Patent EP0129730A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5960776A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Exhaust gas recirculation valve having a centered solenoid assembly and floating valve mechanism
Assignee: Siemens Canada Ltd
•
Filing: 1997-10-03
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Granted: 1999-10-05
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Expires: 2017-10-03
Abstract
Abstract A valve assembly for introducing exhaust gas into the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, preferably, an electric exhaust gas recirculation valve assembly. The valve assembly includes an actuator having a centered solenoid assembly that reciprocates a floating valve mechanism to provide a substantially constant flow rate of exhaust gas regardless of the reciprocating direction of the floating valve mechanism. That is, the valve assembly delivers a gas flow rate that is substantially free of hysteresis because the valve assembly provide substantially the same exhaust gas flow rate for a given percentage of a pulse width modulated duty cycle when the floating valve mechanism is reciprocating in a valve opening direction or a valve closing direction.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary Everingham
- 👤 Kenneth P. Nydam
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 09:38
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K31/00; F16K31/02; F16K31/06; F16K31/0644; F16K31/0655; F02; F02M; F02M26/00; F02M26/52; F02M26/53; H; H01; H01F; H01F7/00; H01F7/06; H01F7/08; H01F7/16; H01F7/1607; F02M26/45; F02M26/48; F02M26/65; F02M26/66; F02M26/72; F05; F05C; F05C2225/00; F05C2225/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A valve assembly comprising: a housing; an actuator disposed within the housing, the actuator including a centered solenoid assembly with an armature that moves upon energization of a coil; and a floating valve mechanism operatively engaged with the solenoid assembly, the floating valve mechanism including an operating rod with a valve element, the operating rod extending toward the solenoid assembly and engaging the armature to form a single load operative connection between the centered solenoid assembly and the floating valve assembly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
A valve assembly comprising: a housing; an actuator disposed within the housing, the actuator including a centered solenoid assembly with an armature that moves upon energization of a coil; and a floating valve mechanism operatively engaged with the solenoid assembly, the floating valve mechanism including an operating rod with a valve element, the operating rod extending toward the solenoid assembly and engaging the armature to form a single load operative connection between the centered solenoid assembly and the floating valve assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the centered solenoid assembly comprising a sleeve with a guiding surface that guides the armature, the sleeve being surrounded by a stator assembly having an operative surface disposed a fixed distance from the guiding surfaces of the sleeve to define a gap between the guiding surface of the sleeve and the operative surface of the stator assembly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the floating valve mechanism comprises a spring that forces the operating rod into engagement with the armature.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The valve assembly of claim 3, further comprising a spring retainer disposed on the operating rod proximate the rod head.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The valve assembly of claim 4, wherein the spring retainer comprises an annular lip that engages the compression spring so that the armature is free to slide on a crown of the rod head.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The valve assembly of claim 5, further comprising a replaceable plug mounted to the armature that is engaged by the rod head of the operating rod.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the stator assembly further comprises an upper stator and a lower stator; and wherein the armature is movable within a central bore of the upper stator and a central bore of the lower stator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The valve assembly of claim 7, wherein the housing comprises a shell having a plurality of tabs with landing pads that fix the upper stator and the lower stator with the shell.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
The valve assembly of claim 7, wherein at least one of the upper stator and the lower stator comprises a central bore having the operative surface and at least one projection extending from the operative surface toward a central axis of the central bore.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The valve assembly of claim 9, wherein central bore of the upper stator comprises the operative surface; wherein the operative surface comprises an undercut surface; and wherein the at least one projection comprises two projections spaced along the central axis of the bore.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The valve assembly of claim 10, wherein each of the two projections comprises a flat annular surface that engages the sleeve.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The valve assembly of claim 11, wherein the valve assembly comprises an electric exhaust gas recirculation valve.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
92 words
A valve assembly comprising: a housing; a centered solenoid assembly disposed within the housing, the centered solenoid assembly including an armature that moves within a sleeve upon energization of a coil, the sleeve being surrounded by a stator assembly having an operative surface disposed a fixed distance from the sleeve to define a gap between the sleeve and the stator assembly; an operating rod proximate the armature, the operating rod having a rod head and a valve element; and a biasing member that forces the rod head and armature into operative engagement.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
92 words
A valve assembly comprising: a housing; a centered solenoid assembly disposed within the housing, the centered solenoid assembly including an armature that moves within a sleeve upon energization of a coil, the sleeve being surrounded by a stator assembly having an operative surface disposed a fixed distance from the sleeve to define a gap between the sleeve and the stator assembly; an operating rod proximate the armature, the operating rod having a rod head and a valve element; and a biasing member that forces the rod head and armature into operative engagement.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The valve assembly of claim 13, wherein the biasing member comprises a spring that engages a spring retainer snap fitted into a groove in the operating rod proximate the rod head.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The valve assembly of claim 13, wherein the spring retainer comprises an annular lip that engages the first spring so that the armature is free to slide on a crown of the rod head.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The valve assembly of claim 15, further comprising a replaceable plug mounted in a transverse wall disposed within a central passage of the armature, the replaceable plug engaging the rod head of the operating rod.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
