Solenoid assembly with over-molded electronics
AssigneeEaton Corporation
InventorsFrederick R. Hazzard, Nathan H. French, Christopher M. Lodermeier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solenoid assembly (23) includes a coil assembly (65) having at least one coil winding (73) and an electronic circuit assembly (67), which is in electrical communication with the coil assembly (65). The electronic circuit assembly (67) has a printed circuit board (79) and at least one electronic component (81), which is surface mounted on the printed circuit board (79). A coating material (85) coats all of the plurality of external surfaces of the surface-mounted electronic component (81). A casing (87) over-molds an outer longitudinal surface (77) of the coil assembly (65) and all of a plurality of external surfaces of the electronic circuit assembly (67).
Claims21
A solenoid assembly comprising:
- a coil assembly including at least one coil winding, wherein the coil assembly has an outer longitudinal surface;
- an electronic circuit assembly in electrical communication with the coil assembly, wherein the electronic circuit assembly includes:
- a printed circuit board;
- at least one electronic component, which has a plurality of external surfaces and is surface mounted on the printed circuit board;
- and
- a coating material coating all of the plurality of external surfaces of the surface-mounted electronic component;
- a casing over-molding the outer longitudinal surface of the coil assembly and all of a plurality of external surfaces of the electronic circuit assembly so that the outer longitudinal surface of the coil assembly and the plurality of external surfaces of the electronic circuit assembly are in direct contact with the casing.
A method of making a solenoid assembly comprising the steps of:
- coating all external surfaces of surface-mounted electronic components, which are included in an electronic circuit assembly and surface mounted to a printed circuit board, with a coating material;
- and
- over-molding all surfaces of the electronic circuit assembly and an outer longitudinal surface of a coil assembly with a casing material, wherein the outer longitudinal surface of the coil assembly and all of the surfaces of the electronic circuit assembly are in direct contact with the casing material.
A solenoid valve assembly comprising:
- a valve assembly;
- a solenoid assembly engaged to the valve assembly, the solenoid assembly having:
- a coil assembly including at least one coil winding, wherein the coil assembly has an outer longitudinal surface;
- an electronic circuit assembly in electrical communication with the coil assembly, wherein the electronic circuit assembly includes:
- a printed circuit board;
- at least one electronic component, which has a plurality of external surfaces and is surface mounted on the printed circuit board;
- and a coating material coating all of the plurality of external surfaces of the surface-mounted electronic component;
- a casing over-molding the outer longitudinal surface of the coil assembly and all of a plurality of external surfaces of the electronic circuit assembly so that the outer longitudinal surface of the coil assembly and the plurality of external surfaces of the electronic circuit assembly are in direct contact with the casing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.