EP0077599A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Proportional solenoid valve
Assignee: Borg Warner Corp
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Filing: 1982-05-04
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2002-05-04
Abstract
Abstract A diaphragm operated valve assembly is controlled by an electromagnetic valve assembly (10). A flat disc armature (22), which forms part of a flux path, is operable in an inner chamber (118) to modulate the flow between the inner chamber (118) and an exit port (28) in response to an applied magnetic force. The level of the effective magnetic force is a function of the armature (22) mass, and the pressure acting on the disc surface. A pole piece (16) adjacent to the flat disc armature (22) is slidably adjustable to establish a specified force to actuate the armature (22) to the closed or sealing position. This specified force is proportional to the current flow through the winding of the electromagnetic valve assembly (10). Thus the armature (22) operates to seal communication between the inner chamber (118) and the exit port (28) at a given pressure differential as a function of current flow. The travel distance between the armature (22) and a non-magnetic seal seat (21) has been minimized by spring (124) biasing the armature (22) in proximity to the seal seat (21).
Inventors
- 👤 Clarence Dennis Fox
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 22:23
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K31/00; F16K31/12; F16K31/36; F16K31/40; F16K31/402; F16K31/02; F16K31/06; G; G05; G05D; G05D16/00; G05D16/028; G05D16/20; G05D16/2093; G05D16/2095
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
281 words
An electromagnetic valve assembly (10) comprising an outer member (14) of a magnetic material, having a top (13) and a bottom (15); a top member (40) of a magnetic material, affixed near the top (13) of the outer member (14); a center member (16) of magnetic material extending through said top member (40) and positioned generally within the outer member (14) which center member (16) has a bore (24) with an inlet port for receiving fluid and an exit port (28); a non-magnetic seat (20) positioned about the exit port (28) and extending beyond the center member (16); a base member(23), attached to the bottom (15) of the outer member (14) to define a chamber (118) adjacent the non-magnetic seat (20); a magnetic closure member(22), positioned within the chamber (118), which closure member (22) defines at least one aperture (122) therein and, with the outer member (14), the top member (40) and the center member(16) , completes a flux path including an air gap defined between the magnetic closure member (22) and said exit port end (28) of the center member (16); means (18) for establishing the flow of electromagnetic flux through said flux path, characterized by the relative positions of the center member (16) and the closure member (22) being adjustable to place the exit port (28) of the center member (16) nearer to or farther from the closure member (22) thus regulate the air gap distance, so that for a given level of flux in the flux path, the closure member (22) will be urged against the nonmagnetic seat (20) as a function of the air gap distance and pressure differential between said chamber (118) and said bore (24).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
281 words
An electromagnetic valve assembly (10) comprising an outer member (14) of a magnetic material, having a top (13) and a bottom (15); a top member (40) of a magnetic material, affixed near the top (13) of the outer member (14); a center member (16) of magnetic material extending through said top member (40) and positioned generally within the outer member (14) which center member (16) has a bore (24) with an inlet port for receiving fluid and an exit port (28); a non-magnetic seat (20) positioned about the exit port (28) and extending beyond the center member (16); a base member(23), attached to the bottom (15) of the outer member (14) to define a chamber (118) adjacent the non-magnetic seat (20); a magnetic closure member(22), positioned within the chamber (118), which closure member (22) defines at least one aperture (122) therein and, with the outer member (14), the top member (40) and the center member(16) , completes a flux path including an air gap defined between the magnetic closure member (22) and said exit port end (28) of the center member (16); means (18) for establishing the flow of electromagnetic flux through said flux path, characterized by the relative positions of the center member (16) and the closure member (22) being adjustable to place the exit port (28) of the center member (16) nearer to or farther from the closure member (22) thus regulate the air gap distance, so that for a given level of flux in the flux path, the closure member (22) will be urged against the nonmagnetic seat (20) as a function of the air gap distance and pressure differential between said chamber (118) and said bore (24).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
An electromagnetic valve assembly (10) as claimed in Claim 1, and further comprising a reference member (30) of magnetic material and cylindrical shape positioned about the center member (16) to augment the flux path, said means for establishing the flow of electromagnetic flux including an electrical winding (18), and a bobbin (32) substantially encircling the reference member (30) and substantially enclosing the electrical winding (18).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
An electromagnetic valve assembly (10) as claimed in Claim 1,and further comprising a spring (124) positioned between said base member (23) and the magnetic closure member (22), to urge the magnetic closure member (22) toward the nonmagnetic seat (20).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
An electromagnetic valve assembly (10) claimed in Claim 3, wherein said base member (23) includes an upstanding cylindrical portion (128) terminating in a generally flat surface area (127), with said spring (124) positioned around the cylindrical portion (128) and the flat surface area (127) aiding in positioning of the magnetic closure member (22).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electromagnetic valve assembly (10) as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the closure member (22) is of a rigid material harder than said non-magnetic seat (20).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
