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US 2009/0212248 A1Published application
Solenoid-actuated diaphragm valve
OwnerEugeniusz Kozakinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solenoid-actuated diaphragm valve achieves minimal dead volume, tolerance of high pressures, prolonged diaphragm life, and energy conservation using a three-sector multi-seal diaphragm combined with a three-component plunger, which automatically switches from bilateral to unilateral circumferential diaphragm restraint between the closed and open positions.
Claims28
A solenoid-actuated diaphragm valve, comprising:
- (a) a solenoid coil having a cylindrical interior cavity, within which is slidably inserted a cylindrical ferromagnetic armature, which armature has at its proximal end an armature shaft, and which armature is engaged at its distal end by a biasing means, such that when the solenoid coil is not energized, the biasing means urges the armature downward through the interior cavity, and such that when the solenoid coil is energized, the inductance of the solenoid coil draws the armature upward through the interior cavity and causes the armature to become magnetized;
- (b) a valve body comprising two or more flow passages, which flow passages communicate with each other through a valve seat;
- (c) a flexible, disk-shaped diaphragm, which is attached to the proximal end of the armature shaft, and which diaphragm is sealingly engageable with the valve seat, such that when the solenoid coil is not energized, the downward action of the armature shaft causes the diaphragm to engage the valve seat sufficiently to seal one or more of the flow passages, and such that when the solenoid coil is energized, the upward action of the armature shaft causes the diaphragm to disengage from the valve seat sufficiently to unseal one or more of the flow passages;
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- (d) a cylindrical or disk-shaped ferromagnetic plate, which is slidably attached to the armature shaft, such that when the solenoid coil is not energized, the weight of the plate is exerted downward upon the diaphragm, thereby pressing the diaphragm against the valve seat, and such that when the solenoid valve is energized, the armature magnetically attracts the plate and draws the plate upward along the armature shaft, thereby removing the downward pressure of the plate upon the diaphragm and allowing the diaphragm to disengage from the valve seat sufficiently to unseal one or more of the flow passages.
2 more elements
A solenoid-actuated diaphragm valve, comprising:
- (a) a solenoid coil having a cylindrical interior cavity, within which is slidably inserted a cylindrical ferromagnetic armature, which armature has at its proximal end an armature shaft, and which armature is engaged at its distal end by a biasing means, such that when the solenoid coil is not energized, the biasing means urges the armature downward through the interior cavity, and such that when the solenoid coil is energized, the inductance of the solenoid coil draws the armature upward through the interior cavity and causes the armature to become magnetized;
- (b) a valve body comprising two flow passages, which flow passages communicate with each other through a valve seat;
- (c) a flexible, disk-shaped diaphragm, which is attached to the proximal end of the armature shaft, and which diaphragm is sealingly engageable with the valve seat, such that when the solenoid coil is not energized, the downward action of the armature shaft causes the diaphragm to engage the valve seat sufficiently to seal both of the flow passages, and such that when the solenoid coil is energized, the upward action of the armature shaft causes the diaphragm to disengage from the valve seat sufficiently to unseal both of the flow passages;
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- (d) a cylindrical or disk-shaped ferromagnetic plate, which is slidably attached to the armature shaft, such that when the solenoid coil is not energized, the weight of the plate is exerted downward upon the diaphragm, thereby pressing the diaphragm against the valve seat, and such that when the solenoid valve is energized, the armature magnetically attracts the plate and draws the plate upward along the armature shaft, thereby removing the downward pressure of the plate upon the diaphragm and allowing the diaphragm to disengage from the valve seat sufficiently to unseal both of the flow passages.
2 more elements
A solenoid-actuated diaphragm valve, comprising:
- (a) a solenoid coil having a cylindrical interior cavity, within which is slidably inserted a cylindrical armature, which armature is engaged at its distal end by a biasing means, such that when the solenoid coil is not energized, the biasing means urges the armature downward through the interior cavity, and such that when the solenoid coil is energized, the inductance of the solenoid coil draws the armature upward through the interior cavity;
- (b) a valve body comprising two flow passages, which flow passages communicate with each other through a valve seat, and which flow passages terminate at the surface of the valve seat in a central flow aperture and a peripheral flow aperture;
- (c) a flexible diaphragm having a disk-shaped radial cross-section and a stepped axial cross-section, which diaphragm is attached to the armature, and which diaphragm has three sectors, which are a central core, a medial band, and peripheral band, and which diaphragm is sealingly engageable with the valve seat, such that when the solenoid coil is not energized, the downward action of the armature causes the diaphragm to engage the valve seat so that the central core seals the central flow aperture and the peripheral band seals the peripheral flow aperture, and such that when the solenoid coil is energized, the upward action of the armature causes the diaphragm to disengage from the valve seat so that the central core is displaced upward and unseals the central flow aperture and the peripheral band flexes upward and unseals the peripheral flow aperture;
- (d) a conical or frustrum-shaped acute extrusion comprising the central core of the diaphragm, which acute extrusion has an apex that coincides with the axial center of the diaphragm and projects axially downward below the other two sectors of the diaphragm, and which acute extrusion has a base that extends axially upward above the other two sectors of the diaphragm, and which acute extrusion extends radially across almost one-half the diameter of the diaphragm, and which acute extrusion has an axial height that is one-third to one-half the diameter of the diaphragm;
- (e) a thin, flexible annular membrane comprising the medial band of the diaphragm, the inner perimeter of which annular membrane surrounds the acute extrusion above the base thereof, and the outer perimeter of which annular membrane is surrounded by the peripheral band of the diaphragm, and which annular membrane has a radial width that is less than 10% of the diameter of the diaphragm, and which annular membrane has a thickness that is approximately 1% of the diameter of the diaphragm;
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- (f) a semi-flexible disk rim comprising the peripheral band of the diaphragm, which disk rim extends from the outer perimeter of the annular membrane to the circumference of the diaphragm, and which disk rim has a radial width that is almost one-half the diameter of the diaphragm, and which disk rim has a thickness that is approximately 10% of the diameter of the diaphragm.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.