Linear motor-actuated flow control valve

Claim 2

A linear motor-actuated flow control valve which comprises: a casing having an inlet port and an outlet port, a moving-coil linear motor disposed within said casing and including: a hollow, ferromagnetic core which delimits the interior of said casing into valve chambers, said core having first and second hole means, said first and second hole means each arranged to communicate said inlet port with said outlet port, said first and second hole means being spaced apart longitudinally, a bobbin longitudinally slidably disposed on said core for controlling the degree of opening of said first and second hole means, said bobbin arranged to begin opening said second hole means when said first hole means is partially opened, an electromagnetic coil wound on said bobbin, a permanent magnet arranged so that a magnetic flux produced thereby extends axially of said electromagetic coil, and a magnetic body for forming, together with said core, a magnetic circuit for the flux produced by said permanent magnet, first spring means for biasing said bobbin in one longitudinal direction and defining electric supply lines to said coil, second spring means for biasing said bobbin in the opposite longitudinal direction, said bobbin being retained at a predetermined position by said first and second spring means when said coil is in a de-energized state, wherein said first hole means is open to a predetermined degree, and said bobbin driven selectively against the biasing force of said first and second spring means in response to the application of a positive or negative energizing current to said coil to regulate the flow between said inlet and outlet ports.

Claim 3

A flow control valve according to claim 1, wherein said bobbin is arranged to begin opening said second hole means when said first hole means is opened about midway.

Claim 4

A flow control valve according to claim 1, wherein said first and second hole means each comprise a plurality of holes.

Claim 5

A flow control valve according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic circuit is arranged to pass through a part of said core containing said first hole means and to avoid passing through a part of said core containing said second hole means.

Claim 6

A flow control valve according to claim 4, wherein said magnetic circuit passes through an intermediate section of said core and toward only one end thereof.

Claim 7

A flow control valve according to claim 4, wherein said magnetic body comprises an inner casing surrounding said core and carrying said permanent magnet.

Claim 8

A flow control valve according to claim 1, wherein said second hole means is closed by said bobbin when said coil is in its de-energized state.

Claim 9

A linear motor-actuated flow control valve which comprises: a casing having an inlet port and an outlet port, a moving-coil linear motor disposed within said casing and including: a hollow, ferromagnetic core which delimits the interior of said casing into valve chambers, said core having first and second hole means, said first and second hole means arranged to communicate said inlet port with said outlet port, said first and second hole means being longitudinally spaced apart, a bobbin longitudinally slidably disposed on said core for controlling the degree of opening of said first and second hole means, an electromagnetic coil wound on said bobbin, a permanent magnet arranged so that a magnetic flux produced thereby extends axially of said electromagnetic coil, and a magnetic body for forming, together with said core, a magnetic circuit for the flux produced by said permanent magnet, the circuit arranged to pass through a part of said core containing said first hole means and to avoid passing through a part of said core containing said second hole means, first spring means for biasing said bobbin in one longitudinal direction and defining electric supply lines to said coil, second spring means for biasing said bobbin in the opposite longitudinal direction, said bobbin being retained at a predetermined position by said first and second spring means when said coil is in a de-energized state, wherein said first hole means is open to a predetermined degree, and said bobbin being driven selectively against the biasing force of said first and second spring means in response to the application of a positive or negative energizing current to said coil to regulate the flow between said inlet and outlet ports.

Claim 10

A linear motor-actuated flow control valve which comprises: a casing having an inlet port and an outlet port, a moving-coil linear motor disposed within said casing and including: a hollow, ferromagnetic core which delimits the interior of said casing into valve chambers, said core having first and second hole means, said first and second hole means arranged to communicate said inlet port with said outlet port, said first and second hole means being longitudinally spaced apart, a bobbin longitudinally slidably disposed on said core for controlling the degree of opening of said first and second hole means, an electromagnetic coil wound on said bobbin, a permanent magnet arranged so that a magnetic flux produced thereby extends axially of said electromagnetic coil, and a magnetic body for forming, together with said core, a magnetic circuit for the flux produced by said permanent magnet, the circuit arranged to pass through a part of said core containing said first hole means and to avoid passing through a part of said core containing said second hole means, first spring means for biasing said bobbin in one longitudinal direction and defining electric supply lines to said coil, second spring means for biasing said bobbin in the opposite longitudinal direction, said bobbin being retained at a predetermined position by said first and second spring means when said coil is in a de-energized state, wherein said first hole means is open to a predetermined degree, and said bobbin being driven selectively against the biasing force of said first and second spring means in response to the application of a positive or negative energizing current to said coil to regulate the flow between said inlet and outlet ports.

Claim 11

A flow control valve according to claim 8, wherein said magnetic circuit passes through an intermediate portion of said core and toward only one end thereof.

Claim 12

A flow control valve according to claim 8, wherein said magnetic body comprises an inner casing surrounding said core and carrying said permanent magnet.

Claim 13

A flow control valve according to claim 8, wherein said second hole means is closed by said bobbin when said coil is in its de-energized state.

Claim 14

A flow control valve according to claim 8, wherein said bobbin is arranged to begin opening said second hole when said first hole means is opened about midway.