60 words
The valve assembly of claim 16, wherein the spring comprises a first compression spring that forces the operating rod toward armature and urges the valve element to a closed position on a valve seat; and wherein a second compression spring, weaker than the first compression spring, acts on the operating rod to urge the valve element to an open position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
The valve assembly of claim 17, further comprising a position sensor coupled to the operating rod and mounted to the housing, the position sensor producing signals corresponding to a position of the valve element of the operating rod.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The valve assembly of claim 18, wherein the position sensor includes a plunger urged into operative engagement with the armature by the second compression spring.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The valve assembly of claim 19, wherein the valve assembly comprises an electric exhaust gas recirculation valve.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
95 words
An electric exhaust gas recirculation (EEGR) valve for an internal combustion engine comprising; a housing; a valve mechanism disposed within the housing, the valve mechanism including an operating rod; and an actuator disposed within the housing including: a stator assembly having an operative surface; an armature including a central passage with a transverse wall that engages the operating rod; and a sleeve that surrounds the armature, the sleeve having a guiding surface disposed a fixed distance from the operative surface of the stator assembly to define a gap between the sleeve and the stator assembly.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
95 words
An electric exhaust gas recirculation (EEGR) valve for an internal combustion engine comprising; a housing; a valve mechanism disposed within the housing, the valve mechanism including an operating rod; and an actuator disposed within the housing including: a stator assembly having an operative surface; an armature including a central passage with a transverse wall that engages the operating rod; and a sleeve that surrounds the armature, the sleeve having a guiding surface disposed a fixed distance from the operative surface of the stator assembly to define a gap between the sleeve and the stator assembly.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
The EEGR of claim 21, wherein the gap defines an air gap that radially balances the radial forces that act on the armature when a coil of the actuator is operated.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The EEGR of claim 22, wherein the transverse wall includes a plug that engages a head of the operating rod.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
58 words
The EEGR of claim 23, wherein the housing includes a base, an entrance at which engine exhaust gas to be recalculated enters the base, a passage that extends through the base for conveying engine exhaust gas that has entered the entrance, and an exit at which engine exhaust gas that has passed through the passage exits the base.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
The EEGR of claim 23, wherein the operating rod extends into the central passage of the armature and engages a first side of the plug.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
The EEGR valve of claim 25, wherein a sensor shaft of a sensor extends into the central passage of the armature to engage a second side of the plug.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
67 words
A valve assembly comprising: a housing including a shell with a tabs with landing pads; an actuator disposed within the housing, the actuator including an armature that moves within a stator assembly upon energization of a coil, the stator assembly including an upper stator and a lower stator that are supported within the shell by the landing pads; and a valve mechanism operatively engaged with the actuator.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
67 words
A valve assembly comprising: a housing including a shell with a tabs with landing pads; an actuator disposed within the housing, the actuator including an armature that moves within a stator assembly upon energization of a coil, the stator assembly including an upper stator and a lower stator that are supported within the shell by the landing pads; and a valve mechanism operatively engaged with the actuator.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
56 words
The valve assembly of claim 27, wherein the valve mechanism comprises a floating valve mechanism including an operating rod with a valve element configured to engage a valve seat, the operating rod extending toward the solenoid assembly and engaging the armature to form a single load operative connection between the actuator and the floating valve mechanism.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
The valve assembly of claim 27, wherein the tabs comprise lanced portions of the shell that project toward an interior of the shell.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
60 words
The valve assembly of claim 27, wherein the armature moves within a sleeve; and wherein the sleeve is surrounded by the stator assembly, the stator assembly having an operative surface disposed a fixed distance from a guiding surfaces of the sleeve to define a gap between the guiding surface of the sleeve and the operative surface of the stator assembly.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of delivering a quantity of gas flow substantially free of operational hysteresis in an electric exhaust gas recirculation valve, comprising the steps of: providing an armature that moves within a sleeve upon energization of a coil; surrounding the sleeve with a stator assembly so that an operative surface of the stator assembly is a fixed distance from the sleeve; biasing the head of an operating rod of a valve mechanism into engagement with the armature.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of delivering a quantity of gas flow substantially free of operational hysteresis in an electric exhaust gas recirculation valve, comprising the steps of: providing an armature that moves within a sleeve upon energization of a coil; surrounding the sleeve with a stator assembly so that an operative surface of the stator assembly is a fixed distance from the sleeve; biasing the head of an operating rod of a valve mechanism into engagement with the armature.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 31, wherein the step of biasing further comprises: engaging the operating rod of the valve mechanism at a single load connection on the armature; and supporting the operating rod with a single bushing.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 32, wherein the step of engaging further comprises forcing a rod head of the operating rod with a spring into operative engagement with a replaceable plug mounted in the armature so that the replaceable plug is free to slide an a crown of the rod head.
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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) | 2002-10-04 | 2003-04-05 | 2003-10-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-10-04 | 2007-04-05 | 2007-10-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-10-04 | 2011-04-05 | 2011-10-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |