GB2480100A

GB2480100A - High pressure solenoid valve

Info

Publication number: GB2480100A
Application number: GB1007646A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yin-Hsiang Huang
Original assignee: SHAKO CO Ltd
Current assignee: SHAKO CO Ltd
Priority date: 2010-05-07
Filing date: 2010-05-07
Publication date: 2011-11-09
Anticipated expiration: 2030-05-07
Also published as: GB201007646D0; GB2480100B

Abstract

An armature assembly for a high speed solenoid valve has a demagnetized rod 3 having an electromagnetically-operated exciting element 31 and a cavity 32 formed therein. An armature (4, Fig. 1) is attracted and released by the exciting element 31. A central passage 43 is formed through the armature and a gap G is defined between the demagnetized rod 3 and the armature. When the armature is attracted by the exciting element 31, the gap G is filled with fluid through the central passage 43 so that a balanced pressure is maintained on both ends of the armature. This construction enables the armature to be closer to the exciting element 31, thereby increasing the attracting force. The solenoid valve thus requires less power consumption for the exciting element 31 and uses a more compact return spring 44.

Description

ARMATURE ASSEMBLY OF A HIGH PRESSURE SOLENOID VALVE

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is related to an armature assembly of a high pressure solenoid valve, and more particularly to an armature assembly having balanced pressures on a top and a bottom of an armature inside a tube unit of a high pressure solenoid valve and higher attracting force between the armature and an exciting element.

2. Description of the Related Art

A solenoid valve is an electromagnetic valve for use with liquid or gas. The valve is controlled by an electric current through a solenoid coil to supply gas or liquid with stable pressure or flow rate through an outlet port. Such solenoid valve has a valve body, a tube unit, a solenoid coil, a metal armature, such as steel or iron armature, a spring coil and a diaphragm. The tube unit is mounted on the valve body. The solenoid coil is mounted to one end of the tube unit. The metal armature and the spring coil are mounted inside the tube unit. The diaphragm is mounted on one end of the metal armature. The solenoid coil is magnetized to generate an attracting force to attract the metal armature and compress the spring coil, or is demagnetized to release the metal armature back to an original position by the restoring elastic force of the spring coil. The diaphragm is activated to open or close an inlet port to adjust and control the pressure or flow rate of gas or liquid.

Such fluid control means of the solenoid valve is typical to the industry.

However, for sake of the fluid pressure of the inlet port, the diameter of the spring coil must be increased to overcome the high fluid pressure of the inlet port.

Limited by the size of the solenoid valve and the magnetic attracting force, regular solenoid valves are employed to control fluid having a pressure within a range of 0 50 Bar. Unless the diameter of the tube unit or the size of the solenoid valve is significantly increased, the upper limit of the pressure range of fluid to be controlled can then be higher. This runs counter to miniaturization requirements for the solenoid valve.

Furthermore, to match up to the elastic force of the spring coil for couterbalancing the fluid pressure of the inlet port, the solenoid must have sufficient attracting force to drive the metal armature to move with an expected stroke. If there is a delay in driving the metal armature, the stroke and timing actually done by the solenoid valve might differ from what a control command intends to achieve, deteriorating the control accuracy and reliability of the solenoid valve.

An objective of the present invention is to provide an armature assembly of a high pressure solenoid valve having a balanced pressure on both ends of an armature thereof and higher attracting force between the armature and an exciting element thereof.

To achieve the foregoing objective, the armature assembly of a high pressure solenoid valve has a tube unit, a demagnetized rod, an armature and a gap.

The tube unit is hollow and is adapted to securely connected with a body of the solenoid valve.

The demagnetized rod is mounted in the tube unit and has an exciting element and a cavity. The exciting element is mounted inside the demagnetized rod, abuts a bottom of the demagnetized rod, and electromagnetically excites to generate an attracting force. The cavity is formed in the bottom of the demagnetized rod.

The armature is slidably mounted inside the tube unit, is attracted and released by the exciting element, and has a central passage and a protrudent portion. The central passage is axially formed through the armature. The protrudent portion is integrally formed on and protruding from a top of the armature and inserts into the cavity of the demagnetized rod.

The gap is defined between a bottom of the demagnetized rod and the top of the armature when the protrudent portion inserts into the cavity.

