurality of external grooves,
each communicating with radial passages, namely, going from left to
right in FIG. 10: a groove 61 which is connected (in a manner not
shown), to the return to the tank and therefore under pressure; a
groove 62 connected to the utilization conduit and therefore under
the utilization pressure PU; a groove 63 coupled to the supply
conduit and therefore under the supply pressure PA; a groove 64
which is also under the utilization pressure PU; and a groove 65
connected to the output of the primary stage and therefore under
the control pressure PC.
The slide valve 59 is provided externally with a plurality of
external grooves, separated from each other by three shoulders,
namely, going from left to right in FIG. 10: an endpiece 71 of
reduced diameter, a groove 72 which can come opposite passages of
the groove 61 of the casing and which faces passages of the groove
62 of the casing, a groove 73 which is facing the groove 63 of the
casing and which can come opposite passages 64 of the casing, and
an endpiece 75 of reduced diameter.
An axial and then radial passage 76 provides a continuous
communication between the chamber 77 on the left-hand side of the
slide valve and the groove 73, and a radial then axial passage 78
forms a continuous communication between the groove 74 and the
chamber 79 on the right-hand side of the slide valve.
To sum-up, to the left of a central position, the slide valve puts
its groove 72 into communication with the grooves 61 and 62 of the
casing 52 and thus connects the utilization conduit to the return
to the tank, which reduces the utilization pressure PU, and to the
right of this central position, the groove 73 of the slide valve 59
puts into communication the grooves 63 and 64 of the casing 52, and
therefore puts the supply conduit into communication with the
utilization conduit, which increases the utilization pressure
PU.
Now, the slide valve 59 slides freely in the casing 62 under the
action of the hydraulic pressures which are applied to it, and
which are: on the one hand in the left-hand chamber 77, the supply
pressure PA arriving through the groove 63, the groove 73 and the
axial passage 76, and acting towards the right on the annular
section S1 of the endpiece 71, on the other hand, in the right-hand
chamber 79, the utilization pressure PU coming in through the
groove 64, the groove 74 and the axial passage 78, and acting
towards the left on the annular section of the endpiece 75, which
has the same annular section S1 as the endpiece 71, and finally the
control pressure PC, coming in through the groove 65 and acting
towards the left on the annular section S2. In consequence, the
slide valve 59 will be in equilibrium if:
1. (PA)(S1)=(PU)(S1)+(PC)(S2)
therefore:
1. (PU)=(PA)-(PC).sup.. (S2)/(S1)
With reference to FIG. 11, the magnetic motor of the polarized type
comprises a permanent magnet 81 with radial magnetization, a coil
82, a moving core 83 and a magnetic circuit composed of the members
84, 85 and 86. The working airgaps 87 and 88 correspond
respectively to the space comprised between the core 83 and the
member 84, and to the space comprised between the said core and the
member 86. The core 83 is rigidly fixed to a rod 89, the two
extremities of which are suspended respectively from two thin
metallic diaphragms 91 and 92; the core 83 is thus able to move
without rubbing contact with any other part. The elastic return of
the moving system 83--89 is ensured by the two diaphragms 91 and 92
which are notched and tend to lift this moving system, and by a
helicoidal spring 93 which tends to pull it down. This spring 93
works in compression and its supporting point 94 can be displaced
by an adjustment screw 95, accessible through a threaded plug
96.
The above members of the primary stage are housed in a cylindrical
chimney 97, having an axis Y-Y, of the body 51, closed by an
endplate 98 and a nut 99.
The two connection wires 101 of the coil 82 (see FIG. 12) pass into
a recess 102 formed in the body 51 and are connected to an electric
socket 103 which is removable by means of screws 104 (see FIG.
10).
In the body 51 and again along the axis Y-Y is formed a chamber
111, in which a closure member 112, fixed to the lower extremity of
the rod 89 and therefore movable in translation parallel to the
axis Y-Y, moves in front of a jet nozzle 113 mounted in a fixed
position along the axis Y-Y and with fluidtight sealing in the body
51. This jet nozzle 113 is fed through the intermediary of an
orifice plate 114 and a cylindrical filter 115 from the supply
conduit 116. The jet nozzle 113 and its associated parts are held
by a plug 117 and a screw 118 and are thus easily accessible.
When the action of the magnetic motor brings the closure member 112
closer to the jet nozzle 113, the pressure in the chamber 119
upstream of the jet nozzle increases. This pressure is the control
pressure PC and is sent via lateral openings 113a in nozzle 113
into the groove 65 of the secondary stage through a conduit system
(not shown).
It will be noted that, with the arrangements described above, on
the one hand the hydraulic portion of the primary stage is readily
accessible, for example in order to clean the filter or the jet
nozzle, and on the other hand, its electrical portion is easily
accessible. In addition, these parts are interchangeable by means
of the adjustment alone of the spring 93 by its screw 95. These
advantages are obviously associated with the systematically axial
structure (with an axis Y-Y) given to the two hydraulic and
electrical portions of the primary stage of the
electrodistributor.
On the other hand, the direction of the current I in its coil 82 is
such that it produces a control pressure PC at the output of the
primary stage which is an increasing function of the current:
3. (PC)=kI
in which k is a positive constant. A combination of the equations
(2) and (3) shows that:
4. (PU)=(PA)-aI
in which a is a constant equal to (S2/S1).sup.. k. In other words,
the slope a of the straight line representing the current-pressure
law is independent of the supply pressure PA. This is what is shown
in FIG. 2.
From the technological point of view, the construction of the
second stage shown in FIG. 10 should be noted. The two endpieces 71
and 75 are machined on the slide valve 59 in a concentric manner
with respect to the three bearing surfaces which slide in the bore
of the casing. The two sockets 53 and 54 are centered in the bore
of the casing 52, these sockets each comprising a bore in which is
allowed to slide one of the endpieces 71 and 75. It can thus be
seen that as a result of the centering of the sockets 53 and 54 in
the casing 52, there are only two concentricities to be observed:
that of the end pieces 71 and 75 with the three bearing surfaces of
the slide valve, and that of the bore and the external machining of
the sockets 53 and 54. These two concentricities can furthermore be
obtained with a high degree of accuracy by a single machining
operation. In fact, by means of an appropriate jig, the sockets 53
and 54 can be held on the endpieces 71 and 75, and in a single
operation it is possible to grind the three bearing surfaces of the
slide valve and the external diameters of the sockets 53 and
54.
In this way it is possible to obtain almost perfect concentricities
and in consequence to provide a frictionless sliding movement of
the slide valve, at the same time having very small clearances
(between the slide valve 59 and the casing 52, between the
endpieces 71 and 75 and between the sockets 53 and 54 and finally
between the sockets 53 and 54 and the casing). These small
clearances enable very small friction to be obtained at the level
of the second stage.
In addition, it will be observed that the two passages 76 and 78 in
the interior of the slide valve 59, which on the one hand bring the
pressure PA into the chamber 77 and on the other hand lead the
pressure PU into the chamber 79 permit the machining of the body 51
to be simplified.
* * * * *