Three-Port Valve

• US 20110240896A1
• Filed: 04/05/2011
• Published: 10/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stoneridge Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Stoneridge Incorporated
• Inventors: Young, Kevin L., Rockwell, James
• Granted Patent: US 8,622,048 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 251/129.15
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 2025/0845 Electromagnetic valves
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/0836 Arrangement of valves controlling the admission of fuel vapour to an engine, e.g. valve being disposed between fuel tank or absorption canister and intake manifold
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/089 Layout of the fuel vapour installation

Abstract

A three-port valve includes a valve body including a first port, a second port, and a third port, the first port having a first valve orifice and the second port having a second valve orifice. The valve may also include a first valve closure member and a second valve closure member, the first and second valve closure members may be configured to selectively seal the first and second valve orifices, respectively. The valve may further include a solenoid including a first coil and a second coil, at least one of the first and second coils configured to actuate at least one of the first and second valve closure members when energized. Additionally, the valve may include an electrical connection configured to selectively and individually energize the first and second coils. The valve may be configured to operate in at least three different states of operation. For example, the three-port valve may have a first state (e.g., a default state) when neither coil is energized, a second state when first coil is energized to move only one of the valve closure members, and a third state when the second coil is energized to move both valve closure members.

Claims

1. A valve comprising:

a valve body comprising a first port, a second port, and a third port, said first port having a first valve orifice and said second port having a second valve orifice;

a first valve closure member and a second valve closure member, said first and second valve closure members configured to selectively seal said first and second valve orifices, respectively;

a solenoid comprising a first coil and a second coil, at least one of said first and second coils configured to actuate at least one of said first and second valve closure members when energized;

an electrical connection configured to selectively and individually energize said first and second coils; and

said valve being configured to operate in at least three different states of operation;

wherein, when said valve is in a first state, neither said first nor said second coil is energized and said first and second valve closure members are in first positions;

wherein, when said valve is in a second state, said first coil is energized and said first valve closure member is in a second position;

wherein, when said valve is in a third state, said second coil is energized and said first valve closure member is in said second position and said second valve closure member is in a second position.

2. The valve of claim 1 wherein, when said valve is in said first state, said first port is configured to fluidly communicate with said third port and said second port is sealed from said third port.

3. The valve of claim 1 wherein, when said valve is in said second state, said first and second ports are sealed from said third port.

4. The valve of claim 1 wherein, when said valve is in said third state, said first port is sealed from said third port and said second port is configured to fluidly communicate with said third port.

5. The valve of claim 1 further comprising:

when said first coil is energized, a first armature configured to engage a plunger, said plunger configured to move said first valve closure member from said first position to said second position; and

when said second coil is energized, a second armature configured to engage a first valve rod, said first valve rod configured to move said first armature to engage said plunger and to move said first and second valve closure members from said first positions to said second positions.

6. The valve of claim 5 wherein, when energized, said first and second coils are configured to provide a first and a second magnetic field, respectively, wherein said first magnetic field is configured to move said first armature and said second magnetic field is configured to move said second armature.

7. The valve of claim 5 further comprising a solenoid seal configured to seal and prevent fluid in said valve body from entering said solenoid, said solenoid seal comprising:

a first rolling diaphragm configured to roll and unroll with respect to said valve body and said solenoid when said plunger moves between said first state and said second and third states; and

a second rolling diaphragm configured to roll and unroll when said plunger moves with respect to said first and second valve rods as said plunger moves between said first state and said second state.

8. An evaporative emission system comprising:

a fuel tank;

an engine;

an evaporation canister;

a primary purge vacuum source;

a secondary purge vacuum source;

an engine management controller; and

a valve comprising;

a first port fluidly coupled to said primary purge vacuum source;

a second port fluidly coupled to said secondary purge vacuum source;

a third port fluidly coupled to said evaporation canister; and

an electrical connection configured to be electrically coupled to and communicate with said engine management controller.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said valve further comprises:

a valve body comprising a first port, a second port, and a third port, said first port having a first valve orifice and said second port having a second valve orifice;

a first valve closure member and a second valve closure member, said first and second valve closure members configured to selectively seal said first and second valve orifices, respectively;

a solenoid comprising a first coil and a second coil, at least one of said first and second coils configured to actuate at least one of said first and second valve closure members when energized;

said electrical connection configured to selectively and individually energize said first and second coils based on signals received from said engine management controller; and

said valve being configured to operate in at least three different states of operation;

wherein, when said valve is in a first state, neither said first nor said second coil is energized and said first and second valve closure members are in first positions;

wherein, when said valve is in a second state, said first coil is energized and said first valve closure member is in a second position.

wherein, when said valve is in a third state, said second coil is energized and said first valve closure member is in said second position and said second valve closure member is in a second position.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein, when said valve is in said first state, said first port is configured to fluidly communicate with said third port and said second port is sealed from said third port.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein, when said valve is in said second state, said first and second ports are sealed from said third port.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein, when said valve is in said third state, said first port is sealed from said third port and said second port is configured to fluidly communicate with said third port.

13. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

when said first coil is energized, a first armature configured to engage a plunger, said plunger configured to move said first valve closure member from said first position to said second position; and

when said second coil is energized, a second armature configured to engage a first valve rod, said first valve rod configured to move said first armature to engage said plunger and to move said first and second valve closure members from said first positions to said second positions.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein, when energized, said first and second coils are configured to provide a first and a second magnetic field, respectively, wherein said first magnetic field is configured to move said first armature and said second magnetic field is configured to move said second armature.

15. A method of operating a valve, said method comprising:

providing a valve comprising;

a valve body comprising a first port, a second port, and a third port, said first port having a first valve orifice and said second port having a second valve orifice;

a first valve closure member and a second valve closure member, said first and second valve closure members configured to selectively seal said first and second valve orifices, respectively;

a solenoid comprising a first coil and a second coil, at least one of said first and second coils configured to actuate at least one of said first and second valve closure members when energized;

an electrical connection configured to selectively and individually energize said first and second coils; and

said valve being configured to operate in at least three different states of operation; and

energizing one of said first and second coils when said valve is in a second and a third state.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein, when said valve is in a first state, neither said first nor said second coil is energized and said first and second valve closure members are in first positions.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein, when said valve is in said first state, said first port is configured to fluidly communicate with said third port and said second port is sealed from said third port.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein, when said valve is in said second state, said first coil is energized and said first valve closure member is in a second position.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein, when said valve is in said second state, said first and second ports are sealed from said third port.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein, when said valve is in said third state, said second coil is energized and said first valve closure member is in a second position and said second valve closure member is in a second position, wherein said first port is sealed from said third port and said second port is configured to fluidly communicate with said third port.