Alternatively, an armature assembly of a high pressure solenoid valve differs from the first objective in an armature and a gap.

The armature is slidably mounted inside the tube unit, is attracted and released by the exciting element, and has an armature body, a circular recess, a central passage and a balance seat. The armature body takes a cylindrical form.

The circular recess is formed in a top of the armature body. The central passage is axially formed through the armature body to communicate with the circular recess. The balance seat is detachably connected with the armature body and has a base and a neck. The base takes a cylindrical form and inserts into the circular recess. The neck is centrally formed on and protrudes from a top of the base, and inserts into the cavity of the demagnetized rod.

The gap is defined between a bottom of the base and a bottom of the circular recess when the balanced seat inserts into the circular recess of the armature.

As the armature inserts into the cavity of the demagnetized rod, the armature is closer to the exciting element mounted inside the demagnetized rod.

Accordingly, the attracting force existing between the armature and the exciting element when the exciting element electromagnetically excites to attract the armature is higher. Furthermore, the central passage and the gap allows fluid to go up to the gap so as to maintain a balanced pressure on both ends of the armature.

IN THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of an armature assembly in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the armature assembly in Fig. 1, which is applied in a Y-type solenoid valve; Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of an armature assembly in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the armature assembly in Fig. 3, which is applied in a Y-type solenoid valve; Fig. 5 is another cross-sectional view of the armature assembly in Fig. 1, which is applied in a Y-type solenoid valve; Fig. 6 is another cross-sectional view of the armature assembly in Fig. 3, which is applied in a Y-type solenoid valve; and Fig. 7 is a third embodiment of an armature assembly in accordance with the present invention, which is applied to a two-port-two-position solenoid valve.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, a first embodiment of an armature assembly in accordance with the present invention is inserted into a valve body(1). The valve body (1) takes a Y-shaped form and has an inlet portion (14), an outlet portion (15), a connection portion (16), an inlet port (11), an outlet port (12), a orifice (13). The inlet portion (14), the outlet portion (15) and the connection portion (16) constitute the three branches of the valve body (1). The inlet port (11) is formed in the inlet portion (14) of the valve body (1). The outlet port (12) is formed in the output portion (15) to communicate with the inlet port (11). The orifice (13) is formed through a bottom of the connection portion (16) to communicate with and connect between the inlet port (11) and the outlet port (12), and the connection portion (16) has an inner threaded portion (161) formed at a top portion of an inner wall of the connection portion (16).

In the first embodiment of the armature assembly in accordance with the present invention has a tube unit (2), a demagnetized rod (3) and an armature (4).

The tube unit (2) is hollow and further has a widen threaded portion (21).

The widen threaded portion (21) is downwardly extended from a bottom opening of the tube unit (2) to screw the tube unit (2) to the inner threaded portion (161) of the connection portion (16) of the valve body (1). An inner diameter of the widen threaded portion (21) is larger than that of the tube unit (2).

The demagnetized rod (3) is mounted in the tube unit (2) and partially exposed beyond a top opening of the tube unit (2), and further has an exciting element (31) and a cavity (32). The exciting element (31) is embedded in a bottom of the demagnetized rod (3) and electromagnetically excites to generate an attracting force. The cavity (32) is formed in the bottom of the demagnetized rod (3).

