Pulse modulated hydraulic valve

Claim 2

A pulse width modulated three-way solenoid valve comprising valve body structure, (a) said valve body structure comprising a pressure port, a control port and a dump port serving to place the valve in a three-way fluid control circuit, (b) first and second annular valve seats spaced apart axially on said valve body structure, (c) a solenoid coil mounted on said valve body structure and adapted to be electrically modulated, (d) a tubular armature that is acted directly upon by an electromagnetic field issued by said solenoid coil in response to the electrical modulation thereof and that is axially displaced on said valve body structure in response to electrical modulation of said solenoid coil such that the respective fluid pressures at said pressure port and at said dump port are modulated to said control port in accordance with the electrical modulation of said solenoid coil, (e) said tubular armature comprising a radially outer surface portion and a radially inner surface portion, (f) said valve body structure comprising guide means confronting one of said surface portions of said armature for guiding the axial displacement of said armature, (g) said armature also having a circumferentially extending collar means comprising a radial protrusion, (h) said collar means comprising a first annular surface portion disposed to seat on and unseat from said first annular valve seat as said armature is axially displaced on said valve body structure by said solenoid coil, (i) said collar means also comprising a second annular surface portion disposed to seat on and unseat from said second annular valve seat as said armature is axially displaced on said valve body structure by said solenoid coil, (j) said pressure port, said control port, and said dump port being arranged in relation to said first and second annular valve seats, and said first and second annular surface portions of said collar means being arranged in relation to said first and second annular valve seats such that (i) when said first annular surface portion of said collar means is seated on said first annular valve seat, said second annular surface portion of said collar means is unseated from said second valve seat, and said control port is fluid communication with one of said pressure and dump ports but not with the other, and (ii) when said second annular surface portion of said collar means is seated on said second valve seat, said first annular surface portion of said collar means is unseated from said first valve seat, and said control port is in fluid communication with said other of said pressure and dump ports, but not with said one of said pressure and dump ports, (k) wherein the axial displacement of said armature is limited only by the respective seatings of said first and second annular surface portions of said collar means on said first and second valve seats respectively, (l) wherein said guide means of said valve body structure and said one surface portion of said armature are constructed to conjointly form a piston-type seal that seals directly between said pressure port and said dump port both when said first annular surface portion of said collar means is seated on said first valve seat and when said second annular surface portion of said collar means is seated on said second valve seat, (m) a stator comprising an annular surface portion closely coaxially confronting, but always axially spaced apart from, an annular surface portion of said armature to provide the direct electromagnetic coupling of said solenoid coil to said armature, and (n) means providing for perfusion of the space between said stator's and said armature's annular surface portions by hydraulic fluid and for the unhindered ingress and egress thereof to and from said space as said armature is operated by the modulation of said solenoid coil.

Claim 3

A valve as set forth in claim 1 including resilient means biasing said armature to resiliently urge said first annular surface portion of said collar means toward said first valve seat.

Claim 4

A valve as set forth in claim 1 wherein the interior of said tubular armature is communicated to said dump port so as to cause the pressure at said space to be approximately at the dump pressure.

Claim 5

A valve as set forth in claim 1 wherein the interior of said tubular armature is communicated to said pressure port so as to cause the pressure at said space to be approximately that at said pressure port.

Claim 6

A pulse width modulated three-way solenoid valve comprising valve body structure, (a) said valve body structure comprising a pressure port, a control port and a dump port serving to place the valve in a three-way fluid control circuit, (b) first and second annular valve seats spaced apart axially on said valve body structure, (c) a solenoid coil mounted on said valve body structure and adapted to be electrically modulated, (d) a tubular armature that is acted directly upon by an electromagnetic field issued by said solenoid coil in response to the electrical modulation thereof and that is axially displaced on said valve body structure in response to electrical modulation of said solenoid coil such that the respective fluid pressures at said pressure port and at said dump port are modulated to said control port in accordance with the electrical modulation of said solenoid coil, (e) said tubular armature comprising a radially outer surface portion and a radially inner surface portion, (f) said valve body structure comprising guide means confronting one of said surface portions of said armature for guiding the axial displacement of said armature, (g) said armature also having a circumferentially extending collar means comprising a radial protrusion, (h) said collar means comprising a first annular surface portion disposed to seat on and unseat from said first annular valve seat as said armature is axially displaced on said valve body structure by said solenoid coil, (i) said collar means also comprising a second annular surface portion disposed to seat on and unseat from said second annular valve seat as said armature is axially displaced on said valve body structure by said solenoid coil, (j) said pressure port, said control port, and said dump port being arranged in relation to said first and second annular valve seats, and said first and second annular surface portions of said collar means being arranged in relation to said first and second annular valve seats such that (i) when said first annular surface portion of said collar means is seated on said first annular valve seat, said second annular surface portion of said collar means is unseated from said second valve seat, and said control port is fluid communication with one of said pressure and dump ports but not with the other, and (ii) when said second annular surface portion of said collar means is seated on said second valve seat, said first annular surface portion of said collar means is unseated from said first valve seat, and said control port is in fluid communication with said other of said pressure and dump ports, but not with said one of said pressure and dump ports, (k) wherein the axial displacement of said armature is limited only by the respective seatings of said first and second annular surface portions of said collar means on said first and second valve seats respectively, (l) wherein said guide means of said valve body structure and said one surface portion of said armature are constructed to conjointly form a piston-type seal that seals directly between said pressure port and said dump port both when said first annular surface portion of said collar means is seated on said first valve seat and when said second annular surface portion of said collar means is seated on said second valve seat, and (m) wherein, when said solenoid coil is de-energized, a resilient means which acts on said armature biases said armature such that said first annular surface portion of said collar means is caused to seat on said first annular valve seat, and when said solenoid coil is energized, said armature is axially displaced against the bias of said resilient means to cause said second annular surface portion of said collar means to seat on said second annular valve seat, and (n) wherein, when said first annular surface portion of said collar means is seated on said first annular valve seat, said control port is in fluid communication with said dump port and not with said pressure port, and when said second annular surface portion of said collar means is seated on said second annular valve seat, said control port is in fluid communication with said pressure port and not with said dump port.

