Husco Automotive Holdings LLC

Incova Technologies, Inc.

Kirt Stephens

Edward Aloysius Flynn

Robert Scott Nordstrom

Austin Schmitt

Matthew Schmitz

Kevin Rode

Kathryn Irene Bacon

Kathryn Bacon

An alignment member for a solenoid is provided. The solenoid includes a housing, a solenoid coil arranged within the housing, a first pole piece arranged within the housing, a second pole piece arranged at least partially within the housing, and a disk. The alignment member includes a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a center portion that defines a center portion diameter that is less than a diameter defined by the first end and the second end.

Electromechanical solenoid having a pole piece alignment member

An electromechanical solenoid has a solenoid assembly including a solenoid coil with a coil aperture formed therein. A pole piece assembly is positioned at least partially within the coil aperture, the pole piece assembly including a first pole piece and a second pole piece positioned at least partially within an hour-glass shaped alignment member. The first pole piece has a first bore and a first outer tapered surface extending away from the first bore, and the second pole piece has a second bore and a second outer tapered surface extending away from the second bore. An armature is moveable within the first bore and the second bore in response to a magnetic field produced by the solenoid coil.

A wide variety of machines have moveable members that are operated by an hydraulic actuator. For example, an internal combustion engine has a camshaft which is mechanically coupled to rotate with the crankshaft and which opens and closes cylinder intake and exhaust valves. Traditionally the camshaft timing was fixed at a setting that produced the best operation for all engine operating conditions. However, it has been recognized that engine performance can be improved if the valve timing varies as a function of engine speed, engine load, and other factors. Thus a hydraulic actuator is being used on some engines to vary the coupling relationship of the camshaft to the crankshaft. A solenoid operated valve controls the application of pressurized fluid to operate the hydraulic actuator.

Hydraulic valve with an annular filter element secured by a helical spring

A valve arrangement includes a valve body with a bore within which a spool slides to control fluid flow between first and second ports. The bore has an annular recess into which the first port opens and in which is located a check valve band formed by a strip with overlapping ends. Pressure in the first port causes the check valve band to contract and expand circumferentially to open and close the first port. A stop is located near one end of the strip and is engaged by the other end to limit the amount of contraction of the check valve band. Thus the diameter of the check valve band cannot contract smaller than the diameter of the bore, thereby retaining the check valve ring in the annular recess. The check valve band optionally has a plurality of tabs projecting from each edge and engaging side walls of the annular recess.

Hydraulic valve arrangement with an annular check valve element

An electrohydraulic valve has a valve body with a longitudinal bore and a cylindrical exterior surface. An annular recess extends around the cylindrical exterior surface and the first port extends from the recess to the bore. A filter is formed by a plate that has a plurality of perforations and which is wrapped around valve body in the recess. The plate has a first end section at which a first tab is created and a second end section overlapping the first end section with a slot through which the first tab extends to secure the first and second end sections together. A spool is slideable into different positions within the bore of the valve body to selectively connect and disconnect the first port and a second. An actuator is operably coupled to move the spool into different positions within the bore.

Filter band for an electrohydraulic valve

A solenoid operated valve has a valve body with a plurality of ports and a spool slideable within the valve body to interconnect the ports in different combinations. An actuator drives the spool into several operating positions. The actuator has a solenoid assembly with an armature that moves within a bore in response to an electromagnetic field. A push member projects from the armature and has a bearing secured thereto. The bearing has a cage that retains a plurality of rollable elements in slots separated by walls that are resilient enabling the rollable elements to be forced into the slots during assembly and thereafter be captured in the cage when the walls return to their original positions. A latch on the cage engages the push member to affix the bearing in place.

Electrohydraulic valve having a solenoid actuator plunger with an armature and a bearing

A solenoid operated valve has a valve body with a plurality of ports and a spool slideable within the valve body to interconnect the ports in different combinations. An actuator includes a solenoid coil assembly and an armature slideably received in the solenoid coil assembly. A bushing has a cylindrical body from which a push member projects into engagement with the spool and from which a coupling shaft extends into an aperture in the armature. A passage is provided in the bushing to allow fluid to flow between opposites sides as the bushing slides in the solenoid coil assembly. The cylindrical body rides in the solenoid coil assembly and has a plurality of external grooves that enable fluid to pass around the body.

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New Berlin, WI, United States of America

Kirt Stephens