Electrical Actuator Patents (Class 137/601.14)
  • Patent number: 6651953
    Abstract: A valve structure that includes a housing, a valve, and an actuator. The housing includes a first portion, a second portion, and an intermediate portion. The first portion extends along a first axis from a first port, the second portion extends along a second axis from a second port, and the intermediate portion connects the first and second portions. The first and second portions partially define a fluid communication path between the first and second configurations. The valve is movable with respect to the housing between first and second configurations. The first configuration permits substantially unrestricted fluid flow between the first and second ports. The second configuration substantially prevents fluid flow between the first and second ports. The actuator displaces the valve from the first configuration to the second configuration. The actuator partially defines the fluid communication path between the first and second ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive Inc.
    Inventor: Craig Weldon
  • Publication number: 20030196709
    Abstract: An electrically-actuated flow controller for compressed air systems is disclosed. The flow controller includes a control panel, a transducer for sampling downstream air pressure, an electrical actuator with an electric motor, and a valve driven by the motor. The flow controller also optionally includes a bypass assembly and battery backup system. The transducer measures downstream pressure, and an electrical actuator incrementally positions the valve to maintain set point pressure between the flow controller and the point of use. By using an electrical actuator rather than the traditional pneumatic actuator, the present invention avoids the contamination and response time problems that have plagued earlier flow controllers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventors: Michael J. Mendoza, Jason T. Koch
  • Patent number: 6631881
    Abstract: A valve structure that includes a housing, a valve element, and a seal. The housing includes a first communication path between a first port at a first pressure level and a second port at a second pressure level. The valve element is movable with respect to the housing between a first position, a second position, and an intermediate position between the first and second positions. The first position permits substantially unrestricted fluid flow between the first and second ports. The second position substantially prevents fluid flow between the first and second ports. The seal is located at an interface between the housing and the valve element. The seal deforms in response to a differential between the first and second pressure levels such that at the intermediate position, there is restricted fluid flow between the first and second ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Weldon, Alfred Schneider
  • Patent number: 6588442
    Abstract: A motorized rotary water valve has an integrally formed one piece motor housing and emergency bypass channel. A solenoid operated valve is integrally provided on the bypass channel and is spring biased to the open position upon shut off of electrical power to the solenoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher J. Babin
  • Patent number: 6568417
    Abstract: A throttle valve assembly for a deposition chamber or the like is disclosed. The throttle valve assembly comprises a shaft including a first portion and second portion. At least one throttle vane or plate is coupled to the first portion of the shaft and a valve gear is coupled to the second portion of the shaft. A positioning element is provided to couple the valve gear to the shaft in only one rotational orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Robert A. Laney
  • Patent number: 6534003
    Abstract: A valve is provided which includes a valve body, a first valve member, and a second valve member. The valve body has a first flow passage formed therethrough and a second flow passage formed therein. The second flow passage has a smaller cross-sectional area than the first flow passage so that the valve can be used interchangeable between systems requiring different flow rates through the valve, and so that flow through the valve can be more accurately controlled than through the first flow passage alone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventor: Nick N. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6514049
    Abstract: A control valve is used in connection with a variable displacement compressor that varies the discharge capacity by controlling an inclination of a cam plate located in a crank chamber. The inclination of the cam plate is variable based on crank chamber pressure caused by refrigerant in the crank chamber. Monitor pressure is monitored at a predetermined point in a refrigerant circuit for causing a change in the crank chamber pressure and ultimately varying the discharge capacity. The control valve has a housing, an internal control valve mechanism and an external control valve mechanism. The internal control valve mechanism is located inside the valve housing and has a first valve body and a first reacting member. The first reacting member is connected to the first valve body for reacting to the monitor pressure to cause a change in the crank chamber pressure. The external control valve mechanism is located inside the valve housing and has a second valve body and a second reacting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Minoru Mera, Hideki Mizutani, Kazuya Kimura, Masahiro Kawaguchi, Takeshi Imanishi, Hiroaki Kayukawa
  • Patent number: 6481452
    Abstract: The invention is a two-stage, two-poppet prime valve assembly for use in high pressure applications such as vehicle braking systems. The valve assembly has two valve seats and two plungers for allowing the valve assembly to open under high pressure while providing minimal internal flow restrictions to enhance cold temperature and low pressure operation. The two-stage, two poppet valve assembly contains two separate flow paths, one being high pressure, relatively low flow called a stage one, and the other being relatively low pressure, high flow called a stage two. In addition, the valve incorporates a reverse flow bypass feature that is capable of controlling flow at very high pressure and allowing reverse flow with a very low pressure drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David Fredrick Reuter, E. Wayne Lloyd, Alejandro Moreno
  • Patent number: 6450201
    Abstract: A multiway rotary valve includes two valve elements for directing a pressurized medium to and from two working chambers of a servomotor and to a return connection for a pressurized-media vessel. The two valve elements can rotate relatively to each other. One valve element has a cavity, in which two planar control surfaces facing each other are disposed. The other valve element is a planar disk, which has two planar control surfaces facing away from each other. The planar control surfaces of the two valve elements have control openings that interact with each other. The inner valve element can be rotated by a limited angle by an actuator. The actuator, in the form of, for example, an impacting rod acts upon the valve element in a tangential direction. The valve element is designed as a semicircular disk, upon the radial contact surfaces of which the two impacting rods act, the two impacting rods being controllable by electromagnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Elser, Falk Hofmann
  • Patent number: 6439265
    Abstract: A solenoid valve useful in a slip-controlled hydraulic brake system of a motor vehicle, and which has a seat valve disposed between a pressure fluid inlet and a pressure fluid outlet and in the bypass to the seat valve has a check valve with a quad ring as a closing body and a circular ring surface as a valve seat. Circularly disposed pressure fluid openings adjoin the circular ring surface and are overlapped on the radial inside and on the radial outside by respective sealing lips of the annular rubber-elastic closing body, which is guided with axial motion play in relation to the circular ring surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Peggy Gruschwitz, Martin Oehler, Heike Bauer, Rolf Nicodemus
  • Patent number: 6435210
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electromagnetic valve which includes a valve tappet that is axially movably arranged in a valve housing and fastened to a magnetic armature, and a valve piston axially movable in the valve housing, a diaphragm-type pressure fluid passage in the valve piston that is closed or opened by the valve tappet, another unthrottled pressure fluid passage arranged between the valve piston and the valve housing that is closed or opened by the valve piston, pressure fluid channels which open into the valve housing on either side of the valve piston, with both pressure fluid passages closed in the initial position of the electromagnetic valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Georg Obersteiner, Josef Lauer
  • Patent number: 6382250
    Abstract: A solenoid valve useful in a slip-controlled hydraulic brake system of a motor vehicle, and which has a seat valve disposed between a pressure fluid inlet and a pressure fluid outlet and in the bypass to this seat valve, has a check valve with a hollow conical valve seat and a closing body, which has a section that is embodied as complementary to the hollow conical valve seat. A rubber-elastic sealing ring is accommodated with the greater portion of its cross section in the circumference of the section and in the closed position of the check valve, this sealing ring can compensate for dimensional deviations of the valve seat at low pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Peggy Gruschwitz, Martin Oehler, Heike Bauer, Rolf Nicodemus, Ralf Schindler
  • Publication number: 20020026960
    Abstract: A valve structure that includes a housing, a valve, a first resilient element, and a second resilient element. The housing includes a first fluid communication path between a first port and a second port. The valve is movable with respect to the housing, and includes a first valve element and a second valve element. The first valve element includes a second fluid communication path, a first seal, and a second seal. The second fluid communication path provides restricted fluid flow between the first and second ports. The first seal engages the housing. The second valve element is positionable between first and second arrangements with respect to the first valve element. The first arrangement of the second valve is spaced from the second seal, and the second arrangement of the second valve engages the second seal. The first resilient element extends between the housing and the first valve element, and the second resilient element extends between the first and second valve elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Publication date: March 7, 2002
    Inventor: Craig W. Weldon
  • Patent number: 6289930
    Abstract: A refrigerant expansion valve for an air conditioning system is combined with a solenoid-actuated closure device in a common housing. The housing provides for placement of the solenoid valve in a position to shut off fluid flow across the expansion device, with a plunger being placed to come into sealing contact with a piston bore of the expander or with a sealing surface defined in the housing proximate to the piston. Shutting off flow across the expander prevents loss of pressure differential during “off” portions of an operating cycle, thus providing a saving of energy costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Inventor: Ward J. Simon
  • Patent number: 6240959
    Abstract: A protective device for a hydraulic system includes a block which forms a housing with at least one fluid flow inlet into the housing and at least one fluid flow outlet. A plurality of fluid flow channels within the housing connect the inlet and the outlet. Each of the fluid flow channels contain a hydraulic fuse adapted to close its associated fluid flow channel when a selected flow rate of hydraulic fluid is exceeded, each of the fuses having a different selected fluid flow rate which causes closure thereof. A valve in each of the fluid flow channels provides for selectively opening and closing the fluid flow channels so that a selected one of the channels is open and all others of the channels are closed. The valves may be integral with single rotatable valve stems, or of various alternative designs, for example, maunually, mechanically or electronically controlled valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Inventor: Donald M. Loper
  • Patent number: 6237630
    Abstract: A fail-safe HVAC damper apparatus comprises a duct channel with a closure comprising one or more quadri-panel hinged elements, each with four panels connected by four parallel hinge pins. A gear shaft with a toothed gear is controllably rotated to linearly drive a spring-biased plate to move one of the hinge pins of each quadri-panel element between an open and a closed position. A drive motor may be activated to open or close the closure, e.g. by a smoke detector or other controller. A meltable fuse in the duct channel may be connected to a disconnect which uncouples the gear shaft and toothed gear, and a spring moves the closure to a default closed or open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Inventors: William L. Stone, Garrick S. Stone