Solenoid operated valve

An improved pin actuated valve wherein the pins are split to separate the actuation function from the alignment function of the pins.

This invention relates to an improved solenoid operated valve. 
It is an object of this invention to improve the operating efficiency and 
speed of solenoid operated valves. 
It is an object of this invention to simplify the construction of the 
solenoid operated valves.

The electrically operated solenoid valve is disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2. 
This disclosed valve has a solenoid section 100, a plunger 101, a magnetic 
stop 102, a pressure insert 103, an exhaust section 104 and a valve 
mechanism 105. The particular valve shown is designed to operate as a 
plug-in valve in cooperation with a manifold 106 (shown is dotted lines in 
FIG. 1). 
The solenoid section 100 of the disclosed valve includes a body 107, a 
solenoid coil 108, a solenoid bobbin 109, a flux ring 110, a plunger guide 
111, and an end cap 112. The solenoid coil 108 is wound onto the solenoid 
bobbin 109. It is sealed by seal 113. A small unsymmetrical space 114 
allows for the proper electrical termination, in this case wires 115. The 
solenoid coil 108-bobbin 109 assembly is within the body 107 of the 
solenoid section 100. The magnetic flux ring 110 is located on top of the 
solenoid coil 108-bobbin 109 assembly. A small cutout 116 allows the wires 
115 to pass through the flux ring 110. The plunger guide 111 extends 
upwards through the body 107 of the solenoid section 100, the solenoid 
coil 108-bobbin 109 assembly and the flux ring 110. An O-ring 117 prevents 
leakage between the plunger guide 111 and the body 107 of the solenoid 
section 100. An end cap 118 seals the end of the plunger guide 111. The 
open end of the body 107 of the solenoid section 100 is sealed with an 
epoxy resin (end cap 112). The solenoid section 100 is thus encapsulated 
into a single fluid tight unit. The solenoid coil 108 is protected from 
all contaminants and fluid leakage. 
The magnetic stop 102 is located within the plunger guide 111 of the 
solenoid section 100. The magnetic stop 102 confines the plunger 101 into 
a small space next to the end cap 118 of the plunger guide 111. The 
plunger 101 is free to move axially of itself upon energization of the 
surrounding solenoid coil 108. Two opposing square channels 119,120 are 
cut into the sides of the magnetic stop 102. These square channels 119,120 
are a little oversize for the actuating pins 121,122 they receive. The 
pins 121,122 extend a little below the bottom of the magnetic stop 102 for 
connection to the valve mechanism 105. Fluid is free to travel throughout 
the interior of the plunger guide 111 to cool the plunger 101 and the 
magnetic stop 102. 
The pressure insert 103 of the valve includes a body 123, a surrounding 
inlet channel 124, a valve disc cavity 125, a valve opening 126 and 
radially extending passages 127. The pressure insert 103 fits partially 
into a complementary cavity 128 in the body 107 of the solenoid section 
100. A small pin aligns the pieces. A 360.degree. lip 129 extending from 
the body 107 of the solenoid section 100 is formed to retain the pressure 
insert 103 in place. (The pressure insert 103 itself in turn retains the 
magnetic stop 102 in place.) Two through holes 130,131 in the body 123 of 
the pressure insert 103 line up with the two channels 119,120 in the 
magnetic stop 102. The actuating pins 121,122 extend into these holes 
130,131. Note that the top part of the through holes 130,131 are of a 
larger diameter than the lower part of the through holes 130,131. The 
inlet channel 124 of the pressure insert 103 is in constant communication 
with an inlet pressure passage 132 of the manifold 106. An O-ring 133 
prevents inlet fluid leakage between the body 107 of the solenoid section 
100 and the manifold 106. A second O-ring 134 prevents inlet fluid 
leakages to the exhaust area (to be later described). The three radially 
extending passages 127 transfer the fluid from this channel 124 to the 
valve opening 126 in the valve disc cavity 125. 
The exhaust section 104 of the valve includes a body 135, a valve opening 
136, a cavity 137, a surrounding exhaust channel 138, radially extending 
passages 139 and a pilot passage 140. The pressure insert 103 fits 
