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:
Mar. 07, 2006
Filed:
Mar. 10, 2004
Raymond A. Vincent, Plymouth, MI (US);
Randall P. Schmitt, Clinton Township, MI (US);
Raymond A. Vincent, Plymouth, MI (US);
Randall P. Schmitt, Clinton Township, MI (US);
Masco Corporation of Indiana, Indianapolis, IN (US);
Abstract
A pilot valve has: an input passageway, an output passageway, a rotatable shaft disposed between them, a permanent magnet affixed to the rotatable shaft, an electromagnet, a control element, and a failsafe magnet. The rotatable shaft has a slot that gives the rotatable shaft a varied cross-section as a function of its position. The slot is disposed to permit fluid to flow between the input passageway and the output passageway except when the rotatable shaft is in a closed position. The electromagnet is disposed to generate first magnetic field that, via the permanent magnet, drives the rotatable shaft away from the closed position. The control element places a PWM current on the electromagnet, such that the length of the duty cycle controls the strength of the first magnetic field. The failsafe magnet is disposed to generate a second magnetic field that drives the rotatable shaft away from the closed position.