Valves and valve actuation – With restrictor in parallel to main valve
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-17
2001-03-13
Shaver, Kevin (Department: 3754)
Valves and valve actuation
With restrictor in parallel to main valve
C251S129070, C251S129150, C251S344000, C335S279000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06199823
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to solenoid actuated valves, and more particularly, to solenoid actuated valves including an external sleeve armature.
Spool valves are commonly used for controlling the delivery of fluid, particularly in applications requiring a relatively fast operating time. Spool valves are solenoid operated valves which include a valve spool located within a valve body and movable relative to the valve body between fluid flow permitting and fluid flow preventing positions. The valve spool determines flow paths and as such dictates the size of the valve ports. Because the valve spool is located within the valve body, the outer diameter of the valve spool has to be smaller than the inner diameter of the valve body.
Many fluid flow control applications require rapid shifting movement of the valve spool. One factor in determining the operating time of a direct acting solenoid operated valve is the magnetic force produced by the solenoid. Because the magnetic force is proportional to the cross-sectional areas of coextensive portions of the valve spool and the pole member, when the valve spool is small in size, the magnetic force is also small with the spool acting as an armature. Another factor in determining the operating time of a solenoid operated valve is the mass of the movable valve member, such as a valve spool. The larger the mass of the valve spool, the greater the magnetic force must be to accelerate the valve spool in the desired direction.
One application of spool valves is in the field of inflatable safety restraints for occupants of a vehicle for reducing the possibility of injury to such occupants during a crash. Typical inflatable restraint systems include an inflatable restraint, a source of pressurized gas, and a control mechanism. The control mechanism couples the inflatable restraint to the source of pressurized gas to rapidly inflate the inflatable restraint with the pressurized gas if the vehicle is subjected to a high rate of acceleration or deceleration, as may be caused by a crash, for example.
Many inflatable restraint systems use mechanical or pyrotechnic systems to control inflation of the inflatable restraint. This is partly attributable to the relatively slow response time of known electronically controlled valves. In some valves, mechanical springs are used to bias the valve to its closed position. The force of the spring bias must be overcome to allow the valve to be operated to its open condition. However, the use of spring bias increases the response time for the valve. In addition, the use of a bias spring to move the valve member to one of its positions results in less control, particularly when a shuttling type of operation is desired.
Moreover, the use of a conventional spool valve in inflatable restraint systems can be detrimental because of the small size of the valve spool. In applications such as inflatable restraint systems, particulate matter flows through the valve during operation. The spool bore inlets or outlets can become clogged with the particulate matter during operation of the valve, affecting the distribution pattern for the high pressure fluid being supplied to the inflatable restraint by the valve.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a solenoid actuated valve for controlling the delivery of a fluid. The solenoid actuated valve comprises a valve body, the valve body having a valve inlet adapted for communication with a source of fluid and at least one valve outlet. At least one solenoid coil is mounted on the valve body; and a sleeve armature is slidably mounted on the exterior of the valve body for controlling fluid flow through the valve outlet. The sleeve armature forms at least a portion of an exterior side wall of the valve. The sleeve armature is disposed in an overlying relationship with the valve outlet and with at least a portion of the solenoid coil. The solenoid coil is energizable to produce magnetic flux for moving the sleeve armature axially relative to the valve body and the valve outlet between first position and second positions. The sleeve armature forms a portion of a magnetic flux path for magnetic flux produced by the solenoid coil. The sleeve armature substantially prevents fluid flow through the valve outlet when the sleeve armature is in a first one of the positions. Fluid flow through the valve outlet is permitted when the sleeve armature is moved away from the first position.
Further in accordance with the invention, there is provided a solenoid actuated valve for controlling the delivery of a fluid which comprises a cylindrical valve body having a valve inlet and a plurality of valve outlets, the valve inlet being adapted for communication with a source of fluid. The valve body has a portion of reduced diameter defining a shoulder near one end of the valve body. At least one solenoid coil is mounted on the valve body, the solenoid coil being located on the shoulder. A generally tubular sleeve armature is slidably disposed on the exterior of the valve body for axial movement between a fluid flow preventing position and a fluid flow permitting position. At least a portion of the sleeve armature overlying the solenoid coil. The valve body and the sleeve armature are configured and arranged to define fluid flow diverters in fluid flow paths through the valve outlets for providing substantially balanced fluid flow through the valve outlets. The solenoid coil is energizable for causing the sleeve armature to move axially relative to the valve body from one of the positions toward the other one of the positions.
Further in accordance with the invention, there is provided a solenoid actuated valve for controlling the delivery of a pressurized fluid, which comprises a valve body having an inlet adapted for communication with a source of fluid and at least one valve outlet. A first solenoid coil is mounted on the valve body and a second solenoid coil is mounted on the valve body spaced apart from the first solenoid coil. A sleeve armature is axially slidably mounted on the exterior of the valve body in overlying relation with the valve outlet for movement relative to the valve outlet between a flow preventing and flow permitting positions. The first solenoid coil is energizable for causing the sleeve armature to be moved from the flow preventing position toward the flow permitting position. The second solenoid coil is energizable for causing the sleeve armature to be moved from the flow permitting position toward the flow preventing position.
In one embodiment, the solenoid actuated fluid flow control valve is described with reference to an application for inflating inflatable restraints for an occupant of a vehicle and the like. However, the solenoid actuated fluid flow control valve can be used in any application, and in particular, in applications which require the control of flow rates to a utilization device or to a space.
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Dahlgren Derek A.
Stobbs Thomas J.
Ward James R.
Keasel Eric
Reinhart, Boerner, Van Deuren, Norris & Rieselbach, s.c.
Shaver Kevin
TLX Technologies
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