Coltec Industries, Inc.

Robert J Telep

Loren H Kline

Harry A Sherwin

William J House

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

A purge valve for controlling the flow of fuel vapor from a vehicle mounted fuel vapor storage canister to the intake manifold of the vehicle engine utilizes a solenoid actuated three-way valve to control the position of a flexible diaphragm of a flow metering valve to meter flow of fuel vapor at continuously variable rates in response to a solenoid actuating duty cycle signal from an electronic control unit. A diaphragm controlled vacuum regulator connected to the intake manifold maintains a flow chamber in the vacuum regulator at a substantially constant subatmospheric pressure into which the metered flow of fuel vapor is passed from a flow chamber of the metering valve at atmospheric pressure. The metering valve diaphragm shifts to adjust the flow rate in response to variations in the pressure differential between its flow chamber and a control chamber at the opposite side of the diaphragm. The metering valve control chamber is connected to the control port of the three-way duty cycle valve which alternately connects the control port to the flow chamber of the metering valve and to the flow chamber of the regulating valve to controllably vary the control chamber pressure in accordance with the duty cycle signal.

Purge valve

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.

Growing community of inventors

Warren, MI, United States of America

Robert J Telep