Apparatus and method for controlling fluid flow
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electromagnetic actuator, comprising:
- a solenoid coil and an armature housing constructed and arranged to receive a ferromagnetic armature including a distal part, a membrane secured with respect to said armature housing and arranged to enclose at least partially said distal part to seal armature fluid within an armature pocket providing a volume for said armature fluid, wherein displacement of said distal part displaces said membrane with respect to a valve passage controlled by said actuator, an actuator base arranged with a pilot body member and said membrane to provide a valve comprising said valve passage, said valve including a valve seat arranged for contact with said membrane, and an armature port providing a fluid passage to enable flow of said armature fluid between said distal part and a proximal part of said armature thereby enabling rapid linear movement of said armature with respect to said armature housing during opening and closing of said valve passage, wherein said armature fluid is enclosed within said volume during said movement.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An actuator base, bobbin, and pole piece form a pocket for an armature that a flexible membrane encloses to form an armature chamber filled with an incompressible fluid. The membrane protects the armature from exposure to corrosive fluids flowing in a conduit. Conduit flow can be stopped by driving the membrane against a valve seat. Pressure from the controlled fluid in the conduit is transmitted through the membrane to the fluid within the armature chamber so that the armature does not need to counteract force applied to the membrane by the conduit fluid'"'"'s pressure.
205 Citations
32 Claims
-
1. An electromagnetic actuator, comprising:
-
a solenoid coil and an armature housing constructed and arranged to receive a ferromagnetic armature including a distal part, a membrane secured with respect to said armature housing and arranged to enclose at least partially said distal part to seal armature fluid within an armature pocket providing a volume for said armature fluid, wherein displacement of said distal part displaces said membrane with respect to a valve passage controlled by said actuator, an actuator base arranged with a pilot body member and said membrane to provide a valve comprising said valve passage, said valve including a valve seat arranged for contact with said membrane, and an armature port providing a fluid passage to enable flow of said armature fluid between said distal part and a proximal part of said armature thereby enabling rapid linear movement of said armature with respect to said armature housing during opening and closing of said valve passage, wherein said armature fluid is enclosed within said volume during said movement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. An electromagnetic actuator, comprising:
-
a solenoid coil and an armature housing constructed and arranged to receive a ferromagnetic armature including a distal part, a membrane secured with respect to said armature housing and arranged to enclose at least partially said distal part to seal armature fluid within an armature pocket providing a volume for said armature fluid, wherein displacement of said distal part displaces said membrane with respect to a valve passage controlled by said actuator, and an armature port providing a fluid passage to enable flow of said armature fluid between said distal part and a proximal part of said armature thereby enabling rapid linear movement of said armature with respect to said armature housing during opening and closing of said valve passage, wherein said armature fluid is enclosed within said volume during said movement, wherein said distal part of the armature is arranged to compress said membrane against a valve seat when said armature is disposed in its extended armature position, and wherein a ratio that the area of said distal part bears to the area of said membrane exposed to a conduit upstream of the membrane is between 1.4 and 12.3. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
-
28. A method of operating an actuator, comprising the steps of
providing a solenoid coil and an armature housing constructed and arranged to receive an armature including a distal part, providing a membrane secured with respect to said armature housing and arranged to enclose at least partially said distal part to seal armature fluid within an armature pocket providing a volume, wherein displacement of said distal part displaces said membrane with respect to a valve passage controlled by said actuator, providing an armature port enabling a fluid passage to enable flow of said armature fluid between said distal part and a proximal part of said armature, and delivering a drive signal to said solenoid coil to provide opening and closing of said valve passage by linearly displacing said armature, wherein said armature fluid is enclosed within said volume during said opening and closing, wherein said opening and closing includes traversing a known, substantially constant distance between an external surface of said membrane and a valve seat of said valve passage.
-
31. A method of operating an actuator, comprising the steps of
providing a solenoid coil and an armature housing constructed and arranged to receive an armature including a distal part, providing a membrane secured with respect to said armature housing and arranged to enclose at least partially said distal part to seal armature fluid within an armature pocket providing a volume, wherein displacement of said distal part displaces said membrane with respect to a valve passage controlled by said actuator, providing an armature port enabling a fluid passage to enable flow of said armature fluid between said distal part and a proximal part of said armature, receiving a signal from a motion sensor, and delivering a drive signal to said solenoid coil to provide opening and closing of said valve passage by linearly displacing said armature, wherein said armature fluid is enclosed within said volume during said opening and closing.
-
32. A method of operating an actuator, comprising the steps of
providing a solenoid coil and an armature housing constructed and arranged to receive an armature including a distal part, providing a membrane secured with respect to said armature housing and arranged to enclose at least partially said distal part to seal armature fluid within an armature pocket providing a volume, wherein displacement of said distal part displaces said membrane with respect to a valve passage controlled by said actuator, providing an armature port enabling a fluid passage to enable flow of said armature fluid between said distal part and a proximal part of said armature, receiving a signal from a presence sensor, and delivering a drive signal to said solenoid coil to provide opening and closing of said valve passage by linearly displacing said armature, wherein said armature fluid is enclosed within said volume during said opening and closing.
Specification