当前申请(专利权)人地址：
Coombe Lodge, Bourne Lane, Blagdon, Bristol, BS40 7RG, United Kingdom
摘要：
A servo valve comprises a manifold 2 formed using an additive manufacturing (3D printing) technique. The manifold 2 may include a cylindrical cavity for receiving a valve spool 12 and a plurality of curvilinear and/or non-circular galleries 4,6,8,10. Additional features such as filters (32, figures 2a & 2b) and non-return valves (201, figure 5) may be integrally formed during the additive manufacturing process.
权利要求：
-22 -Ciaims 1. A method for producing a servo valve manifold, wherein the manifold is formed using an additive manufacturing process.
2. A method for producing a manifold in accordance with claim 1, wherein the method includes the step of: providing a spool located within a cavity formed within the manifold during the additive manufacturing process.
3. A method for producing a manifold in accordance with claim 2, wherein the cavity is cylindrical.
4. A method for producing a manifold in accordance with claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the method includes the step of: forming a fluid port locaed in the inner surface of the manifold which defines the cavity during the additive manufacturing process.
5. A method for producing a manifold in accordance with claim 4, wherein the fluid port has a non-circular cross-section.
6. A method for producing a manifold in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein The method includes the step of: forming at least one curvilinear flow gallery within the manifold during the additive manufacturing process.
7. A method for producing a manifold according to claim 6, wherein the at least one flow gallery has a variable cross-section.
8. A method for producing a manifold according to claim 6 or clam 7, in which the at least one gallery branches into two sub-galleries.
9. A method for producing a manifold according to any preceding claim, wherein The method includes the step of: forming at least one flow control feature as part of the -23 -single piece manifold during the additive manufacturing process.
10. A method for producing a manifold according to claim 9 when dependent on claim 2, wherein the spool is mounted concentrically within the manifold cavity such that an annular cavity is formed between the spool and the manifold, and the flow control feature is a sleeve which divides the annular cavity into at least two concentric annular zones along a porrion of the length of the spool.
11. A method for producing a manifold according to claim 9, wherein the flow control feature is a thud filter.
12. A method for producing a manifold according to claim 11, wherein the fluid filter is a grate, comprising a plurality of intersecting filter walls and the length of a filter wall is more than twice its thickness.
13. A method for producing a manifold according to claim 9, wherein the flow control feature is a flow restrictor.
14. A method for producing a manifold according to any preceding claim, wherein The method includes the step of: forming a cavity within the manifold and providing a valve member within the cavity.
15. A method for producing a manifold according to claim 14, in which the cavity includes a valve locating portion and a valve opening, and the valve member is elastically deformable and wherein the valve member is located within the cavity by the valve locating portion such that the valve opening is blocked by the valve member.
16. A method for producing a manifold according to claim 15, wherein the valve locating portion is an area of reduced diameter and the valve member is located within the cavity such that the valve member is compressed between the valve opening and the area of reduced diameter.
-24 - 17. A method for producing a manifold according to claim 16, wherein the elastically deformable valve member includes at least one compression spring.
18.A servo valve manifold produced in accordance with the method of claims 1 to 17.AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWS: Claims l.A method of producing a servo valve manifold, wherein the manifold is formed using an additive manufacturing process.2.A method of producing a manifold in accordance with claim 1, wherein the method includes the step of: providing a spool located within a cavity formed within the manifold during the additive manufacturing process.3. A method of producing a manifold in accordance with claim 2, wherein the cavity is cylindrical.4.A method of producing a manifold in accordance with claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the method includes the step of: forming a fluid port locaed in the inner surface of the manifold which defines the cavity during the additive manufacturing process.5. A method of producing a manifold in accordance with claim LCD 4, wherein the fluid port has a non-circular cross-section.6. A method of producing a manifold in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein The method includes the step of: forming at least one curvilinear flow gallery within the manifold during the additive manufacturing process.7.A method of producing a manifold according to claim 6, wherein the at least one flow gallery has a variable cross-section.8.A method of producing a manifold according to claim 6 or claim 7, in which the at least one gallery branches into two sub-galleries.9. A method of producing a manifold according to any preceding claim, wherein The method includes the step of: forming at least one flow control feature as part of the single piece manifold during the additive manufacturing process.10. A method of producing a manifold according to claim 9 when dependent on claim 2, wherein the spool is mounted concentrically within the manifold cavity such that an annular cavity is formed between the spool and the manifold, and the flow control feature is a sleeve which divides the annular cavity into at least two concentric annular zones along a porrion of the length of the spool.11. A method of producing a manifold according to claim 9, wherein the flow control feature is a thud filter.12. A method of producing a manifold according to claim 11, wherein the fluid filter is a grate, comprising a plurality of intersecting filter walls and the length of a filter wall is more than twice its thickness.13. A method of producing a manifold according to claim 9, 0 wherein the flow control feature is a flow restrictor.LCD 14. A method of producing a manifold according to any preceding claim, wherein The method includes the step of: forming a cavity within the manifold and providing a valve member within the cavity.15. A method of producing a manifold according to claim 14, in which the cavity includes a valve locating portion and a valve opening, and the valve member is elastically deformable and wherein the valve member is located within the cavity by the valve locating portion such that the valve opening is blocked by the valve member.16. A method of producing a manifold according to claim 15, wherein the valve locating portion is an area of reduced diameter and the valve member is located within the cavity such that the valve member is compressed between the valve opening and the area of reduced diameter.17. A method of producing a manifold according to claim 16, wherein the elastically deformable valve member includes at least one compression spring.18.A servo valve manifold produced in accordance with the method of claims 1 to 17. C?) L() (4