Claim 7

A pulse width modulated three-way solenoid valve comprising valve body structure, (a) said valve body structure comprising a pressure port, a control port and a dump port serving to place the valve in a three-way fluid control circuit, (b) first and second annular valve seats spaced apart axially on said valve body structure, (c) a solenoid coil mounted on said valve body structure and adapted to be electrically modulated, (d) a tubular armature that is acted directly upon by an electromagnetic field issued by said solenoid coil in response to the electrical modulation thereof and that is axially displaced on said valve body structure in response to electrical modulation of said solenoid coil such that the respective fluid pressures at said pressure port and at said dump port are modulated to said control port in accordance with the electrical modulation of said solenoid coil, (e) said tubular armature comprising a radially outer surface portion and a radially inner surface portion, (f) said valve body structure comprising guide means confronting one of said surface portions of said armature for guiding the axial displacement of said armature, (g) said armature also having a circumferentially extending collar means comprising a radial protrusion, (h) said collar means comprising a first annular surface portion disposed to seat on and unseat from said first annular valve seat as said armature is axially displaced on said valve body structure by said solenoid coil, (i) said collar means also comprising a second annular surface portion disposed to seat on and unseat from said second annular valve seat as said armature is axially displaced on said valve body structure by said solenoid coil, (j) said pressure port, said control port, and said dump port being arranged in relation to said first and second annular valve seats, and said first and second annular surface portions of said collar means being arranged in relation to said first and second annular valve seats such that (i) when said first annular surface portion of said collar means is seated on said first annular valve seat, said second annular surface portion of said collar means is unseated from said second valve seat, and said control port is fluid communication with one of said pressure and dump ports but not with the other, and (ii) when said second annular surface portion of said collar means is seated on said second valve seat, said first annular surface portion of said collar means is unseated from said first valve seat, and said control port is in fluid communication with said other of said pressure and dump ports, but not with said one of said pressure and dump ports, (k) wherein the axial displacement of said armature is limited only by the respective seatings of said first and second annular surface portions of said collar means on said first and second valve seats respectively, (l) wherein said guide means of said valve body structure and said one surface portion of said armature are constructed to conjointly form a piston-type seal that seals directly between said pressure port and said dump port both when said first annular surface portion of said collar means is seated on said first valve seat and when said second annular surface portion of said collar means is seated on said second valve seat, and (m) wherein, when said solenoid coil is de-energized, a resilient means which acts on said armature biases said armature such that said first annular surface portion of said collar means is caused to seat on said first annular valve seat, and when said solenoid coil is energized, said armature is axially displaced against the bias of said resilient means to cause said second annular surface portion of said collar means to seat on said second annular valve seat, and (n) wherein, when said first annular surface portion of said collar means is seated on said first annular valve seat, said control port is in fluid communication with said dump port and not with said pressure port, and when said second annular surface portion of said collar means is seated on said second annular valve seat, said control port is in fluid communication with said pressure port and not with said dump port.

Claim 8

A valve as claimed in claim 5 including (o) a stator comprising an annular surface portion closely coaxially confronting, but always axially spaced apart from, an annular surface portion of said armature to provide the direct electromagnetic coupling of said solenoid coil to said armature, and (p) means providing for perfusion of the space between said stator's and said armature's annular surface portions by hydraulic fluid and for the unhindered ingress and egress thereof to and from said space as said armature is operated by the modulation of said solenoid coil.