An electromagnetic valve assembly (10) as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said center member (16) is slidable in the reference member (30) and non-magnetic seat (20) to regulate the extent of said air gap, and thus correspondingly regulate the level of pressure differential between said chamber and the bore of the center member at which a given level of electromagnetic flux in said flux path will actuate said closure member (22) to sealingly engage said non-magnetic seat.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
An electromagnetic valve assembly (10) as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the distance between said non-magnetic seat (20) and closure member (22) is about one and one-half thousandth (0.0015) inch at a reference position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
An electromagnetic valve assembly (10) as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the non-magnetic seat (20) is brass.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
74 words
An electromagnetic valve assembly (10) as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the closure member (22) operates as a function of the level of the electromagnetic flux at any pressure differential between said chamber (118) and said bore. (24) 10. An electromagnetic valve assembly (10) as claimed in Claim 1, and further comprising means (124) for biasing the magnetic closure member (22) toward the reference position to maintain its proximity to the non-magnetic seat (20).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
An electromagnetic valve assembly (10) as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the non-magnetic seat (20) is of a hardness such that it will imperceptibly deform and contour to the harder magnetic closure member 22, to provide an improved closure between the mating surfaces of the non-magnetic seat (20) and the magnetic closure member (22).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electromagnetic valve assembly (10) as claimed in Claim 1, operable with a diaphragm operator valve assembly (12) to contol the level of vacuum supplied to a vacuum-operable device.(30)
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
An electromagnetic valve assembly (10) as claimed in Claim 6, wherein said center member (16) is adjusted to a fixed position to maintain a given magnetic flux density at a reference current flow, to thereby actuate said magnetic closure member (22) to maintain at least a given level of the differential pressure between the chamber (118) and the center member bore- (24).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electromagnetic valve assembly (10) as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the magnetic center member (16) is fixed in position with respect to the reference member (30).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electromagnetic valve assembly (10) as claimed in Claim 1 and connectible to a power supply (152) that is a direct current source.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electromagnetic valve assembly (10) as claimed in Claim 15, wherein said power supply (152) is a square wave generator.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
An electromagnetic valve assembly (10) as claimed in Claim 15 wherein said power supply (152) is a pulse width modulated generator.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
An electromagnetic valve assembly (10) as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the magnetic closure (22) member's mass, the gap distance, non-magnetic seat diameter,and the magnetic flux density is calibrated to modulate a specific pressure differential between the center member bore (24) and said chamber (118).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
An electromagnetic valve assembly (10) as in Claim 1, wherein the surface area (127) of the nonmagnetic seat (20) and the magnetic closure member surface (22) area operate in an inverse manner to each other to affect the rate of closure member (22) response.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
55 words
An electromagnetic valve assembly (10) as claimed in Claim 1, wherein a restriction (303)is positioned in said center member bore (24) near the inlet port (26) source connection and where a connecting means (302) communicates said bore (24) at a position between said restriction (303) and exit port (28) to a pressure operable device (304).
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electromagnetic valve assembly (10) as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the level of electromagnetic flux is a function of the current input to the electrical winding (18).
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
43 words
An electromagnetic valve assembly (10) as in Claim 2 wherein the pressure differential between said bore (24) and chamber (118) at which said closure member (22) will be wedged against said seat is a function of the current input to the electrical winding.(118).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electromagnetic valve assembly (10) as claimed in Claim 2 wherein said reference member (30) and nonmagnetic seat (20) are a single element (231) of nonmagnetic material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
An electromagnetic valve assembly (10) as claimed in Claim 23 wherein said single element (231) is of drawn, thin-wall, nonmagnetic tubing.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electromagnetic valve assembly (10) as claimed in Claim 2 wherein said bobbin (32) and nonmagnetic seat are a single element (231) of a nonmagnetic material.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
55 words
An electromagnetic valve assembly (10) as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said bobbin (32) defines a lower surface (404) contacting said chamber (118), and further comprising a spring (402) positioned between said bobbin lower surface (404) and the magnetic closure member (22), to urge the magnetic closure member (22) away from the nonmagnetic seat (21).
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
An electromagnetic valve assembly (10) as claimed in Claim 26 wherein said spring (402) maintains said closure member (22) in a reference position relative to a vertical axis of said bore (24).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
DE1941553A1
Cited
US4005733A
Cited
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