Fast-response three-way solenoid valve

A fast-response three-way solenoid valve readily adaptable to normally open and normally closed forms comprising:

• a solenoid having a coil and a plunger which moves upon energization of said solenoid,
• a first valve body section disposed adjacent to the side of said solenoid toward which said plunger moves upon energization of said solenoid, said first valve body section having a first central axial passage therethrough, said passage being widened at the end of said first body section farthest from said solenoid, to provide part of a first ball valve chamber,
• a second valve body section, disposed adjacent to and press fit together with said first valve body section, said second body section having a second central axial passage therethrough in line with the axial passage in said first valve body section, said second axial passage being widened at both ends thereby forming the remaining portion of said first ball valve chamber and part of a second ball valve chamber,
• a third valve body section, disposed adjacent to and press fit together with said second valve body section, said third body section having a third central axial passage therethrough in line with said axial passage in said second body section, said third axial passage being widened at the end of said third body section adjacent to said second body section, said widening forming the remaining portion of said second ball valve chamber,
• a pair of balls, one said ball being movably disposed in each of said ball valve chambers,
• a separator pin disposed in said second central axial passage, one end of said separator pin bearing against said first ball, the other end of said separator pin bearing against said second ball, one said ball being in sealing contact in its chamber, while the other said ball enables fluid passage through its chamber, and vice versa,
• three openings leading out from said central axial passage, the first said opening being on the first valve body section side of said first ball valve chamber, the second said opening being disposed between said ball valve chambers, and the third said opening disposed on the third valve body section side of said second ball valve chambers,
• a plunger pin extending between said solenoid plunger and said first ball valve chamber, bearing against the ball in said first ball valve chamber so that upon energization of said solenoid, the motion of said solenoid plunger will move said plunger pin, in turn moving said balls so that the ball in sealing contact in its chamber is moved away from such sealing contact.

A fast-response three-way solenoid valve, comprising:

• a housing having a first opening, a secnd opening, and a third opening interconnected by a linear fluid pathway,
• a first chamber disposed in said pathway between said first opening and said second opening, each end of said first chamber forming a first valve seat, one an inner valve seat and one an outer valve seat, with respect to said second opening,
• a first ball in said first chamber movable toward and away from a said first valve seat to open and to close off the flow of fluid through the pathway at said first valve seat,
• a second chamber disposed in said pathway in line with said first chamber and between said second opening and said third opening, each end of said second chamber forming a second valve seat, one an inner valve seat and one an outer valve seat, with respect to said second opening,
• a second ball in said second chamber movable toward and away from a said second valve seat to open and to close off the flow of fluid through the pathway at that said second valve seat,
• a separator pin disposed, with clearance, within said linear pathway between said first and second chambers and bearing against both said first and second balls at substantially all times, said valve seats, balls, and separator pin being so related that when one said ball is seated against its said seat the other ball is not seated by said separator pin,
• a solenoid having a coil, a plunger which moves upon energization of the solenoid, and a guide passage between said plunger and said first chamber, aligned with both said first and second chambers and said first and second balls,
• a plunger pin disposed in said guide passage, one end of said plunger pin bearing against said first ball on the side thereof opposite to said separator pin, the other end of said plunger pin bearing against said plunger when said solenoid is energized,
• movement of said plunger upon the energization of said solenoid causing said plunger to contact and move said plunger pin, in turn moving said first ball, said separator pin, and said second ball so that one of said balls is seated against the said seat when the solenoid is energized and the other ball is seated against its said seat when the solenoid is de-energized.