Electromagnetic apparatus and method for controlling fluid flow
First Claim
1. An electromagnetic actuator, comprising:
- a ferromagnetic armature including a distal part and a proximal part;
said distal part of the armature being cooperatively arranged with a pliable member;
a solenoid coil and an armature housing constructed and arranged to receive in an armature chamber said armature movable within said armature housing between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein said distal part of the armature is arranged to compress said pliable member against a valve seat when closing a valve passage while said armature is disposed in said extended position;
a fluid passage included in said ferromagnetic armature and constructed to enable force-balancing fluid displaced between said proximal part and said distal part by movement of said ferromagnetic armature;
a control circuit constructed to apply a coil drive current to said solenoid coil and thereby cause a linear displacement of said armature respect to a valve passage controlled by said actuator, orientation of said coil drive determining movement of said linear displacement of said movable armature toward an open position of said valve passage or a closed position of said valve passage; and
a radial magnet arranged to provide two magnetic flux paths extending together over a length of said armature and designed to maintain said armature stationary in both said open position and said closed position by a force of a magnetic field without application of said coil drive current.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An actuator including actuator base, bobbin, and pole piece forming a pocket for a ferromagnetic armature located therein. The actuator including a radial magnet and a solenoid coil constructed and arranged to cause a linear displacement of the armature upon application of a coil drive current from a control circuit. The actuator may include a flexible membrane that partially encloses the armature to form an armature chamber filled with an incompressible fluid. In a valve design, a fluid flow is 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. A fluid flow is opened by driving the membrane away from the valve seat.
-
Citations
36 Claims
-
1. An electromagnetic actuator, comprising:
-
a ferromagnetic armature including a distal part and a proximal part;
said distal part of the armature being cooperatively arranged with a pliable member;a solenoid coil and an armature housing constructed and arranged to receive in an armature chamber said armature movable within said armature housing between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein said distal part of the armature is arranged to compress said pliable member against a valve seat when closing a valve passage while said armature is disposed in said extended position; a fluid passage included in said ferromagnetic armature and constructed to enable force-balancing fluid displaced between said proximal part and said distal part by movement of said ferromagnetic armature; a control circuit constructed to apply a coil drive current to said solenoid coil and thereby cause a linear displacement of said armature respect to a valve passage controlled by said actuator, orientation of said coil drive determining movement of said linear displacement of said movable armature toward an open position of said valve passage or a closed position of said valve passage; and a radial magnet arranged to provide two magnetic flux paths extending together over a length of said armature and designed to maintain said armature stationary in both said open position and said closed position by a force of a magnetic field without application of said coil drive current. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. An electromagnetic actuator, comprising:
-
a solenoid coil and an armature housing constructed and arranged to form an armature chamber; a ferromagnetic armature including a proximal part and a distal part linearly movable inside said armature chamber; said ferromagnetic armature including a shoulder constructed to provide a magnetic flux path; a radial magnet disposed in a fixed arrangement with respect to said armature housing, said radial magnet having its poles oriented perpendicularly to a direction of said linearly movable ferromagnetic armature; a control circuit constructed to apply a coil drive current to said solenoid coil and thereby cause a linear displacement of said distal part of said ferromagnetic armature with respect to a valve passage controlled by said actuator; a pole piece disposed in a fixed arrangement with respect to said armature housing and located near said proximal part of said linearly movable ferromagnetic armature; and said radial magnet located with respect to said shoulder and said armature housing being constructed to provide two magnetic flux paths extending from said proximal part to said distal part, and said armature, said shoulder, said armature housing and said pole piece being constructed and assembled to provide a magnetic flux path between the poles of said radial magnet to maintain said armature in a stationary position, when in said retracted state or said extended state, by a force of a magnetic field without application of said coil drive current. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
-
-
33. An electromagnetic actuator, comprising:
-
a solenoid coil and an armature housing constructed and arranged to form an armature chamber; a ferromagnetic armature including a proximal part and a distal part linearly movable inside said armature chamber; said ferromagnetic armature including a shoulder constructed to provide a magnetic flux path; a radial magnet disposed in a fixed arrangement with respect to said armature housing; a control circuit constructed to apply a coil drive current to said solenoid coil and thereby cause a linear displacement of said distal part of said ferromagnetic armature with respect to a valve passage controlled by said actuator; a pole piece disposed in a fixed arrangement with respect to said armature housing and located near said proximal part of said ferromagnetic armature; said radial magnet located with respect to said shoulder and said armature housing being constructed to provide two magnetic flux paths extending from said distal part to said proximal part and said pole piece, and said armature, said shoulder, said armature housing and said pole piece being constructed and assembled to provide a magnetic flux path between the poles of said radial magnet to maintain said armature in a stationary position, when in said retracted state or said extended state, by a force of a magnetic field without application of said coil drive current; and a cavity disposed inside said ferromagnetic armature constructed to receive a bias spring positioned and arranged to bias said armature toward its extended state. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
-
Specification