US3861643A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Saturating magnetic control valve
Assignee: RTX Corp
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Filing: 1973-10-05
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Granted: 1975-01-21
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Expires: 1993-10-05
Abstract
Abstract An electromagnetic proportional ball type flow control valve is disclosed in which electric current supplied to the coil of an electromagnet produces a force to control a moving armature to which a ball valve is attached, the ball being seated on a port through which the flow of fluid is regulated. The armature and the ball valve are supported by four flexures to constrain movement in directions other than the desired direction and to eliminate friction. The magnetic circuit for the electromagnet is varied by means of saturating gaps made as annular grooves in the magnetic path to modify the shape of the force-displacement curve and produce improved control.
Inventors
- 👤 Elbert M Moffatt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 11:45
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K31/00; F16K31/02; F16K31/06; F16K31/0644; F16K31/0655; F16K31/0665; F02; F02M; F02M61/00; F02M61/16; F02M61/20; F02M63/00; F02M63/0012; F02M63/0031; F02M63/0056
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
A control valve comprising an electromagnet including a solenoid and a core member of magnetic material, at least a portion of said core member being positioned axially within said solenoid, an armature comprising a disk of magnetic material spaced from said core member by a gap and adapted for movement relative to said core member by virtue of an actuating force produced by said electromagnet in response to the flow of electric current in said solenoid, a valve member extending axially from the center of said armature and movable therewith along the axis of said solenoid, said valve member being adapted to regulate a variable in a process in response to movement thereof, and flexure means comprising first and second thin, narrow rods extending radially from said valve member and secured at the opposite ends thereof, said first and second rods being in the same plane and being 90* removed from each other about the axis of said solenoId, said rods constraining movement of said valve member to a direction along the axis of said solenoid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
176 words
A control valve comprising an electromagnet including a solenoid and a core member of magnetic material, at least a portion of said core member being positioned axially within said solenoid, an armature comprising a disk of magnetic material spaced from said core member by a gap and adapted for movement relative to said core member by virtue of an actuating force produced by said electromagnet in response to the flow of electric current in said solenoid, a valve member extending axially from the center of said armature and movable therewith along the axis of said solenoid, said valve member being adapted to regulate a variable in a process in response to movement thereof, and flexure means comprising first and second thin, narrow rods extending radially from said valve member and secured at the opposite ends thereof, said first and second rods being in the same plane and being 90* removed from each other about the axis of said solenoId, said rods constraining movement of said valve member to a direction along the axis of said solenoid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A control valve as in claim 1 in which said flexure means additionally provides to said valve member a biasing force to oppose a reduction of said gap.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A control valve as in claim 1 in which said valve member includes a ball adapted to seat upon a port in a bounding wall, said flexure means biasing said ball in a direction to close said port.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
A control valve as in claim 3 and including a sealed enclosure surrounding said valve member, said port being contained in one wall of said enclosure, and further including a fluid supply means in a wall of said enclosure for providing a fluid under pressure into said enclosure, said valve member regulating the flow of said fluid through said port.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
A control valve as in claim 1 in which said flexure means further includes third and fourth thin, narrow rods parallel to and axially removed from said first and second rods for preventing skewing of said valve member relative to the axis of said solenoid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
A control valve as in claim 1 and including a plurality of annular grooves located in said core member to form in said core member a plurality of discrete sections of different cross-sectional areas which magnetically saturate at different levels of flux density to thereby effect a change in the actuating force produced by said electromagnet.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-01-20 | 1978-07-22 | 1979-01-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-20 | 1982-07-22 | 1983-01-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-20 | 1986-07-22 | 1987-01-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |