US4579146A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Three-port solenoid-operated valve
Assignee: Denso Corp
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Filing: 1985-08-14
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Granted: 1986-04-01
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Expires: 2005-08-14
Abstract
Abstract A three-port solenoid-operated valve has a fluid passage defined in a solenoid, a first port at an inlet end of the fluid passage, and second and third ports at an outlet end of the fluid passage. A cylindrical plunger is movably disposed in the fluid passage, and a slider is slidably supported in the plunger. A first-port valve body is normally urged by a first spring to be held against an end surface of the slider for opening the first port when the solenoid is de-energized. A third-port valve body is normally urged by a second spring for closing the third port when the solenoid is de-energized and is energized by a lower current. A pusher is fixedly mounted in the plunger for pushing the third-port valve body in a direction to open the third port in response to movement of the plunger when the solenoid is energized by a higher current. A third spring acts between the pusher and the opposite end surface of the slider for normally urging the pusher and the slider apart from each other. The second spring has a smallest spring force, the third spring has a largest spring force, and the first spring has an intermediate spring force between the spring forces of the second and third springs.
Inventors
- 👤 Naohiko Tsuru
- 👤 Yoshihisa Nomura
- 👤 Nobuyasu Nakanishi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 02:30
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60T; B60T8/00; B60T8/32; B60T8/34; B60T8/36; B60T8/3615; B60T8/363; B60T8/364; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/86919; Y10T137/87169; Y10T137/87217
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
262 words
A three-port solenoid-operated valve comprising: (a) a casing; (b) a solenoid supported in said casing and defining therein a fluid passage having inlet and outlet (c) a first port disposed at said inlet end; (d) a second port disposed at said outlet end; (e) a third port disposed at said outlet end; (f) a cylindrical plunger movable in said fluid passage in response to energization of said solenoid; (g) a slider slidably supported in said plunger and having a first end surface facing said first port and a second end surface facing said third port; (h) a first spring; (i) a first-port valve body normally urged by said first spring to be held against said first end surface for opening said first port when said solenoid is de-energized; (j) a second spring; (k) a third-port valve body normally urged by said second spring for closing said third port when said solenoid is de-energized and is energized by a lower current; (l) a pusher fixedly mounted in said plunger for pushing said third-port valve body in a direction to open said third port in response to movement of said plunger when said solenoid is energized by a higher current; and (m) a third spring acting between said pusher and said second end surface of said slider for normally urging said pusher and said slider apart from each other, said second spring having a smallest spring force, said third spring having a largest spring force, and said first spring having an intermediate spring force between the spring forces of said second and third springs.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
262 words
A three-port solenoid-operated valve comprising: (a) a casing; (b) a solenoid supported in said casing and defining therein a fluid passage having inlet and outlet (c) a first port disposed at said inlet end; (d) a second port disposed at said outlet end; (e) a third port disposed at said outlet end; (f) a cylindrical plunger movable in said fluid passage in response to energization of said solenoid; (g) a slider slidably supported in said plunger and having a first end surface facing said first port and a second end surface facing said third port; (h) a first spring; (i) a first-port valve body normally urged by said first spring to be held against said first end surface for opening said first port when said solenoid is de-energized; (j) a second spring; (k) a third-port valve body normally urged by said second spring for closing said third port when said solenoid is de-energized and is energized by a lower current; (l) a pusher fixedly mounted in said plunger for pushing said third-port valve body in a direction to open said third port in response to movement of said plunger when said solenoid is energized by a higher current; and (m) a third spring acting between said pusher and said second end surface of said slider for normally urging said pusher and said slider apart from each other, said second spring having a smallest spring force, said third spring having a largest spring force, and said first spring having an intermediate spring force between the spring forces of said second and third springs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A three-port solenoid-operated valve according to claim 1, wherein said first and third ports have valve seats, respectively, said first-port and third-port valve bodies having steel balls, respectively, for being seated on said first and third ports, respectively.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A three-port solenoid-operated valve according to claim 1, wherein said slider comprises a larger-diameter portion movably disposed in said plunger and having said second end surface, and a shank extending out of said plunger and having said first end surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A three-port solenoid-operated valve according to claim 3, wherein said plunger has a flange against which said larger-diameter portion of the slider is held under the resiliency of said third spring.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A three-port solenoid-operated valve according to claim 3, wherein said second spring acts between said third-port valve body and said larger-diameter portion of the slider.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A three-port solenoid-operated valve according to claim 3, wherein said third spring acts between said pusher and said larger-diameter portion of the slider.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A three-port solenoid-operated valve according to claim 3, including a bearing interposed between said casing and said shank of the slider for guiding movement of said slider.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A three-port solenoid-operated valve according to claim 1, including an end member supported by said casing in said inlet end, said first spring acting between said first-port valve body and said end member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A three-port solenoid-operated valve according to claim 1, including a cylindrical member defining said third port therein, and a bearing interposed between said plunger and said cylindrical member for guiding movement of said plunger.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A three-port solenoid-operated valve according to claim 1, wherein each of said first, second, and third springs comprises a compression coil spring.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-03-31 | 1989-09-30 | 1990-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-03-31 | 1993-09-30 | 1994-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-03-31 | 1997-09-30 | 1998-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |