Abstract: A solenoid valve wherein a conical tip of a cylindrical plunger armature seals a flow-limiting orifice in an elastic valve-seat annulus, enabling minimum armature travel per unit of flow. The resulting short-gap combined with a thin-walled armature housing and an efficient unitary exterior magnetic yoke yields a low reluctance magnetic circuit and a high impedance characteristic. Wattage demand is reduced in both inrush and steady-state conditions. Choice of gap dimension and annulus design and arrangement enables a low wattage demand substantially free from variable fluid pressure effects. The use in combination of a unitary dual-path exterior magnetic loop, with a ferrous armature housing, and a novel phase-splitting core enable operation at still further reduced wattage values. Size, copper usage, temperature rise and cost are held to low values previously unattainable.

Abstract: A linear acting solenoid directed to energy conservation. The disclosure combines plural elements usable singly or in combination to enable in aggregate a low cost assembly, yielding values of pull-force per watt of input exceeding ten ounces. Size, cost, and temperature rise are reduced, and shading rings are avoided. Novel elements include a composite phase-splitting core, and a unitary magnetic shell forming an efficient divided-path magnetic circuit, the flux therethrough being confluent through armature and core. In valve or other fluid-barrier uses, a thin ferrous armature housing enables pull values exceeding three ounces per watt of input.

Abstract: A solenoid valve wherein a conical tip of a cylindrical plunger armature seals a flow-limiting orifice in an elastic valve-seat annulus, enabling minimum armature travel per unit of flow. The resulting short-gap, combined with a thin-walled armature housing and an efficient unitary exterior magnetic yoke yields a low reluctance magnetic circuit, and a high impedance solenoid. Wattage demand is reduced in both inrush and steady-state conditions. Choice of gap dimension and annulus design enables a low wattage demand, substantially free from variable fluid pressure effects. The use in combination of a unitary dual-path exterior magnetic loop, with a ferrous armature housing, and a novel phase-splitting core enable operation at still further reduced wattage values. Size, copper usage, temperature rise and cost are held to low values previously unattainable.