Schaeffler Technologies Ag & Co .kg

Trw Limited

Trw Automotive U.S. LLC

David L Becker

Aaron M Mills

Brian Thomas Lee

David Chandler

Stefan Konias

Laverne R Newman

Stephen J Horner

Kevin P Jokipii

John Barrs

Markus Raith

Jonathan R Penvose

Phillip J Shandilis

A pressure compensated solenoid valve with fluid flow force balancing is provided. The solenoid valve includes an armature and a valve plunger arranged to transport hydraulic fluid from a supply end of a valve plunger to an upper end of the armature facilitating a resultant upper fluid force that acts upon the upper end of the armature to balance a resultant lower fluid force that acts on the supply end of the valve plunger. The solenoid valve includes a poppet that is configured as a pressure-relief valve for maintaining a minimum fluid pressure within an actuation fluid gallery. An inlet fluid force of the poppet is balanced by an outlet fluid force of the poppet.

Pressure compensated solenoid valve with fluid flow force balancing

A method of assembling a solenoid valve assembly is provided. The method includes supporting a shoulder of a valve housing against a flange of a metal ring. The method includes inserting at least one axially extending post of the metal ring through at least one slot of a mounting tab. The method includes deforming the at least one axially extending post of the metal ring to clamp the valve housing between the metal ring and the mounting tab, with the metal ring, the valve housing, and the mounting tab being captively secured with each other. The method includes positioning the mounting tab at least partially within an opening at an axial end of a solenoid housing. The method includes bending or otherwise deforming the outer wall at the axial end of the solenoid housing to retain the solenoid housing to the mounting tab, the metal ring, and the valve housing.

Staking ring for solenoid assembly

A method of assembling a solenoid valve assembly is disclosed. The method includes inserting an axial end of a valve housing partially through an aperture of a tab. The axial end of the valve housing extends partially through an opening of a solenoid housing. An interlocking element is positioned in a first axial end of the solenoid housing. The method includes inserting a petal of the valve housing into a pocket of the interlocking element. The method includes engaging the interlocking element with an installation tool and rotating the installation tool to rotate the interlocking element and the valve housing until a lip of the solenoid housing is axially positioned between (1) the petal of the valve housing and (2) a protrusion of the tab, such that the valve housing, the tab, and the solenoid housing are fixed to each other.

Interlocking solenoid valve assembly and method

A pressure compensated switching solenoid valve is provided having a solenoid connected to a hydraulic housing that has a first chamber defined between first and second valve seats and a second chamber. A sealing tube is connected to the hydraulic housing, and an armature is slidably located therein. A sealing element engages an end of the armature, and is movable via the solenoid and the spring between a first position, in which a poppet contacts the second valve seat to provide one communication path, and a second position in which the intermediate sealing surface contacts and seals against the first valve seat to provide a second communication path. At least one pressure compensation fluid pathway in the hydraulic housing extends from the supply port to a generally annular upper surface of the armature to compensate for pressure fluctuations from a pressure supply that act on the poppet.

Pressure compensated switching solenoid valve

A camshaft phaser, including: an axis of rotation; a stator with a radially outer surface including a plurality of teeth; a rotor located radially inwardly of the stator; a chamber bounded at least in part by the stator and the rotor; a locking cover; a spring cover non-rotatably connected to the locking cover; a space enclosed, at least in part, by the spring cover and the locking cover; a plurality of fasteners non-rotatably connecting the stator and the locking cover; a spiral spring located in the space and including a first end fixed to the stator; and a magnetic trap located within the space and including a magnet.

Particulate trap for a camshaft phaser

An electromagnetic solenoid assembly is disclosed. The solenoid assembly includes a cup-shaped ring defining a pocket for an annular coil, and including a radially extending portion, a radially inner axially extending flange, and a radially outer axially extending flange. An axially outer end of the radially outer axially extending flange includes a first inclined surface and an axially outer end of the radially inner axially extending flange includes a second inclined surface. A ring-shaped armature includes a radially outer portion and a radially inner portion. An axially outer end of the radially outer portion includes a third inclined surface and an axially outer end of the radially inner portion includes a fourth inclined surface. Pairs of the inclined surfaces are aligned substantially parallel to each other. A distance between the ring-shaped armature and the cup-shaped ring is variable based on energizing the annular coil.

Electromagnetic solenoid with inclined pole faces

A control valve for hydraulic media is provided. The control valve includes a valve body having four ports. A first seat, a second seat, and a dual seat are positioned in the valve body between the ports. Two poppets, each including a disc and a cup, with a spring located therebetween, are arranged on a cylindrical pin with an enlarged engagement portion that is slidably supported within the valve body. A solenoid assembly movable in an axial direction within the valve body contacts the cylindrical pin and adjusts the position of the discs and cups of the poppets with respect to the seats of the valve body to minimize unwanted leakage between the ports. This configuration comprises four variable orifices that cooperate to provide controlled flow during different energizing phases of the solenoid assembly.

