Retaining element for a mechanical component

• US 20080099705A1
• Filed: 09/19/2007
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Enfield Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Enfield Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Cook, Daniel S., Carter, Blake D.
• Application Number:
  US11/903,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20080099705A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 251/129.01
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 13/0402 for linearly sliding valves, e.g. spool valves
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 13/0446 with moving coil, e.g. voice coil
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/07 with cylindrical slides
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/041 cylindrical slide valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/048 Electromagnetically actuated valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/02 electric F16K31/004 takes precedence; magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/04 using a motor
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/0613 with cylindrical slides
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0041 for measuring valve parameters F16K37/0033 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/1844 Monitoring or fail-safe circuits for relays H01H47/002
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 251/905 Movable coil electrical actuator, e.g. voice coil
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0396 Involving pressure control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2529 With electrical controller
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7761 Electrically actuated valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86614 Electric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86622 Motor-operated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87217 Motor

Abstract

A retaining element which retains a mechanical element within the cavity of a body is described. Specifically, an electronically controlled valve and a motor housing retainer are described. The motor housing retainer comprises a printed circuit board, which may provide a connection to the motor.

Claims

1. A retaining element comprising:

a substrate composed of a dielectric material configured to be affixed over a cavity in a body,

where the affixed substrate prevents a mechanical element from exiting the cavity in the body and further where the affixed substrate provides one or more connection points for electrical connections.

2. The retaining element in claim 1, where the body is a valve body.

3. The retaining element in claim 1, where the mechanical element is a motor housing.

4. The retaining element in claim 1, where the substrate has an opening to allow access to the cavity.

5. The retaining element in claim 1, where the substrate is configured to fit within a recess on the valve body.

6. The retaining element in claim 1, wherein the substrate is a printed circuit board where at least two connectors are connected via a circuit on the printed circuit board.

7. The retaining element in claim 1, wherein a first connector is connected to the mechanical element and a second connector is connected to a cover and further where the first connector and the second connector are electrically connected.

8. The retaining element in claim 7, where the first connector is a Flexible Printed Circuit connector and uses a flat cable to connect to a voice coil.

9. The retaining element in claim 7, where the connection is used for coil current transfer.

10. An electronically controlled valve comprising:

a valve body;

a cavity within the body;

a motor housing within the cavity; and

a motor housing retainer, where the retainer comprises a substrate composed of a dielectric material configured to be affixed over a cavity in a valve body, where the affixed substrate prevents a motor housing from exiting the cavity in the valve body and further where the affixed substrate provides one or more connection points for electrical connections.

11. The electronically controlled valve in claim 10, where the substrate has an opening to allow access to the cavity.

12. The electronically controlled valve in claim 10, where the substrate configured to fit within a recess on the valve body.

13. The electronically controlled valve in claim 10, wherein the substrate is a printed circuit board where at least two connectors are connected via a circuit on the printed circuit board.

14. The electronically controlled valve in claim 13, further comprising a coil header assembly, which includes a voice coil, wherein a first connector is connected to the voice coil and a second connector is connected to a motor housing cover and further where the first connector and the second connector are electrically connected.

15. The electronically controlled valve in claim 14, where the first connector is a Flexible Printed Circuit connector and uses a flat cable to connect to the voice coil.

16. The electronically controlled valve in claim 14, where the connection is used for coil current transfer.

17. A retaining element comprising:

means for preventing a mechanical element from exiting a cavity in a body; and

means for providing one or more electronic connections enabling coil current transfer.

18. The retaining element in claim 17, where the body is a valve body and the mechanical element is a motor housing.

19. The retaining element in claim 17, where a first connection is used to connect to a voice coil and a second connection is used to connect to a connector on a cover and further where the first connector and the second connector are electrically connected.

20. A method, comprising:

providing a valve body;

inserting a spool actuator through an opening into a cavity within the valve body; and

affixing a printed circuit board over the opening, the printed circuit board providing an electrical connection to the spool actuator and also mechanically preventing the spool actuator from passing through the opening.