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Patent Abstract
To provide a solenoid valve having a sensor in which monitor devices
for monitoring whether input or output pressure in the solenoid
valve is appropriate and a switching state of a valve body are collected
to simplify the structure and to facilitate the assembling operation,
thereby enhancing safety and reliability. A solenoid valve having
a sensor comprises a solenoid valve 1, a base 2 for supplying and
discharging pressurized fluid to and from ports P, A, B, EA and
EB of the solenoid valve 1, and an intermediate block 3 disposed
between the solenoid valve 1 and the base 2. The intermediate block
3 is provided with communication passages 53, 54A, 54B, 55A and
55B for respectively bringing the ports of the solenoid valve and
flow paths of the base into communication with each other. A conduit
56 crossing the communication passages is provided in the intermediate
block 3. A pressure introducing port 58 opening at the communication
passage 53 whose pressure is to be detected is formed in the conduit.
A pressure sensor 60 for detecting pressure introduced through the
conduit is provided in the intermediate block 3.
Patent Claims
1. A solenoid valve having a sensor comprising a solenoid valve
having a valve member for switching a flowing direction of pressurized
fluid, a base having a plurality of flow paths for supplying and
discharging pressurized fluid to and from ports of the solenoid
valve, and an intermediate block disposed between the solenoid valve
and the base, wherein the intermediate block is provided with a
plurality of communication passages for respectively bringing the
ports of the solenoid valve and the flow paths of the base into
communication with each other, a conduit is provided at a position
crossing the communication passages, a pressure introducing hole
is provided in the conduit, a pressure introducing port which is
in communication with the communication passage whose pressure is
to be detected, and a pressure sensor for detecting pressure introduced
in the pressure introducing hole through the pressure introducing
port are provided in the pressure introducing hole.
2. A solenoid valve having a sensor according to claim 1, wherein
a passage through which a conductive wire is inserted is provided
in the conduit of the intermediate block.
3. A solenoid valve having a sensor according to claim 2, wherein
a magnet is provided in the valve member of the solenoid valve,
a magnetic sensor for detecting the magnet is provided in the intermediate
block, a signal line connected to the magnetic sensor is pulled
out to a predetermined place in the intermediate block through a
passage for the conductive wire.
4. A solenoid valve having a sensor according to claim 3, wherein
the intermediate block is provided with an indicator for indicating
an operational failure of the valve member based on output of the
magnetic sensor.
5. A solenoid valve having a sensor according to claim 3, wherein
said intermediate block includes an intermediate block body and
a first and second housings continuously formed on the intermediate
block body, the intermediate block body is provided with a communication
passage, a conduit and a pressure sensor, the first housing is provided
therein with a relay terminal for electrically connecting the solenoid
valve and the base with each other, and signal transmitting means
for transmitting output signals of the pressure sensor and the magnetic
sensor to outside, and the second housing is provided therein with
the magnetic sensor.
Patent Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a solenoid valve having
a sensor capable of monitoring whether input or output pressure
in the solenoid valve is appropriate or a switching state of a valve
body.
PRIOR ART
[0002] Conventionally, a solenoid valve is provided with a sensor
for monitoring whether input or output pressure in the solenoid
valve is appropriate or a switching state by a valve body. The sensors
are individually provided if necessary, and they are not uniformly
provided for the entire apparatus, the assembling becomes complicated,
there is an adverse possibility of error wiring, and it is difficult
to secure safety and reliability.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide a solenoid
valve having a sensor in which monitor devices for monitoring whether
input or output pressure in the solenoid valve is appropriate and
a switching state of a valve body are collected to simplify the
structure and to facilitate the assembling operation, thereby enhancing
safety and reliability.
[0004] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides
a solenoid valve having a sensor comprising a solenoid valve having
a valve member for switching a flowing direction of pressurized
fluid, a base having a plurality of flow paths for supplying and
discharging pressurized fluid to and from ports of the solenoid
valve, and an intermediate blocked is posed between the solenoid
valve and the base, wherein the intermediate block is provided with
a plurality of communication passages for respectively bringing
the ports of the solenoid valve and the flow paths of the base into
communication with each other, a conduit is provided at a position
crossing the communication passages, a pressure introducing hole
is provided in the conduit, a pressure introducing port which is
in communication with the communication passage whose pressure is
to be detected, and a pressure sensor for detecting pressure introduced
in the pressure introducing hole through the pressure introducing
port are provided in the pressure introducing hole.
