Eaton Corporation

Masco Industries, Inc.

Borgwarner Inc.

Lectron Products, Inc.

Mascotech, Inc.

Daniel L Deland

Charles A Detweiler

Gerrit V Beneker

Curtis T Moy

Lawrence H Zuckerman

Paul Heimnick

Kurt P Schuler

David G Grossman

Barbara J Erickson

Garrett Robert Holmes

Kenneth J Parker

Jeffrey J Waterstredt

David R Sosnowski

Andrew W Westergaard

Roger L Kennedy, Jr

Douglas L Semke

A solenoid () for a solenoid-actuated valve () includes a sintered powder metal one-piece core () of at least one soft magnetic material and at least one non-magnetic material integrally connected together and a movable armature () disposed in the core () and having a tapered tip to achieve a required force vs position and current characteristics.

Solenoid having inverse tapered armature for solenoid-actuated valve

A solenoid actuator is provided that includes a casing. A coil is positioned within the casing. A flux tube and axially separated pole piece are encircled by the coil. An armature is slidably mounted within bores of the flux tube and pole piece. The flux tube and pole piece are separated by a flux choke. A core shunt juxtaposes the pole piece from the flux choke. The core shunt, on major cross-sectional tubular thickness and a minor cross-sectional tubular thickness has an outer diameter of a curved shunt to provide enhanced performance stability.

Curved shunt for solenoid curve shaping

A solenoid for a solenoid-actuated valve includes a coil, a flux tube, a pole piece disposed axially from the flux tube and encircled by the coil, a movable armature disposed in the flux tube and the pole piece, and a latch disposed between the flux tube and the pole piece to selectively latch the armature into at least one position.

Solenoid having selective latch for solenoid-actuated valve

A solenoid valve has a body with a fluid passage extending longitudinally at least partially through the body. Each of supply, control, and exhaust ports is disposed through the body and operably connected to the passage (the supply port also introducing fluid medium from a pressure source). Among the ports, there is a valve member operably disposed in the passage. A bore extends at least partially through the member. A metering orifice connects the passage or exhaust port with the bore. A solenoid portion has a coil with an armature movable within the portion in response to energization of the coil, and a shaft is connected to the armature. The shaft extends partially into the body and directly contacts the member, and the energization of the coil causes the shaft to slide within the solenoid portion and move the member in response to movement of the armature within the portion.

Direct-acting pilot pressure control solenoid

A solenoid arrangement having an armature member that is segmented to help minimize the radial force due to eccentricity of the armature member. The solenoid arrangement has a magnetic coil that when energized will create magnetic flux in the flux path. A pole piece is partly circumscribed by the armature member. Inner and outer air gaps are located about the armature member. Eccentricity of the armature member results in a decrease in one of the air gaps and a corresponding increase in the other. Radial gaps segment the armature member to interrupt the circumferential flux path about the armature member to inhibit magnetic flux from swirling to the side nearest the pole piece and to distribute magnetic flux substantially evenly. The radial force acting on the armature member is reduced resulting in reduced friction between solenoid components while substantially preserving the desirable level of axial force.

Solenoid arrangement with segmented armature member for reducing radial force

A solenoid operated valve is connected in series with a resistor and a PTC thermistor. Upon coil energization, the armature moves to close the valve member against a valve seat and further armature movement to close an air gap with a pole piece is absorbed by a spring between the armature and valve member. Upon closure of the air gap, the magnetic reluctance between the armature and pole piece is decreased such that significantly less current is required in the coil to hold the valve closed. Upon heating of the thermistor, the resistance is increased sufficiently to reduce the current to the hold-close level and less power is required thereafter to maintain the valve closed. The valve is applied to on-board vehicle diagnostic procedures performed after engine shut-down where current must be minimized to prevent battery drain to a level preventing re-start.

Low current solenoid valve

A solenoid operated valve is controlled upon increasing energization for greater flow by incrementing by a small fraction of the maximum current a target current level for the desired flow for a short duration followed by energization at the target level. Upon decreasing energization for lesser flow, the valve is energized at a target current decremented by a small fraction of the maximum current for a short duration. The result is a nearly negligible hysteresis.

Method of energizing solenoid operated valves

A fuel tank vapor management valve (VMV) for controlling purge flow from a vapor storage canister to an engine inlet manifold. In one embodiment, an existing VMV utilizing an electrically operated atmospheric bleed valve or EVR for controlling vacuum pressure on one side of the regulator valve diaphragm is modified to have an additional vacuum ported valve seat in the EVR to be opened and closed by the bleed valve instead of providing a vacuum port in the regulator diaphragm signal pressure chamber. The inlet of the EVR is connected to the storage canister instead of being ported to the atmosphere which equalizes canister pressure across the regulator diaphragm thus preventing undesired opening of the regular valve when the engine is shut off. In another embodiment, an existing VMV is unmodified, with the EVR bleed port connected to the canister and the shut-off valve is connected in the line connecting the engine manifold with the regulator valve diaphragm signal pressure chamber. The shut-off valve may be either electrically operated or pressure actuated by engine manifold vacuum.

