Delphi Technologies, Inc.

Javier Gomez

Jeffrey Heinrichs

Omar Rocha

Keith B Fong

Veronica Morales

Alejandro Moreno

A uniformly preset spring force pre-load among a number of identical solenoid actuated valve assemblies ( ) by uniquely adjusting the spring pocket length (L) of each respective plunger ( ) to accommodate a respective spring ( ) which is uniquely mated thereto. This adjustment is accomplished using a two-component plunger ( ) consisting of a plunger body ( ) having a central bore ( ) and a rod ( ) slidably located within the central bore. The rod ( ) is press-fit into the central bore ( ), and the spring pocket includes a portion of the central bore unoccupied by the rod. By pressing the rod ( ) a selected distance into the central bore ( ), a precisely set spring pocket is obtained which is uniquely correct for a selected spring ( ), in that the selected spring is compressed to a precisely preset spring force pre-load. The adjusted plunger ( ) and spring ( ) are uniquely assigned to each other to collectively form a customized plunger assembly ( ) having a preset spring force pre-load, whereupon a valve assembly ( ) is manufacturable therewith having the precisely preset spring force pre-load. In carrying-out the adjustment of the plunger ( ) with respect to a specific spring ( ), the rod is pressed into the bore by a controllable source of force, such as for example provided by a stepper motor ( ), and the spring force pre-load is monitored by a load cell ( ) to ascertain when the desired spring force pre-load is achieved. Monitoring and force control is preferably automatic via a micro-controller ( ), but may be manual.

Plunger assembly having a preset spring force pre-load

A two-stage parallel spring solenoid valve ( ) includes a coil housing ( ) with a plunger tube ( ) disposed therein. Disposed within the distal end ( ) of the plunger tube ( ) is a valve body ( ) that includes a valve seat ( ). A plunger assembly ( ) is disposed within the plunger tube ( ) and includes a plunger ( ) and a plunger rod ( ). An external spring ( ) and an internal spring ( ) are installed in parallel with each other within the plunger assembly ( ). The valve ( ) is movable from a closed configuration wherein the plunger rod ( ) is seated against the valve seat ( ) to block fluid flow through the valve ( ), to an intermediate configuration wherein the plunger ( ) further compresses the external spring ( ) and the internal spring ( ) and the plunger rod ( ) remains seated against the valve seat ( ), and to an open configuration, wherein the plunger rod ( ) is distanced from the valve seat ( ) to permit fluid flow through the valve ( ).

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Cd. Juarez Chih., Mexico

Javier Gomez