# US 10,871,242 B2 · Solenoid and method of manufacture > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,871,242 B2 - Document ID: US10871242B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/631,191 - Filed: 2017-06-23 - Published: 2017-12-28 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2016-06-23 - Assignees: Rain Bird Corporation - Applicants: Rain Bird Corporation - Inventors: Kevin James Markley; Troy Lynn Roney; John James Wlassich; Randy Ray Montgomery; Chong Wang Kwak - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871242B2 ## CPC - F16K 31/402: {acting on a diaphragm} - A01G 25/16: Control of watering - B67D 7/08: Arrangements of devices for controlling, indicating, metering or registering quantity or price of liquid transferred (arrangement of flow- or pressure-control valves B67D7/36; computing, calculating, counting G06; coin-freed apparatus for dispensing fluids G07F13/00; prepayment devices for metering liquids G07F15/00) - F16K 7/17: the diaphragm being actuated by fluid pressure - F16K 11/07: with cylindrical slides - F16K 31/0675: {Electromagnet aspects, e.g. electric supply therefor} - H01F 5/04: Arrangements of electric connections to coils, e.g. leads - H01F 7/127: Assembling - H01F 7/128: Encapsulating, encasing or sealing - H01F 7/1607: {Armatures entering the winding} - G05B 2219/2625: Sprinkler, irrigation, watering - H01F 2007/062: {Details of terminals or connectors for electromagnets} - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} - A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12) - B67D: DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes B08B9/02; emptying or filling of bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels, or similar containers, not otherwise provided for B67C; water supply E03; pipe systems F17D; domestic hot-water supply systems F24D; measuring volume, volume flow, mass flow or liquid level, metering by volume G01F; coin-freed or like apparatus G07F) - H01F: MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) ## Abstract A solenoid is provided having an improved connection arrangement. The solenoid includes external wires that are coupled to internal solenoid components via terminals. Further, a sealed solenoid is provided having a housing overmolded onto a solenoid subassembly. External wires can be coupled to the solenoid after overmolding. The solenoid may also include a cavity for receiving at least one of electrical component. The solenoid may also include a powdered metal core. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A solenoid comprising: a bobbin; a core wire positioned about at least a portion of the bobbin, the core wire forming a coil; a housing positioned about at least a portion of the coil; a lid coupled to the housing, the lid and housing defining an interior area; an external wire extending from outside the housing into the interior area; a cavity positioned on the housing in the interior area, the cavity positioned adjacent the external wire and sized to accept at least one electrical component; a first channel and first recess on the housing in the interior area, the first channel extending longitudinally on the housing to accept the external wire and the first recess extending from the cavity to the first channel; and a second channel and a second recess on the housing, the second channel extending substantially parallel to the first channel, the second recess extending from the second channel to the cavity, wherein the cavity is positioned between the first and second channels. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The solenoid of claim 1 wherein the electrical component comprises at least one sensor, microchip, microcircuit, communications device, integrated circuit, and overvoltage device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The solenoid of claim 1 further comprising a wire-to-wire terminal having a first end extending at least partly into an opening in the housing providing contact with a first terminal end of the coil wire and a second end providing contact with the external wire, the wire-to-wire terminal providing an electrical connection between the first terminal end and the external wire. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The solenoid of claim 3, wherein the bobbin includes a flange portion extending at least partially through the opening in the housing, the flange portion including a slot for receiving the first end of the wire-to-wire terminal and the first terminal end of the core wire. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The solenoid of claim 1 further comprising a powdered metal core having a flange portion integral with a core portion, the core portion extending at least partially into the bobbin. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The solenoid of claim 1 further comprising a cylinder surrounding a least a portion of the coil, the cylinder defining at least one opening whereby a portion of the housing material extends through the cylinder and contacts the coil while still being contiguous with the housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The solenoid of claim 1 further comprising a filler material in the interior area between the housing and lid. ### Claim 8 A solenoid comprising: a bobbin; a core wire positioned about at least a portion of the bobbin and forming a coil, the core wire having first and second terminal ends; a housing positioned about at least a portion of the core wire, the housing defining an opening providing access from an exterior side of the housing to the first terminal end; an external wire extending from outside the housing; and a wire-to-wire terminal having a first end extending at least partly into the opening in the housing and having a generally V-shaped inner surface to provide contact with the first terminal end of the solenoid coil wire and a second end having a generally V-shaped inner surface to provide contact with the external wire, the wire-to-wire terminal providing an electrical connection between the first terminal end and the external wire. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The solenoid of claim 8 further comprising a second wire-to-wire terminal having a first end providing contact to the second terminal end of the solenoid coil wire and a second end coupled to a second external wire. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The solenoid of claim 8 wherein the bobbin includes a flange portion extending at least partially through the opening in the housing, the flange portion including at slot for receiving the first end of the wire-to-wire terminal and the first terminal end of the core wire. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The solenoid of claim 8 further comprising a powdered metal core having a flange portion integral with a core portion, the core portion extending at least partially into the bobbin. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The solenoid of claim 8 further comprising a cylinder surrounding a least a portion of the coil, the cylinder defining at least one opening whereby a portion of the housing material extends through the cylinder and contacts the coil while still being contiguous with the housing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The solenoid of claim 8 further comprising an overvoltage device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The solenoid of claim 8 further comprising a cover, the cover positioned over a channel in the housing, the channel maintaining the external wire in a desired position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The solenoid of claim 8 wherein the housing includes at least two channels extending generally parallel to one another with a cavity adjacent the at least two channels. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The solenoid of claim 15 further comprising at least one of a sensor, a microchip, a microcircuit, a communications device, and an overvoltage device positioned in the cavity and coupled to the external wire.