Hydraulic valve detent mechanism

Claim 1

An improved detent mechanism for a lever operated hydraulic valve having a casing with first and second work ports; first and second valve means disposed to open and close the respective first and second work ports; first and second operating plunger members mounted for movement in the casing and engageable with first and second valve means; a lever pivotally connected to the casing and operably engaging the outer ends of the operating plunger members to allow pivotal movement of the lever in one direction to cause one of the operating plunger members to move inwardly toward a first position to operate the respective valve means and allows freedom of outward movement for the other operating plunger member toward a second position; the improvement comprising a first biasing member engaging the first operating plunger member to urge the first operating plunger member toward its second position; first detent means releasably engaging the first operating plunger member at its second position; a second biasing member engaging the second operating plunger member to urge the second operating plunger member toward its second position; second detent means for releasably engaging the second operating plunger member at its second position, said pivotal movement of the lever permits movement of one of the operating plunger members to its first position for opening one of the ports while the other operating plunger member is simultaneously moved independently of its associated valve means to its second position by its respective biasing member, and said other operating plunger member engages its respective detent means to establish a detent condition to hold the stroked operating plunger member and said lever in its operable position while allowing the non-stroked valve means to remain in its neutral position.