[0005] In the solenoid valve having a sensor according to the present
invention, a passage through which a conductive wire is inserted
is provided in the conduit of the intermediate block. A magnet is
provided in the valve member of the solenoid valve, a magnetic sensor
for detecting the magnet is provided in the intermediate block,
a signal line connected to the magnetic sensor is inserted into
a passage for the conductive wire. In this case, the intermediate
block is provided with an indicator for indicating an operational
failure of-the valve member based on output of the magnetic sensor.
[0006] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
intermediate block includes an intermediate block body and a first
and second housings continuously formed on the intermediate block
body, the intermediate block body is provided with a communication
passage, a conduit and a pressure sensor, the first housing is provided
therein with a relay terminal for electrically connecting the solenoid
valve and the base with each other, and signal transmitting means
for transmitting output signals of the pressure sensor and the magnetic
sensor to outside, and the second housing is provided therein with
the magnetic sensor.
[0007] In the solenoid valve having a sensor of the above-described
structure, monitor devices such as the pressure sensor, magnetic
sensor and the like for monitoring whether input or output pressure
in the solenoid valve is appropriate and a switching state of the
spool are collected in the intermediate block provided between the
solenoid valve and the base. Therefore, a structure for providing
the monitor devices is simplified, possibility of erroneous wiring,
erroneous assembling and the like is remarkably lowered, and assembling
operation is facilitated which is economic. Since the monitor devices
are sandwiched between the solenoid valve and the base by the intermediate
block, the monitor devices are protected, and safety and reliability
can be enhanced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an embodiment of
a solenoid valve having a sensor according to the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along a position II-II
in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of a solenoid valve having
a sensor according to the present invention. The solenoid valve
having the sensor comprises a solenoid valve 1 for switching a flowing
direction of pressurized fluid (compressed air), a base 2 having
flow path for supplying and discharging the pressurized fluid to
each port of the solenoid valve 1, and an intermediate block 3 disposed
between the solenoid valve 1 and the base 2 and provided with various
monitor devices.
[0011] In the solenoid valve 1, a valve hole 10a passes through
a valve casing 10. A supply port P, first and second output ports
A and B and first and second discharge port EA and EB are opened
at the valve hole 10a. A spool 11 is slidably inserted in the valve
hole 10a as a valve member for switching the flow path between the
ports. The spool 11 is known as being used for the solenoid valve.
If the spool 11 moves toward one end or the other end of the solenoid
valve in its axial direction, the supply port P is switched to first
or second output port A or B to bring the supply port P into communication
with one of the output ports and at the same time, the other output
port which was not brought into communication with the supply port
P is brought into communication with the first or second discharge
port EA or EB.
[0012] The shown solenoid valve is a three-position valve having
a neutral stop position for keeping each port in its closed state.
Therefore, an auxiliary block 12 is continuously connected to one
end of the valve casing 10, a stopper 13a engaging one of recesses
of the spool 11 and the valve casing 10, as well as a stopper 13b
engaging the other recess of the spool 11 and the auxiliary block
12 are provided in the auxiliary block 12. A spring 14 is compressed
between these stoppers. In a state in which a driving force is not
generated in the spool 11 by the pilot fluid pressure acting on
opposite ends of the spool 11, both the stoppers 13a and 13b are
kept in the illustrated neutral stop position where the stoppers
engage the valve casing 10 or the auxiliary block 12.
[0013] The solenoid valve 1 need not always be the above-described
three-position valve, and it maybe a two-position valve having no
neutral stop position.
[0014] The spool 11 is loosely inserted into an insertion hole
15a of a spacer 15. The spacer 15 abuts against the auxiliary block
12 in the solenoid valve 1. A ring-like magnet 16 is fitted over
the spool 11 such that the ring-like magnet 16 is located inside
the insertion hole 15a of the spacer 15. The ring-like magnet 16
detects a position of the spool 11 together with a later-described
magnetic sensor. The magnet 16 is fixed to the spool 11 by a cap
17 mounted to an end of the spool 11 such that when the spool 11
is located in the illustrated neutral stop position, the magnet
16 is located at substantially central portion in the insertion
hole 15a of the spacer 15.
[0015] The solenoid valve 1 is provided with pilot valves 20A and
20B that are driven by a pair of solenoids 21A and 21B so as to
drive the spool 11 by pilot fluid pressure. Pistons 24A and 24B
abut against ends of the spool 11 in piston chambers 23A and 23B
in piston blocks 22A and 22B to which the opposite ends of the spool
11 are fitted. The pilot valves 20A and 20B supply and discharge
fluid of the pilot supply passage 25 which is in communication with
the supply port P of the valve casing 10 to and from the piston
chambers 23A and 23B by driving force of the pilot spool caused
by solenoids 21A and 21B.
