Hydraulic valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11090172-B2
Application number	US-201816002968-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 7, 2018
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Aug 17, 2021
Grant date	Aug 17, 2021

Abstract

A valve includes a case comprising a pin bore, a pin configured to move axially in the pin bore, wherein the pin seals the pin bore, a first channel in communication with the pin bore, a second channel in communication with the pin bore, wherein the second channel comprises a restrictor at a location offset from the first channel, a third channel in communication with the pin bore, wherein the third channel comprises a check valve, and the second channel and third channel are in communication with each other. The valve can be a miniature valve that is used in the control of hydraulic fluid in prosthesis, such as a prosthetic ankle joint.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A valve, comprising:
a case comprising a pin bore and a partly bored hole;
an insert placed in the partly bored hole, and the pin bore is in an axial center of the insert;
a pin configured to move axially in the pin bore, wherein the pin seals the pin bore;
a first channel in communication with the pin bore;
a second channel in communication with the pin bore wherein the second channel comprises a restrictor at a location offset from the first channel;
a third channel in communication with the pin bore, wherein the third channel comprises a check valve, and the second channel and third channel are in communication with each other.

2. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the insert includes an annular space around the periphery of the insert and a plurality of holes equidistantly spaced around the annulus, wherein the holes extend from the annular space to the pin bore.

3. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the insert includes an annular space around the periphery of the insert and a plurality of holes equidistantly spaced around the annulus, wherein the holes extend from the annular space to the pin bore, wherein the second and third channels are in communication with the annular space.

4. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the check valve permits flow from the pin bore to a port, and blocks flow from the port to the pin bore.

5. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the restrictor reduces flow therethrough.

6. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the pin is cylindrical.

7. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the pin is cylindrical tapered.

8. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the check valve cracking pressure is about 0 psi.

9. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the second and third channels are in communication with the pin bore via two or more holes equidistantly spaced around the axis of the pin bore.

10. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the pin seals the pin bore at one end thereof.

11. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the pin is mounted axially at one end of a helix screw.

12. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the first channel communicates with the pin bore at a first depth and the second and third channels communicate with the pin bore at a second depth.

13. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the first channel communicates with the distal end of the pin bore and the second and third channels communicate with the pin bore at approximately a middle section.

14. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the second and third channels are in communication with each other before the check valve and restrictor and after the check valve and restrictor.

15. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the first channel communicates with a bi-directional flow port at one side of the case and the second and third channels communicate with a bi-directional flow port at a different side of the case.

16. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the pin bore extends partly through the depth of the case.

17. The valve of claim 1 , comprising more than two channels in communication with the pin bore, wherein the more than two channels are provided at different depths along the pin bore.

18. The valve of claim 1 , comprising more than two channels in communication with the pin bore, wherein the more than two channels are provided at different depths along the pin bore and the more than two channels lead to the same port in the valve case.

19. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the first channel does not include a restrictor and check valve.

20. A prosthetic ankle joint, comprising:
a base having a pivot secured to a body;
a first and second piston in contact with the base;
the body having a first and second cylinder within which the first and second pistons are placed, wherein the first cylinder and piston are placed anteriorly to the pivot and the second cylinder and piston are placed posteriorly to the pivot;
a hydraulic system connecting the first and second cylinders; and
the valve as claimed in claim 1 in the hydraulic system that controls flow to and from the first and second cylinders, wherein each cylinder connects to a channel leading to a pin bore of the valve.

21. The prosthetic ankle joint of claim 20 , wherein the first (toe) cylinder is in communication with the second and third channels proximally to pin bore, and the second (heel) cylinder is in communication with the first channel proximally to the pin bore.

Assignees

• Bock Healthcare Gmbh
• Ottobock Se & Co Kgaa

Inventors

• Geiger Richard
• Kraige David
• Frank Jeremy
• Loverich Jacob
• Macomber Ben Gilbert
• Arabian Adam

Classifications

• Y10T137/0318

  Processes · CPC title

• A61F2/748

  Valve systems · CPC title

• F15B13/06

  for use with two or more servomotors · CPC title

• A61F2/74

  fluid {, i.e. hydraulic or pneumatic} · CPC title

• F15B7/02

  Systems with continuously-operating input and output apparatus · CPC title