US 11,946,496 B2
Hydraulic control valve with visual identification system
Anthony Casale, Lincolnshire, IL (US); Scott Wickboldt, Vernon Hills, IL (US); and Aaron Winslow, Hainesville, IL (US)
Assigned to HydraForce, Inc., Lincolnshire, IL (US)
Filed by HydraForce, Inc., Lincolnshire, IL (US)
Filed on Sep. 19, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/576,413.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/733,413, filed on Sep. 19, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2020/0088222 A1, Mar. 19, 2020
Int. Cl. F16K 51/00 (2006.01); F15B 21/00 (2006.01); F16K 11/076 (2006.01); F15B 13/00 (2006.01); G05D 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC F15B 21/00 (2013.01) [F16K 11/076 (2013.01); F16K 51/00 (2013.01); F15B 2013/008 (2013.01); G05D 1/021 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A hydraulic control valve comprising:
a control valve cartridge assembly, the control valve cartridge assembly including a movable member, the movable member being movable over a range of travel between a first flow position and a second flow position;
an electro-magnetic actuator, the electro-magnetic actuator mounted to the control valve cartridge assembly and operatively associated with the movable member of the control valve cartridge assembly to selectively move the movable member from the first flow position to the second flow position;
wherein at least one of the control valve cartridge assembly and the electro-magnetic actuator includes a visual identifier mounting member; and
a visual identification system, the visual identification system including a first indicator member and a second indicator member, the first indicator member having an external surface bearing a first indicia, and the second indicator member having an external surface bearing a second indicia, the second indicia being different from the first indicia, the first and second indicator members each being configured to be separately removably mounted to the visual identifier mounting member via a mechanical connection without adhesive, wherein the first indicia and the second indicia comprise a predetermined graphical code configured to indicate a first value and a second value of a variable characteristic, respectively, the first value being different from the second value;
wherein the first and second indicator members are each configured to be interengaged with the visual identifier mounting member via a retentive fit.