DIRECT DRIVE ROTARY VALVE

摘要

A rotary valve comprises a bushing and a cylindrical spool rotatably received by the bushing. The rotary valve avoids redundant control edge pairs by having exactly one first supply edge pair (P-C1) for controlling a first fluid supply path, exactly one second supply edge pair (P-C2) for controlling a second fluid supply path, exactly one first return edge pair (C2-R1) for controlling a first fluid return path, and exactly one second return edge pair (C1-R2) for controlling a second fluid return path. A first angle between the first supply edge pair and the first return edge pair, and a second angle between the second supply edge pair and the second return edge pair, are each greater than or equal to 120 degrees and less than 180 degrees. Geometric simplicity is achieved by tolerating a limited degree of force imbalance in valve operation.

主权项

1. A rotary valve for metering fluid flow, the rotary valve comprising:
a bushing including an axially extending cylindrical bore defining an inner wall of the bushing; and a cylindrical spool received by the cylindrical bore for rotation relative to the bushing about a central axis; the bushing and the spool being configured to provide a first fluid supply path, a second fluid supply path, a first fluid return path, and a second fluid return path; the bushing and the spool including respective edges defining a first supply edge pair (P-C1), wherein the respective edges of the first supply edge pair are angularly displaceable relative to one another to open and close the first fluid supply path; the bushing and the spool further including respective edges defining a second supply edge pair (P-C2), wherein the respective edges of the second supply edge pair are angularly displaceable relative to one another to open and close the second fluid supply path; the bushing and the spool further including respective edges defining a first return edge pair (C2-R1), wherein the respective edges of the first return edge pair are angularly displaceable relative to one another to open and close the first fluid return path; and the bushing and the spool further including respective edges defining a second return edge pair (C1-R2), wherein the respective edges of the second return edge pair are angularly displaceable relative to one another to open and close the second fluid return path; wherein the rotary valve comprises exactly one first supply edge pair, exactly one second supply edge pair, exactly one first return edge pair, and exactly one second return edge pair.