Dual poppet proportional solenoid control valve

A control valve for hydraulic fluid is provided. The control valve includes a valve housing and a valve body slidably supported within the valve housing. The valve body has a hollow center defining a passage. The control valve includes a solenoid assembly having a solenoid housing, a coil, and an armature movable in an axial direction. The armature is in contact with an axial end of the valve body. The armature has a bore in fluid connection with the passage of the valve body. The solenoid housing includes a second passage in fluid connection with the bore. A diaphragm seals the second passage. A pressure sensor assembly is located adjacent to the diaphragm that detects a deflection of the diaphragm due to a pressure of the hydraulic fluid in the second passage.

Control valve with integral pressure switch

An apparatus for sensing the proximity of a first vehicle () to an object such as a second vehicle (). The apparatus includes an array of sensor assemblies () mounted on the first vehicle (). The sensor assemblies () include Hall effect sensors (). The array of sensor assemblies () provide an output signal when located within the proximity of the second vehicle ().

Apparatus for sensing the proximity of a vehicle to an object

An apparatus () for sensing the position of a vehicle seat () movable between a forward position and a rearward position includes a Hall effect device () and a magnet () that produces a magnetic field that acts on the Hall effect device. A member () is constructed of a ferromagnetic material and has a portion () positioned adjacent the magnet (). The portion () has a size that is unique for every different position of the vehicle seat () between the forward and rearward positions. The portion () of the member () alters the flux path of the magnetic field which varies the portion of the magnetic field acting on the Hall effect device () to a degree that depends on the size of the portion. The Hall effect device () provides a signal functionally related to the magnitude of the magnetic field acting on the Hall effect device.

Apparatus for sensing vehicle seat position

A sensor () for sensing the position of a ferromagnetic target () relative to the sensor includes a Hall effect device () responsive to a change in a magnetic field () acting on the Hall effect device. A magnet () produces a magnetic field () that acts on the Hall effect device (). The target () changes the magnetic field () acting on the Hall effect device () as the position of the target relative to the sensor () changes. First and second flux collectors (and) are located on one side () of the magnet () for concentrating the magnetic field () on the Hall effect device (). A third flux collector () is located on a second side () of the magnet () opposite the one side () for reducing the reluctance of a magnetic flux path through the target ().

A code wheel () is rotatable with a vehicle steering wheel (). A magnet () mounted on a rotatable driven component () indicates the number of revolutions of the code wheel (). A sensing device () is provided to sense a flux field provided by the magnet (). The magnetic flux field varies relative to the sensing device () as the driven component () is rotated by the code wheel ().

Sensor assembly

A switch ( ) for controlling operation of vehicle lamps (e.g., ) comprises a base ( ) and a manually engageable assembly ( ) rotatable about an axis ( ) relative to the base for controlling operation of the lamps. The assembly ( ) comprises a magnetic member ( ) that rotates with the assembly about the axis ( ). The base ( ) comprises at least one magnetic sensor (e.g., ) and control circuitry connecting the sensor with the vehicle lamps (e.g., ). The magnetic member ( ) is rotatable about the axis ( ) into a plurality of different rotational positions relative to the sensor (e.g., ) to provide an output signal at the control circuitry ( ) that is indicative of the relative rotational position of the assembly ( ). The magnetic member ( ) is spaced apart from the base ( ) to provide contactless operation of the switch ( ).

Contactless vehicle lamp switch

An apparatus ( ) for sensing when a rail member ( ) of a vehicle seat ( ) is located in a reference position relative to a seat bracket ( ) of the vehicle seat ( ) comprises a magnetic sensor ( ) for generating a magnetic field and for sensing a flux density of the magnetic field. The apparatus ( ) further comprises a cover ( ) for enclosing the magnetic sensor ( ). The cover ( ), when in a first position, forms a zone for preventing the flux density from increasing above a threshold level. The cover ( ) is moved into a second position when the rail member ( ) is located in the reference position relative to the seat bracket ( ). In the second position, the flux density is increased above the threshold level.

Apparatus for sensing position of a vehicle seat

A device (,) for sensing a predetermined relative position of first and second parts (,and,) which are movable relative to each other includes a magnet (,) which creates a magnetic field and a pivotal lever (,) which has first and second opposite surfaces (,and,). The lever (,) has a first position in the magnetic field wherein the first surface (,) has a first magnetic polarity and the second surface (,) has a magnetic polarity opposite the first magnetic polarity. The lever (,) has a second position in the magnetic field when the first and second parts (,and,) are in the predetermined relative position. The first and second surfaces (,and,) move away from the magnet (,) as the lever (,) pivots from the first position to the second position. The first magnetic polarity of the first surface (,) switches to an opposite second magnetic polarity when the lever (,) is in the second position, and the second surface (,) switches to a magnetic polarity opposite the second magnetic polarity when the lever (,) is in the second position. The device (,) also includes a Hall effect device (,) which responds to the change in magnetic polarity from the first magnetic polarity to the second magnetic polarity.

Growing community of inventors

White Lake, MI, United States of America

David L Becker