Patent ID: 6047947
Filing Date: 2000-04-11
Classification: F16K,G05D,H01F

Abstract:
A solenoid-controlled valve assembly comprising:a proportional solenoid controller including a housing containing a solenoid coil having a longitudinal axis and a bore coaxial therewith, for producing a magnetic field, said housing containing magnetic material for providing a flux path for said magnetic field, and including a radial projection which projects toward an interior portion of said housing, a magnetic pole piece disposed within and having a protrusion end of a diameter no greater than the diameter of the bore of said solenoid coil, protruding from the bore of said solenoid coil, and a movable armature of magnetic material, supported for axial translation relative to said magnetic pole piece and having a projection portion that contains an interior recess of a diameter slightly larger than an outer diameter of said protrusion end of said magnetic pole piece and forms, with said protrusion end of said magnetic pole piece, a first axial gap therebetween that is sufficiently large to effectively minimize an axial magnetic flux path between said moveable armature and said magnetic pole piece, and wherein a distal end of said projection portion is tapered, and a second, generally cylindrical gap that is radially magnetically coupled with said protrusion end of said magnetic pole piece, and a rim portion that forms a third, generally cylindrical gap that is radially magnetically coupled with said radial projection of said housing, such that, during relative axial translation between said projection portion of said movable armature and said magnetic pole piece, and during relative axial translation between said rim portion of said movable armature and said radial projection of said housing, magnetic flux is directed in a radial direction across said second and third cylindrical gaps, and by-passes said first axial gap; anda valve unit, mechanically coupled with the movable armature of said proportional solenoid controller and being operative to regulate fluid flow between a fluid input port and a fluid exit port.