US4793372A — Electronic vacuum regulator (EVR) with bi-metalli…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 113 words

A solenoid valve comprising: a stator; a coil responsive to current, magnetically connected to the stator for causing magnetic flux to flow therethrough; wherein the resistance of the coil varies with changes in temperature; a valve seat positioned about one end of the stator defining a valve seating surface a predetermined distance from the one end and a flat armature movable relative to the valve seat and when seated thereon is spaced from the one end, the armature including first means for causing a portion of such armature to move closer to or farther from the stator to vary the distance between such portion and the one end as a function of temperature.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 113 words

A solenoid valve comprising: a stator; a coil responsive to current, magnetically connected to the stator for causing magnetic flux to flow therethrough; wherein the resistance of the coil varies with changes in temperature; a valve seat positioned about one end of the stator defining a valve seating surface a predetermined distance from the one end and a flat armature movable relative to the valve seat and when seated thereon is spaced from the one end, the armature including first means for causing a portion of such armature to move closer to or farther from the stator to vary the distance between such portion and the one end as a function of temperature.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 44 words

The device as defined in claim 1 wherein: the armature is formed of a thermally responsive element comprising a plurality of fused materials defining a curvature which varies with temperature in a manner to vary the distance between such portion and the one end.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 14 words

The device as defined in claim 2 wherein the armature is a thin plate.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 13 words

The device as defined in claim 3 wherein the armature is a disk.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 19 words

The device as defined in claim 2 wherein at least one of the materials forming the element is ferromagnetic.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 13 words

The device as defined in claim 2 wherein the armature is a bi-metal.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 15 words

The valve as defined in claim 2 wherein the valve seating surface is arcuately shaped.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 173 words

A vacuum control valve comprising: a housing, defining a pressure chamber therein, an outlet port extending from the chamber, a vacuum inlet port, and ambient air inlet leading to the chamber; a stator including one end extending into the pressure chamber; means for communicating air into the chamber; a non-magnetic valve seat, located within the chamber and positioned about the one end of the stator, the valve seat including a seating surface extending a predetermined distance beyond the one end of stator; a coil, magnetically coupled to the stator, for generating magnetic flux upon excitation, the flux flowing through a magnetic path including the stator; means movable within the pressure chamber relative to the seating surface in response to the magnetic flux, for regulating the pressure within the pressure chamber, and comprising temperature compensation means, for varying the effective distance to the one end of the stator as a function of temperature in order to compensate for changes in the magnetic flux due to variations of coil resistivity as a function of temperature.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 173 words

A vacuum control valve comprising: a housing, defining a pressure chamber therein, an outlet port extending from the chamber, a vacuum inlet port, and ambient air inlet leading to the chamber; a stator including one end extending into the pressure chamber; means for communicating air into the chamber; a non-magnetic valve seat, located within the chamber and positioned about the one end of the stator, the valve seat including a seating surface extending a predetermined distance beyond the one end of stator; a coil, magnetically coupled to the stator, for generating magnetic flux upon excitation, the flux flowing through a magnetic path including the stator; means movable within the pressure chamber relative to the seating surface in response to the magnetic flux, for regulating the pressure within the pressure chamber, and comprising temperature compensation means, for varying the effective distance to the one end of the stator as a function of temperature in order to compensate for changes in the magnetic flux due to variations of coil resistivity as a function of temperature.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 47 words

The valve as defined in claim 8 wherein: the temperature compensation means comprises a bi-metal element which deflects in a manner such that portions thereof are positioned nearer to or further from the one end of the stator thereby changing the reluctance of the magnetic flux path.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 14 words

The valve as defined in claim 9 wherein the bi-metal element is a disk.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 20 words

The valve as defined in claim 10 wherein the center of the disk deflects upwardly in response to increasing temperature.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 167 words

A solenoid valve comprising: a pressure chamber and a plurality of ports extending into the chamber, two of such ports communicating fluid at dissimilar pressures thereto, a magnetically responsive, initially flat armature situated within the chamber and movable relative to a motion stop, means for generating magnetic flux in response to a current signal and for generating a nominal magnetic force of attraction upon the armature when the armature is positioned a nominal determinable distance therefrom, such generating means including a coil wherein the resistivity of same varies in response to the temperature of the coil to increase or decrease the flux as a function of temperature wherein: the armature comprises means for causing such armature to deflect upwardly and downwardly from its initial condition, in response to changes in temperature, to vary the spacing between a portion of such armature and the generating means in a manner to compensate for the changes in flux due to temperature to maintain the magnetic force of attraction substantially constant.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 167 words

A solenoid valve comprising: a pressure chamber and a plurality of ports extending into the chamber, two of such ports communicating fluid at dissimilar pressures thereto, a magnetically responsive, initially flat armature situated within the chamber and movable relative to a motion stop, means for generating magnetic flux in response to a current signal and for generating a nominal magnetic force of attraction upon the armature when the armature is positioned a nominal determinable distance therefrom, such generating means including a coil wherein the resistivity of same varies in response to the temperature of the coil to increase or decrease the flux as a function of temperature wherein: the armature comprises means for causing such armature to deflect upwardly and downwardly from its initial condition, in response to changes in temperature, to vary the spacing between a portion of such armature and the generating means in a manner to compensate for the changes in flux due to temperature to maintain the magnetic force of attraction substantially constant.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 76 words

The valve as defined in claim 12 wherein the generating means comprises a ferromagnetic stator magnetically coupled with the coil such that magnetic flux flows therethrough, and defines one end extending into the chamber; and wherein the motion stop comprises a non-magnetic valve seat extending about the one end of the stator such that when the armature is seated thereon, during nominal temperature conditions, the initially flat armature is spaced therefrom by such nominal predetermined distance.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 20 words

The valve as defined in claim 13 wherein such deflecting means includes an element comprising a plurality of fused materials.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 17 words

The valve as defined in claim 14 wherein such deflecting means comprises a bi-metal, thermally responsive element.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 19 words

The valve as defined in claim 13 wherein at least one of the metals forming the element is ferromagnetic.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 108 words

A device comprising: a stator; means for generating a current signal; means, including a coil, for generating magnetic flux through the stator in response to the current signal; wherein the resistance of the coil varies with changes in temperature; a valve seat positioned about one end of the stator defining a valve seating surface a predetermined distance from the one end and a flat armature movable relative to the valve seat and when seated thereon is spaced from the one end, the armature including first means for causing a portion of such armature to move closer to or farther from the one end as a function of temperature.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 108 words

A device comprising: a stator; means for generating a current signal; means, including a coil, for generating magnetic flux through the stator in response to the current signal; wherein the resistance of the coil varies with changes in temperature; a valve seat positioned about one end of the stator defining a valve seating surface a predetermined distance from the one end and a flat armature movable relative to the valve seat and when seated thereon is spaced from the one end, the armature including first means for causing a portion of such armature to move closer to or farther from the one end as a function of temperature.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 43 words

The device as defined in claim 17 wherein: the armature is formed of a thermally responsive element comprising a plurality of materials defining a curvature which varies with temperature in a manner to vary the distance between such portion and the one end.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 14 words

The device as defined in claim 18 wherein the armature is a thin plate.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 13 words

The device as defined in claim 19 wherein the armature is a disk.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 19 words

The device as defined in claim 18 wherein at least one of the materials forming the element is ferromagnetic.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 13 words

The device as defined in claim 18 wherein the armature is a bi-metal.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 15 words

The valve as defined in claim 18 wherein the valve seating surface is arcuately shaped.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1991-12-27	1992-06-27	1992-12-27	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1995-12-27	1996-06-27	1996-12-27	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1999-12-27	2000-06-27	2000-12-27	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Electronic vacuum regulator (EVR) with bi-metallic armature disk temperature compensator

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