Patent ID: 6220275
Filing Date: 2001-04-24
Classification: F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
In a solenoid valve having a movable valve member operated by a solenoid actuator having an armature movably received in an armature chamber and a magnetic pole piece positioned therein, said chamber being communicated by an annular passage surrounding said armature with an outlet of the valve to admit a fluid at said outlet to flow into said chamber, a drain passage extending from said chamber to communicate the chamber with the outside valve, the improvement wherein at least a portion of said solenoid actuator includes non-magnetizable means for preventing ferrous particles from accessing said armature, and said drain passage is arranged to open into said armature chamber at a location radially outwardly offset from the axis of the chamber so that a flow of fluid with ferrous material having a velocity and flowing from said annular passage into said chamber is directed along an outer region of the chamber toward said drain passage without passing the central region of the chamber and without substantially loosing the velocity thereof whereby a magnetic gap of the solenoid actuator is self-cleaned each time the solenoid valve is opened.