# US 8,783,653 B2 · Multi-port modular valve with snap-in seat > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,783,653 B2 - Document ID: US8783653B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/724,138 - Filed: 2012-12-21 - Published: 2014-06-26 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-21 - Assignees: MAC Valves, Inc. - Applicants: MAC Valves, Inc. - Inventors: Michael Jamison; Jeffrey Simmonds; Kevin C. Williams - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783653B2 ## CPC - F16K 27/02: of lift valves (for reducing the flow resistance of screw-spindle lift-valves F16K1/06) - F16K 1/42: Valve seats (for double-seat valves F16K1/44) - F16K 11/044: with movable valve members positioned between valve seats - F16K 27/0263: {multiple way valves} - F16K 27/029: {Electromagnetically actuated valves} - F16K 31/02: electric {(F16K31/004 takes precedence)}; magnetic - F16K 31/0627: {with movable valve member positioned between seats} - F16K 31/0658: {Armature and valve member being one single element} - F16K 31/0675: {Electromagnet aspects, e.g. electric supply therefor} - Y10T 137/6011: Assembling, disassembling, or removing cartridge type valve [e.g., insertable and removable as a unit, etc.] - Y10T 137/86574: Supply and exhaust - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A solenoid operated modular valve includes a solenoid body having a coil and a pole piece positioned in the solenoid body. A valve body cartridge is connected to the solenoid body. A polymeric snap-in seat assembly includes first and second deflectable claw arms each having a barb engaging the valve body cartridge retaining the snap-in seat assembly in direct contact with the valve body cartridge. A seat engagement face when contacted by a valve seal member defines a valve closed position, and is displaced away from the seat engagement face in a valve open position when the coil is energized. A valve body cartridge body end portion includes a barb engagement face having pitched contact edges each having a continuous pitch directly contacted by the barb of the first and second deflectable claw arms to rotatably and frictionally lock the snap-in seat assembly to the valve body cartridge. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A solenoid operated modular valve, comprising: a solenoid body having a coil and a pole piece positioned in the solenoid body; a polymeric material valve body cartridge releasably connected to the solenoid body; an armature/valve member slidably disposed in both the solenoid body and the valve body cartridge, the armature/valve member displaced toward the pole piece when the coil is energized; a polymeric snap-in seat assembly having: first and second deflectable claw arms each having a barb engaging the valve body cartridge to retain the snap-in seat assembly in direct contact with the valve body cartridge; a guide tube slidably receiving a valve member guide of the armature/valve member; and a biasing member acting to normally bias the armature/valve member toward the snap-in seat assembly and acting to create a clearance gap between the snap-in seat assembly and the valve body cartridge in a non-installed condition of the modular valve. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The solenoid operated modular valve of claim 1, wherein the solenoid body further includes a bobbin supporting the coil and having the pole piece slidably received in the bobbin. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The solenoid operated modular valve of claim 2, wherein the pole piece is movably positioned in the bobbin and further includes a threaded end engaging the pole piece to the solenoid body permitting an axial position of the pole piece to be selected by rotation of the pole with respect to the threaded end. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The solenoid operated modular valve of claim 1, wherein a body end portion of the modular valve body cartridge includes a barb engagement face having pitched contact edges. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The solenoid operated modular valve of claim 4, wherein the pitched contact edges each have a continuous pitch directly contacted by the barb of each of the first and second deflectable claw arms to rotatably and frictionally lock the snap-in seat assembly to the valve body cartridge. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The solenoid operated modular valve of claim 5, wherein the pitched contact edge includes a maximum height edge position located where the first and second claw arms contact the pitched contact edge thereby defining the locked position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The solenoid operated modular valve of claim 4, wherein after initial installation of the snap-in seat assembly in a seat assembly installation direction co-axial with respect to a longitudinal central axis of the modular valve, the snap-in seat assembly is axially rotated until a barb flat of each barb of the first and second deflectable claw arms reaches a maximum height edge position of the pitched contact edges. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The solenoid operated modular valve of claim 4, wherein the body end portion further includes first and second rotation stops defining positive rotation stops for the first and second deflectable claw arms of the snap-in seat assembly as the snap-in seat assembly rotates in an installation rotation direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The solenoid operated modular valve of claim 1, wherein the snap-in seat assembly includes a seat engagement face which when contacted by a valve seal member supported on the armature/valve member defines a valve closed position, the valve seal member displaced away from the seat engagement face in a valve open position when the coil is energized. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The solenoid operated modular valve of claim 1, wherein the modular valve is a 2-way valve. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The solenoid operated modular valve of claim 1, wherein the modular valve is a 3-way valve. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The solenoid operated modular valve of claim 1, further including a manifold having a manifold bore receiving the modular valve and a modular bore end face, wherein the snap-in seat clearance gap is eliminated when direct contact occurs between a seat body end face of the snap-in seat assembly and the manifold bore end face. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The solenoid operated modular valve of claim 12, wherein a barb clearance gap is created between the barb of each of the first and second claw arms and an end portion of the valve body cartridge when the snap-in seat clearance gap is eliminated. ### Claim 14 A solenoid operated modular valve, comprising: a solenoid body having a coil and a pole piece positioned in the solenoid body; a polymeric material valve body cartridge releasably connected to the solenoid body; a polymeric snap-in seat assembly having: first and second deflectable claw arms each having a barb engaging the valve body cartridge to retain the snap-in seat assembly in direct contact with the valve body cartridge; a seat engagement face which when contacted by a valve seal member defines a valve closed position, the valve seal member displaced away from the seat engagement face in a valve open position when the coil is energized; and a body end portion of the modular valve body cartridge includes a barb engagement face having pitched contact edges, the pitched contact edges each having a continuous pitch directly contacted by the barb of each of the first and second deflectable claw arms to rotatably and frictionally lock the snap-in seat assembly to the valve body cartridge. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The solenoid operated modular valve of claim 14, further including an armature/valve member slidably disposed in both the solenoid body and the valve body cartridge, the armature/valve member displaced toward the pole piece when the coil is energized. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The solenoid operated modular valve of claim 15, wherein the snap-in seat assembly includes a guide tube slidably receiving a valve member guide of the armature/valve member. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The solenoid operated modular valve of claim 15, wherein the valve seal member is supported on the armature/valve member between first and second seal retention flanges both integrally connected to the armature/valve member and radially extending from the armature/valve member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The solenoid operated modular valve of claim 15, further including a biasing member acting to normally bias the armature/valve member toward the snap-in seat assembly creating a clearance gap between the snap-in seat assembly and the valve body cartridge in a non-installed condition of the modular valve. ### Claim 19 A solenoid operated modular valve, comprising: a solenoid body having a coil and a pole piece positioned in the solenoid body; a polymeric material valve body cartridge releasably connected to the solenoid body; an armature/valve member slidably disposed in both the solenoid body and the valve body cartridge, the armature/valve member displaced toward the pole piece when the coil is energized; a polymeric snap-in seat assembly having: first and second deflectable claw arms each having a barb engaging the valve body cartridge to retain the snap-in seat assembly in direct contact with the valve body cartridge; a guide tube slidably receiving a valve member guide of the armature/valve member; and a seat engagement face which when contacted by a valve seal member supported on the armature/valve member defines a valve closed position, the valve seal member displaced away from the seat engagement face in a valve open position when the coil is energized; and a biasing member acting to normally bias the armature/valve member toward the snap-in seat assembly seat engagement face and acting to create a clearance gap between the snap-in seat assembly and the valve body cartridge in a non-installed condition of the modular valve. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The solenoid operated modular valve of claim 19, wherein the armature/valve member further includes a piston slidably received in a piston bore of the valve body cartridge. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The solenoid operated modular valve of claim 19, wherein the snap-in seat assembly further includes an outlet bore, wherein a pressure balanced condition of the modular valve is created when a diameter of the outlet bore is equal to a diameter of the piston bore. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The solenoid operated modular valve of claim 19, wherein the snap-in seat assembly further includes an outlet bore, wherein a non-pressure balanced condition of the modular valve is created when a diameter of the outlet bore is less than a diameter of the piston bore. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The solenoid operated modular valve of claim 19, further including a cushion member of a resilient material positioned between an armature end face of the armature/valve member and a pole piece end face of the pole piece preventing metal-to-metal contact between the armature/valve member and the pole piece. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The solenoid operated modular valve of claim 23, wherein with the cushion member in position, an axial position of the pole piece is selected using threads created on the pole piece defining a valve stroke length.