Claim 9

A valve as set forth in claim 6 wherein (q) said resilient means is disposed radially adjacent said space.

Claim 10

A pulse width modulated three-way solenoid valve comprising valve body structure, (a) said valve body structure comprising a pressure port, a control port and a dump port serving to place the valve in a three-way fluid control circuit, (b) first and second annular valve seats spaced apart axially on said valve body structure, (c) a solenoid coil mounted on said valve body structure and adapted to be electrically modulated, (d) a tubular armature that is acted directly upon by an electromagnetic field issued by said solenoid coil in response to the electrical modulation thereof and that is axially displaced on said valve body structure in response to electrical modulation of said solenoid coil such that the respective fluid pressures at said pressure port and at said dump port are modulated to said control port in accordance with the electrical modulation of said solenoid coil, (e) said tubular armature comprising a radially outer surface portion and a radially inner surface portion, (f) said valve body structure comprising guide means confronting one of said surface portions of said armature for guiding the axial displacement of said armature, (g) said armature also having a circumferentially extending collar means comprising a radial protrusion, (h) said collar means comprising a first annular surface portion disposed to seat on and unseat from said first annular valve seat as said armature is axially displaced on said valve body structure by said solenoid coil, (i) said collar means also comprising a second annular surface portion disposed to seat on and unseat from said second annular valve seat as said armature is axially displaced on said valve body structure by said solenoid coil, (j) said pressure port, said control port, and said dump port being arranged in relation to said first and second annular valve seats, and said first and second annular surface portions of said collar means being arranged in relation to said first and second annular valve seats such that (i) when said first annular surface portion of said collar means is seated on said first annular valve seat, said second annular surface portion of said collar means is unseated from said second valve seat, and said control port is fluid communication with one of said pressure and dump ports but not with the other, and (ii) when said second annular surface portion of said collar means is seated on said second valve seat, said first annular surface portion of said collar means is unseated from said first valve seat, and said control port is in fluid communication with said other of said pressure and dump ports, but not with said one of said pressure and dump ports, (k) wherein the axial displacement of said armature is limited only by the respective seatings of said first and second annular surface portions of said collar means on said first and second valve seats respectively, (l) wherein said guide means of said valve body structure and said one surface portion of said armature are constructed to conjointly form a piston-type seal that seals directly between said pressure port and said dump port both when said first annular surface portion of said collar means is seated on said first valve seat and when said second annular surface portion of said collar means is seated on said second valve seat, and (m) wherein said pressure port, said control port, and said dump port are disposed on said valve body structure such that they are located axially on said valve body structure to the same side of said solenoid coil.

Claim 11

A pulse width modulated three-way solenoid valve comprising valve body structure, (a) said valve body structure comprising a pressure port, a control port and a dump port serving to place the valve in a three-way fluid control circuit, (b) first and second annular valve seats spaced apart axially on said valve body structure, (c) a solenoid coil mounted on said valve body structure and adapted to be electrically modulated, (d) a tubular armature that is acted directly upon by an electromagnetic field issued by said solenoid coil in response to the electrical modulation thereof and that is axially displaced on said valve body structure in response to electrical modulation of said solenoid coil such that the respective fluid pressures at said pressure port and at said dump port are modulated to said control port in accordance with the electrical modulation of said solenoid coil, (e) said tubular armature comprising a radially outer surface portion and a radially inner surface portion, (f) said valve body structure comprising guide means confronting one of said surface portions of said armature for guiding the axial displacement of said armature, (g) said armature also having a circumferentially extending collar means comprising a radial protrusion, (h) said collar means comprising a first annular surface portion disposed to seat on and unseat from said first annular valve seat as said armature is axially displaced on said valve body structure by said solenoid coil, (i) said collar means also comprising a second annular surface portion disposed to seat on and unseat from said second annular valve seat as said armature is axially displaced on said valve body structure by said solenoid coil, (j) said pressure port, said control port, and said dump port being arranged in relation to said first and second annular valve seats, and said first and second annular surface portions of said collar means being arranged in relation to said first and second annular valve seats such that (i) when said first annular surface portion of said collar means is seated on said first annular valve seat, said second annular surface portion of said collar means is unseated from said second valve seat, and said control port is fluid communication with one of said pressure and dump ports but not with the other, and (ii) when said second annular surface portion of said collar means is seated on said second valve seat, said first annular surface portion of said collar means is unseated from said first valve seat, and said control port is in fluid communication with said other of said pressure and dump ports, but not with said one of said pressure and dump ports, (k) wherein the axial displacement of said armature is limited only by the respective seatings of said first and second annular surface portions of said collar means on said first and second valve seats respectively, (l) wherein said guide means of said valve body structure and said one surface portion of said armature are constructed to conjointly form a piston-type seal that seals directly between said pressure port and said dump port both when said first annular surface portion of said collar means is seated on said first valve seat and when said second annular surface portion of said collar means is seated on said second valve seat, and (m) wherein said pressure port, said control port, and said dump port are disposed on said valve body structure such that they are located axially on said valve body structure to the same side of said solenoid coil.

