Solenoid-controlled valve

A solenoid-controlled valve comprising:

• a cylindrical housing having a first end and a second end, said housing having a first port and a second port which are provided at different distances from said first end in a longitudinal direction, said housing further having a third port provided at said first end;
• a first valve body slidable in said housing in said longitudinal direction to bring said first port and said second port into and out of communication with each other, said first valve body having a first restricting portion;
• a second valve body movable in said housing in said longitudinal direction to bring said second port and said third port into and out of communication with each other, said second valve body having a second restricting portion, said first restricting portion of said first valve body and said second restricting portion of said second valve body being operable to engage each other so as to restrict relative displacement of said first valve body and said second valve body when said first valve body and said second valve body move away from each other;
• a first spring for urging said first valve body in a valve opening direction;
• a second spring for urging said second valve body in a valve closing direction;
• an electromagnetic force generating device retained by said housing;
• and
• a movable member operatively interconnected to said first valve body and said second valve body, said movable member being movable in said housing in said longitudinal direction by an electromagnetic force of said electromagnetic force generating device against an urging force of said first spring to cause the first valve body and the second valve body to move to valve opening or closing positions;
• wherein said first valve body, said second valve body, said first spring, said second spring, said electromagnetic force generating device, and said movable member are arranged such that:
• when there is no electromagnetic force from said electromagnetic force generating device, said first valve body is placed in a valve opening position by the urging force of said first spring, and said second valve body is placed in a valve closing position by the urging force of said second spring;
• when the electromagnetic force of said electromagnetic force generating device is set to a first predetermined value, said movable member causes said first valve body to move to a valve closing position against a difference between the urging forces of said first spring and said second spring, and said second valve body is held in the valve closing position by the urging force of said second spring;
• and
• when the electromagnetic force of said electromagnetic force generating device is set to a second predetermined value larger than the first predetermined value, said movable member causes said first valve body to move to the valve closing position against the urging force of said first spring and also causes said second valve body to move to a valve opening position due to an engagement of said first restricting portion and said second restricting portion, whereby an influence of the urging force of said second spring on a driving force of said electromagnetic force generating device becomes zero.