Solenoid valve having a slotted flux sleeve for nesting the winding leads

Claim 2

An electromagnetically operated unit for moving an armature between a first and second position; said unit comprising: an energizable coil member having an elongated passageway extending therethrough, said coil member including a pair of conductors extending therefrom; an armature slidably disposed within said elongated passageway and movable between first and second positions in response to the energization of said coil member by means of an electrical source being applied to said pair of conductors; a magnetizable sleeve surrounding said coil member and in direct contact therewith, said sleeve having an elongated gap along its length thereof to facilitate the passage of said pair of conductors from said coil member to said electrical source; and further including a cover member surrounding said sleeve; said gap and said cover member defining a conductor bearing passageway; said pair of conductors residing within said conductor bearing passageway for at least a portion of their length; wherein said cover member includes an integral end portion transversely oriented with respect to said elongated passageway through said coil member; and wherein said end portion of said cover member includes aperture means through which said pair of conductors passes.

Claim 3

The electromagnetically operated unit of claim 1 wherein said cover member is constructed of a nonmagnetizable material.

Claim 4

The electromagnetically operated unit of claim 2 wherein said cover member is constructed of a plastic material.

Claim 5

The electromagnetically operated unit of claim 3 wherein said plastic material is nylon.

Claim 6

The electromagnetically operated unit of claim 1 wherein said end portion of said cover member includes raised embossment means surrounding said aperture means for protecting said pair of conductors.

Claim 7

The electromagnetically operated unit of claim 1 further including first and second magnetizable end members disposed at opposite ends of said coil member in abutting relationship with the opposite end surfaces of said coil member and the opposite end surface of said sleeve respectively; said first magnetizable end member being disposed between said integral end portion of said cover and one of said end surfaces of said coil member.

Claim 8

The electromagnetically operated unit of claim 6 wherein said first magnetizable end member includes a cutout section through which said pair of conductors passes.

Claim 9

The electromagnetically operated unit of claim 6 and further including a magnetizable end plug disposed in said elongated passageway at one end thereof; said end plug being spaced from said armature by a predetermined distance to define an airgap when said armature is in its first position; said sleeve, said first and second end members, said end plug and said armature defining a magnetic path for the flux generated by said coil member.

Claim 10

The electromagnetically operated unit of claim 8 wherein said airgap is located substantially in the center of said elongated passageway.

Claim 11

The electromagnetically operated unit of claim 8 wherein said armature includes an arcuate elongated slot therein for reducing undesirable eddy currents.

Claim 12

The electromagnetically operated unit of claim 10 wherein one end surface of said end plug includes a shading ring therein.

Claim 13

The electromagnetically operated unit of claim 8 and further including a centrally apertured nonmagnetizable adapting member disposed adjacent said second magnetizable end member on a side opposite thereof from said coil member; said adapting member including means by which said adapting member can be secured to a valve body.

Claim 14

The electromagnetically operated unit of claim 12 and further including a tubular, nonmagnetizable retaining member surrounding said armature and said end plug, said retaining member having laterally projecting flange means at one end thereof for maintaining said adapting member adjacent said second magnetizable end member.

Claim 15

The electromagnetically operated unit of claim 13 wherein a second end of said retaining member includes an integral centrally apertured planar end surface which resides between one end of said end plug and the end portion of said cover member; and wherein said one end of said end plug includes an outstanding neck portion extending through said planar end surface, said first magnetizable end member, and said end portion of said cover member; and further including locking means removably securable to said neck portion for maintaining said adapting member, said first and second end members, said sleeve, said coil member, said end plug and said cover member in assembled relationship with respect to one another.

Claim 16

The electromagnetically operated unit of claim 12 and further including a valve body removably secured to said adapting member; said valve body including an entry port, an exit port, and a passageway for interconnecting said entry and exit ports; one end of said passageway terminating in a valve seat which is to sealingly receive a valve member when it is desired to interrupt communication between said entry and exit ports; and further including a valve member secured to said armature, said valve member being sealingly received by said valve seat when said armature is in its first position.

Claim 17

The electromagnetically operated unit of claim 15 wherein said valve member is loosely secured to said armature.

Claim 18

The electromagnetically operated unit of claim 15 wherein said valve body further includes a flow rate control orifice interconnecting said passageway and one of said entry and Exit ports.

Claim 19

An electromagnetically operated unit for moving an armature between a first and second position; said unit comprising: an energizable coil member having an elongated passageway extending therethrough; an armature slidably disposed within said elongated passageway and movable between first and second position in response to the energization of said coil member; a magnetic flux path surrounding said coil member; a nonmagnetizable cover member surrounding said magnetic flux path; said cover member including one centrally apertured end portion which abuts one end surface of said magnetic flux path; a magnetizable end plug disposed in said elongated passageway at one end thereof, said end plug being spaced from said armature by a predetermined distance to define an airgap when said armature is in its first position; a centrally apertured nonmagnetizable adapting member disposed adjacent a second end of said passageway, said adapting member having means by which said adapting member can be secured to any device which uses the slidable action of said armature in its operation, said adapting member having a recessed cavity therein; retaining means having restraining means at one end thereof for restricting said adapting member from longitudinal movement and having planar end means at a second end thereof sandwiched between said end plug and said cover member for restricting said retaining means from longitudinal movement; said restraining means comprising on outwardly projecting flange portion of said retaining means received within said recessed cavity of said adapting member, and further including an ''''O'''' ring disposed within said cavity between the seat of said cavity and said flange portion; said end plug having an outstanding neck portion which passes through said planar end means, said magnetic flux path and said end portion of said cover member; and locking means removably secured to said neck portion for maintaining said adapting member, said magnetic flux path, said coil member, said end plug, and said cover member in assembled relationship with respect to one another.

Claim 20

An electromagnetically operated unit for moving an armature between a first and second position; said unit comprising: an energizable coil member having an elongated passageway extending therethrough; an armature slidably disposed within said elongated passageway and movable between first and second position in response to the energization of said coil member; a magnetic flux path surrounding said coil member; a nonmagnetizable cover member surrounding said magnetic flux path; said cover member including one centrally apertured end portion which abuts one end surface of said magnetic flux path; a magnetizable end plug disposed in said elongated passageway at one end thereof, said end plug being spaced from said armature by a predetermined distance to define an airgap when said armature is in its first position; a centrally apertured nonmagnetizable adapting member disposed adjacent a second end of said passageway, said adapting member having means by which said adapting member can be secured to any device which uses the slidable action of said armature in its operation, said adapting member having a recessed cavity therein; retaining means having restraining means at one end thereof for restricting said adapting member from longitudinal movement and having planar end means at a second end thereof sandwiched between said end plug and said cover member for restricting said retaining means from longitudinal movement; said restraining means comprising on outwardly projecting flange portion of said retaining means received within said recessed cavity of said adapting member, and further including an ''''O'''' ring disposed within said cavity between the seat of said cavity and said flange portion; said end plug having an outstanding neck portion which passes through said planar end means, said magnetic flux path and said end portion of said cover member; and locking means removably secured to said neck portion for maintaining said adapting member, said magnetic flux path, said coil member, said end plug, and said cover member in assembled relationship with respect to one another.

Claim 21

The electromagnetically operated unit of claim 18 wherein said magnetic flux path is in direct contact with said coil member.

Claim 22

The electromagnetically operated unit of claim 13 wherein said adapting member includes a recessed cavity within which said laterally projecting flange means is received, and further including an ''''O'''' ring disposed within said cavity between the seat of said cavity and said flange means.