[0016] That is, if the solenoid 21A of the pilot valve 20A is energized,
the pilot fluid pressure of the pilot supply passage 25 is introduced
into the piston chamber 23A by the switching of the pilot spool,
the pilot fluid pressure is applied to the piston 24A and the spool
11 moves rightward in the drawing and the flowpath in the valve
casing 10 is switched. If the solenoid 21A is de-energized and the
solenoid 21B is energized, pilot fluid pressure in the piston chamber
23A is discharged, pilot fluid pressure in a supply passage 25 is
introduced in the piston chamber 23B and the pressure is applied
to the piston 24B, the spool 11 moves leftward in the drawing, and
the flow path in the valve casing 10 is switched.
[0017] Both the solenoids 21A and 21B are not energized, the spool
11 is kept in the neutral stop position by the spring 14.
[0018] An outer cover of the pilot valves 20A and 20B is provided
with an indication window 26. Pilot lamps 27A and 27B for indicating
the energization state to the solenoids 21A and 21B are arranged
in parallel behind the indication window 26. The pilot lamps 27A
and 27B may be a single pilot lamp, and may indicate the actuation
of the solenoids 21A and 21B using two color-light emission.
[0019] An electricity-receiving terminal 28 is provided between
bonded surfaces of the solenoid valve 1 and the intermediate block
3. The electricity-receiving terminal 28 receives electricity sent
to the solenoids 21A and 21B through an electricity-supplying terminal.
[0020] The base 2 is formed as a manifold corresponding to one
solenoid valve 1. The base 2 comprises a plurality of base bodies
30, which are continuously connected with each other and used. Each
base 30 is provided with a supply passage 31, output passages 32A
and 32B and discharge passages 33A and 33B respectively corresponding
to ports P, A and B, EA and EB of the solenoid valve 1. Among these
passages, in order to bring the supply passages 31 into communication
with each other, bring the discharge passages 33A to each other,
and bring the discharge passages 33B into communication with each
other through had adjacent bases 2, a supply hole 34, discharge
holes 35A and 35B are formed between the supply passages 31, the
discharge passages 33A and 33B, such as to penetrate the bases 2
there between. The output passages 32A and 32B are individually
opened at an end surface of the base 2, and quick couplings 36A
and 36B for connecting piping tubes are mounted to the output passages
32A and 32B, respectively.
[0021] Connectors 40 are provided on continuously connected surfaces
of opposite sides of the base 30. When the plurality of bases 2
are connected to each other, the connectors 40 are connected to
each other for supplying electricity and transmitting signals between
the bases 2. The connector 40 is electrically connected to a connection
terminal 42 which is connected to a connection terminal of the intermediate
block 3 through a signal processing printed board 41. The printed
board 41 receives a signal transmitted from adjacent base through
the connector 40, and when electricity is supplied to the solenoid
21A or 21B in the mounted solenoid valve 1 based on the signal,
the printed board 41 controls such as supply electricity required
for such energizing circuits, and controls such as to transmit,
to a control unit through the connector 40, an output of a later-described
sensor which monitors a propriety of input/output pressure for the
solenoid valve 1 or a switching state of the spool 11.
[0022] The intermediate block 3 includes an intermediate block
body 50 first and second housings 51 and 52 continuously formed
on opposite ends of the intermediate block body 50. The intermediate
block 3 is sandwiched between the solenoid valve 1 and the base
2. Upper and lower surfaces of the intermediate block 3 include
bonding surfaces, which conform to bonding surfaces of the solenoid
valve 1 and the base 2.
[0023] The intermediate block body 50 includes, between bonding
surfaces of the solenoid valve 1 and the intermediate block body
50 and between bonding surfaces of the base 2 and the intermediate
block body 50, communication passage 53, 54A and 54B, 55A and 55B
for bringing the ports P, A and B, EA and EB of the solenoid valve
1 and the flow paths 31, 32A and 32B, 33A and 33B of the base 2
with each other. As shown in FIG.2, the intermediate block body
50 is also provided therein with a conduit 56 formed such that the
conduit 56 does not hinder the flow of fluid in each of the communication
passages 53, 54A and 54B, 55A and 55B. A pressure introducing hole
57 is formed in the conduit 56 in its necessary range, and a conductor
passage 61 passes through the conduit 56.
