Exhaust gas recirculation valve having a centered solenoid assembly and floating valve mechanism

A valve assembly comprising:

• a housing;
• a centered solenoid assembly disposed within the housing, the centered solenoid assembly including an armature that moves within a sleeve upon energization of a coil, the sleeve being surrounded by a stator assembly having an operative surface disposed a fixed distance from the sleeve to define a gap between the sleeve and the stator assembly;
• an operating rod proximate the armature, the operating rod having a rod head and a valve element;
• and
• a biasing member that forces the rod head and armature into operative engagement.

An electric exhaust gas recirculation (EEGR) valve for an internal combustion engine comprising;

• a housing;
• a valve mechanism disposed within the housing, the valve mechanism including an operating rod;
• and
• an actuator disposed within the housing including:
• a stator assembly having an operative surface;
• an armature including a central passage with a transverse wall that engages the operating rod;
• and
• a sleeve that surrounds the armature, the sleeve having a guiding surface disposed a fixed distance from the operative surface of the stator assembly to define a gap between the sleeve and the stator assembly.

A valve assembly comprising:

• a housing including a shell with a tabs with landing pads;
• an actuator disposed within the housing, the actuator including an armature that moves within a stator assembly upon energization of a coil, the stator assembly including an upper stator and a lower stator that are supported within the shell by the landing pads;
• and
• a valve mechanism operatively engaged with the actuator.