The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 25, 2002
Filed:
Feb. 28, 2000
Keith B. Fong, El Paso, TX (US);
Veronica Morales, Cd. Juarez, NM (US);
Jeffrey Alan Heinrichs, Dayton, OH (US);
Javier Gomez, Cd. Juarez Chih., NM (US);
Omar Rocha, Juarez, NM (US);
Delphi Technologies, Inc., Troy, MI (US);
Abstract
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.