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US 5,842,679 AGranted
Adjustable stroke solenoid operated cartridge valve
AssigneeSterling Hydraulics, Inc.
InventorAbel E. Kolchinsky
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lower cost valve results from the use of a single machined part for a valve housing. The housing is made of a non-magnetic material which can be less expensive and eliminates the requirement for screens or filters in automotive applications. Providing a one-piece plunger and pilot valve with a high guiding length minimizes tilting of the pilot. Further, the one-piece housing allows for one common bore for guiding the plunger with the pilot and a poppet. The two ideal concentric surfaces make the poppet outer diameter concentric to the pilot hole. Finally, the use of an adjustable stroke valve eliminates the need for a separate needle valve, providing further cost savings.
Claims21
An adjustable stroke solenoid operated cartridge valve, comprising:
- an elongate cylindrical valve housing having an axial bore defining an interior chamber, one end of said housing comprising a port end including a plurality of port openings, and an axial opposite end comprising a sleeve end receivable in a solenoid, in use;
- a valve member movable in said chamber at the port end between first and second valve positions for selectively coupling said port openings, said valve member having an axial pilot through bore defining a pilot chamber;
- a solenoid plunger movable in said interior chamber at the sleeve end;
- a pilot valve movable in said pilot chamber for selectively opening or closing said pilot through bore,
- said pilot valve being integrally formed to said plunger for axial movement therewith for selectively positioning said pilot valve and thus also said valve member;
- a stop mounted to said valve housing at the sleeve end for retaining the plunger in said chamber to provide full stroke movement of the pilot valve between first and second axial positions;
- biasing means operatively associated with said plunger for normally maintaining said pilot valve in one of said first and second axial positions;
- and
- adjustable means operatively associated with said valve housing for adjustably directly limiting movement of the pilot valve between the first and second axial positions to control flow rate through the cartridge valve.
6 more elements
An adjustable stroke solenoid operated cartridge valve, comprising:
- an elongate cylindrical valve housing having an axial counterbore at a sleeve end defining an interior chamber, an axial opposite port end of said housing having an axial through bore opening to said interior chamber to provide an end port opening and defining a valve seat, and a radially extending through opening in said housing opening into said interior chamber and defining a side port opening, said sleeve end being receivable in a solenoid, in use;
- a valve member movable in said chamber between a first valve position seated on said valve seat for selectively preventing coupling between said end and side port openings and a second valve position spaced from said valve seat for coupling said end and side port openings, said valve member having an axial pilot through bore defining a pilot chamber;
- a solenoid plunger movable in said interior chamber at the sleeve end;
- a pilot valve movable in said pilot chamber for selectively opening or closing said pilot through bore,
- said pilot valve being integrally formed to said plunger for axial movement therewith for selectively positioning said pilot valve and thus also said valve member;
- a stop mounted to said valve housing at the sleeve end for retaining the plunger in said chamber to provide full stroke movement of the pilot valve between first and second axial positions;
- biasing means operatively associated with said plunger for normally maintaining said pilot valve member in one of said first and second axial positions;
- and
- adjustable means operatively associated with said valve housing for adjustably directly limiting movement of the pilot valve between the first and second axial positions to control flow rate through the cartridge valve.
6 more elements
An adjustable stroke solenoid operated cartridge valve, comprising:
- an elongate cylindrical valve housing having an axial counterbore at a sleeve end defining an interior chamber, an axial opposite port end of said housing having an axial through bore opening to said interior chamber to provide an end port opening and defining a valve seat, and a radially extending through opening in said housing opening into said interior chamber and defining a side port opening, said sleeve end being receivable in a solenoid, in use;
- a valve member movable in said chamber between a first valve position seated on said valve seat for selectively preventing coupling between said end and side port openings and a second valve position spaced for said valve seat for coupling said end and side port openings, said valve member having an axial pilot through bore defining a pilot chamber;
- a solenoid plunger movable in said interior chamber at the sleeve end;
- a pilot valve movable in said pilot chamber for selectively opening or closing said pilot through bore,
- said pilot valve being integrally formed to said plunger for axial movement therewith for selectively positioning said pilot valve and thus also said valve member;
- a stop mounted to said valve housing at the sleeve end for retaining the plunger in said chamber to define a maximum stroke representing movement of the plunger and pilot valve between closed and full open positions;
- biasing means operatively associated with said plunger for normally maintaining said pilot valve member in one of said closed and full open positions;
- and
- adjustable means operatively associated with said valve housing for adjustably limiting stroke to less than the maximum stroke by adjustably directly preventing movement of the pilot valve to the full open position to control flow rate through the cartridge valve.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.