# US 11,028,806 B2 · Fluid supply system having shutoff valve with stabilized electrical valve actuator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,028,806 B2 - Document ID: US11028806B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/940,469 - Filed: 2018-03-29 - Published: 2019-10-03 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-29 - Assignees: Caterpillar Inc. - Applicants: Caterpillar Inc. - Inventors: Rodney Allen Lawrence; Brandyn Anthony Stack; Joseph John Stabnik; Keith Thomas Igoe; Eric Ferguson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11028806B2 ## CPC - F02M 35/10255: {Arrangements of valves; Multi-way valves (F02M35/10032 takes precedence; valves in the plenum chamber F02M35/10065; check valves F02M35/10275)} - F02B 33/44: Passages conducting the charge from the pump to the engine inlet, e.g. reservoirs - F02B 37/007: with exhaust-driven pumps arranged in parallel {, e.g. at least one pump supplying alternatively} - F02D 17/04: rendering engines inoperative or idling, e.g. caused by abnormal conditions (dependent on lubricating conditions F01M1/22; dependent on cooling F01P5/14) - F02D 41/0002: {Controlling intake air} - F02D 41/0007: {for control of turbo-charged or super-charged engines (control of the pumps per se F02B37/12)} - F02D 41/042: {for stopping the engine} - F16F 7/104: the inertia member being resiliently mounted {(F16F7/1022 takes precedence)} - F16K 1/304: {Shut-off valves with additional means} - F16K 3/06: in the form of closure plates arranged between supply and discharge passages (F16K3/10 takes precedence) - F16K 31/563: {for rotating or pivoting valves} - F02B 37/001: {using exhaust drives arranged in parallel} - F02D 9/16: the members being rotatable - F02D 11/04: characterised by mechanical control linkages (F02D11/06 takes precedence) - F02D 2009/0245: {Shutting down engine, e.g. working together with fuel cut-off} - F16K 1/2007: {specially adapted operating means therefor (operating means per se F16K31/00)} - Y02T 10/12: Improving ICE efficiencies - Y02T 10/40: Engine management systems - F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF - F02B: INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL (gas-turbine plants F02C; hot-gas or combustion-product positive-displacement engine plants F02G) - F02D: CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES (vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed B60K31/00; conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function, road vehicle drive control systems for purposes other than the control of a single sub-unit B60W) - F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION - 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)} - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A fluid supply system for a machine such as an internal combustion engine includes a shutoff valve having an electrical actuator that includes a solenoid subassembly, and a stabilizer for the electrical valve actuator. The stabilizer includes a fitting structured to couple the shutoff valve to adjacent hardware in the fluid supply system, and a strongarm extending between the fitting and the solenoid assembly and clamped to the solenoid subassembly. A vibration-damping reinforced grommet may be clamped between the solenoid subassembly and the clamp. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fluid supply system for a machine comprising: a shutoff valve including a valve housing having an outer housing surface, an inner housing surface forming a fluid supply conduit for supplying a fluid to the machine, and an actuator bore that opens at the outer housing surface; the shutoff valve further including a valve member movable within the valve housing from an open position to a closed position, to shutoff fluid flow through the fluid supply conduit, and an electrical valve actuator extending through the actuator bore; the electrical valve actuator including a solenoid subassembly supported by the valve housing and extending outboard of the actuator bore, and the solenoid subassembly including a solenoid housing having a first solenoid housing end adjacent to the outer housing surface, and a second solenoid housing end, and projecting outwardly from the valve housing in a direction of the second solenoid housing end along an axis defined by the actuator bore; and a stabilizer for the electrical valve actuator including a fitting coupled to the valve housing and forming an opening to the fluid supply conduit, a strongarm extending between the fitting and the solenoid subassembly, and a clamp clamping the strongarm to the solenoid subassembly. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fluid supply system of claim 1 wherein the fitting and the strongarm are formed integrally in a one-piece casting. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The fluid supply system of claim 2 wherein the fitting has a first mounting flange bolted to the valve housing, and a second mounting flange oriented diagonally relative to the first mounting flange and bolted to an adjoining housing in the fluid supply system. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The fluid supply system of claim 3 wherein a first connection point is formed between the strongarm and the first mounting flange, a second connection point is formed between the strongarm and the second mounting flange, and a third connection point is formed by way of the clamp between the strongarm and the solenoid subassembly. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The fluid supply system of claim 4 wherein the strongarm further includes a first side wall extending between the first connection point and the third connection point, a second side wall extending between the second connection point and the third connection point, and at least one internal stiffening wall extending between the first side wall and the second side wall. