Proportional directional control valve with a magnetic positioning sensor

A proportional directional control valve comprising:

• a housing having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having an interior chamber;
• an electronic controller mounted within the interior chamber;
• at least one solenoid assembly electrically coupled to the electronic controller, the solenoid assembly disposed in the second portion, a drive pin of the solenoid assembly being reciprocally moveable responsive to a current provided by the electronic controller;
• a valve assembly disposed in the second portion, the valve assembly comprising a linearly moveable valve element operatively connected to the solenoid assembly, a position of the valve element being responsive to a position of the drive pin;
• a magnetic assembly operatively connected to the valve element, the magnetic assembly providing a magnetic field responsive to the position of the valve element;
• a magnetic positioning sensor assembly coupled to the electronic controller, the magnetic positioning sensor detecting a change in the magnetic field, the magnetic positioning sensor assembly generating an output voltage proportional to the change in the magnetic field;
• an operator interface port coupled to the electronic controller to enable values for at least one operating parameter of the proportional directional control valve to be downloaded from a set-up drive to the electronic controller;
• and
• the current to the solenoid assembly being adjusted by the electronic controller responsive to a comparison of the output voltage and a known command electrical input signal to form an adjusting signal, the adjusting signal altering the current transmitted to the solenoid assembly and positioning the valve element corresponding to the output voltage.

A proportional directional control valve comprising:

• a valve operating mechanism that permits communication between a first channel and a second channel through a linear motion of a valve element of the valve operating mechanism;
• a magnetic assembly operatively connected to the valve element;
• a magnetic positioning sensor assembly operatively coupled to the magnetic assembly providing a magnetic field responsive to the position of the valve element;
• a control system controlling linear movement of the valve element in response to an electrical signal generated in proportion to a change in the magnetic filed detected by the magnetic positioning sensor;
• at least one solenoid assembly electrically coupled to the control system, a drive pin of the solenoid assembly being reciprocally moveable responsive to a current provided by the control system;
• a micro-controller mounted within an interior chamber of a first portion of a housing of the proportional directional control valve;
• a operator interface port coupled to the micro-controller;
• a set-up device communicatively coupled to the operator interface port;
• and
• the electrical signal being compared to a known command electrical input signal to form an adjusting signal having a value proportional to the change in the magnetic field, the adjusting signal altering the control system and positioning the valve element corresponding to the adjusting signal.

A proportional directional control valve comprising:

• a valve operating mechanism that permits communication between a fluid source and one of a first channel and a second channel through a linear motion of a valve element of the valve operating mechanism;
• a magnetic assembly operatively connected to the valve element;
• a magnetic positioning sensor assembly operatively coupled to the magnetic assembly;
• a control system controlling linear movement of the valve element in response to an electrical signal generated by the magnetic positioning sensor;
• a non-magnetic housing having a passageway extending axially through a portion of the non-magnetic housing;
• a first magnet disposed in the passageway;
• a second magnet disposed in the passageway, a south pole of the second magnet separated from a north pole of the first magnet by a non-magnetic spacer in the passageway;
• and
• a retaining ring disposed in the passageway holding the first and second magnets and the non-magnetic spacer in a fixed position.

A proportional directional control valve comprising:

• a housing having a first portion and a second portion;
• an electronic controller mounted within the first portion;
• a solenoid controlled valve assembly mounted within the second portion, the valve assembly movable responsive to a first signal transmitted from the electronic controller;
• a magnetic positioning assembly disposed within the second portion and detecting a change in the magnetic field caused by movement of the valve assembly, a second signal created by the magnetic position assembly, the second signal proportional to the change in the magnetic field, the second signal also transmitted to the electronic controller;
• the electronic controller transmitting an adjusted signal to the solenoid controlled valve assembly and controlling the position of the valve assembly responsive to the adjusted signal;
• the first portion and second portion easily alternately rigidly secured together and separable relative to each other;
• and
• connecting elements disposed in the first and second portions, the connecting elements providing a replaceable electrical connection between the electronic controller and the solenoid controlled valve assembly when the first and second portions are joined together.

A proportional directional control valve comprising:

• a housing having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having an interior chamber;
• an electronic controller mounted within the interior chamber;
• at least one solenoid assembly electrically coupled to the electronic controller, the solenoid assembly disposed in the second portion, a drive pin of the solenoid assembly being reciprocally moveable responsive to a current provided by the electronic controller;
• a valve assembly disposed in the second portion, the valve assembly comprising a linearly moveable valve element operatively connected to the solenoid assembly, a position of the valve element being responsive to a position of the drive pin;
• a first and a second solenoid assembly axially and operatively connected to the linearly moveable valve element;
• a magnetic assembly operatively connected to the valve element, the magnetic assembly providing a magnetic field responsive to the position of the valve element;
• a magnetic positioning sensor assembly coupled to the electronic controller, the magnetic positioning sensor detecting a change in the magnetic field, the magnetic positioning sensor assembly generating an output voltage proportional to the change in the magnetic field;
• and
• the current to the solenoid assembly being adjusted by the electronic controller responsive to a comparison of the output voltage and a known command electrical input signal to form an adjusting signal, the adjusting signal altering the current transmitted to the solenoid assembly and positioning the valve element corresponding to the output voltage.