US 11,859,729 B2
Proportional solenoid valve
Eric P. Janssen, Howell, MI (US); Jeffrey Simmonds, Commerce Township, MI (US); and Brett Landacre, Bloomfield Hills, MI (US)
Assigned to MAC Valves, Inc., Wixom, MI (US)
Filed by MAC Valves, Inc., Wixom, MI (US)
Filed on Jan. 31, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/589,574.
Application 17/589,574 is a continuation of application No. 17/130,796, filed on Dec. 22, 2020, granted, now 11,248,715, issued on Feb. 15, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2022/0196178 A1, Jun. 23, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F16K 31/06 (2006.01); F16K 27/02 (2006.01)
CPC F16K 31/0655 (2013.01) [F16K 27/029 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A valve comprising:
a valve assembly that is configured to selectively permit communication between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the valve assembly including a hollow valve retainer having a first port that is configured to communicate with a fluid inlet, a second port that is configured to communicate with a fluid outlet, and a valve seat between the first port and the second port, the hollow valve retainer housing a movable poppet including a valve member that is configured is engage and disengage with the valve seat to permit fluid to travel from the fluid inlet through the first port to the second port, and then to the fluid outlet;
a solenoid assembly coupled to the valve assembly that is configured to actuate the valve assembly to permit the communication between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, the solenoid assembly including an armature integral with the poppet, a first bushing that surrounds the armature, a plate spring positioned between the armature and the first bushing, and a solenoid coil that is configured to move the armature and the poppet to permit the communication between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet,
wherein the plate spring is configured to bias the valve member of the poppet into engagement with the valve seat of the valve retainer, the plate spring having a spring force,
the solenoid coil is configured to move the armature and the poppet based a voltage or current that is applied to the solenoid coil, and
based on the spring force of the plate spring and the voltage or current that is applied to the solenoid coil, the solenoid assembly is configured to control a distance that the valve member moves relative to the valve seat of the valve retainer to proportionally control an amount of flow that is permitted through the valve assembly.