Pressure compensating vapor management valve

A rotary solenoid operated valve assembly having the rotary journalled in a ball race in one end of a tubular pole piece extending through a coil. The tubular pole piece has the end distal the ball race received in the bottom of a cup-shaped stator which has salient poles on the open rim and which define radial air gaps with poles formed on the rotor. A cam formed on the rotor moves a ball valve member in a direction transverse to the rotor axis for controlling flow over a valve seat provided in an inlet or outlet port. The rotor is balanced about its axis of rotation to prevent cam movement when the valve is subjected to vibration in a direction transverse to the rotor axis.

Rotary solenoid operated proportional flow control valve

An electrically controlled vacuum operated fuel vapor canister purge valve having a regulator valve subassembly with a vacuum signal chamber on one side of a pressure responsive power diaphragm which moves a regulator valve obturator for controlling flow from a vapor inlet passage to a vapor outlet passage for connection to an engine inlet. The vacuum signal chamber has a vacuum signal connection port and a recess or well with an atmospheric vent port and resiliently deflectable locking tab. A solenoid operated atmospheric bleed valve has a boss with a restrictor outlet which is quick-connected and seated in the well for electrically controlling vent flow into the vacuum signal chamber. The restrictor limits atmospheric bleed flow to attenuate the effects of sudden changes in the vacuum signal.

Fuel vapor managment valve

A variable area valve and pressure regulator for providing fuel vapor purge control in an evaporative emission control system of an automotive vehicle. A solenoid valve assembly selectively controls fluid communication between a fuel vapor source and an intake manifold by varying the area of an orifice associated with the solenoid valve assembly. A pressure regulator assembly is responsive to pressure differentials between an inlet cavity and an outlet cavity to further control the flow through the purge regulator. In operation, the purge regulator assembly is operable to generate nonlinear output flow characteristics which are independent of changes in the intake manifold vacuum, as well as the inlet pressure, and which further provides the desired nonlinear response.

Fuel vapor purge control

A fuel vapor canister purge control valve assembly has an electric valve and a pressure regulator valve for connection at its inlet to a canister fluidically in series in a common housing. The electric valve has a spherical magnetically permeable operator biased closed against the seat by a balanced rotary armature. A C-shaped solenoid pole frame defines diametrally oppositely disposed radial working air gaps with the armature. Upon PWM energization of the solenoid, the armature rotation permits the spherical valve member to move from the seat to open the valve. A venturi is formed in the electric valve inlet and the venturi throat has a pressure tap connected to provide a reference pressure for one side of the pressure regulator diaphragm. The opposite side of the regulator diaphragm has an elastomeric obturator and is exposed to the outlet pressure of the electric valve. The elastomeric obturator is moveable with respect to another valve seat for controlling flow to the outlet for connection to an engine inlet manifold.

Controlling vapor flow in a conduit

An electrically controlled flow regulator valve assembly having a diaphragm operated pressure regulator valve with a solenoid operated valve for by-passing the diaphragm to control flow to the regulator valving chamber. In one embodiment the regulator valving chamber communicates through a small restricting orifice with a closed dampening chamber. In another embodiment a second closed dampening chamber is formed to communicate through a second small restrictive orifice with a chamber on the inlet pressure side of the diaphragm.

Electrically controlled flow regulator valve with transient dampening

An electrically controlled fuel vapor canister purge pressure regulator valve assembly has the regulator valve housing formed integrally with the solenoid operated valve body. A pressure responsive diaphragm is disposed in the housing to form on opposite sides thereof, an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber. The valve body has an inlet passage communicating with the inlet chamber and an outlet passage communicating with the outlet passage. The solenoid controls by-pass flow around the diaphragm to the outlet chamber. The outlet passage is closed by a closure member defining an outlet passage and valve seat. The diaphragm has a plate thereon moveable with the diaphragm to control flow over the valve seat. The outlet closure member encloses the diaphragm periphery and is sealed to the housing by a weld ring which may be spin friction or ultrasonically welded to the housing. An inlet chamber closure member forms an inlet fitting and inlet passage and retains a filter in the inlet chamber. The inlet closure member is sealed to the housing by a weld ring similar to the outlet closure member.

Welded construction for fuel vapor purge regulator valve assembly

A diaphragm type flow regulator has an electrically operated bleed valve to control fluid signal pressure in a chamber on one side of the diaphragm. A valve member mounted on the opposite side of the diaphragm is moved, in response to the difference in pressure between the signal chamber and a flow regulating chamber, with respect to a valve seat for controlling flow of a compressible fluid between an inlet and outlet in the flow regulating chamber. An auxiliary chamber communicates with the flow regulating chamber through a restricting orifice which function to dampen or attenuate diaphragm vibration caused by pressure pulses or transients which may occur in the fluid supply conduit. In one arrangement the auxiliary chamber is formed as part of the regulator housing. In other arrangements, the auxiliary chamber is formed as part of a separate fitting attached to the regulator flow regulating chamber inlet.

Growing community of inventors

Davison, MI, United States of America

Daniel L Deland