Solenoid valve for fluid flow

• US 7,163,188 B1
• Filed: 07/30/2004
• Issued: 01/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Copeland Comfort Control LP (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Inventors: Sisk, Gregory E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bastianelli; John
• Application Number:
  US10/903,919
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 251/129.19, 251 3002- 3004, 251/284
• US Class Current: 251/129.19
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/0655 Lift valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/0689 Braking of the valve element

Abstract

A solenoid valve is provided that comprises a valve body having an inlet and an outlet, and a movable member for moving a valve element away from a valve seat to open the valve. The moveable member engages and moves the valve element away from the seat to an open position when the solenoid is actuated. When the solenoid is not actuated, a biasing spring moves the moveable member to disengage from the valve element, which returns to a closed position. The moveable member does not transfer any impact force to the valve element on closure of the valve member, so that the valve may be operated a significant number of cycles without failure.

Claims

1. A solenoid operated valve comprising:

an inlet;

an outlet;

a valve seat in the flow path between the inlet and outlet;

a valve member having an end with a chamber opening therein and an engagement member;

a stop positioned above the valve seat for engaging the valve member;

a spring for biasing the valve member against the stop;

a solenoid for moving the valve member against the bias of the spring away from the stop;

a valve element that is movable relative to the valve member, the valve element having a shoulder that is received within the chamber opening and retained by the engagement member on the valve member; and

a spring resiliently biasing the valve element into sealing engagement with the valve seat when the valve member is in its stopped position, whereby activation of the solenoid moves the valve member away from the stop and subsequently causes the engagement member on the valve member to engage the shoulder on the valve element and move the valve element away from the valve seat.

2. The solenoid operated valve according to claim 1 wherein the valve has a front face, and wherein the inlet and the outlet are located in the front face.

3. The solenoid operated valve according to claim 2 wherein the inlet comprises at least one opening, and wherein the outlet comprises a plurality of openings surrounding the at least one opening comprising the inlet.

4. The solenoid operated valve according to claim 2 wherein the outlet comprises at least one opening, and wherein the inlet comprises a plurality of openings surrounding the at least one opening comprising the outlet.

5. The solenoid operated valve according to claim 1 wherein the valve element comprises a polymeric material.

6. The solenoid operated valve according to claim 1 wherein the valve element comprises a fluorinated hydrocarbon polymer.

7. The solenoid operated valve according to claim 1 wherein the valve member comprises a chamber, and wherein the valve element is mounted within the chamber, and engages the valve seat before the valve member engages the stop.

8. The solenoid operated valve according to claim 1 wherein the valve element has a shoulder thereon, and wherein the valve member has a lip that engages and retains the valve element.

9. A solenoid operated valve comprising:

an inlet;

an outlet;

a valve seat in the flow path between the inlet and the outlet;

a valve member that is movable relative to the valve member, the valve element having an end that includes a chamber opening therein and an engagement member;

a stop above the valve seat;

a spring for resiliently biasing the valve member to a closed position adjacent the stop;

a valve element reciprocally mounted in the valve member, the valve element having a shoulder that is received within the chamber opening and retained by the engagement member on the valve member, and a spring resiliently biasing the valve element to project from the valve member to sealingly engage the valve seat when the valve member is in its closed position; and

a solenoid for moving the valve member from its closed position adjacent the stop to an open position away from the stop, whereby activation of the solenoid moves the valve member away from the stop and subsequently causes the engagement member on the valve member to engage the shoulder on the valve element and move the valve element away from the valve seat.

10. The solenoid operated valve according to claim 9 wherein the valve has a front face, and wherein the inlet and the outlet are located in the front face.

11. The solenoid operated valve according to claim 10 wherein the inlet comprises at least one opening, and wherein the outlet comprises a plurality of openings surrounding the at least one opening comprising the inlet.

12. The solenoid operated valve according to claim 10 wherein the outlet comprises at least one opening, and wherein the inlet comprises a plurality of openings surrounding the at least one opening comprising the outlet.

13. The solenoid operated valve according to claim 9 wherein the valve element comprises a polymeric material.

14. The solenoid operated valve according to claim 9 wherein the valve element comprises a fluorinated hydrocarbon polymer.

15. The solenoid operated valve according to claim 9 wherein the valve member comprises a chamber, and wherein the valve element is mounted within the chamber, and engages the valve seat before the valve member engages the stop.

16. The solenoid operated valve according to claim 9 wherein the valve element has a shoulder thereon, and wherein the valve member has a lip that engages and retains the valve body.

17. A solenoid operated valve comprising:

an inlet;

an outlet;

a valve seat in the flow path between the inlet and the outlet;

a valve member slidably mounted for movement in a direction aligned with, but perpendicular to the plane of the valve seat;

the valve member having a chamber opening and an engagement member in one end, and a shoulder thereon;

a stop above the valve seat for engaging the shoulder on the valve member to restrict movement of the valve member toward the valve seat;

a spring for resiliently biasing the valve member to a closed position in which the shoulder abuts the stop;

a valve element reciprocally mounted in the chamber opening in the valve member and movable relative to the valve member, the valve element having a shoulder that is received within the chamber opening and retained by the engagement member on the valve member, and a spring resiliently biasing the valve element toward the distal end of the valve member to sealingly engage the valve seat when the valve member is in its closed position; and

a solenoid for moving the valve member from its closed position adjacent the stop to an open position away from the stop, whereby activation of the solenoid moves the valve member away from the stop and subsequently causes the engagement member on the valve member to engage the shoulder on the valve element and move the valve element away from the valve seat.

