Colt Industries Inc.

Coltec Industries, Inc.

Loren H Kline

Harry A Sherwin

Robert J Telep

William F Woodcock

Lawrence McAuliffe, Jr

William J House

William E Ruhig, Jr

James T McIntyre

John G Berent

Eddie L Johnson

Various forms of control modules incorporating multiple solenoid actuated valves and passages are disclosed. All disclosed modules include a one piece sheet metal mounting bracket upon which the multiple valves and a manifold may be assembled in a frictional snap fit assembly procedure. The one piece sheet metal mounting bracket is formed with a pair of spaced parallel vertical webs, at least one web being formed with a double thickness of the sheet metal material and provided with U-shaped recesses extending into the web from its upper edge. The U-shaped recesses are adapted to snugly receive a portion of each valve housing which is formed with a pair of spaced radially outwardly projecting flanges which frictionally grip the opposed sides of the doubled web to hold the valve assemblies in a seated position. The other web engages the rearward ends of each valve assembly. Several variant assembly techniques are disclosed. In some cases, self-contained solenoid valve assemblies are assembled in plug-in fashion to a one-piece manifold and held in assembled relationship to the manifold by the webs of the sheet metal bracket. In other forms, a one-piece manifold incorporates portions of the individual assemblies, with solenoid coil sub-assemblies being slipped onto stems integrally formed on the manifold. In other forms, the solenoid coils are fly wound directly on stems integrally formed with the manifold within which the operating elements of the valve assemblies are mounted. In all cases, the metal bracket functions as a mounting bracket to mount the valve-manifold module on a support surface and also functions as a common low reluctance flux return path for the magnetic circuits of all solenoids.

Control module multiple solenoid actuated valves

Various forms of control modules incorporating multiple solenoid actuated valves and passages are disclosed. All disclosed modules include a one piece sheet metal mounting bracket upon which the multiple valves and manifold may be assembled in a frictional snap fit assembly procedure. The one piece sheet metal mounting bracket is formed with a pair of spaced parallel vertical webs, at least one web being formed with a double thickness of the sheet metal material and provided with U-shaped recesses extending into the web from its upper edge. The U- shaped recesses are adapted to snugly receive a portion of each valve housing which is formed with a pair of spaced radially outwardly projecting flanges which frictionally grip the opposed sides of the doubled web to hold the valve assemblies in a seated position. The other web engages the rearward ends of each valve assembly. Several variant assembly techniques are disclosed. In some cases, self-contained solenoid valve assemblies are assembled in plug-in fashion to a one-piece manifold and held in assembled relationship to the manifold by the webs of the sheet metal bracket. In other forms, a one-piece manifold incorporates portions of the individual assemblies, with solenoid coil sub-assemblies being slipped onto stems integrally formed on the manifold. In other forms, the solenoid coils are fly wound directly on stems integrally formed with the manifold within which the operating elements of the valve assemblies are mounted. In all cases, the metal bracket functions as a mounting bracket to mount the valve-manifold module on a support surface and also functions as a common low reluctance flux return path for the magnetic circuits of all solenoids.

Control module having multiple solenoid actuated valves

Various forms of control modules incorporating multiple solenoid actuated valves and passages are disclosed. All disclosed modules include a one piece sheet metal mounting bracket upon which the multiple valves and a manifold may be assembled in a frictional snap fit assembly procedure. The one piece sheet metal mounting bracket is formed with a pair of spaced parallel vertical webs at least, one being formed with a double thickness of the sheet metal material and provided with U-shaped recesses extending into the web from its upper edge. The U-shaped recesses are adapted to snugly receive a portion of each valve housing which is formed with a pair of spaced radially outwardly projecting flanges which frictionally grip the opposed sides of the doubled web to hold the valve assemblies in a seated position. The other web engages the rearward ends of each valve assembly. Several variant assembly techniques are disclosed. In some cases, self-contained solenoid valve assemblies are assembled in plug-in fashion to a one-piece manifold and held in assembled relationship to the manifold by the webs of the sheet metal bracket. In other forms, a one-piece manifold incorporates portions of the individual valve assemblies, with solenoid coil sub-assemblies being slipped onto stems integrally formed on the manifold. In other forms, the solenoid coils are fly wound directly on stems integrally formed with the manifold within which the operating elements of the valve assemblies are mounted. In all cases, the metal bracket functions as a mounting bracket to mount the valve-manifold module on a support surface and also functions as a common low reluctance flux return path for the magnetic circuits of all solenoids.

A purge valve for a vehicle mounted fuel vapor recovery system is made up of a main housing and two end caps which snap fit together to seal and mount a computer controlled solenoid valve and a diaphragm controlled regulating valve. The housing is designed so that the required valve seats are integrally molded in the housing as are the various internal passages and chambers. A compression post formed on one end cap seats the solenoid assembly firmly against an abutment surface on the housing.

Purge valve for on board fuel vapor recovery systems

A control module for controlling the operation of multiple fluid pressure actuated devices and electrical devices, as in an automotive heating/cooling system, includes a one-piece sheet metal frame or bracket upon which a plurality of solenoid valves, circuit boards and a manifold are assembled in a compact, tightly, but easily assembled, package. The assembled package is of a generally rectangular box-shaped configuration with electrical and fluid flow connections located at one end to connect with electric and fluid connectors fixedly mounted on the vehicle to provide a simple plug-in-type installation of the module on the vehicle assembly line.

Climate control system control module

An onboard refueling vapor recovery system for a motor vehicle prevents fuel vapor displaced from the vehicle fuel tank during a refueling operation from being discharged into the atmosphere and stores the fuel vapor for subsequent combustion in the vehicle engine. The system operates in parallel with a known vapor recovery system employed to minimize venting of vapor from the fuel tank through the normal fuel tank vent, this known system being inadequate to cope with the massive surge of vapor expelled during refueling which presently is vented to atmosphere through the fuel tank fill pipe. The refueling vapor recovery system includes a refueling vapor storage canister which is directly connected via a substantially unrestricted flow passage to the head space of the tank when, and only when, a standard fuel dispensing nozzle is operatively located in the fill pipe inlet. The nozzle is inserted through a seal which prevents the escape of vapor from the fill pipe. A float valve in the tank closes the passage to the refueling canister when the tank is filled and the consequent pressure increase will normally actuate the conventional nozzle shutoff mechanism. Emergency devices in the system will sound an audible signal if the nozzle shutoff malfunctions and will dump fuel from the filler pipe if manual shutoff of the nozzle does not occur in response to the audible signal. The system includes further internal pressure and flow regulating devices.

On board refueling vapor recovery system

An onboard fuel vapor recovery system for a motor vehicle includes a pressure responsive valve mounted directly on the vehicle fuel tank to control the flow of fuel vapor from the tank to a vapor storage canister both during normal operation of the vehicle and during a vehicle refueling operation. A pressure responsive diaphragm in the tank mounted valve opens a substantially unrestricted vapor flow passage from the head space of the tank to the canister when the head space pressure slightly exceeds atmospheric pressure. A separate passage in the tank valve equalizes pressure in the tank head space upon the withdrawal of fuel. A float valve responsive to the level of fuel within the tank seals the vapor passage from the tank head space when the tank is filled with fuel and further incorporates an emergency tank pressure relief valve operable in the event of overfilling of the tank.

Growing community of inventors

Oregon, OH, United States of America

Loren H Kline