US 9,852,862 B2 · Solenoid operated circuit

Abstract

A solenoid operated circuit comprises a solenoid switch having a solenoid coil for moving one or more electrical contacts from a first position to a second position to switch an electrical motor ON/OFF, and a solenoid controller that includes an arc suppression circuit that mitigates a reverse self-induced voltage from the electrical motor thereby suppressing electrical arcing on switch contacts.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims21

Dependent claims

A solenoid operated circuit, comprising:

a solenoid switch having a solenoid coil for moving one or more electrical contacts from a first position to a second position to switch an electrical motor ON/OFF;
and
a solenoid controller comprising an arc suppression circuit that mitigates a reverse self-induced voltage from the electrical motor, thereby suppressing electrical arcing on solenoid switch contacts;
the solenoid controller further comprising a power assist circuit that regulates electrical power to the solenoid coil, wherein in one operational mode the power assist circuit provides electrical power to the solenoid coil from a first power source, and in another operational mode the power assist circuit provides electrical power to the solenoid coil from a second power source to maintain the voltage across the solenoid coil above a dropout voltage;
wherein the arc suppression circuit comprises a filter circuit that absorbs the electrical energy due to said reversed self-induced voltage from the electrical motor, and wherein the filter circuit of the suppression circuit comprises a capacitor connected in parallel between the solenoid switch terminals and in series to the electrical motor;
and
wherein the capacitor functions as a filter circuit at the instant of voltage reversal in the solenoid switch contacts, such that the capacitor absorbs the electrical energy due to said reversed self-induced voltage of a motor coil of the electrical motor and transfers that energy back to the motor coil and a connected battery, thereby suppressing electrical arcing between solenoid switch contacts and the terminals.

4 more elements

A solenoid controller, comprising:

a time delay circuit that maintains an ON delay state of a solenoid coil for a time period;
a power assist circuit that regulates electrical power to the solenoid coil, wherein in one operational mode the power assist circuit provides electrical power to the solenoid coil from a first power source, and in another operational mode the power assist circuit provides electrical power to the solenoid coil from a second power source to maintain the voltage across the solenoid coil above a dropout voltage;
an arc suppression circuit for a solenoid switch including the solenoid coil for moving one or more electrical contacts from a first position to a second position to switch an electrical motor ON/OFF, wherein the arc suppression circuit mitigates a reverse self-induced voltage from the electrical motor, thereby suppressing electrical arcing on solenoid switch contacts, wherein the arc suppression circuit comprises a filter circuit that absorbs the electrical energy due to said reversed self-induced voltage from the electrical motor;
and
the filter circuit of the arc suppression circuit comprises a capacitor connected in parallel between the solenoid switch terminals and in series to the electrical motor;
wherein the capacitor functions as a filter circuit at the instant of voltage reversal in the solenoid switch contacts, such that the capacitor absorbs the electrical energy due to said reversed self-induced voltage of a motor coil of the electrical motor and transfers that energy back to the motor coil and a connected battery, thereby suppressing electrical arcing between solenoid switch contacts and the terminals.

3 more elements

A lift gate, comprising:

a lift gate actuator for moving a lift gate platform;
a solenoid switch having a solenoid coil for moving one or more electrical contacts from a first position to a second position to switch the electrical motor ON/OFF for operating the lift gate actuator;
a solenoid controller comprising an arc suppression circuit that mitigates a reverse self-induced voltage from the electrical motor, thereby suppressing electrical arcing on solenoid switch contacts;
the solenoid controller further comprises a time delay circuit that maintains an ON delay state of the solenoid coil for a time period, wherein the solenoid controller further comprises a power assist circuit that regulates electrical power to the solenoid coil, wherein in one operational mode the power assist circuit provides electrical power to the solenoid coil from a first power source, and in another operational mode, in response to voltage drop in the solenoid coil, the power assist circuit provides electrical power to the solenoid coil from a second power source to maintain the voltage across the solenoid coil above a dropout voltage;
the arc suppression circuit comprises a filter circuit that absorbs the electrical energy due to said reversed self-induced voltage from the electrical motor;
and
the filter circuit of the suppression circuit comprises a capacitor connected in parallel between the solenoid switch terminals and in series to the electrical motor;
wherein the capacitor functions as a filter circuit at the instant of voltage reversal in the solenoid switch contacts, such that the capacitor absorbs the electrical energy due to said reversed self-induced voltage of a motor coil of the electrical motor and transfers that energy back to the motor coil and a connected battery, thereby suppressing electrical arcing between solenoid switch contacts and the terminals.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description4,462 words

Summary375 words

#The present invention relates generally to electrical power control and in particular to controlling electrical solenoids for electrical motors.