The armature (4) is slidably mounted inside the tube unit (2) and a lower portion of the armature (4) is partially exposed beyond a bottom opening of the widen threaded portion (21). Since the widen threaded portion (21) of the tube unit (2) is screwed to the inner threaded portion (161) of the connection portion (16), a bottom portion of the armature (4) is located in the orifice (13). The armature (4) has armature body (40), a protrudent portion (41), a central passage (43), a return spring (44), a rubber seal (45) and a positioning sleeve (46). The armature body (40) has an upper cylindrical portion (401) and a lower cylindrical portion (402). The upper cylindrical portion (401) has an annular groove (403) andanannularflange(404).Theannulargroove(403)isformedinabottom portion of a peripheiy of the upper cylindrical portion (401). The annular flange (404) is formed on and protrudes outwardly from a bottom edge of the annular groove (403). The lower cylindrical portion (402) is smaller than the upper cylindrical portion (401) in diameter and has a disk (405) formed around a lower portion of the lower cylindrical portion (402). The protrudent portion (41) is centrally formed on and protrudes from a top of the upper cylindrical portion (401), and inserts into the cavity (32) ofthe demagnetized rod (3).Agap (G)is defined between the bottom of the demagnetized rod (3) and the top of the upper cylindrical portion (401) of the armature body (40) when the armature body (40) inserts into the cavity (32). The central passage (43) is axially formed through the protrudent portion (41), and the upper cylindrical portion (401) and the lower cylindrical portion (402) of the armature body (40) to communicate with the orifice (13). The return spring (44) is tapered, mounted around the annular groove (403) and received in the widen threaded portion (21) of the tube unit (2), andhasalargecoilendandasmallcoilend.Thelargecoilendisstoppedbya top annular face (24) inside the widen threaded portion (21) of the tube unit (2), and the small coil end is stopped by the annular flange (404). Therefore, the return spring (44) is limited between the top annular face (24) of the tube unit (2) and the annular flange (404). Hence, when the armature body (40) is attracted by the exciting element (31) to go up, the annular flange (404) lifts up and compresses the return spring (44). When the exciting element (31) shuts off, the restoring elastic force of the return spring (44) drives the armature body (40) to go down to an initial position. The rubber seal (45) is mounted around the lower portion of the lower cylindrical portion (402) and under the disk (405) of the lower cylindrical portion (402), and abuts a boundary between the orifice (13) and the outlet port (12). The positioning sleeve (46) is mounted around the lower cylindrical portion (402) and the rubber seal (45) is securely sandwiched between the disk (405) and the positioning sleeve (46). Hence, the rubber seal (45) opens or seals the orifice (13) when the armature body (40) is controlled by the exciting element (31) to go up or go down to the initial position.

With reference to Figs. 3 and 4, a second embodiment of the armature assembly in accordance with the present invention differs from the first embodiment only in the armature (4). The present embodiment replaces the protrudent portion (41) integrally formed on the top of the upper cylindrical portion (401) of the armature body (40) in the first embodiment, with a circular recess (42) and a balance seat (48). The circular recess (42) is formed in the top of the upper cylindrical portion (401) of the armature body (40). The balance seat (48) is detachably mounted in the circular recess (42) and has a base (481), a neck (482) and an 0-ring (483). The base (481) takes a cylindrical form, and has an annular protrusion (484) formed on a periphery of the base (481). The neck (482) is centrally formed on and protrudes from a top of the base (481), and inserts into the cavity (32) of the demagnetized rod (3). The 0-ring (53) is mounted underneath the annular protrusion (484) to prevent fluid from leaking from the recess (42). There is also a gap (G) defined between a bottom of the base (481) and a bottom of the recess (42) when the balanced seat (48) inserts into the recess (42) of the armature (4). The central passage (43) is formed through the neck (482) and the base (481) of the balance seat (48), the upper cylindrical portion (401) and the lower cylindrical portion (402).

With reference to Figs. 2 and 5, description about operating the first embodiment of the armature assembly in accordance with the present invention is explained as follows. As the protrudent portion (41) of the armature (4) inserts into the cavity (32) of the demagnetized rod (3), the armature (4) is closer to the exciting element (31) so that a higher attracting force is generated when the exciting element (31) excites to attract the armature (4). When the armature (4) is attracted to go up, the return spring (44) is compressed, the rubber seal (45) is lifted, and the orifice (13) is opened. A fluid in the inlet port (11) goes up to the gap (G) through the orifice (13) and the central passage (43) so as to maintain a consistent pressure on the top and the bottom of the armature (4). When the exciting element (31) shuts off, due to the consistent pressure on both sides of the armature (4), it is easier for the return spring (44) to restore and for the armature (4) to go down to push against the rubber seal (45) and close the orifice (13) without having to overcome the pressure difference initially existing on both sides of the armature (4). When the orifice (13) is closed by the rubber seal (45), the solenoid valve stops intputting fluid from the inlet port (11).