[0024] The pressure introducing hole 57 in the conduit 56 is formed
from one end of the intermediate block body 50 to a position corresponding
to the communication passage 54B, but can be formed to a position
corresponding to the communication passage 53 or the communication
passage 54A. A pressure introducing port 58 is opened from the pressure
introducing hole 57 toward a communication passage whose pressure
is to be detected. Although the pressure introducing port 58 is
opened in the communication passage which is in communication with
the supply passage 31 in the illustrated example, if pressure (pressure
of output port A or B) of the communication passage 54A or 54B is
to be detected, a pressure introducing port 58A or 58B may be provided
instead of the pressure introducing port 58. In this case, in order
to make is possible to detect pressure of arbitrary communication
passage by selectively forming the pressure introducing port in
the pressure introducing hole 57 from any one of the communication
passages 53, 54A and 54B, it is preferable that the pressure introducing
hole 57 reaches a position corresponding to the communication passage
54B as illustrated.
[0025] In the intermediate block body 50, a pressure sensor 60
for detecting pressure introduced through the pressure introducing
hole 57 is provided at an opening end of the pressure introducing
hole 57.
[0026] A passage 61 extending from one end of the conduit 56 to
the other end thereof is provided in the conduit 56 in the intermediate
block body 50 in parallel to the pressure introducing hole 57. An
arbitrary conductor form connecting both ends of the valve casing
10 can be inserted into the passage 61. In the illustrated example,
a signal line 63 for transmitting outputs of magnetic sensors 62A
and 62B which detects approach of the magnet 16 provided in the
spool 11 of the solenoid valve 1 is inserted into the passage 61.
[0027] As energization relay means for passing electricity between
the solenoid valve 1 and the base 2, an electricity-supplying terminal
65 connected to the electricity-receiving terminal 28 is provided
in the first housing 51 in the intermediate block 3 on the bonding
surface with respect to the solenoid valve 1, and a connection terminal
66 connected to the connection terminal 42 is provided on the bonding
surface with respect to the base 2. The electricity-supplying terminal
65 and the connection terminal 66 are electrically connected to
each other through a printed board 67.
[0028] As signal transmitting means for transmitting output signals
of the pressure sensor 60 and the magnetic sensor 62A and 62B to
outside through the base, an electric circuit element is provided
in the first housing 51. The electric circuit element transmits
output signal of the pressure sensor 60 and output signals of the
magnetic sensors 62A and 62B transmitted through the conductor in
the passage 61 to the connection terminal 42 on the side of the
base 2 through the printed board 67 and the connection terminal
66.
[0029] The printed board 67 comprises a semiconductor device 68
required for processing signals. The semiconductor device 68 outputs
the outputs of the pressure sensor 60 and the magnetic sensors 62A
and 62B as signals suitable to be sent through the signal line.
The printed board 67 is fixed by a pressing lid 69 having the connection
terminal 66. The printed board 67 is provided with an indicator
70 for indicating a switching delay of the spool 11 or operational
failure such as non-operation state using a pilot lamp by checking
a signal or the like at the time of start of energization to the
solenoids 21A and 21B if necessary based on the outputs of the magnetic
sensors 62A and 62B, so that the switching delay or the operational
failure can visually be checked through an indication window 71.
[0030] The magnetic sensors 62A and 62B are provided in the second
housing 52 such that the magnetic sensors are fitted into a recess
15b of the spacer 15 in the solenoid valve 1. With this design,
the magnetic sensors 62A and 62B are brought closer to the magnet
16 on the spool 11 located in an insertion hole 15a of the spacer
15. The magnetic sensors 62A and 62B detect approach and separation
of the magnet 16, thereby detecting an actual position of the spool
11. In the illustrated embodiment, the two magnetic sensors detects
a position PA of the magnet when the pilot valve 20A is driven,
a position PB of the magnet when the pilot valve 20A is driven,
and a neutral position of the magnet. If the same purpose can be
achieved, any number of magnetic sensors may be disposed. The same
can be applied to the magnet 16. Moving positions of the spool 11
to be detected can also be set arbitrarily.
[0031] In the solenoid valve having a sensor of the above-described
structure, monitor devices such as the pressure sensor, magnetic
sensor and the like for monitoring whether input or output pressure
in the solenoid valve is appropriate and a switching state of the
spool are collected in the intermediate block 3 provided between
the solenoid valve 1 and the base 2. Therefore, a structure for
providing the monitor devices is simplified, possibility of erroneous
wiring, erroneous assembling and the like is remarkably lowered,
and assembling operation is facilitated which is economic. Since
the monitor devices are sandwiched between the solenoid valve 1
and the base 2 by the intermediate block 3, the monitor devices
are protected, and safety and reliability can be enhanced.
[0032] According to the present invention described in detail above,
it is possible to provide a solenoid valve having a sensor in which
monitor devices for monitoring whether input or output pressure
in the solenoid valve is appropriate and a switching state of a
valve body are collected to simplify the structure and to facilitate
the assembling operation, thereby enhancing safety and reliability.
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