Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A solenoid-actuated valve assembly (10) for controlling delivery of a fluid, the assembly comprising a valve seat (28), a valve (24) engageable with the valve seat (28) to terminate fluid delivery therethrough, a solenoid coil (16), an armature (32) effective to displace the valve (24) from the seat (28) when the coil (16) is energized, and a valve return spring (26) effective to engage the valve (24) with the seat (28) when the coil (16) is de-energized, characterised in that the armature (32) separates from the valve (24) as the valve (24) engages the seat (28) so that the kinetic energy of the armature (32) is not dissipated by engagement of the valve (24) with the seat (28).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
A solenoid-actuated valve assembly (10) for controlling delivery of a fluid, the assembly comprising a valve seat (28), a valve (24) engageable with the valve seat (28) to terminate fluid delivery therethrough, a solenoid coil (16), an armature (32) effective to displace the valve (24) from the seat (28) when the coil (16) is energized, and a valve return spring (26) effective to engage the valve (24) with the seat (28) when the coil (16) is de-energized, characterised in that the armature (32) separates from the valve (24) as the valve (24) engages the seat (28) so that the kinetic energy of the armature (32) is not dissipated by engagement of the valve (24) with the seat (28).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A solenoid-actuated valve assembly (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the armature (32) is guided on a portion of the valve (24).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A solenoid-actuated valve assembly (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the assembly includes a stop (52;152) engaged by the armature (32) after the armature separates from the valve (24).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A solenoid-actuated valve assembly (10) according to claim 3, characterised in that the stop comprises a resilient disk (52) engaged by the armature (32).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A solenoid-actuated valve assembly (10) according to claim 3, characterised in that the stop comprises a resilient ring (152) engaged by the armature (32).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A solenoid-actuated valve assembly (10) according to claim 3, characterised in that the position of the stop (52) is adjustable.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A solenoid-actuated valve assembly (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the armature (32) is biased to engage the valve (24).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
A solenoid-actuated valve assembly (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the armature (32) includes an adjusting screw (38) that establishes the position of the armature (32) relative to the valve (24) and thereby establishes the distance between the closed and open positions of the valve (24).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
221 words
A solenoid-actuated valve assembly (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that said valve (24) includes a valve head (24a) engageable with the valve seat (28) to terminate fluid delivery, a valve stem (22) and a valve stem cap (30) threaded onto the valve stem (22); said armature (32) has a central bore (34) guided on a tip (36) of the cap (30); a spring (54) biases the armature (32) to engage the cap (30); said valve return spring (26) acts on the cap (30) to engage the valve (24) with the seat (28) when the coil (16) is de-energized, the position of the cap (30) on the stem (22) being adjustable to establish the force applied by the valve return spring (26) to the valve (24); there is a resilient stop (52) engaged by the armature (32) after the armature (32) separates from the valve (24); there is an adjusting screw (56) supporting the stop (52) and establishing the distance between the stop (52) and the armature (32); and the armature (32) has an adjusting screw (38) that provides the engagement between the armature (32) and the cap (30), the armature-adjusting screw (38) establishing the position of the armature (32) relative to the valve (24) and thereby establishing the distance between the closed and open positions of the valve (24).