With reference to Figs. 3 and 6, description about operating the second embodiment of the armature assembly in accordance with the present invention is explained as follows. Similarly, as the balance seat (48) is mounted in the recess (42) of the upper cylindrical portion (401) of the armature body (40) and inserts into the cavity (32) of the demagnetized rod (3), the armature (4) is closer to the exciting element (31). Accordingly, it is easier for the armature (4) to be moved up when the exciting element (31) excites to attract the armature (4). The fltiid in the inlet port (11) goes tip to the gap (G) through the orifice (13) and the central passage (43) so as to maintain a consistent pressure on the top and the bottom of the armature (4). When the exciting element (31) shuts off, due to the consistent pressure on both sides of the armature (4), the return spring (44) is easily restored so that the armature (4) goes down to push against the rubber seal (45) and close the orifice (13) without having to overcome the pressure difference initially existing on both sides of the armature (4). When the orifice (13) is closed by the rubber seal (45), the solenoid valve stops inputting fluid from the inlet port (11).

With reference to Fig. 7, a third embodiment of an armature assembly adopted in a two-port-two-position solenoid valve differs from the first embodiment in the lower portion of the armature (4) while all key features containing a central passage (43), a gap (G), a protrudent portion (41) and a cavity (32) remain the same and function similarly.

As the armature 4) can insert into the cavity of demagnetized rod (3) to get closer to the demagnetized rod (3), the armature (4) can be easily and acutely attracted with less attracting force and less power. Given the central passage (43) and the gap (G), the pressure acted on the top and the bottom of the armature (4) can be balanced by fluid flowing to the gap (G) through the central passage (43).

It is unnecessary for the return spring (44) to overcome the pressure difference existing on both sides of the armature (4) and thus to require a high compression ratio. Therefore, a smaller return spring (44) can be chosen and miniaturization of the armature assembly and the solenoid valve adopting the armature assembly can be realized.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only.

Changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1.An armature assembly of high pressure solenoid valve, comprising: an armature tube unit (2) adapted to mount to a body (1) of a solenoid valve; a demagnetized rod (3) mounted in the armature tube unit (2) and having: an exciting element (31) mounted inside the demagnetized rod (3) and electromagnetically exciting to generate a sucking force; and a cavity (32) formed in a bottom thereof a plunger (4) slidably mounted inside the armature tube unit (2), sucked and released by the exciting element (31), and having: a central passage (43) longitudinally formed through the plunger (4); and a protruded portion (41) integrally formed on and protruding from a top of the plunger (4) and inserting into the cavity (32) of the demagnetized rod (3); and a gap (G) defined between a bottom of the demagnetized rod (3) and the top of the plunger (4) and filled with a fluid inputted through the body (1) and the central passage (43) of the plunger (4).
2. The armature assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plunger (4) further has: a rubber seal (45) sleeved around a bottom portion of the plunger (4) to seal or open the orifice (13) adapted to connect between an inlet port (11) and an outlet port (12) of the body of the solenoid valve so that a fluid in the inlet port (11) goes up to the gap (G) through the orifice (13) and the central passage (43) when the plunger (4) is sucked by the exciting element (31) and the rubber seal (45) is lifted up to open the orifice (13); and a positioning sleeve (46) sleeved around the plunger (4) and underneath the rubber seal (45) to position all the foregoing parts of the plunger (4).
3. The armature assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2, adapted to mount in a body of a Y-type solenoid valve or a two-port-two-position solenoid valve.
4. The armature assembly of high pressure solenoid valve, comprising: an armature tube unit (2) adapted to mount to a body (1) of a solenoid valve; a demagnetized rod (3) mounted in the armature tube unit (2) and having: an exciting element (3 1) mounted inside the demagnetized rod (3) and electromagnetically exciting to generate a sucking force; and a cavity (32) formed in a bottom thereof'; a plunger (4) slidably mounted inside the armature tube unit (2), sucked and released by the exciting element (31), and having: a plunger body (47); a recess (42) formed in a top of the plunger body (47); a central passage (43) longitudinally formed through the plunger body (47) to communicate with the recess (42); and a balance seat (5) detachably connected with the plunger body (47) and having: a base (51) inserting into the recess (42); and a neck (52) centrally formed on and protruding from a top of the base (51), and inserting into the cavity (32) of the demagnetized rod (3); and a gap (G) defined between a bottom of the base (51) and a bottom of the recess (42) when the balanced seat (5) inserts into the recess (43) of the plunger (4).
5. The armature assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the base (5 1) has a reduced section; and the balance seat (5) further has an 0-ring (53) mounted inside the reduced section of the base (51) and preventing fluid from leaking from the recess (42).
6. The armature assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the plunger (4) further has: a rubber seal (45) sleeved around a bottom portion of the plunger (4) to seal or open the orifice (13) adapted to connect between an inlet port (11) and an outlet port (12) of the body of the solenoid valve so that a fluid in the inlet port (11) goes up to the gap (G) through the orifice (13) and the central passage (43) when the plunger (4) is sucked by the exciting element (31) and the rubber seal (45) is lifted up to open the orifice (13); and a positioning sleeve (46) sleeved around the plunger (4) and underneath the rubber seal (45) to position all the foregoing parts of the plunger (4).
7. The armature assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the plunger (4) further has: a rubber seal (45) sleeved around a bottom portion of the plunger (4) to seal or open the orifice (13) adapted to connect between an inlet port (11) and an outlet port (12) of the body of the solenoid valve so that a fluid in the inlet port (11) goes up to the gap (G) through the orifice (13) and the central passage (43) when the plunger (4) is sucked by the exciting element (31) and the rubber seal (45) is lifted up to open the orifice (13); and a positioning sleeve (46) sleeved around the plunger (4) and underneath the rubber seal (45) to position all the foregoing parts of the plunger (4).
8. The armature assembly as claimed in any one of claims 4 -7, adapted to mount in a body of a Y-type solenoid valve or a two-port-two-position solenoid valve.Amendment to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS: 1. An armature assembly of a high pressure solenoid valve, comprising: a tube unit adapted to be mounted to a body of a solenoid valve; a demagnetized rod mounted in the tube unit and having: a solenoid mounted inside the demagnetized rod and electromagnetically operable to generate an attracting force; and a cavity formed in a bottom thereof an armature slidably mounted inside the tube unit, attracted and released by the solenoid, and having: a central passage longitudinally formed through the armature; and a protruded portion integrally formed on and protruding from a top of the armature and inserting into the cavity of the demagnetized rod; and a gap defined between a bottom of the demagnetized rod and the top of the armature and filled with a fluid inputted through the body and the central passage of the armature. *4*S * S *4**2. The armature assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein * S. * S. 4 S the armature further has: a rubber seal located around a bottom portion of the armature to seal or open an * orifice adapted to connect between an inlet port and an outlet port of the body of the solenoid valve so that a fluid in the inlet port passes to the gap through the orifice and the central passage when the armature is attracted by the solenoid and the rubber seal *..is lifted up to open the orifice; and a positioning sleeve located around the armature and beneath the rubber seal to position all the foregoing parts of the armature.3. The armature assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2, adapted to be mounted in a body of a Y-type solenoid valve or a two-port-two-position solenoid valve.4. An armature assembly of a high pressure solenoid valve, comprising: a tube unit adapted to be mounted to a body of a solenoid valve; a demagnetized rod mounted in the tube unit and having: a solenoid mounted inside the demagnetized rod and electromagnetically operable to generate an attracting force; and a cavity formed in a bottom thereof; an armature slidably mounted inside the tube unit, attracted and released by the solenoid, and having: an armature body; a recess formed in a top of the armature body; a central passage longitudinally formed through the armature body to communicate with the recess; and a balance seat detachably connected with the armature body and having: a base inserting into the recess; and a neck centrally formed on and protruding from a top of the base, and inserting into the cavity of the demagnetized rod; and a gap defined between a bottom of the base and a bottom of the recess when the balance seat inserts into the recess of the armature body. * *404.5. The armature assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein * *.. 45 S the base has a reduced section; and the balance seat further has an 0-ring mounted inside the reduced section of the base and preventing fluid from leaking from the recess.* 6. The armature assembly as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein * the armature further has: a rubber seal located around a bottom portion of the armature to seal or open an orifice adapted to connect between an inlet port and an outlet port of the body of the solenoid valve so that a fluid in the inlet port passes to the gap through the orifice and the central passage when the armature is attracted by the solenoid and the rubber seal is lifted up to open the orifice; and a positioning sleeve located around the armature and beneath the rubber seal to position all the foregoing parts of the armature.7. The armature assembly as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6, adapted to be mounted in a body of a Y-type solenoid valve or a two-port-two-position solenoid valve. * . *. *.* ** S.. * SS * . * S..S *SSS -S. b * * ,.S * 55