Abstract: A relation between an instruction current value (is) to be given to a solenoid valve and its supply time range (t) is predetermined, and a silting prevention current instruction (is) is given to the solenoid valve according to the this relation. Then, silting can be prevented without fail even if a control current instruction is zero, and no fine vibration is caused in a hydraulic actuator when the control current instruction is being output.

Abstract: The present invention provides a motor-operated valve having no additional stopper for stopping the rotation of a rotor at fully open and closed states of the valve to allow a reduced number of parts of the valve and to prevent a noise otherwise generated by the abutment of the rotor against a stopper. The motor-operated valve includes a rotor 17 having a shaft 18 formed with an external thread 20. The motor-operated valve also includes a needle valve element 6 having a needle valve head 5 at one end portion thereof and an internal thread 16 engaging with the external thread 20 at another end portion. The valve element has a joining portion 14 for joining the valve head to the internal thread 20. The motor-operated valve also includes a main valve body 1 having a guide portion which stops the rotation of the valve element but allows the axial movement of the valve element.

Abstract: A precision controlled fast valve includes a diaphragm, a piezo actuator, and a plunger. The plunger is adapted to engage the diaphragm to create a seal which closes the valve. The piezo actuator is attached to the plunger and adapted to receive control signals which define the distance and speed of travel of the plunger. A control signal is received by the piezo actuator which causes the plunger to rapidly travel to a first position which is proximate to the diaphragm but does not create a seal. A second control signal is received by the piezo actuator which causes the plunger to pinch the diaphragm and creates a seal (due to the blocked force generated by the piezo). Creating the seal without excessive forces reduces the wear on the seal, allowing longer intervals between maintenance.

Abstract: An improved position control for a solenoid actuated valve, wherein the solenoid is activated based on the combination of a feed-forward component based on a model of the steady state operation of the valve and a closed-loop feedback component that responds to changes in the commanded position and compensates for any inaccuracy in the steady state model. The method involves a valve characterization procedure in which the actual force generated by the solenoid is measured for various combinations of valve position and solenoid current, resulting in a table of coil current in terms of developed force and valve position. In operation, the model is used to estimate the solenoid force required to achieve the commanded valve position under steady state operating conditions, and a controller addresses the table to obtain a feed-forward coil current command as a function of the commanded valve position and the estimated solenoid force.

Abstract: A process for setting into oscillation an electromagnetic actuator, which actuates a switching element, in particular an internal combustion engine lift valve, and in which process an armature, which acts on the switching element, is oscillated between two electromagnet coils against the force of at least one reset spring by an alternating flow around the electromagnet coils so that the switching element with the armature and the reset springs represents an oscillatory spring-mass system, and wherein, starting from the quiescent state of the system, where the armature is held by the reset springs essentially in the center between these magnet coils, the electromagnet coils are excited alternatingly by driving with an electric alternating voltage of a specific frequency to set into oscillation this spring-mass system in the form of a constantly sinusoidal voltage curve or in the form of a correspondingly variable pulse width-modulated voltage curve.

Abstract: A three-way flow control valve for refrigeration cycles having two parallel heat exchangers is disclosed. This valve is designed to selectively feed refrigerant to both heat exchangers, or one of the two heat exchangers as desired. The three-way flow control valve of this invention consists of a hollow cylindrical casing opened at its first and second ends. A first valve housing is held in the first end of the casing, and is provided with a first refrigerant outlet and a first orifice formed in the first refrigerant outlet. A second valve housing is held in the second end of the casing, and is provided with a refrigerant inlet and a second refrigerant outlet, and a second orifice formed between the refrigerant inlet and the second refrigerant outlet. A first valve means is axially set within the first valve housing so as to be axially movable to control the opening ratio of the first orifice.

Abstract: An electric fluid dispenser for dispensing a fluid onto a substrate. A power switching circuit is connected to an unregulated power supply providing a varying voltage. A solenoid connected to the power switching circuit operates a dispensing valve to move between open and closed positions. A control circuit is responsive to the varying voltage from the power supply and provides a drive signal to the power switching circuit having a time variable component determined by the varying voltage. The power switching circuit, in response to the drive signal, provides an output signal to the solenoid that causes the dispensing valve to move between the open and closed positions substantially independent of the varying voltage from the unregulated power supply.

Abstract: A method for operating a proportional flow valve with a pilot valve member over an extended range and at a low flow rate. The pilot valve member may be operated, by varying the frequency or duty cycle or both of the pulse width modulated current applied to the solenoid, without thereby causing the main valve member to open.

Abstract: A method and a device for activating an electromagnetic consumer having a movable element, in particular a solenoid valve for controlling the metering of fuel into an internal combustion engine. Within a time window, a switching instant at which the movable element reaches a certain position is determined. The duration of the time window can be defined so that the current flowing through the consumer during the time window does not exceed a threshold value.

