Pressure-compensated proportional flow control valve with an integrated turbine for flow rate sensing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11680551-B2
Application number	US-202217680704-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 25, 2022
Priority date	Jun 11, 2021
Publication date	Jun 20, 2023
Grant date	Jun 20, 2023

Abstract

An example valve includes: a pressure compensation spool configured to be subjected to a first fluid force of fluid received at a first port acting in a proximal direction; a pressure compensation spring disposed in a pressure compensation chamber and applying a biasing force on the pressure compensation spool in a distal direction; a turbine configured to rotate as fluid flows through the valve; and a flow area configured to throttle fluid flow from the first port to the pressure compensation chamber, wherein fluid in the pressure compensation chamber applies a second fluid force on the pressure compensation spool in the distal direction, such that the pressure compensation spool moves to a particular axial position based on force equilibrium between the first fluid force, the second fluid force, and the biasing force to throttle fluid flow from the pressure compensation chamber to a second port.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A valve comprising:
a pressure compensation spool configured to be subjected to a first fluid force of fluid received at a first port of the valve acting on the pressure compensation spool in a proximal direction;
a pressure compensation spring disposed in a pressure compensation chamber and applying a biasing force on the pressure compensation spool in a distal direction;
a turbine configured to rotate as fluid received at the first port flows through the valve; and
a throttling flow area configured to throttle fluid flow from the first port to the pressure compensation chamber, wherein fluid in the pressure compensation chamber applies a second fluid force on the pressure compensation spool in the distal direction, such that the pressure compensation spool moves to a particular axial position based on force equilibrium between the first fluid force, the second fluid force, and the biasing force to throttle fluid flow from the pressure compensation chamber to a second port of the valve, thereby causing a pressure differential across the turbine and the throttling flow area to be maintained substantially constant.

2. The valve of claim 1 , further comprising:
a main chamber disposed upstream from the turbine and configured to receive fluid from the first port; and
a turbine chamber in which the turbine is disposed, wherein the throttling flow area is located downstream from the turbine chamber, and wherein the pressure differential comprises a first pressure differential across the turbine between the main chamber and the turbine chamber and a second pressure differential across the throttling flow area between the turbine chamber and the pressure compensation chamber.

3. The valve of claim 1 , further comprising:
a Hall Effect sensor configured to sense rotation of the turbine and provide a signal indicative of a count of revolutions of the turbine to facilitate determining fluid flow rate of fluid flowing from the first port to the second port.

4. The valve of claim 3 , wherein the turbine comprises an impeller mounted to a turbine shaft, and wherein the valve further comprises:
a wheel mounted to the turbine shaft and rotatable therewith, wherein the Hall Effect sensor is mounted adjacent the wheel.

5. The valve of claim 4 , wherein the wheel comprises magnetic material, wherein the Hall Effect sensor is configured to interact with the magnetic material of the wheel to count the revolutions of the turbine.

6. The valve of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sleeve; and
a throttling spool that is axially-movable within the sleeve, wherein as the throttling spool moves axially, the throttling flow area is formed between the throttling spool and one or more throttling cross-holes formed in the sleeve, and wherein a size of the throttling flow area is adjustable based on an axial position of the throttling spool.

7. The valve of claim 6 , wherein the turbine is disposed within the throttling spool, wherein the throttling spool comprises one or more longitudinal through-holes allowing fluid flow therethrough, and one or more flat portions protruding from a distal end of the throttling spool, and wherein the valve further comprises:
a throttling spring resting against the one or more flat portions and applying a biasing force on the throttling spool in the proximal direction.

8. The valve of claim 7 , further comprising:
a solenoid actuator having a solenoid coil and an armature, wherein when the solenoid coil is energized, the armature moves axially, thereby causing the throttling spool to move axially therewith.

9. The valve of claim 8 , further comprising:
a rod configured to move with the armature, wherein the rod is disposed through the turbine and is coupled to the throttling spool, such that axial movement of the armature causes the rod and the throttling spool to move therewith.

10. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the turbine comprises a turbine shaft, and wherein the valve further comprises:
a thrust bearing supporting the turbine shaft against axial loads and facilitating rotation of the turbine shaft.

11. The valve of claim 1 , further comprising:
a housing having a longitudinal cylindrical cavity in which the pressure compensation spool and the turbine are disposed; and
a tube fixedly-disposed within the longitudinal cylindrical cavity of the housing, wherein the pressure compensation spool is slidably-accommodated about an exterior surface of the tube.

12. The valve of claim 11 , wherein the pressure compensation spring is disposed about the exterior surface of the tube.

13. The valve of claim 11 , wherein a portion of the pressure compensation chamber is formed between the exterior surface of the tube and an interior surface of the housing.

14. The valve of claim 11 , wherein the housing comprises a pressure compensation cross-hole, and wherein axial movement of the pressure compensation spool varies a size of a pressure compensation flow area formed between the pressure compensation spool and an edge of the pressure compensation cross-hole to throttle fluid flow from the pressure compensation chamber to the second port.

15. The valve of claim 11 , further comprising:
a nose piece disposed at a distal end of the housing; and
a reverse flow spring disposed between the pressure compensation spool and the nose piece, such that the reverse flow spring applies a respective biasing force on the pressure compensation spool in the proximal direction, wherein when pressurized fluid is received at the second port, the pressurized fluid pushes the pressure compensation spool in the distal direction against the reverse flow spring, allowing fluid flow to the first port.

16. The valve of claim 15 , wherein the tube comprises one or more cross-holes, and wherein when pressurized fluid pushes the pressure compensation spool in the distal direction against the reverse flow spring, fluid flows through the one or more cross-holes of the tube, through a main chamber within the tube to the first port.

17. A hydraulic system comprising:
an actuator comprising a cylinder and an actuator piston slidably-accommodated within the cylinder, wherein the actuator piston divides an inner space of the cylinder to a first chamber and a second chamber;
a directional control valve configured to direct fluid flow to and from the first chamber and the second chamber of the actuator;
a source of fluid flow;
a valve comprising a first port fluidly-coupled to the source of fluid flow and a second port fluidly-coupled to the directional control valve, wherein the valve further comprises:
a pressure compensation spool configured to be subjected to a first fluid force of fluid received at the first port acting on the pressure compensation spool in a proximal direction,
a pressure compensation spring disposed in a pressure compensation chamber and applying a biasing force on the pressure compensation spool in a distal direction,
a turbine configured to rotate as fluid received at the first port flows through the valve,
a throttling flow area configured to throttle fluid flow from the first port to the pressure compensation chamber, wherein fluid in the pressure compensation chamber applies a second fluid force on the pressure compensation spool in the distal direction, such that the pressure compensation spool moves to a particular axial position based on force equilibrium between the first fluid force, the second fluid force, and the biasing force to throttle fluid flow from the pressure compensation chamber to the second port of the valve, thereby causing a

Assignees

• Sun Hydraulics Llc

Inventors

• Zähe Bernd

Classifications

• F15B13/02

  Fluid distribution or supply devices characterised by their adaptation to the control of servomotors · CPC title

• G01F15/005

  Valves (valves in general F16K) · CPC title

• G01F1/115

  with magnetic or electromagnetic coupling to the indicating device · CPC title

• F15B15/00

  Fluid-actuated devices for displacing a member from one position to another; Gearing associated therewith · CPC title

• F05B2220/706

  an electrical generator · CPC title