Solenoid construction and method for making the same

Claim 2

An assembly for use in a solenoid comprising: (a) a hollow solenoid armature tube adapted to be received in a solenoid coil, said tube having an armature chamber therein; (b) a stationary pole piece member fixed in and defining one end of said armature chamber; (c) an armature member positioned in said armature chamber of said tube for axial sliding movement relative to and defining an armature stroke relative to said pole piece member; (d) one of said members having an axially extending recess therein and the other member having a reduced in cross-section end portion adapted to be received in and complimentary to said recess; (e) said one member having a .[.radially externally facing.]. frusto-conical surface surrounding said recess and .Iadd.facing radially externally into an air gap in said chamber, said air gap .Iaddend.extending .[.into said chamber.]. .Iadd.from said frusto-conical surface to said armature tube in a region of said chamber not entered by said other member.Iaddend.; (f) said armature tube having a non-magnetic section defining a reduced magnetic gap extending coaxially with .Iadd.said air gap and with .Iaddend.at least a portion of said armature stroke sufficient to permit selected magnetic forces to be produced on said armature; and (g) said armature tube providing concentricity of said two members.

Claim 3

An assembly in accordance with claim 1 in which said armature tube comprises a one-piece metal tube.

Claim 4

An assembly in accordance with claim 1 including non-magnetic bearing means between said armature member and said armature tube for reducing friction.

Claim 5

An assembly in accordance with claim 3 in which said bearing means provides a non-magnetic space between said armature member and said armature tube.

Claim 6

An assembly in accordance with claim 4 in which said bearing means comprises multiple circumferential bearing surfaces spaced linearly along said armature.

Claim 7

An assembly in accordance with claim 1 in which said stationary pole piece member has a reduced in cross-section part adapted to be received in and mate with the internal surface of one end of said armature tube.

Claim 8

An assembly in accordance with claim 1 in which said armature tube comprises a one-piece semi-austenitic material tube treated to be non-magnetic along said non-magnetic section of said tube.

Claim 9

An assembly in accordance with claim 1 in which said armature tube comprises a non-magnetic one-piece tube.

Claim 10

An assembly in accordance with claim 1 in which said armature tube comprises a non-magnetic metal one-piece tube.

Claim 11

An assembly for use in a solenoid comprising: (a) a hollow solenoid armature tube adapted to be received in a solenoid coil, said tube having an armature chamber therein; (b) a stationary pole piece member fixed in and defining one end of said armature chamber; (c) an armature member positioned in said armature chamber of said tube for axial sliding movement relative to and defining an armature stroke relative to said pole piece member; (d) one of said members having an axially extending recess therein and the other member having a reduced in cross-section end portion adapted to be received in and complimentary to said recess; (e) said one member having a .[.radially externally facing.]. frusto-conical surface surrounding said recess and .Iadd.facing radially externally into an air gap in said chamber, said air gap .Iaddend.extending .[.into said chamber.]. .Iadd.from said frusto-conical surface to said armature tube in a region of said chamber not entered by said other member.Iaddend.; (f) said armature tube having a non-magnetic section means providing a reduced magnetic gap extending coaxially with .Iadd.said air gap and with .Iaddend.at least a portion of said armature stroke sufficient to permit selected magnetic forces to be produced on said armature; and (g) said armature tube providing concentricity of said two members.

Claim 12

An assembly for use in a solenoid comprising: (a) a hollow solenoid armature tube adapted to be received in a solenoid coil, said tube having an armature chamber therein; (b) a stationary pole piece member fixed in and defining one end of said armature chamber; (c) an armature member positioned in said armature chamber of said tube for axial sliding movement relative to and defining an armature stroke relative to said pole piece member; (d) one of said members having an axially extending recess therein and the other member having a reduced in cross-section end portion adapted to be received in and complimentary to said recess; (e) said one member having a .[.radially externally facing.]. frusto-conical surface surrounding said recess and .Iadd.facing radially externally into an air gap in said chamber, said air gap .Iaddend.extending .[.into said chamber.]. .Iadd.from said frusto-conical surface to said armature tube in a region of said chamber not entered by said other member.Iaddend.; (f) said armature tube having a non-magnetic section means providing a reduced magnetic gap extending coaxially with .Iadd.said air gap and with .Iaddend.at least a portion of said armature stroke sufficient to permit selected magnetic forces to be produced on said armature; and (g) said armature tube providing concentricity of said two members.

Claim 13

An assembly in accordance with claim 10 in which said armature tube comprises a one-piece metal tube.

Claim 14

An assembly in accordance with claim 10 in which said stationary pole piece member has a reduced in cross-section part adapted to be received in and mate with the internal surface of one end of said armature tube.

Claim 15

An assembly in accordance with claim 10 in which said armature tube comprises a one-piece semi-austenitic material tube treated to be non-magnetic along said non-magnetic section of said tube.

Claim 16

An assembly in accordance with claim 10 in which said armature tube comprises a non-magnetic metal one-piece tube.

Claim 17

An assembly for use in a solenoid comprising: (a) a one-piece cylindrical metal hollow solenoid armature tube adapted to be received in a solenoid coil, said tube having a cylindrical armature chamber therein; (b) a stationary pole piece member fixed in and defining one end of said armature chamber; (c) a cylindrical armature member positioned in said armature chamber of said tube for axial sliding movement defining a stroke gap relative to and defining an armature stroke relative to said pole member; (d) one of said members having an axial concentric cylindrical recess therein and the other cylindrical member having a reduced in cross-section axial cylindrical concentric end portion adapted to be received in and complimentary to said recess; (e) said one member having .[.a radially externally facing.]. .Iadd.an .Iaddend.annular concentric frusto-conical surface surrounding said recess and .Iadd.facing radially externally into an air gap in said chamber, said air gap .Iaddend.extending .[.into said chamber.]. .Iadd.from said frusto-conical surface to said armature tube in a region of said chamber not entered by said other member.Iaddend.; (f) said armature tube having a non-magnetic section means providing a reduced magnetic gap extending coaxially with .Iadd.said air gap and with .Iaddend.at least a portion of said armature stroke sufficient to permit selected magnetic forces to be produced on said armature; and (g) said armature tube providing concentricity of said two members.

Claim 18

An assembly for use in a solenoid comprising: (a) a one-piece cylindrical metal hollow solenoid armature tube adapted to be received in a solenoid coil, said tube having a cylindrical armature chamber therein; (b) a stationary pole piece member fixed in and defining one end of said armature chamber; (c) a cylindrical armature member positioned in said armature chamber of said tube for axial sliding movement defining a stroke gap relative to and defining an armature stroke relative to said pole member; (d) one of said members having an axial concentric cylindrical recess therein and the other cylindrical member having a reduced in cross-section axial cylindrical concentric end portion adapted to be received in and complimentary to said recess; (e) said one member having .[.a radially externally facing.]. .Iadd.an .Iaddend.annular concentric frusto-conical surface surrounding said recess and .Iadd.facing radially externally into an air gap in said chamber, said air gap .Iaddend.extending .[.into said chamber.]. .Iadd.from said frusto-conical surface to said armature tube in a region of said chamber not entered by said other member.Iaddend.; (f) said armature tube having a non-magnetic section means providing a reduced magnetic gap extending coaxially with .Iadd.said air gap and with .Iaddend.at least a portion of said armature stroke sufficient to permit selected magnetic forces to be produced on said armature; and (g) said armature tube providing concentricity of said two members.

Claim 19

An assembly in accordance with claim 15 including non-magnetic bearing means between said armature member and said armature tube for reducing friction.

Claim 20

An assembly in accordance with claim 16 in which said bearing means provides a non-magnetic space between said armature member and said armature tube.

Claim 21

An assembly in accordance with claim 17 in which said bearing means comprises surfaces spaced linearly along said armature.

Claim 22

An assembly in accordance with claim 15 in which said stationary pole piece member has a reduced in cross-section part adapted to be received in and mate with the internal surface of one end of said armature tube.

Claim 23

An assembly in accordance with claim 15 in which said armature tube comprises a one-piece .[.sem-austenitic.]. .Iadd.semi-austenitic .Iaddend.material tube treated to be non-magnetic along said non-magnetic section of said tube.

Claim 24

An assembly in accordance with claim 15 including a solenoid coil surrounding said armature tube.

Claim 27

A method in accordance with claim 22 in which said armature tube is provided as a one-piece metal tube.

Claim 28

A method in accordance with claim 22 including the step of providing a non-magnetic bearing means between said armature member and said armature tube for reducing friction.

Claim 29

A method in accordance with claim 24 in which said bearing means is provided as a non-magnetic space between said armature member and said armature tube.

Claim 30

A method in accordance with claim 22 in which said bearing means is provided as multiple circumferential bearing surfaces spaced linearly along said armature.

Claim 31

A method in accordance with claim 22 in which said stationary pole piece member is provided with a reduced in cross-section part adapted to be received in and mate with the internal surface of one end of said armature tube.

Claim 32

A method in accordance with claim 22 in which said armature tube is provided as a one-piece semi-austenitic material tube treated to be non-magnetic along said non-magnetic section of said tube.

Claim 33

A method in accordance with claim 22 including providing a solenoid coil surrounding said armature tube.