Coil retainer for solenoid

Claim 1

In a solenoid operated valve comprising a valve body having a passage therethrough of the flow of a fluid, a valve seat within said passage, a valve member movable between an open position in which said fluid flows through said flow passage and a closed position in which said valve member cooperates with said valve seat to block the flow of fluid through said passage, and solenoid actuating means for effecting movement of said valve member between its opened and closed positions, said solenoid actuating means comprising a coil selectively energizable and de-energizable by a source of electrical power for generating a magnetic flux, a tube having a closed outer end and an open inner end disposed generally coaxially with respect to said coil, said inner end of said tube being secured to said valve body, said tube receiving, at least in part, said valve member as it moves axially within said tube as said valve member moves between its open and closed positions, a housing receiving said coil, said housing having an outer face with an opening therein such that with said housing and said coil receiving said tube, the outer end of said tube extends beyond said outer face of said housing, wherein the improvement comprises: said tube having a circumferential groove therearound adjacent its outer end, said groove being spaced beyond the outer face of said housing, and fastening means secured to said housing and being carried on said outer face thereof for resiliently, cammingly cooperating with said groove on said tube as said housing and said coil are installed on said tube by moving said housing and said coil axially with respect to said tube, wherein said fastening means comprises a spring clip having a pair of resilient arms spaced from one another on generally opposite sides of said opening in the outer face of said housing and a base section integral with said arms, said base section being secured to said housing, said arms being cammingly engaged by and being resiliently movable away from one another upon axial movement between said housing and said tube so as to permit the outer end of said tube to be resiliently received by said arms, such that with said groove in register with said arms, said housing and coil are secured together in predetermined axial relation.