Solenoid valves

Claim 1

A solenoid-operated valve comprising an elongated, continuous fluid conduit having an annular valve seat adjacent one end, an annular pole piece of magnetic material adjacent the opposite end of said fluid conduit having an axial fluid passage defined therein, an annular solenoid coil mounted externally around said fluid conduit offset longitudinally with respect to said pole piece, an elongated tubular armature sleeve of magnetic material slidably disposed in said fluid conduit for movement between said pole piece and said valve seat, coil spring means seated in coaxial alignment in said fluid passage of said pole piece for biasing said armature sleeve toward said valve seat, said armature sleeve including an axial fluid passage therethrough, enlarged at opposite ends for receiving said spring means and defining a valve chamber adjacent the end facing said valve seat, valve support means mounted in said valve chamber of said armature sleeve including passage means therein for fluid flow between said valve seat and said valve chamber and defining and axial bore aligned with the bore of said annular valve seat, a valve member carried on said support means including an enlarged head adapted to open and close against said seat and including a stem extending through said bore in said support means into said valve chamber, and retaining means in said valve chamber on said stem for limiting axial movement of said valve member In said support means.