Magnetic latching valve and method of control
AssigneeNorgren GT Development Corporation
InventorsRichard Bailey, Levi Danzer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An example system includes a valve assembly having: (i) a plurality of ports including an inlet port, an outlet port, and a vent port, (ii) a solenoid coil having a cavity therein, (iii) an armature slidably accommodated in the cavity of the solenoid coil, (iv) a magnet fixedly disposed within the solenoid coil, wherein the magnet applies a magnetic force on the armature in a distal direction, and (v) a spring applying a biasing force on the armature in a proximal direction; and a controller sending a signal having a particular polarity to the solenoid coil such that the signal is applied to the solenoid coil for a particular period of time, and resending the signal periodically every particular time interval.
Claims20
A system comprising:
- a valve assembly comprising:
- (i) a plurality of ports including an inlet port, an outlet port, and a vent port, (ii) a solenoid coil having a cavity therein, (iii) an armature slidably accommodated in the cavity of the solenoid coil, (iv) a magnet fixedly disposed within the solenoid coil, wherein the magnet applies a magnetic force on the armature in a distal direction, and (v) a spring applying a biasing force on the armature in a proximal direction;
- and
- a controller configured to perform operations comprising:
- sending a signal having a particular polarity to the solenoid coil such that the signal is applied to the solenoid coil for a particular period of time, thereby causing a solenoid force to be applied to the armature in the proximal direction, wherein a combination of the biasing force of the spring and the solenoid force overcome the magnetic force, causing the armature to move axially in the proximal direction to a particular position, thereby allowing fluid flow from the outlet port to the vent port, while blocking fluid flow from the inlet port to the outlet port, and wherein when the armature is in the particular position, the magnetic force of the magnet is smaller than the biasing force, and the armature remains in the particular position upon removal of the signal, and
- resending the signal periodically every particular time interval, wherein the particular time interval is greater than the particular period of time.
A method comprising:
- receiving a request to operate a valve assembly in a commanded state, wherein the valve assembly comprises:
- (i) a plurality of ports including an inlet port, an outlet port, and a vent port, (ii) a solenoid coil having a cavity therein, (iii) an armature slidably accommodated in the cavity of the solenoid coil, (iv) a magnet fixedly disposed within the solenoid coil, wherein the magnet applies a magnetic force on the armature in a distal direction, and (v) a spring applying a biasing force on the armature in a proximal direction;
- responsively, sending a signal having a particular polarity to the solenoid coil such that the signal is applied to the solenoid coil for a particular period of time, thereby causing a solenoid force to be applied to the armature in the distal direction, wherein a combination of magnetic force and the solenoid force overcome the biasing force of the spring, causing the armature to move axially in the distal direction to a particular position, thereby allowing fluid flow from the inlet port to the outlet port, while blocking fluid flow from the outlet port to the to the vent port, and wherein when the armature is in the particular position, the magnetic force of the magnet is greater than the biasing force, and the armature remains in the particular position upon removal of the signal;
- and
- resending the signal periodically every particular time interval, wherein the particular time interval is greater than the particular period of time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.