Fema Corporation of Michigan

Rory K Adams

Charles J Bowden

Steven R Pride, Ii

Jeffrey L Huffman

A shielded solenoid for a solenoid operated valve having a solenoid body and an annular coil of electrical wire in the solenoid body. An armature of magnetic material is rectilinearly movable with respect to the body. A magnet holder is fastened to the armature and has a permanent magnet fixedly oriented thereon. A shield member covers the magnet holder and the permanent magnet. The shield member is configured to shield a Hall effect sensor from any significant electromagnetic field produced by the coil when effecting rectilinear movement of the armature. The hollow shield member has a non-metallic plug closing one end thereof. The plug has the Hall effect sensor oriented therein to closely oppose the magnet on the magnet holder so that movement of the armature and resulting corresponding movement of the magnet will cause the Hall effect sensor to produce a signal indicative of movement of the armature.

Proportional solenoid with armature motion sensing

A rectilinear motion solenoid having a housing, an annular coil of electrical wire mounted in the housing and having a central hole therethrough. A first magnetic pole piece is oriented adjacent a first axial end face of the annular coil and a second magnetic pole piece oriented adjacent a second end face of said annular coil. An armature is movably mounted in the central hole. Two substantially linear springs are provided for securing the armature to the housing to effect a frictionless resilient suspension of the armature in the central hole. A closed chamber is filled with a liquid so that a disk movable with the armature is also movable in the chamber. A perimeter of the disk is oriented in close relation to an interior wall surface of the chamber to define a liquid flow restricting gap therebetween and effecting during operation a dynamic dampening of armature movement.

Dynamic dampening in a frictionless solenoid valve

A gas flow control valve for quietly regulating the flow of a gas. The valve includes first and second coaxially oriented elongate tubes of magnetic material and an elongate sleeve of nonmagnetic material coaxially connecting the tubes. An electric coil assembly is disposed around the sleeve. A cover of magnetic material is provided around the coil and is in contact with the tubes. A nozzle opening is disposed within the first tube and has a valve seat encircling the nozzle opening. An elongate armature is axially slidably disposed within the sleeve and the first and second tubes and is moveable between first and second positions. The armature has a first end with an elastomeric seal member which abuts the valve seat when the armature is in the first position thereof to block the flow of gas. The armature further includes a gas flow passageway extending axially to a second end thereof. An elastically yieldable member is provided for continually urging the armature toward the first position thereof. The coil assembly, cover and the tubes are configured to effect a magnetically inspired axial movement of the armature, against the urging of the elastically yieldable member, to the second position and be magnetically stopped thereat, all in response to an electrical energizing of the coil assembly, to draw the first closed end away from the valve seat to a selected spacing to allow a sufficient pressure drop to occur across the spacing and a flow of gas through the valve. The magnetic stop and the elastomeric seal member effect a quiet opening and closing operation of the valve.

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Kalamazoo, MI, United States of America

Rory K Adams