Please download the dossier by clicking on the dossier button x
×

Manually-opened and latchable with only residual magnetism, two-way two-position fluid control valve assembly and methods of operation

  • US 20040149947A1
  • Filed: 02/01/2003
  • Published: 08/05/2004
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2003
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A manually-opened and latchable, with only residual magnetism, two-way two-position fluid control valve assembly operable to selectively open and block fluid flow therethrough, comprising:

  • a valve housing defining a first fluid connection port, a second fluid connection port, and a valve port having an effective flow area, a first side, and an opposite second side;

    a movable member positioned within the valve housing and having a first end portion and a second end portion, the movable member extending through the valve port with the first end portion of the movable member extending through the first side of the valve port;

    a valve connected to the movable member between the first and second end portions, the valve located adjacent to the second side of the valve port, the movable member and the valve being selectively movable together to i) an opened position at which the valve opens the valve port to allow fluid communication between the first fluid connection port and the second fluid connection port and ii) a closed position at which the valve blocks the valve port to block fluid communication between the first fluid connection port and the second fluid connection port;

    biasing means for biasing the movable member so that the movable member and the valve are biased to their closed position;

    an electromagnetic actuator including an armature and a pole piece, the armature being selectively movable i) to contact the pole piece and ii) to be spaced away from the pole piece, the armature able to transfer movement to the first end portion of the movable member such that i) the valve is at its opened position when the armature contacts the pole piece and ii) the valve is at its closed position when the armature is spaced away from the pole piece, the electromagnetic actuator being minimized in capacity so that it is incapable of electromagnetically moving the armature towards the pole piece when the armature and the pole piece define an air gap therebetween greater than substantially zero, the electromagnetic actuator operable to selectively i) receive a latching digital pulse of electrical current and thereby latch together, with only residual magnetism, the armature and the pole piece only when the armature and the pole piece are located at zero air gap or substantially zero air gap of each other and ii) receive an unlatching digital pulse of reverse electrical current and thereby permanently cancel at least enough of such residual magnetism to allow the biasing means to move the movable member so that the valve is moved to its closed position while the armature moves away from the pole piece; and

    a manually-operated reset device operable to manually open the valve by moving the armature into contact with the pole piece and then by moving the armature, without lost motion, until there is at least substantially zero air gap between the armature and the pole piece.

View all claims
  • 3 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×