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The fluid supply system of claim 5 wherein the first side wall and the second side wall approach one another in a direction of the third connection point and each has a height that decreases in the direction of the third connection point. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The fluid supply system of claim 1 wherein the clamp includes at least one clamping strap extending about the solenoid subassembly, and a vibration-damping grommet held in compression against the solenoid subassembly by way of the at least one clamping strap. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The fluid supply system of claim 7 wherein the vibration-damping grommet includes a silicone body and at least one reinforcement layer within the silicone body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The fluid supply system of claim 1 wherein the valve member includes a gate valve member that swings across the fluid supply conduit from the closed position to the open position. ### Claim 10 A machine system comprising: a machine; a fluid supply system including a shutoff valve having a valve housing forming a fluid supply conduit, for supplying a fluid to the machine, and an actuator bore; the shutoff valve including a valve member movable within the valve housing from an open position to a closed position, to shutoff fluid flow through the fluid supply conduit, and an electrical valve actuator extending through the actuator bore; the electrical valve actuator including a solenoid subassembly cantilever-supported by the valve housing at a location outside of the valve housing; and a stabilizer for the electrical valve actuator including a fitting coupled to the valve housing and forming an opening to the fluid supply conduit, a strongarm extending between the fitting and the solenoid subassembly, and a clamp clamping the strongarm to the solenoid subassembly. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The machine system of claim 10 wherein the valve member includes a gate valve member that swings across the fluid supply conduit from the closed position to the open position, and the shutoff valve further includes a valve-actuating spring held in an energized state within the valve housing, and a latching mechanism having a latch surface in contact with the electrical valve actuator and latching the gate valve member open in opposition to a biasing force produced by the actuating spring. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The machine system of claim 11 wherein the electrical valve actuator includes a pin engaged with the latching mechanism and structured to disengage from the latching mechanism in response to energizing the solenoid assembly. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The machine system of claim 11 wherein the fitting and the strongarm are formed integrally in a one-piece casting, and wherein the fitting has a first mounting flange bolted to the valve housing, and a second mounting flange oriented diagonally relative to the first mounting flange and bolted to an adjoining housing in the fluid supply system. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The machine system of claim 13 wherein a first connection point is formed between the strongarm and the first mounting flange, a second connection point is formed between the strongarm and the second mounting flange, and a third connection point is formed by way of the clamp between the strongarm and the solenoid subassembly. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The machine system of claim 14 wherein the strongarm further includes a first side wall extending between the first connection point and the third connection point, a second side wall extending between the second connection point and the third connection point, and at least one internal stiffening wall extending between the first side wall and the second side wall. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The machine system of claim 14 wherein the clamp includes at least one clamping strap extending about the solenoid subassembly, and a vibration-damping grommet held in compression against the solenoid subassembly by way of the at least one clamping strap. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The machine system of claim 13 wherein the machine includes an engine and the fluid supply system includes an air system for the engine, and wherein the adjoining housing includes an aftercooler housing for cooling intake air for the engine. ### Claim 18 A fluid supply system for a machine comprising: a shutoff valve including a valve housing having an outer housing surface, an inner housing surface forming a fluid supply conduit for supplying a fluid to the machine, and an actuator bore that opens at the outer housing surface; the shutoff valve further including a valve member movable within the valve housing from an open position to a closed position, to shutoff fluid flow through the fluid supply conduit, and an electrical valve actuator extending through the actuator bore; the electrical valve actuator including a solenoid subassembly supported by the valve housing and extending outboard of the actuator bore; and a stabilizer for the electrical valve actuator including a fitting coupled to the valve housing and forming an opening to the fluid supply conduit, a strongarm extending between the fitting and the solenoid subassembly, and a clamp clamping the strongarm to the solenoid subassembly; wherein the fitting and the strongarm are formed integrally in a one-piece casting.