Low pressure solenoid valve
AssigneeVickers, Incorporated
InventorsJia Wang, John N. Tackes, Dan Alexander
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solenoid valve utilizes a single unitary member as a combined core/spool which is axially moveable between an extended deactivated position to a retracted activated position upon actuation of its coil. The valve includes a coil in which the windings on a bobbin are encapsulated by injection molding an outer member therearound. The valve also includes a washer which becomes adhered to the outer member during injection molding, a plug member supported on the washer and a sleeve encircling the coil. The plug member has an end positioned to be contacted by the core/spool upon actuation which is contoured to provide minimal contact surface between it and the core/spool.
Claims28
A solenoid valve comprising:
- (a) a retainer extending along an axis from a first end to a second end and having a passageway extending axially therethrough, said passageway defined in part by a first inwardly facing cylindrical wall surface;
- (b) a coil mounted on said retainer, said coil extending along said axis from an inner end positioned within said retainer to an outer end extending axially outwardly from said retainer first end, said coil having an annular wall surface defining a passageway extending along said axis from said inner end toward said outer end;
- (c) means blocking said coil passageway in the vicinity of said coil outer end;
- (d) a cage extending along said axis and having an engagement end engaged to said retainer second end and extending outwardly from said retainer second end to a fluid receiving end, said engagement end having associated therewith a stop which includes an abutment surface extending into the passageway portion defined by said retainer first inwardly facing cylindrical surface, said cage including an annular wall defining an axially extending passageway, a first set of radial ports spaced from said fluid receiving end and a second set of radial ports positioned axially between said first set of ports and said engagement end;
- (e) a combined unitary core/spool extending along said axis from a first end positioned within said cage to a second end positioned within said coil, said core/spool being axially moveable from a deactivated, extended position to a retracted position upon actuation of said coil, said core/spool having a first outwardly facing cylindrical surface slidingly engaged with said cage wall, said first outwardly facing cylindrical surface having an annular recess extending between a first ledge and a second ledge, said first ledge being axially spaced apart from said second ledge a distance permitting said annular recess to communicate with at least one of said first set of ports or said second set of ports, said core/spool having a second outwardly facing cylindrical surface having a size larger than first outwardly facing cylindrical surface and a radial shoulder between said first outwardly facing cylindrical surface and said second outwardly facing cylindrical surface, said shoulder engageable with said stop abutment surface to limit axial movement of said core/spool toward said cage fluid receiving end and a plurality of ports extending through said wall communicating said annular recess;
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- (f) means yieldingly urging said core/spool toward said extended position.
In a solenoid valve comprising a coil extending along an axis from a first end to a second end, said coil having an annular wall surface defining a passageway extending along said axis from said first end toward said second end, means blocking said coil passageway in the vicinity of said coil second end, and a cage extending along said axis and having a wall with an internal surface which defines a passageway extend ing from an engagement end to a fluid receiving end, said internal surface having a predetermined diameter at said engagement end, the improvement comprising
- (a) a stop associated with said cage engagement end, said stop including an abutment surface, and
- (b) a combined unitary core/spool ex tending along said axis from a first end positioned within said cage to a second end positioned within said coil, said core/spool being axially moveable from a deactivated, extended position to a retracted position upon actuation of said coil, said core/spool having a first outwardly facing cylindrical surface slidingly engaged with said cage internal surface, a second cylindrical surface having a size larger than said first cylindrical surface, said second cylindrical surface being spaced from said coil annular wall surface, interference means on said core/spool between said first outwardly facing cylindrical surface and said second cylindrical surface, said interference means engageable with said stop abutment surface to limit axial movement of said core/spool toward said cage fluid receiving end, said core/spool having an axial passageway permitting the flow of fluid throughout the length of said core/spool and into the space between said core/spool and said coil annular wall surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.