18. The solenoid operated valve according to claim 17 wherein the valve member has a shoulder for engaging a lip on the valve member and limiting movement of the valve element.

19. In a solenoid operated valve of the type having an inlet, an outlet, and valve seat in the flow path between the inlet and the outlet, a valve member resiliently biased toward the valve seat, and a solenoid for moving the valve member against the resilient bias to open and close the valve, the improvement comprising:

a valve element having a shoulder thereon that is received within a chamber opening on the valve member and retained by an engagement member on the valve member, the valve element being movable relative to the valve member for sealingly engaging the valve seat to close the valve;

a stop positioned above the valve seat for engaging the valve member at a closed position; and

a spring for resiliently biasing the valve element against the valve seat when the valve member is in its stopped position, whereby activation of the solenoid moves the valve member away from the stop and subsequently causes the engagement member on the valve member to engage the shoulder on the valve element and move the valve element away from the valve seat.

20. A solenoid operated valve comprising:

an inlet;

an outlet;

a valve seat in the flow path between the inlet and the outlet;

a valve member slidably mounted for movement in a direction aligned with, but perpendicular to the plane of the valve seat;

the valve member having a chamber opening and an engagement member in one end, and a shoulder thereon;

a spring-biased valve element in the chamber on the valve member for engaging and sealing with the seat, the valve element having a shoulder thereon that is retained by the ring portion on the valve member, for captively retaining the valve element to the end of the valve member;

a spring for biasing the valve member and the valve element toward the valve seat;

a stop above the valve seat that engages the shoulder on the valve member to restrict movement of the valve member toward the valve seat after the valve element contacts the seat;

a solenoid for selectively moving the valve member and associated valve element away from the seat, whereby activation of the solenoid moves the valve member away from the stop and subsequently causes the engagement member on the valve member to engage the shoulder on the valve element and move the valve element away from the valve seat.

21. A solenoid-actuated valve comprising:

a valve housing having an inlet and an outlet;

a valve seat in the flow path between the inlet and outlet;

a stop within the valve housing positioned above the valve seat;

a movable member having a shoulder thereon, and an end including a chamber opening therein and a ring portion adjacent the chamber opening, the movable member being biased by a spring towards the valve seat and against the stop;

a valve element movable relative to the movable member, the valve element having a shoulder thereon that is received within the chamber opening and retained by the ring portion on the movable member, for captively retaining the valve element to the end of the movable member;

a spring for biasing the valve element towards the valve seat to cause the valve element to sealingly engage the valve seat when the movable member is against the stop in the valve housing; and

a solenoid for selectively moving the actuator member to an open valve position, whereby activation of the solenoid moves the movable member away from the stop and the valve seat, and subsequently causes the ring portion on the movable member to engage the shoulder on the valve element and move the valve element away from the valve seat to an open valve position.

22. The solenoid-actuated valve of claim 21, wherein the solenoid actuation establishes movement of the moveable member before the moveable member engages the valve element, to provide an impact for moving the valve element away from the valve seat.

23. The solenoid-actuated valve of claim 21, wherein the biasing spring moves the moveable member towards the valve seat in a manner such that the valve element sealingly engages the valve seat and the movable member subsequently disengages from the moveable member before the moveable member engages the stop, so that any impact of the moveable member against the valve element is prevented.

24. The solenoid actuated valve of claim 21, wherein the valve element is mounted within the moveable member in a manner that permits movement of the valve element relative to the moveable member.

25. The solenoid actuated valve of claim 24 wherein the valve element comprises a polymeric material.

26. The solenoid actuated valve of claim 24 wherein the valve element comprises a fluorinated hydrocarbon polymer.

27. The solenoid actuated valve of claim 23 wherein the moveable member comprises a chamber, and wherein the valve element is mounted within the chamber, and engages the valve seat before the moveable member engages the stop.

28. A solenoid-actuated valve comprising

a valve housing having an inlet and an outlet, a valve seat in the flow path between the inlet and the outlet, and a stop within the valve housing positioned above the valve seat;

an actuator member having a shoulder thereon, the actuator member being movable within the valve housing between a position in which the shoulder is engaged against the stop and a position in which the shoulder is spaced above the stop, the actuator member being biased by a spring towards the valve seat and against the stop, wherein the actuator member has an end including a chamber opening therein and an engagement member adjacent the chamber opening;

a valve element movable relative to the actuator member, the valve element having a shoulder thereon that is received within the chamber opening and retained therein by the engagement member on the actuator member, such that the valve element is captively retained to the end of the actuator member; and

a spring for biasing the valve element towards the valve seat to cause the valve element to sealingly engage the valve seat when the shoulder of the actuator member is biased against the stop in the housing; and

a solenoid for selectively moving the actuator member, wherein activation of the solenoid moves the actuator member away from the stop and the valve seat, and causes the engagement member on the actuator member to engage the shoulder on the valve element and move the valve element away from the valve seat to an open valve position.

29. The solenoid-actuated valve of claim 28, where when the solenoid is not activated, the actuator member is against the stop and the actuator member'"'"'s engagement member is sufficiently spaced from the shoulder on the valve element, such that upon activation of the solenoid and movement of the actuator member the engagement member moves towards and impacts the shoulder on the valve element to pull the valve element away from the valve seat.