Vacuum actuator for vehicle speed control

• US 4,799,418 A
• Filed: 08/21/1987
• Issued: 01/24/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsuba Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsuba Electric Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Nishiyama, Toshio, Takahashi, Yoshikazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Look, Edward K.
• Application Number:
  US07/087,704
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 91/418, 91/443, 91/449, 91/454, 91/457, 91/459, 180/175, 180/176, 180/177, 137/315, 137/454.6, 137/15, 251/367, 251/129.15, 439/64, 439/76, 439/716, 439/377, 439/378, 439/374
• US Class Current: 91/449
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 13/044 operated by electrically-controlled means, e.g. solenoids, torque-motors
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 15/1433 End caps F15B15/1438 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 15/149 Fluid interconnections, e.g. fluid connectors, passages
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 15/202 Externally-operated valves mounted in or on the actuator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/599 Pressure regulating type valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7668 Retained by bonnet or closure

Abstract

Disclosed is a pressure actuator such as a vacuum actuator comprising a valve unit including a plurality of solenoid valves and a diaphragm unit including a diaphragm defining a pressure chamber, air pressure within the pressure chamber being adjusted by selective activation of the solenoid valves which communicate the pressure chamber with pressure sources of different pressure levels, in which a casing of the actuator defines an accommodating chamber for accommodating the solenoid valve unit and a wall surface of the chamber is provided with ribs for guiding and positioning the solenoid valve unit inside the chamber. The ribs may be adapted to make a sliding contact with a side surface of the yokes of the solenoid valves and a smooth surface a printed circuit board which is attached to the solenoid valve unit. Alternatively or additionally, the ribs may be adapted to be fitted into a gap between a pair of adjacent yokes of the solenoid valves. These ribs facilitate the assembly of the solenoid valve unit into the casing, assure the mechanical stability of the actuator and remove the possibility of creating particles as a result of abrasion between the solenoid valve unit and the casing at the time of assembly.

Claims

1. A pressure actuator comprising:

a solenoid valve unit incluidng a plurality of solenoid valves;

a diaphragm unit including a diaphragm defining a pressure chamber, air pressure within the pressure chamber being adjusted by selective activation of the solenoid valves which provide communication between the pressure chamber and pressure sources of different pressure levels;

a casing of the actuator defining an accommodating chamber for accommodating the solenoid valve unit, a wall surface of the accommodating chamber being provided with a rib for guiding and positioning the solenoid valve unit inside the accommodating chamber, the rib being disposed in a bottom wall of the accommodating chamber and adapted to be fitted into a gap between a pair of adjacent yokes of the solenoid valves; and

a port member provided in the front end of said solenoid valve unit, said port member adapted to be fitted into a hole provided in the bottom wall of the accommodating chamber of said casing, said hole provided with seal means to effect a seal between said port member and the hole, the fitting of said port member with the hole being facilitated by providing a tapering surface on at least a cooperating surface of said port member or the hole.

2. A pressure actuator as defined in claim 1, wherein the rib extends along a direction in which the solenoid valve unit is fitted into the accommodating chamber.

3. A pressure actuator as defined in claim 2, wherein the rib is adapted to contact a side surface of a yoke of one of the solenoid valves.

4. A pressure actuator as defined in claim 2, wherein the rib is adapted to contact a smooth surface of a printed circuit board which is attached to the solenoid valve unit