Single stage variable force solenoid pressure regulating valve

A solenoid actuated valve for regulating the pressure of a pressurized fluid in a fluid control system in proportion to the current level of an electrical input signal, comprising a supply port for receiving pressurized fluid and having a supply orifice for initially adjusting supply pressure, a sleeve defining a fluid passageway for receiving pressurized fluid from said supply orifice and communicated to a control port by a primary orifice of said sleeve, said primary orifice being disposed at an end of said sleeve proximate a valve seat, said control port communicating with an external fluid pressure actuated component, a variable force solenoid actuated valve that cooperates with said valve seat to control flow of pressurized fluid to one or more exhaust ports as a means to regulate pressure at the control port in dependence upon electrical current to a coil of the solenoid actuated valve, said sleeve including a secondary bleed orifice disposed in a position between said supply port and said primary orifice to bleed pressurized fluid to said control port from said fluid passageway in a manner to provide more precise low pressure fluid control at said control port.

In a method of regulating pressure of a pressurized fluid in a fluid control system wherein a valve is actuated to exhaust fluid from a chamber communicated to a fluid supply port and a fluid control port so as to regulate fluid pressure at said control port, the improvement comprising supplying fluid pressure to said chamber from said supply port via a fluid passageway having a primary orifice communicating said fluid passageway and said chamber and bleeding pressurized fluid to the control port from said fluid passageway through a secondary bleed orifice disposed between said supply port and said primary orifice when fluid is exhausted from said chamber by actuating said valve so as to provide more precise fluid control by reducing negative pressure at said control port as fluid pressure thereat approaches zero.

A solenoid actuated valve for regulating the pressure of a pressurized fluid in a fluid control system in proportion to the current level of an electrical input signal, comprising a supply port for receiving pressurized fluid and having a supply orifice for initially adjusting supply pressure supplied to a housing, a sleeve disposed in a passageway of said housing and having an open end communicated to said supply orifice to receive supply pressure and having a primary orifice disposed at another end remote from said open end and proximate a valve seat, said sleeve having a secondary bleed orifice in a wall of said sleeve between said open end and said primary orifice, said primary orifice and secondary bleed orifice being communicated to a chamber that communicates with a control port, said control port communicating with an external fluid pressure actuated component, a variable force solenoid actuated valve that cooperates with said valve seat to control flow of pressurized fluid to one or more exhaust ports as a means to regulate pressure at the control port in dependence upon electrical current to a coil of the solenoid actuated valve, said secondary bleed orifice being disposed in a position on said sleeve to bleed pressurized fluid to said chamber in a manner to provide more precise low pressure fluid control at said control port.