Apparatus and method for controlling fluid flow
AssigneeSloan Valve Company
InventorsKay Herbert, Natan E. Parsons, Xiaoxiong Mo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An actuator base, bobbin, and pole piece form a pocket for an armature that a flexible membrane encloses to form an armature chamber filled with an incompressible fluid. The membrane protects the armature from exposure to corrosive fluids flowing in a conduit. Conduit flow can be stopped by driving the membrane against a valve seat. Pressure from the controlled fluid in the conduit is transmitted through the membrane to the fluid within the armature chamber so that the armature does not need to counteract force applied to the membrane by the conduit fluid's pressure.
Claims20
An actuator system comprising:
- an actuator including an armature housing including a rear pole piece and a permanent magnet, an elongated armature including ferromagnetic material and having a proximal and a distal part, and a solenoid coil operable by application of a coil drive to linearly displace said armature;
- a flexible membrane partially enclosing said distal part of said armature and secured at a mouth of said armature housing to form an armature pocket to seal armature fluid within said armature pocket;
- said armature being disposed in said armature pocket for movement between retracted and extended armature positions in response to magnetic force exerted on said ferromagnetic material as a result of current flow through said solenoid coil, wherein said rear pole piece and said permanent magnet are constructed to hold said armature being in contact with said rear pole piece in said retracted position;
- said armature being cooperatively arranged with said flexible membrane to act onto a valve seat and thereby control fluid flow between a valve inlet and a valve outlet,
- an armature sensor constructed to detect displacement of said armature;
- a control circuit constructed to apply said coil drive to said coil in response to an output from said armature sensor;
- and
- a battery for providing power to said control circuit.
An actuator system comprising:
- an actuator including an armature housing including a rear pole piece and a permanent magnet, an elongated armature including ferromagnetic material and having a proximal and a distal part, and a solenoid coil operable by application of a coil drive to linearly displace said armature between retracted and extended armature positions in response to magnetic force exerted on said ferromagnetic material as a result of current flow through said solenoid coil, wherein said armature is in contact with said rear pole piece in said retracted position and is being held by magnetic field from said permanent magnet;
- a flexible membrane partially enclosing said armature and including a compliant region, and a resilient region designed to be displaced said distal part of said armature and designed to come in contact with a valve seat of a valve;
- an armature sensor constructed to detect the position of said armature;
- and
- a control circuit constructed to apply said coil drive to said coil in response to an output from said armature sensor;
- and
- a battery for providing power to said control circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.