US4008876A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Solenoid valve
Assignee: Eaton Corp
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Filing: 1975-06-09
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Granted: 1977-02-22
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Expires: 1995-06-09
Abstract
Abstract When the valve is closed, the pressure differential across the valve port area acts to hold the valve on its seat and must be overcome to open the valve. At this time the gap between the armature and the core of the solenoid is at its greatest and, therefore, the magnetic force available upon energization of the coil is at its lowest. Due to the lost motion connection between the armature and the valve, the magnetic force available is required to only lift the armature and compress the armature return spring and the valve spring and, therefore, need not overcome the pressure differential acting across the area of the port. When the armature has almost reached the core, the armature impacts on the head of the valve and the kinetic energy of the armature plus the now increased magnetic force (by reason of decreased gap) are available to unseat the valve. After the valve is unseated and the armature seats on the core, the valve spring continues the valve opening motion to fully open the valve. With this arrangement a given coil can operate a much larger valve than in the conventional solenoid valve.
Inventors
- 👤 Clifford F. Bastle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 21:30
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K31/00; F16K31/02; F16K31/06; F16K31/0644; F16K31/0655; F02; F02M; F02M63/00; F02M63/0012; F02M63/0014; F02M63/0015; F02M63/0017; F02M63/0021; F02M63/0022; F02M63/02; F02M63/0205; F02M63/022
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
249 words
A solenoid valve comprising, a housing having an inlet and outlet separated by a valve port, a valve on the inlet side of the port movable relative to the port to control flow from the inlet to the outlet, a coil mounted on the housing, a core inside the coil and magnetized by the coil when the coil is energized, an armature slidable inside the coil and having its working face spaced from the core when the valve is closed, said valve having a lost motion connection to the armature with a positive limit stop at each end of the motion, a return spring acting on the armature in a direction moving the armature to the valve closing position, a spring acting on the valve and moving the valve to a position against one limit stop providing the maximum lost motion between the armature and the valve, energization of the coil acting to initially move the armature towards the core against the weight of the armature and the compression force of both springs, the lost motion between the armature and the valve being taken up upon impact of the valve against the other limit stop prior to the armature seating against the core whereby the increased available magnetic force and the kinetic energy of the moving armature act to unseat the valve before the armature seats against the core, said valve spring acting to move the valve further from the port after the armature has seated against the core.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
249 words
A solenoid valve comprising, a housing having an inlet and outlet separated by a valve port, a valve on the inlet side of the port movable relative to the port to control flow from the inlet to the outlet, a coil mounted on the housing, a core inside the coil and magnetized by the coil when the coil is energized, an armature slidable inside the coil and having its working face spaced from the core when the valve is closed, said valve having a lost motion connection to the armature with a positive limit stop at each end of the motion, a return spring acting on the armature in a direction moving the armature to the valve closing position, a spring acting on the valve and moving the valve to a position against one limit stop providing the maximum lost motion between the armature and the valve, energization of the coil acting to initially move the armature towards the core against the weight of the armature and the compression force of both springs, the lost motion between the armature and the valve being taken up upon impact of the valve against the other limit stop prior to the armature seating against the core whereby the increased available magnetic force and the kinetic energy of the moving armature act to unseat the valve before the armature seats against the core, said valve spring acting to move the valve further from the port after the armature has seated against the core.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
95 words
A solenoid valve according to claim 1 in which the end of the armature facing the valve has a cavity therein, said valve including a stem projecting into the cavity and having an enlarged head in the cavity, said armature being provided with a guide for said stem, said valve spring acting between the guide and the valve head and urging the head into contact with the end of the cavity in the armature to determine said one limit stop, said other limit stop being determined by engagement of the stem head with said guide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
202 words
A solenoid valve comprising, a housing having an inlet and an outlet separated by a port, a valve in the housing and controlling flow through the port, an electric coil mounted on the housing, an armature in the coil and movable into the coil when the coil is energized, said valve having a lost motion connection to the armature with a positive limit stop at each end of the motion, a spring urging the valve to a first position relative to the armature against one limit stop, said lost motion being taken up when the coil is energized whereby the armature moves in the valve opening direction upon initial energization of the coil and against the bias of said spring until the valve impacts on the other limit stop at which time the armature is close to its limit of motion in the valve opening direction, said spring serving to store energy during movement of the armature and serving to continue the valve opening movement after the armature reaches the limit of its movement, and a spring acting on the armature in the valve closing direction and acting on said valve through said one limit stop to give a predetermined closing force.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
202 words
A solenoid valve comprising, a housing having an inlet and an outlet separated by a port, a valve in the housing and controlling flow through the port, an electric coil mounted on the housing, an armature in the coil and movable into the coil when the coil is energized, said valve having a lost motion connection to the armature with a positive limit stop at each end of the motion, a spring urging the valve to a first position relative to the armature against one limit stop, said lost motion being taken up when the coil is energized whereby the armature moves in the valve opening direction upon initial energization of the coil and against the bias of said spring until the valve impacts on the other limit stop at which time the armature is close to its limit of motion in the valve opening direction, said spring serving to store energy during movement of the armature and serving to continue the valve opening movement after the armature reaches the limit of its movement, and a spring acting on the armature in the valve closing direction and acting on said valve through said one limit stop to give a predetermined closing force.
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) | 1980-02-22 | 1980-08-23 | 1981-02-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-02-22 | 1984-08-23 | 1985-02-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-02-22 | 1988-08-23 | 1989-02-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |