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US 6,540,203 B1Granted
Pilot operated microvalve device
AssigneeKelsey-Hayes Company
InventorHarry A. Hunnicutt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A microvalve device for controlling fluid flow in a fluid circuit. The microvalve device comprises a body having a cavity formed therein. A pilot valve supported by the body is movably disposed in the cavity for opening and closing pilot ports formed in the body. A pilot operated microvalve is positioned by the pressure of the fluid controlled by the pilot valve.
Claims32
A microvalve device for controlling fluid flow comprising:
- a body having a chamber, a first pilot port, and a second pilot port, a first primary port and a second primary port formed therein, each of said ports being in fluid communication with said chamber and being adapted for connection with one of a plurality of fluid sources;
- a first microvalve, said first microvalve being a pilot valve movably disposed in said chamber and supported by said body for fully opening and at least partially closing said first and second pilot ports;
- an actuator operably coupled to said pilot valve for moving said pilot valve;
- a second microvalve that is a slider valve movably disposed in said chamber for movement between a first position and a second position whereby positioning said second microvalve is controlled by positioning said pilot valve;
- and
- said slider valve further defining a first end and a second end, said first end being in fluid communication with said first and second pilot ports when said first and second pilot ports are open and said second end being in fluid communication with said first primary port, said slider valve variably restricting fluid flow between said primary ports when moving between said first and second positions.
3 more elements
A microvalve device comprising:
- a body having a chamber and a port formed therein, said port being in fluid communication with said chamber, said port being adapted for connection with a fluid source;
- a pilot operated microvalve disposed in said chamber, said pilot operated microvalve being positionable by fluid pressure between an open position and a closed position;
- a pilot microvalve disposed in said chamber and connected to a source of pressurized fluid during use, said pilot microvalve being selectively positionable between a first position in which pressurized fluid is directed by the pilot microvalve from the source to said pilot operated microvalve to position said pilot operated microvalve in one of said open position and said closed position, said pilot microvalve being selectively positionable to a second position in which said pilot operated microvalve is permitted to move from said one of said open position and said closed position to the other of said open position and said closed position;
- and
- wherein said pilot-operated microvalve is supported by said body for fully opening and at least partially closing said port, said pilot-operated microvalve having a first surface, a second surface opposite said first surface, and a duct formed therethrough between said first and second surfaces, said duct being in constant fluid communication with said port for allowing fluid flow associated with said port through the valve for the purpose of balancing fluid pressures acting on said first and second surfaces.
2 more elements
A microvalve device for controlling fluid flow comprising:
- a body having a chamber, a first pilot port, and a second pilot port formed therein, each of said pilot ports being in fluid communication with said chamber and being adapted for connection with one of a plurality of fluid sources;
- a first microvalve, said first microvalve being a micro-machined pilot valve formed from a single piece of semi-conducting material and being movably disposed in said chamber and being supported by said body for opening and at least partially closing said first and second pilot ports;
- an actuator operably coupled to said pilot valve for moving said pilot valve;
- and
- a pilot operated second microvalve fixed to and being internally formed from the same piece of semi-conducting material from which said first microvalve is formed, said second microvalve being movably disposed in said chamber for movement between a first position and a second position, whereby positioning of said second microvalve is accomplished by positioning said pilot valve.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.