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Adjustable solenoid

  • US 7,315,230 B2
  • Filed: 08/19/2004
  • Issued: 01/01/2008
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2004
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A solenoid actuator comprising:

  • a solenoid defining a plunger bore; and

    a plunger comprising a stem and an armature, the armature including an axial armature bore, the stem engaged with the armature bore and adapted for advancement of the armature along at least a portion of the stem, the plunger comprising a plunger first end and a plunger second end, the stem comprising a head, a tail opposite the head, and a body therebetween, the body comprising an elongated member having a stem threaded portion, the tail including a tail retention element, the armature comprising a cylindrical member adapted for sliding reception within the plunger bore, the armature comprising an armature first end and an armature second end opposite the armature first end, the armature comprising a material highly permeable to a magnetic field, wherein the solenoid comprises;

    a coil including a long insulated wire wound with a helical pattern defining the plunger bore about an axis;

    a housing defining a cavity adapted to house the coil, the housing including a housing first end and a housing second end opposite the housing first end, the housing first end comprising an inwardly extending coil retention flange defining a housing aperture substantially coaxial with the plunger bore;

    a back stop disposed in and adapted to enclose the housing second end and retain the coil within the housing, the back stop comprising a back stop outer flange, a back stop inner flange, and a back stop seat, the back stop outer flange adapted to be slidingly received within the cavity and couple with the housing second end, the back stop inner flange defining a back stop aperture substantially coaxial with the plunger bore, the back stop seat adapted to extend into the plunger bore; and

    a spring comprising a wire formed into a helical configuration, wherein the armature second end further comprises a spring seat adjacent the armature bore, the spring seat adapted to accept an end of the spring, the plunger second end extending into the plunger bore through the housing aperture, the plunger first end extending out of the plunger bore through the housing aperture, the spring disposed within the plunger bore between the back stop inner flange and the spring seat of the armature, the back stop adapted to prevent the armature from passing through the housing second end, the back stop adapted to allow the tail to pass through the housing second end, the spring adapted to provide an urging bias acting to urge the armature away from the back stop, the plunger disposed within the plunger bore with at least a portion of the tail including the tail retention element extending from the plunger bore and through the back stop aperture, the plunger retained in engagement with the solenoid by the engagement of a fastener coupled to the tail retention element, the fastener adapted to capture the back stop inner flange between the armature and the fastener.

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