Patent ID: 6631633
Filing Date: 2003-10-14
Classification: G05D,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for calibrating a solenoid actuator having 1) a wire coil receiving current to produce a magnetic flux, 2) an armature slidably received within the solenoid assembly to move from a rest to an actuated position, and 3) a pole piece magnetically communicating with the coil to provide a flux path to the armature, the method comprising:A) completing assembly of the solenoid actuator; B) after step (A), supplying a predetermined current to a wire coil that is disposed within the solenoid, wherein the armature is drawn towards the pole piece with a actual solenoid output force in response to the current; C) determining a desired solenoid output force corresponding to the predetermined current; D) comparing the desired force to the actual force; and E) if the desired force is not substantially equal to the actual force, varying the size of at least one aperture that is disposed within the pole piece so as to vary the corresponding actual force, wherein the varying step is selected from the group consisting of 1) removing material from the pole piece so as to enlarge the size of the at least one aperture if the actual force is greater than the desired force, and 2) placing an at least one insert within the at least aperture if the desired force is less than the actual force.