Abstract: A solenoid-valve controller provided with a solenoid valve C which is switchable between the full closed state where a plunger a abuts on a sheet face b and the full open state where the plunger separates from the sheet face, and control means e for carrying out energization to a coil d for driving the plunger a of the solenoid valve C by pulse width modulation control, configured such that there are arranged regenerative-current formation means e for forming a regenerative current in parallel with the coil d, and the control means e are arranged with regenerative-current detection means g for detecting the regenerative current, and the control means e carry out pulse width modulation control based on a detection value of the regenerative-current detection means g. This allows detection of the plunger position during actuation of the solenoid valve by a low-cost and small-sized technique requiring no enhancement of an attraction force of the coil of the solenoid valve.

Abstract: A relation between an instruction current value (is) to be given to a solenoid valve and its supply time range (t) is predetermined, and a silting prevention current instruction (is) is given to the solenoid valve according to the this relation. Then, silting can be prevented without fail even if a control current instruction is zero, and no fine vibration is caused in a hydraulic actuator when the control current instruction is being output.

Abstract: A control for controlling an output of a system of an automotive vehicle having an electric-operated control device that controls an output of a system of the automotive vehicle in accordance with an electric control signal comprising a waveform comprising voltage pulses applied to the device. An electric control, including a processor, for developing the electric control signal from a primary control signal and a secondary control signal. The processor causes the secondary control signal to selectively interact with the primary control signal in developing the electric control signal such that at certain times, the electric control signal is developed from the primary control signal alone, and at certain other times, the electric control signal is developed by interaction of the secondary control signal with the primary control signal.

Abstract: A miniature flow controller housing a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, with the inlet pressure exceeding the outlet pressure. The outlet has orifices defined in a crystalline silicon membrane, along crystal planes of the silicon so that the geometry of the orifices is precisely known. The inlet and outlet are throttled by poppets which can seal the orifices on command of a device controller. The poppets are driven by shape retentive membranes which have two states, an open state and a closed state with a state change caused by application of small amounts of current to a resistive element in contact with the membrane. Rapid actuation of the poppets causes operation of the valve in a pulse mode. Where the fluid is a gas, pressure and temperature transducers measure conditions inside of the housing for application of gas law principles. By recording instantaneous pressure and temperature in the chamber, as the poppets are actuated, mass flow through the outlet orifices of the chamber is computed.

Abstract: The solenoid valve (10) has an armature chamber (38) communicated with the outlets (86) of the valve to receive feed of fluid. The fluid in the chamber (38) is drained through drain passages (96) which are arranged to open into the chamber (38) at a location radially outwardly offset from the axis of the valve. The flow of fluid flowing into the chamber (38) is directly transferred to the drain passages (96) to thereby wash ferrous particles away from the magnetic gap to self-clean the gap each time the valve is opened. A spacer (62) made of a non-magnetizable material covers the upper end face of the armature (36) to prevent accumulation of ferrous particles.

Abstract: A valve assembly for an air mattress having a common actuator on a manifold between opposed supply and exhaust valves moving the valves along their actuating axis. The system includes a plurality of actuator/valve combinations for different portions of the air mattress. A pulsating valve is provided which includes a housing having therein supply and exhaust valves each directly controlled by supply and exhaust solenoids. The solenoids are of an improved design.

Abstract: In an air conditioner having a plurality of valves for adjusting the flow of refrigerant circulating in an outdoor unit and an indoor unit, and a controller for controlling the opening degree of each of the valves while successively switching the control target value between these valves and a valve control method for the air conditioner, the controller judges whether the opening degree of a currently-operated (controlled) valve which is currently being subjected to the opening degree control operation is coincident with a target value. If the opening degree of the valve reaches the target value even within a predetermined one-operation time set for the valve, the control target valve is immediately switched to a next valve. Further, if the opening degree of the valve does not reach the target valve even after the predetermined one-operation time, the one-operation time is extended to continue the opening degree control operation on the currently-operated valve.

Abstract: A water shut-off system incorporates a water shut-off valve utilizing a pair of adjacently disposed electrodes, a transmitter and a receiving means. The water shut-off valve is in the form of a ball valve. A timing logic causes current to flow to a valve driving motor as electric pulses.

Abstract: A method for cleaning a solenoid-operated regulator valve wherein command current applied to a solenoid actuator establishes a defined response of a valve. Cleaning current pulses applied to the solenoid establish a response that does not interfere with the effectiveness of the valve function. The pulse width, pulse amplitude, pulse direction and pulse period are determined by the degree of contamination of the valve environment.