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US 10,948,102 B2Granted
Two-stage fluid control valve having a first stage bi-stable two-port valve and a second stage microvalve
AssigneeDunAn Microstaq, Inc.
InventorsE. Nelson Fuller, Parthiban Arunasalam, Joe A. Ojeda
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A two-stage fluid control valve includes a first stage electronically switchable, bi-stable two-port valve movable between an open position and a leak-free closed position, and a second stage microvalve configured to control the flow of fluid through a fluid outlet of the two-stage fluid control valve when the first stage electronically switchable, bi-stable two-port valve is in the open position. The electronically switchable, bi-stable two-port valve is disposed between the second stage microvalve and a fluid inlet of the two-stage fluid control valve.
Claims19
A two-stage burner control valve comprising:
- a first stage moving magnet valve (MMV) configured as an electronically switchable, bi-stable two-port valve movable between an open position and a leak-free closed position;
- and
- a second stage silicon microvalve configured to control the flow of fluid through a fluid outlet of the two-stage fluid control valve when the first stage electronically switchable, bi-stable two-port valve is in the open position;
- wherein the MMV is disposed between the second stage microvalve and a fluid inlet of the two-stage fluid control valve;
- wherein the MMV comprises:
- a sleeve;
- a first pole piece having fluid flow passages formed therethrough and a first wire-wound coil mounted therein and connected to a source of electrical power;
- a second pole piece having fluid flow passages formed therethrough and a second wire-wound coil mounted therein and connected to the source of electrical power;
- wherein the first pole piece is mounted in a first end of the sleeve and the second pole piece is mounted in a second end of the sleeve;
- and
- a permanent magnet defining an armature and movably mounted between the first and second pole pieces.
8 more elements
A method of controlling a two-stage fluid control valve comprising:
- providing a first stage electronically switchable, bi-stable two-port valve movable between an open position and a leak-free closed position;
- providing a second stage microvalve configured to control the flow of fluid through a fluid outlet of the two-stage fluid control valve when the first stage electronically switchable, bi-stable two-port valve is in the open position;
- wherein the electronically switchable, bi-stable two-port valve is disposed between the second stage microvalve and a fluid inlet of the two-stage fluid control valve, has a sleeve, a first pole piece having fluid flow passages formed therethrough and a first wire-wound coil mounted therein and connected to a source of electrical power, a second pole piece having fluid flow passages formed therethrough, and a second wire-wound coil mounted therein and connected to the source of electrical power, and wherein the first pole piece is mounted in a first end of the sleeve and the second pole piece is mounted in a second end of the sleeve, and a permanent magnet defining an armature and movably mounted between the first and second pole pieces;
- applying an electric current to the first wire-wound coil to magnetize the first pole piece, thus causing the armature to move toward the first pole piece and to the open position;
- removing the electric current from the first wire-wound coil;
- and
- subsequently applying an electric current to the second wire-wound coil to magnetize the second pole piece, thus causing the armature to move toward the second pole piece and to the closed position.
4 more elements
A method of controlling a two-stage fluid control valve comprising:
- providing a first stage electronically switchable, bi-stable two-port valve movable between an open position and a leak-free closed position;
- providing a second stage microvalve configured to control the flow of fluid through a fluid outlet of the two-stage fluid control valve when the first stage electronically switchable, bi-stable two-port valve is in the open position;
- wherein the electronically switchable, bi-stable two-port valve is disposed between the second stage microvalve and a fluid inlet of the two-stage fluid control valve, has a sleeve, a first pole piece having fluid flow passages formed therethrough and a first wire-wound coil mounted therein and connected to a source of electrical power, a second pole piece having fluid flow passages formed therethrough, and a second wire-wound coil mounted therein and connected to the source of electrical power, and wherein the first pole piece is mounted in a first end of the sleeve and the second pole piece is mounted in a second end of the sleeve, and a permanent magnet defining an armature and movably mounted between the first and second pole pieces;
- briefly and simultaneously applying an electric current to the first wire-wound coil and the second wire-wound coil such that the electric current flows in a clockwise direction in one of the first and the second wire-wound coils and in a counterclockwise direction in the other of the first and the second wire-wound coils, thus causing the armature to move alternately between the open and closed positions each time the electric current is applied;
- and
- repeating the brief and simultaneous application of electric current to the first wire-wound coil and the second wire-wound coil.
3 more elements
A method of controlling a two-stage fluid control valve comprising:
- providing a first stage electronically switchable, bi-stable two-port valve movable between an open position and a leak-free closed position;
- providing a second stage microvalve configured to control the flow of fluid through a fluid outlet of the two-stage fluid control valve when the first stage electronically switchable, bi-stable two-port valve is in the open position;
- wherein the electronically switchable, bi-stable two-port valve is disposed between the second stage microvalve and a fluid inlet of the two-stage fluid control valve, has a sleeve, a first pole piece having fluid flow passages formed therethrough and a first wire-wound coil mounted therein and connected to a source of electrical power, a second pole piece having fluid flow passages formed therethrough, and a second wire-wound coil mounted therein and connected to the source of electrical power, and wherein the first pole piece is mounted in a first end of the sleeve and the second pole piece is mounted in a second end of the sleeve, and a permanent magnet defining an armature and movably mounted between the first and second pole pieces;
- briefly and simultaneously applying an electric current to the first wire-wound coil and the second wire-wound coil such that the electric current flows in the same direction in each of the first wire-wound coil and the second wire-wound coil, thus causing the armature to move alternately between the open and closed positions each time the electric current is applied;
- and
- repeating the brief and simultaneous application of electric current the same direction to the first wire-wound coil and the second wire-wound coil.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.