Industrial air valve with electrically operable pilot valve having minimal solenoid loading

Claim 2

In the combination of a valve assembly and an electrically operable solenoid device for operation thereof: a solenoid armature movable between an extended position and a retracted position, a solenoid coil energizable to move the solenoid armature in one direction between the extended position and the retracted position, a valve head movable between an open position and a closed position, a single spring means directly operatively engaged with said valve head and biasing said valve head toward one position, said spring means being indirectly operatively engaged with said armature through said valve head and simultaneously biasing said arMature toward the retracted position, a valve stem operating means floatingly operably associated with said valve head by abutting engagement therewith to move said valve head toward the other position and separable therefrom in the one position and operably associated with said solenoid armature by abutting engagement therewith to be moved by said armature to the other position and to move said armature in the opposite direction between the extended position and the retracted position, and no-load gap means separating said solenoid armature from said valve head and said spring means in the one position and permitting substantial movement of said solenoid armature before operative association with said valve head during movement of the valve head from the one position to the other position.

Claim 3

In the combination of an air control valve assembly and a solenoid device for operation thereof: an axially movable valve-operating rod means movable between an extended position and a retracted position, an axially movable solenoid armature movable between an extended position and a retracted position, a coil energizable to cause movement of said armature from the extended position to the retracted position, armature rod-connecting means between said operating rod means and said armature effective during movement of said armature to the retracted position to cause movement of said operating rod means to the retracted position, an air chamber connectable to a high pressure air source, an airflow passage selectively connectable to said air chamber to permit flow of high pressure air from said air chamber, a valve member controllably associated with said airflow passage and movable between an extended open position and a retracted closed position relative to said flow passage, variable force-loading means biasing said valve member to the extended position and providing a first force holding said valve member in the closed position and a second reduced force after the valve member is in the open position, rod valve-connecting means between said operating rod means and said valve member effective during movement of said armature to the retracted position to cause movement of said valve member to the retracted position, and lost motion means associated with said connecting means and separating said valve member and said loading means from said axially movable solenoid and enabling substantial movement of said armature from the extended position to the retracted armature before movement of said valve member begins so as to provide a no-load start condition for said armature.

Claim 4

In the combination of an air control valve assembly and a solenoid device for operation thereof: an axially movable valve-operating rod means movable between an extended position and a retracted position, an axially movable solenoid armature movable between an extended position and a retracted position, a coil energizable to cause movement of said armature from the extended position to the retracted position, armature rod-connecting means between said operating rod means and said armature effective during movement of said armature to the retracted position to cause movement of said operating rod means to the retracted position, an air chamber connectable to a high pressure air source, an airflow passage selectively connectable to said air chamber to permit flow of high pressure air from said air chamber, a valve member controllably associated with said airflow passage and movable between an extended open position and a retracted closed position relative to said flow passage, variable force-loading means biasing said valve member to the extended position and providing a first force holding said valve member in the closed position and a second reduced force after the valve member is in the open position, rod valve-connecting means between said operating rod means and said valve member effective during movement of said armature to the retracted position to cause movement of said valve member to the retracted position, and lost motion means associated with said connecting means and separating said valve member and said loading means from said axially movable solenoid and enabling substantial movement of said armature from the extended position to the retracted armature before movement of said valve member begins so as to provide a no-load start condition for said armature.

Claim 5

A solenoid operated valve comprising: a pressure chamber, a flow passage connected to said pressure chamber, a valve seat surrounding said flow passage and facing said pressure chamber, a valve head associated with said valve seat and movable between open and closed positions relative to said flow passage, spring means biasing said valve head to the closed position, valve-operating rod means slidably supported for axial movement between an extended position and a retracted position, an axially extending bore slidably receiving said rod means, a loading chamber formed by said axially extending bore and being connected to said pressure chamber to cause high pressure fluid therein to exert an axially directed force on said rod means biasing said rod means to the extended position, a connecting means on said rod means and an abutment surface on said valve head engageable during movement of said rod means from the extended position to the retracted position to move said valve head to the open position and engageable during movement of said valve head to the closed position to move said rod means from the retracted position to the extended position, an axially movable solenoid armature movable between an extended position and a retracted position, abutment means engaging said armature in the extended position and locating said rod means and said armature in the extended position, an armature coil energizable to move said armature from the extended position to a retracted position and being effective to simultaneously move said rod means from the extended position to the retracted position and to hold said armature and said rod means in the retracted position until deenergized, said abutment means being spaced from and located relative to said valve seat and said connecting means and said abutment surface to locate said connecting means in spaced relationship to said abutment surface in the extended position thereby providing a substantial gap so that an initial portion of the movement of said armature of substantial length occurs before said valve head is operably engaged by said rod means, and return means for said rod means and said armature effective to move said rod means and said armature to the extended position upon deenergization of said coil comprising said loading chamber and said spring means, said loading chamber and said spring means acting conjointly to initiate movement of said rod means and said armature toward the extended position, said spring means acting on said rod means and said armature through said valve head until said valve head is seated and said loading chamber acting on said armature through said rod means and causing movement thereof until said armature engages said abutment means whereat said gap between said valve head and said rod means is established.

Claim 6

A solenoid operated valve comprising: a pressure chamber, a flow passage connected to said pressure chamber, a valve seat surrounding said flow passage and facing said pressure chamber, a valve head associated with said valve seat and movable between open and closed positions relative to said flow passage, spring means biasing said valve head to the closed position, valve-operating rod means slidably supported for axial movement between an extended position and a retracted position, an axially extending bore slidably receiving said rod means, a loading chamber formed by said axially extending bore and being connected to said pressure chamber to cause high pressure fluid therein to exert an axially directed force on said rod means biasing said rod means to the extended position, a connecting means on said rod means and an abutment surface on said valve head engageable during movement of said rod means from the extended position to the retracted position to move said valve head to the open position and engageable during movement of said valve head to the closed position to move said rod means from the retracted position to the extended position, an axially movable solenoid armature movable between an extended position and a retracted position, abutment means engaging said armature in the extended position and locating said rod means and said armature in the extended position, an armature coil energizable to move said armature from the extended position to a retracted position and being effective to simultaneously move said rod means from the extended position to the retracted position and to hold said armature and said rod means in the retracted position until deenergized, said abutment means being spaced from and located relative to said valve seat and said connecting means and said abutment surface to locate said connecting means in spaced relationship to said abutment surface in the extended position thereby providing a substantial gap so that an initial portion of the movement of said armature of substantial length occurs before said valve head is operably engaged by said rod means, and return means for said rod means and said armature effective to move said rod means and said armature to the extended position upon deenergization of said coil comprising said loading chamber and said spring means, said loading chamber and said spring means acting conjointly to initiate movement of said rod means and said armature toward the extended position, said spring means acting on said rod means and said armature through said valve head until said valve head is seated and said loading chamber acting on said armature through said rod means and causing movement thereof until said armature engages said abutment means whereat said gap between said valve head and said rod means is established.

Claim 7

The invention as defined in claim 3 and said abutment surface formed by a recess in said valve head facing said valve seat and having a depth such as to provide a substantial gap between the abutment surface and the connecting means in the closed position of the valve head and the extended position of the rod means.

Claim 8

The invention as defined in claim 3 and comprising: an axially extending support bore formed in said valve head and slidably mounting said valve head on said rod means for axial movement relative thereto, and sealing means between said valve head and said rod means preventing flow therebetween.

Claim 9

The invention as defined in claim 3 and comprising: a pair of axially spaced plug members, said pressure chamber formed between said plug members, said flow passage formed in one of said plug members, said axially extending bore formed in the other of said plug members and providing bearing means guidably and slidably receiving said rod means, and said rod means extending through said pressure chamber and being guidably and slidably supported by said bearing means.