partially into the cavity 137 in the exhaust section 104. A second 
360.degree. lip 141 extending from the exhaust section 104 is formed to 
retain the exhaust section 104 in place in respect to the pressure insert 
103. The exhaust channel 138 of the exhaust section 104 is in constant 
communication with an exhaust passage 142 of the manifold 106. An O-ring 
143 prevents exhaust fluid leakage to the pilot area (to be later 
described). Three radially extending passages 139 transfer fluid from the 
valve opening 136 to the exhaust channel 138 (and the exhaust passage 
142). The pilot passage 140 extends through the body 135 of the exhaust 
section 104 to connect the valve cavity 125 to the pilot passage 144 in 
the manifold 106. (To facilitate manufacture of the valve, a hole 145 is 
made in the exhaust section 104. This hole 145 is later plugged by a press 
fit ball 146.) 
The valve mechanism 105 of the valve includes a two-legged spider 147, a 
spring guide washer 148, a valve seal 149 and a spring 150. The legs of 
the spider 147 are preferably brazed to the body of the spider. In a 
variation the legs would be unattached to the spider. The valve mechanism 
105 is located within the valve disc cavity 125 with the legs of the 
spider 147 extending into the holes 130,131 in the pressure insert 103. 
The holes 130,131 are a little larger diameter than the legs of the spider 
147. The holes 130,131 and legs combine to guide the valve mechanism 105. 
The spring 105 extends between the exhaust section 104 and the spring 
guide washer 148. Due to the diameter of the uplifted part 151 of the 
exhaust section 104 (surrounding the valve opening 136) the bottom of the 
spring 150 does not shift. A corresponding groove 152 locates the spring 
150 in respect to the spring guide washer 148. The valve seal 149 is 
trapped between the spider 147 and the spring guide washer 148. (The 
spider 147 and the spring guide washer 148 are normally fastened together 
so that the spider 147, seal 149 and the washer 148 act as a single unit.) 
In the unattached leg variation the spring 150 locates the seal 149 in 
respect to the rest of the valve. 
The disclosed valve is shown as a normally closed valve (inlet pressure 
shut-off): the valve seal 149 closes the valve opening 126. Fluid (if any) 
travels through the valve between the pilot 144 and exhaust 142. Due to 
the tight fit of the legs of the spider 147 into holes 130,131 of the 
pressure insert 123 the seal 149 does not shift or vibrate because of this 
fluid flow. The pressure of the spring 150 retains the valve seal 149 
against the valve opening 126. 
Upon energization of the solenoid coil 108 the plunger 101 is pulled down 
to the magnetic stop 102. The pins 121,122 pass this force to the legs of 
the spider 147. This causes the valve mechanism 105 to move downward 
against the pressure of spring 150 to open the valve opening 126 and close 
the valve opening 136. Due to the separation of the legs of the spider 147 
from the pins 121, 122 the valve mechanism 105 moves like a piston without 
binding; any misalignment between the holes 130,131 in the pressure insert 
and the channels 119,120 in the magnetic stop 102 are compensated for. Due 
to the tight fit of the legs of the spider into holes 130,131 the valve 
mechanism does not vibrate due to the flow of fluid between the inlet 132 
and pilot 144 areas. 
Upon de-energization of the solenoid coil 108, the pressure of the spring 
150 returns the valve mechanism 105 to its initial resting position 
(closing valve opening 126). 
The valve is then ready for energization again. 
The separation of the actuating pins 121,122 from the legs of the spider 
147 allows one to maximize the operating efficiency/performance of the 
valve and minimize the potential problems. The legs of the spider 147 can 
be fitted with the holes 130,131 in the pressure insert 103 without 
worrying about misalignment binding. The actuating pins 121,122 serve only 
to longitudinally pass the actuation forces from the plunger 101 to the 
spider 147. The actuating pins 121,122 have clearance to move radially 
(clearance which is present about the legs of the spider 147 would 
compromise performance). 
Although this invention has been described with some certainty it is 
recognized that numerous changes can be made without deviating from the 
invention as hereinafter claimed.