Spool Valve Assembly Apparatus Using Air Vortex Insertion

Abstract

The effects of an air bearing may be augmented in various ways in order to assist in the automated assembly of valve spools into valve bores. Such augmentation may be achieved by agitating one end of the valve spool with sequentially applied pulses of pressurized air as the spool is being lowered into the valve body, increasing the effective length of the valve spool so that the agitation can be applied to the spool when the spool is partially inserted into the body, varying the position of the valve spool while the spool is being inserted into the valve body to expose a length of the spool to the pulses of pressurized air, and applying an oscillating vibration to the fixture that supports the valve body to dislodge a spool that has become jammed in the valve bore.

1 . An apparatus for assembling an elongated valve spool into the vertically oriented bore of a spool valve body, the apparatus comprising:
 a nozzle spaced above the valve body, the valve spool passing vertically downward through the nozzle before entering the valve body;   a device for agitating either the valve spool or the valve body as the valve spool is lowered into the valve body, the agitation moving the valve spool off of any point of rest of the valve body as the valve spool enters the valve bore, whereby gravity causes the valve spool to fall to the bottom of the valve body.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an air vortex formed in the nozzle, the air vortex being directed against the valve spool to agitate the spool as it is entering the valve body.   
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a plurality of air holes formed in the nozzle; and   a source of air coupled to each of the air holes, the air holes and the source of air coupled to the air holes creating the air vortex in the nozzle.   
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  further comprising:
 an air controller controlling the air flow to the air holes, the air controller sequentially providing air to the air holes formed in the nozzle in order to form the air vortex.   
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a vibrating device coupled to the valve body, the vibrating device inducing vibrations in the valve body to prevent the valve spool from maintaining one angular position in the valve body or resting within the confinement of the valve body.   
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  further comprising:
 a fixture for holding the valve body during the assembly operation, the valve body being mounted on the fixture, and the vibrating device being mounted on the fixture.   
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  further comprising:
 a ball oscillator comprising the vibrating device, the ball oscillator producing movement in the fixture greater than 0.0005 inches.   
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  further comprising:
 a pneumatic ball oscillator comprising the oscillator, the pneumatic ball oscillator producing movement in the fixture of between 0.0001 and 0.002 inches.   
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a slide for supporting the valve body, the slide being movable to vary the position of the valve body as the spool is being inserted into the body.   
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising:
 an air vortex formed in the nozzle, the air vortex being directed against the valve spool to agitate the spool as it is entering the valve body;   the slide varying the position of the valve body relative to the nozzle as the spool is being inserted into the body to expose various areas of the spool to the air vortex formed in the nozzle.   
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the slide lowers the valve body as the spool is being inserted into the valve body. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an air vortex formed in the nozzle, the air vortex being directed against the valve spool to agitate the spool as it is entering the valve body; and,   an extension device coupled to one end of the valve spool for enhancing the agitation effect of the air vortex on the valve spool, the extension device extending the length of the valve spool so that the air vortex can act on the valve spool after the valve spool has passed through the nozzle.   
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a coiled spring comprising the extension device, the coiled spring being attached to one end of the valve spool and extending beyond the end of the spool.   
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an air vortex formed in the nozzle, the air vortex being directed against the valve spool to agitate the spool as it is entering the valve body; and,   a vibrating device coupled to the valve body, the vibrating device inducing vibrations in the valve body to prevent the valve spool from maintaining one angular position in the valve body or resting within the confinement of the valve body.   
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an air vortex formed in the nozzle, the air vortex being directed against the valve spool to agitate the spool as it is entering the valve body; and,   a slide for supporting the valve body, the slide being movable to vary the position of the valve body relative to the nozzle as the spool is being inserted into the body.   
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an air vortex formed in the nozzle, the air vortex being directed against the valve spool to agitate the spool as it is entering the valve body; and,   an attachment coupled to the valve spool, the attachment enhancing the agitation effect of the air vortex on the valve spool.   
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a vibrating device coupled to the valve body, the vibrating device inducing vibrations in the valve body to prevent the valve spool from maintaining one angular position in the valve body or resting within the confinement of the valve body; and,   a slide for supporting the valve body, the slide being movable to vary the position of the valve body relative to the nozzle as the spool is being inserted into the body.   
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a vibrating device coupled to the valve body, the vibrating device inducing vibrations in the valve body to prevent the valve spool from maintaining one angular position in the valve body or resting within the confinement of the valve body;   an air vortex formed in the nozzle, the air vortex being directed against the valve spool to agitate the spool as it is entering the valve body; and,   an attachment coupled to the valve spool, the attachment enhancing the agitation effect of the air vortex on the valve spool.   
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a slide for supporting the valve body, the slide being movable to vary the position of the valve body as the spool is being inserted into the body;   an air vortex formed in the nozzle, the air vortex being directed against the valve spool to agitate the spool as it is entering the valve body; and,   an attachment coupled to the valve spool, the attachment enhancing the agitation effect of the air vortex on the valve spool.   
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an air vortex formed in the nozzle, the air vortex being directed against the valve spool to agitate the spool as it is entering the valve body;   a vibrating device coupled to the valve body, the vibrating device inducing vibrations in the valve body to prevent the valve spool from maintaining one angular position in the valve body or resting within the confinement of the valve body; and,   a slide for supporting the valve body, the slide being movable to vary the position of the valve body relative to the nozzle as the spool is being inserted into the body.   
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an air vortex formed in the nozzle, the air vortex being directed against the valve spool to agitate the spool as it is entering the valve body;   a vibrating device coupled to the valve body, the vibrating device inducing vibrations in the valve body to prevent the valve spool from maintaining one angular position in the valve body or resting within the confinement of the valve body; and,   an attachment coupled to the valve spool, the attachment enhancing the agitation effect of the air vortex on the valve spool.   
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an air vortex formed in the nozzle, the air vortex being directed against the valve spool to agitate the spool as it is entering the valve body;   a vibrating device coupled to the valve body, the vibrating device inducing vibrations in the valve body to prevent the valve spool from maintaining one angular position in the valve body or resting within the confinement of the valve body;   a slide for supporting the valve body, the slide being movable to vary the position of the valve body relative to the nozzle as the spool is being inserted into the body; and,   an attachment coupled to the valve spool, the attachment enhancing the agitation effect of the air vortex on the valve spool.   
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a slide for supporting the valve body, the slide being movable to vary the position of the valve body as the spool is being inserted into the body;   an air vortex formed in the nozzle, the air vortex being directed against the valve spool to agitate the spool as it is entering the valve body; and,   an attachment coupled to the valve spool, the attachment enhancing the agitation effect of the air vortex on the valve spool.   
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an air vortex formed in the nozzle, the air vortex being directed against the valve spool to agitate the spool as it is entering the valve body;   a vibrating device coupled to the valve body, the vibrating device inducing vibrations in the valve body to prevent the valve spool from maintaining one angular position in the valve body or resting within the confinement of the valve body;   a slide for supporting the valve body, the slide being movable to vary the position of the valve body relative to the nozzle as the spool is being inserted into the body; and,   an attachment coupled to the valve spool, the attachment enhancing the agitation effect of the air vortex on the valve spool.