Fluid handling – Processes – Cleaning – repairing – or assembling
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-07
2001-04-03
Michalsky, Gerald A. (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
Processes
Cleaning, repairing, or assembling
C137S596170, C137S596200, C137S625650
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209563
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an engine oil solenoid control valve for controlling oil pressure for valve lifter activation/deactivation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Internal combustion engines for motor vehicles are known which include a hydraulic system for performing work in addition to lubrication. This work can be used to activate/deactivate cylinders of an internal combustion engine to conserve fuel. Such a hydraulic valve lifter activation/deactivation system can include a hydraulic control valve in a valve housing mechanically connected to a separate solenoid. The solenoid includes a solenoid coil bobbin on which a wire coil is wound and an armature that moves the control valve in response to an input signal (coil electrical current signal) to the wire coil to control hydraulic pressure in the valve lifter oil control gallery. A separate check valve assembly is mounted in a fluid exhaust passage (vent-to-sump) in the engine block or cylinder head and functions to maintain oil pressure in the oil control gallery at a preselected minimum value. Such engine oil control solenoids comprise numerous components which must be assembled together and are known to suffer from hydraulic fluid (oil) leakage through various paths around the solenoid housing.
An object of the present invention is to provide an engine oil solenoid control valve that is simpler and less costly to make and less prone to hydraulic fluid leakage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a hydraulic fluid solenoid control valve, such as in one embodiment, an engine oil solenoid control valve including a molded one-piece valve nozzle and bobbin member that defines a valve nozzle region and a coil bobbin region of the solenoid and in addition an integral check valve-receiving receptacle associated with an exhaust port of the control valve.
In a particular embodiment of the invention, the molded one-piece member may further define first and second valve seats for controlling valve stroke and a ball valve disposed between the valve seats. A cylindrical armature rod can be used in an embodiment of the present invention that includes molded integral coil bobbin flutes or recesses disposed in a manner that permits balancing of hydraulic pressure on the armature in a bore of the coil bobbin to prevent a hydraulic lock condition. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description taken with the accompanying following drawings.
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Najmolhoda Hamid
Seid David L.
Michalsky Gerald A.
Saturn Electronics & Engineering, Inc.
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