Solenoid-operated valve actuating controller

• US 7,813,101 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2006
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Morikawa, Fumio
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman; Jared J
• Assistant Examiner(s): CLARK, CHRISTOPHER JAY
• Application Number:
  US11/458,148
• Publication Number:
  US 20070019356A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,547 Days
• Field of Search: 361/154, 361/152, 361/153, 361/160
• US Class Current: 361/160
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/0603 Multiple-way valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/0675 Electromagnet aspects, e.g. electric supply therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/1805 Circuit arrangements for holding the operation of electromagnets or for holding the armature in attracted position with reduced energising current for holding relay armature in attracted position with reduced energising current H01H47/04; quick energising of electro-dynamic machines H02P9/08; for quickly de-energising of dynamo-electric generators H02P9/123
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/1811 demagnetising upon switching off, removing residual magnetism

Abstract

A solenoid-operated valve actuating controller actuates a solenoid-operated valve by energizing an actuating coil of the solenoid-operated valve in a rated mode, enough to move a movable member in the actuating coil, during a first period. Further, the actuating coil is energized in a power saving mode, during a second period after the first period. The solenoid-operated valve actuating controller has a timer circuit for setting the first period, an oscillating circuit for energizing the actuating coil in the power saving mode during the second period, and a control circuit for stopping an oscillating operation of the oscillating circuit during the first period based on an output signal from the timer circuit, and for energizing the actuating coil in the rated mode.

Claims

1. A solenoid-operated valve actuating controller for actuating a solenoid-operated valve by energizing an actuating coil of the solenoid-operated valve in a rated mode, at a rated voltage which is high enough to move a movable member in the actuating coil, during a first period from a time when an actuation command signal is initially and repetitively applied to the solenoid-operated valve, and energizing the actuating coil in a power saving mode, in repetitive cycles at a smaller duty ratio than in said rated mode, during a second period after said first period, said solenoid-operated valve actuating controller comprising:

a timer circuit;

an oscillating circuit for energizing the actuating coil in said power saving mode during said second period; and

a control circuit for stopping an oscillating operation of said oscillating circuit during said first period based on an output signal from said timer circuit, and for energizing said actuating coil in said rated mode,

wherein said timer circuit comprises;

a charging circuit having at least a capacitor, for charging from the time when said actuation command signal is initially applied to the solenoid-operated valve; and

a Schmitt trigger type first comparing circuit having one first input terminal to which a charged voltage in said charging circuit is applied, and for supplying said control circuit with a stop signal for stopping the oscillating operation of said oscillating circuit, until said charged voltage applied to said first input terminal reaches a rated voltage; and

a discharging diode for discharging through said discharging diode electric charges stored in said capacitor, at a time when application of said actuation command signal to the solenoid-operated valve is ended,

wherein said oscillating circuit comprises;

a Schmitt trigger type second comparing circuit having one second input terminal;

a capacitor connected to said second input terminal of said second comparing circuit;

a discharging first resistor connected between said input terminal and an output terminal of the second comparing circuit; and

a series-connected circuit including a charging second resistor and a diode, said series-connected circuit being connected between said input terminal and said output terminal of said second comparing circuit; and

wherein said control circuit comprises a transistor circuit, which applies a fixed voltage to said second input terminal of said second comparing circuit and stops the oscillating operation of said oscillating circuit by performing an ON operation during a period in which said stop signal is supplied, and further which stops the application of said fixed voltage to said second input terminal of said second comparing circuit and causes the oscillating operation of said oscillating circuit to be carried out by performing an OFF operation during a period in which the actuation command signal is applied and during which said stop signal is not applied.

2. A solenoid-operated valve actuating controller according to claim 1, further comprising:

a switching device for energizing said actuating coil, wherein said oscillating circuit outputs intermittent pulses for energizing said actuating coil to said switching device during said second period in said power saving mode, and wherein said control circuit controls outputting of a pulse for energizing said actuating coil to said switching device during said first period in said rated mode.

3. A solenoid-operated valve actuating controller according to claim 1, wherein said first period comprises a combined period made up from a combination of the period in which said stop signal is supplied, and a period, from stoppage of the period in which said stop signal is applied, and until the voltage applied to said second input terminal of said second comparing circuit reaches a threshold value voltage from said fixed voltage.