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US 4,791,958 AGranted
Solenoid controlled fluid valve
OwnerRobert W. Brundageinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A normally open pilot pressure relief valve wherein the opening pressure can be readily controlled by small amounts of electrical power, which does not employ a spring, has improved pressure versus flow characteristics at both high and low pressures. The solenoid-armature magnetic circuit is so configured that: in the designed range of valve opening movement, the magnetic force-displacement curve of the armature has a slope which increases with increasing amounts of solenoid energization. The relieved fluid flows through a longitudinal passage in the armature creating an opening flow force to compensate for the Bernoulli effect at the valve seat as the valve opens. Adjustment means are provided for accurately positioning the armature in its magnetic circuit to compensate for manufacturing tolerances.
Claims10
An electrically controlled flow valve comprising in combination:
- a. a housing having an elongated cavity with a pressure inlet port at one end defined by a valve seat and an outlet port at the other end;
- b. a valve element having a valve seat engaging surface movable in said cavity;
- c. a magnetically permeable armature movable in said housing;
- d. a solenoid coil surrounding the housing;
- e. said housing including a magnetically permeable armature attracting sleeve and a magnetically nonpermeable sleeve between said magnetic permeable sleeves;
- f. one end of said armature slightly overlapping the end of said attracting sleeve and the other end substantially overlapping the end of the supporting sleeve whereby when said solenoid is energized, the magnetic force on said armature biases said valve element relative to said valve sea;;
- g. an axial passage in said armature:
- h. threaded means between said armature and said valve element for adjusting the initial maximum overlap of the armature with the magnetically permeable attracting sleeve.
5 more elements
An electrically controlled flow valve comprising in combination:
- a. a housing having an elongated cavity with a pressure inlet port at one end defined by a valve seat and an outlet port at the other end;
- b. a valve element having a valve seat engaging surface movable in said cavity;
- c. a magnetically permeable armature movable in said housing;
- d. a solenoid coil surrounding the housing;
- e. said housing including a magneically permeable armature attracting sleeve, a magnetically nonpermeable sleeve between said magnetic permeable sleeves;
- f. one end of said armature slightly overlapping the end of said attracting sleeve and the other end substantially overlapping the end of the supporting sleeve whereby when said solenoid is energized, the magnetic force on said armature biases said valve element relative to said valve seat;
- g. an axial passage in said armature;
- h. threaded adjustable means between the end of the armature and the housing remote from the valve seat for adjusting the minimum overlap of the armature with the end of the magnetically permeable attracting sleeve.
5 more elements
An electrically proportional and controlled pressure relief valve comprising in combination:
- a. a housing having a cylindrical cavity;
- b. a pressure inlet port at one axial end of said cavity defined by a valve seat;
- c. a valve element movable in said cavity toward and away from said valve seat and having an end normally engaging said seat with an area or said end defined by said seat exposed to inlet pressure whereby to create a pressure force to open said valve;
- d. a magnetically permeable armature abutting said valve element;
- e. magnetic means for creating a magnetic force on said armature toward said valve seat including:
- 1. an armature attracting pole piece adjacent to the valve seat;
- 2. an armature supporting pole piece remote from the valve seat and axially spaced from the attracting pole piece;
- and,
- 3. a solenoid coil operatively associated with said pole pieces;
- f. said armature having a first portion remote from the valve seat substantially overlapping the supporting pole piece;
- and,
- 1. a second portion adjacent to the valve seat closely overlapping an end portion of the attracting pole piece in an amount sufficient that when said pressure force causes said valve element and armature to move against the magnetic force, the magnetic force increases.
- g. said cavity having an outlet port at the end opposite form the inlet port and said armature having an orifice between its ends through which fluid entering the inlet port flows to the outlet port.
10 more elements
An electrically proportional and controlled pressure relief valve comprising in combination:
- a. a housing having a cylindrical cavity;
- b. a pressure inlet port at one axial end of said cavity defined by a valve seat;
- c. a valve element movable in said cavity toward and away from said valve seat and having an end normally engaging said seat with an area of said end defined by said seat exposed to inlet pressure whereb to create a pressure force to open said valve;
- d. a magnetically permeable armature abutting said valve element;
- e. magnetic means for creating a magnetic force on said armature toward said valve seat including:
- 1. an armature attracting pole piece adjacent to the valve seat;
- 2. an armature supporting pole piece remote from the valve seat and axially spaced from the attracting pole piece;
- and,
- 3. a solenoid coil operatively associated with said pole pieces;
- f. said armature having a first portion remote from the valve seat substantially overlapping the supporting pole piece;
- and,
- 1. a second portion adjacent to the valve seat closely overlapping an end portion of the attracting pole piece in an amount sufficient that when said pressure force causes said valve element & armature to move against the magentic force, the magnetic force increases.
- g. means disposed between said valve element and armature for adjusting the initial axial position of the armature relative to the valve element, said means including a rigid spacer member and a threded member on said spacer member abutting against said valve element.
10 more elements
An electrically proportional and controlled pressure relief valve comprising in combination:
- a. a housing having a cylindrical cavity;
- b. a pressure inlet port at one axial end of said cavity defined by a valve seat;
- c. a valve element movable in said cavity toward and away from said valve seat and having an end normally engaging said seat with an area of said end defined by said seat exposed to inlet pressure whereby to create a pressure force to open said valve;
- d. a magnetically permeable armature abutting said valve element;
- e. magnetic means for creating a magnetic force on said armature toward said valve seat including:
- 1. an armature attracting pole piece adjacent to the valve seat, said attracting pole piece defining at least a portion of said cylindrical cavity;
- 2. an armature supporting pole piece remote from the valve seat and axially spaced from the attracting pole piece;
- and,
- 3. a solenoid coil operatively associated with said pole pieces;
- f. said armature having a first portion remote from the valve seat substantially overlapping the supporting pole piece;
- and,
- 1. a second portion adjacent to the valve seat closely overlapping an end portion of the attracting pole piece in an amount sufficient that when said pressure force causes said valve element and armature to move against the magentic force, the magnetic force increase;
- g. spacing means form maintaining a substantial air gap between an end of said second portion and an end wall defined by said attracting pole piece such that a magnetic flux path between said second portion of said armature and said attracting pole piece is substantially radial at all operative positions of said armature;
- and,
- h. magnetic force intensifying means operative to provide a rate of magnetic force increase for decreasing armature overlap that increases with increasing levels of solenoid energization;
- i. said cavity having an outlet port at the end opposite from the inlet port and said armature having an orifice between its ends through which fluid entering the inlet port flows to the outlet port.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.