Claim 12

A pulse width modulated three-way solenoid valve comprising valve body structure, (a) said valve body structure comprising a pressure port, a control port and a dump port serving to place the valve in a three-way fluid control circuit, (b) first and second annular valve seats spaced apart axially on said valve body structure, (c) a solenoid coil mounted on said valve body structure and adapted to be electrically modulated, (d) a tubular armature that is axially displaced on said valve body structure in response to electrical modulation of said solenoid coil such that the respective fluid pressures at said pressure port and at said dump port are modulated to said control port in accordance with the electrical modulation of said solenoid coil, (e) said tubular armature comprising a radially outer surface portion and a radially inner surface portion, (f) said valve body structure comprising guide means confronting one of said surface portions of said armature for guiding the axial displacement of said armature, (g) said armature comprising a first annular surface portion disposed to seat on and unseat from said first annular valve seat as said armature is axially displaced on said valve body structure by said solenoid coil, (h) said armature also comprising a second annular surface portion disposed to seat on and unseat from said second annular valve seat as said armature is axially displaced on said valve body structure by said solenoid coil, (i) said pressure port, said control port, and said dump port being arranged in relation to said first and second annular valve seats, and said first and second annular surface portions of said armature being arranged in relation to said first and second annular valve seats such that (i) when said first annular surface portion of said armature is seated on said first annular valve seat, said second annular surface portion of said armature is unseated from said second valve seat, and said control port is fluid communication with one of said pressure and dump ports but not with the other, and (ii) when said second annular surface portion of said armature is seated on said second valve seat, said first annular surface portion of said armature is unseated from said first valve seat, and said control port is in fluid communication with said other of said pressure and dump ports, but not with said one of said pressure and dump ports, (j) wherein the axial displacement of said armature is limited only by the respective seatings of said first and second annular surface portions of said armature on said first and second valve seats respectively, (k) wherein said guide means of said valve body structure and said one surface portion of said armature are constructed to conjointly form a piston-type seal that seals between said pressure port and said dump port, and (l) including in said valve body structure a passage that provides for the shunting of fluid from said pressure port directly to said piston-type seal, said passage containing a filter medium to filter contaminants from fluid passing therethrough.

Claim 13

A pulse width modulated three-way solenoid valve comprising valve body structure, (a) said valve body structure comprising a pressure port, a control port and a dump port serving to place the valve in a three-way fluid control circuit, (b) first and second annular valve seats spaced apart axially on said valve body structure, (c) a solenoid coil mounted on said valve body structure and adapted to be electrically modulated, (d) a tubular armature that is axially displaced on said valve body structure in response to electrical modulation of said solenoid coil such that the respective fluid pressures at said pressure port and at said dump port are modulated to said control port in accordance with the electrical modulation of said solenoid coil, (e) said tubular armature comprising a radially outer surface portion and a radially inner surface portion, (f) said valve body structure comprising guide means confronting one of said surface portions of said armature for guiding the axial displacement of said armature, (g) said armature comprising a first annular surface portion disposed to seat on and unseat from said first annular valve seat as said armature is axially displaced on said valve body structure by said solenoid coil, (h) said armature also comprising a second annular surface portion disposed to seat on and unseat from said second annular valve seat as said armature is axially displaced on said valve body structure by said solenoid coil, (i) said pressure port, said control port, and said dump port being arranged in relation to said first and second annular valve seats, and said first and second annular surface portions of said armature being arranged in relation to said first and second annular valve seats such that (i) when said first annular surface portion of said armature is seated on said first annular valve seat, said second annular surface portion of said armature is unseated from said second valve seat, and said control port is fluid communication with one of said pressure and dump ports but not with the other, and (ii) when said second annular surface portion of said armature is seated on said second valve seat, said first annular surface portion of said armature is unseated from said first valve seat, and said control port is in fluid communication with said other of said pressure and dump ports, but not with said one of said pressure and dump ports, (j) wherein the axial displacement of said armature is limited only by the respective seatings of said first and second annular surface portions of said armature on said first and second valve seats respectively, (k) wherein said guide means of said valve body structure and said one surface portion of said armature are constructed to conjointly form a piston-type seal that seals between said pressure port and said dump port, and (l) including in said valve body structure a passage that provides for the shunting of fluid from said pressure port directly to said piston-type seal, said passage containing a filter medium to filter contaminants from fluid passing therethrough.