Three-way solenoid valve

Abstract

A three-way solenoid valve uses a movable armature housed in a coaxial sleeve and having longitudinal fluid channels on its outer surface and a fluid sealing element on both ends. A first fluid sealing element on a first end of the armature is a resilient ring arranged to cooperate with an adjacent fluid orifice in a valve body to peripherally seal the fluid orifice in response to spring pressure exerted by a spring acting on the first end of the armature in a first position of the armature during an deenergized state of the valve. The armature is provided with a coaxial longitudinal bore aligned with the center hole in the fluid sealing ring. During the deenergized state of the valve, a fluid path is provided between a first fluid port and second fluid port in the valve body via the hole in the sealing ring, the bore in the armature and the channels on the armature. During an energized state of the valve, the armature is repositioned to a second position to effect a seal between the fluid sealing element on the second end of the armature and a fixed plug in the valve to interrupt the fluid path along the channels on the armature. In this state of the valve, the sealing ring is separated from the adjacent fluid orifice to provide a fluid path between the first fluid port and a third fluid port. A rolling diaphragm seal is arranged between the armature and the valve body to isolate the second port from the first and third ports.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.