#Lift gates are typically mounted at a structure such as the rear of a vehicle to lift payloads on a platform from one level (e.g., ground level) up to another level (e.g., the bed of the vehicle), or vice versa. Solenoids such as electrical motor starter solenoids are used in lift gate pump electrical motor actuators. Electrical arcing (sparking) occurs when a current flowing through a lift gate pump motor coil is interrupted. The interruption occurs when the lift operation is stopped by the operator, wherein a reverse self-induced voltage is generated from the pump motor coil in the starter solenoid contacts that causes metal to transfer from one electrical contact to another.

#As metal erodes on each solenoid contact opening, the resistance through the contacts increases, leading to temperature increase on contacts. Contact resistance and temperature increase lead to melting and ultimately welding together of the contacts, wherein the solenoid contacts remain in the closed position and in the ON state.

Brief description of the drawings13 figures

#For a fuller understanding of the nature and advantages of the invention, as well as a preferred mode of use, reference should be made to the following detailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

#FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an electrical pump motor circuit architecture including a solenoid controller, according to an embodiment of the invention.

#FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of an implementation of the solenoid controller in the architecture of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description3,679 words

#The following description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and is not meant to limit the inventive concepts claimed herein. Further, particular features described herein can be used in combination with other described features in each of the various possible combinations and permutations. Unless otherwise specifically defined herein, all terms are to be given their broadest possible interpretation including meanings implied from the specification as well as meanings understood by those skilled in the art and/or as defined in dictionaries, treatises, etc.

#In one embodiment the present invention provides a controller for a solenoid circuit including a solenoid switch. In one example, a solenoid switch comprises a starter solenoid including an electrical conductive coil of wire wound around a ferromagnetic core such as a solid iron core. A solenoid valve is an integrated device comprising a solenoid which actuates either a pneumatic or hydraulic valve, or a solenoid switch, which employs an electromechanical solenoid to operate an electrical switch.

#When electrical current is applied to the starter solenoid coil, a resulting magnetic field is focused by the solenoid core, thereby providing an electromagnet function. Solenoids are used in switches to turn ON/OFF high current devices based on such electromagnet function, such as magnetically attracting (engaging) one or more contacts for closing an electrical circuit (such as in a pump motor coil) when the solenoid coil is energized. As noted, electrical arcing occurs between starter solenoid switch contacts when a current flowing through the pump motor coil is interrupted.

Facts

Application

14/237,242Filed 3 Aug 2012 · us provisional application

Priority

5 Aug 2011

Published

US 2014/0169919 A119 Jun 2014

Granted

26 Dec 2017

Term ends

24 Jun 2034

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 690 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification6 codes

H01H 47/22
Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the relay and designed to obtain desired operating characteristics or to provide…:…
B60P 1/4478
General means for controlling movements of the loading platform, e.g. hydraulic systems: safety stops, switches
H02H 7/222
For distribution gear, e.g. bus-bar systems; for switching devices: for switches
H01H
Electric switches

Timeline

5 Aug 2011Priority claimedParent application 61/515,496
3 Aug 2012Application filedUS 14/237,242
5 Feb 2014Assigned to Maxon Industries, Inc., Dba Maxon Lift Corp.assignment of assignor's interest
19 Jun 2014PublishedUS 2014/0169919 A1
26 Dec 2017GrantedUS 9,852,862 B2
21 Aug 2020Assigned to Umb Bank, N.A.security interest
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
24 Jun 2034Term endsEstimated, includes 690 days of adjustment

Solenoid operated circuit

Life of this patent

Solenoid operated circuit

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims21

Description4,462 words

Drawings

Classification6 codes

Life of this patent

Description4,462 words