Development and Testing of Hydraulic ‘Bharath Valve’ to Control Multiple Actuators

Abstract

The Research is entitled “Design, Fabrication and Performance Testing of Directional Control Valve for Control of Multiple Actuators”. An indexing unit is a direction control valve used in Hydraulic system. This device shall be named ‘Bharath Valve’ (US10180190), as is the name of its Inventor. This valve can control more than one number of actuators. This valve consists of a hollow outer cylinder and inner cylinder. The inner cylinder fits in the hollow portion of outer cylinder; this inner cylinder is operated manually. The rotation of the inner cylinder inside the outer cylinder changes the direction of flow of liquid through the valve this control the movements of actuator. This Indexing valve can become a highly advantageous replacement of the conventional Spool valves that are used for controlling the actuator. In the present scenario one spool valve can control only one actuator thus the number spool valves used in a hydraulic system is equal to the number of actuators. However ‘Bharath’ valve can control more than one number of actuators, this in turn makes the number of system components less and also reduces the overall cost of hydraulic system. Even the controlling of movement of actuators can be easy. A computer interface if given can make this valve versatile and a very cheap alternative to the existing valves, taking number of components, construction, friction and efficiency into account. This research proves that ‘Bharath’ valve has more advantages than that of existing ones and some of the advantages are listed below,  One valve can control more than one actuators thus reduces the number of valves.  Construction of this indexing valve is simpler and parts involved in friction is less.  Reduction in the cost of manufacturing is highly significant.  This valve makes it possible to actuate the desired cylinder keeping the other at rest.  The modification in operating actuators of system can be easily changed by operating ON/OFF flow valve connected to the inlets of Indexing valve.