US 11,674,611 B2
Wear-resistant electro-pneumatic converters
Mike Fontaine, Marshalltown, IA (US); Ronald F. Hurd, Marshalltown, IA (US); and Curt Galbreath, Marshalltown, IA (US)
Assigned to Fisher Controls International LLC, Marshalltown, IA (US)
Filed by Fisher Controls International LLC, Marshalltown, IA (US)
Filed on Apr. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/237,809.
Prior Publication US 2022/0341504 A1, Oct. 27, 2022
Int. Cl. F16K 31/06 (2006.01); F16K 15/18 (2006.01)
CPC F16K 31/0651 (2013.01) [F16K 15/1826 (2021.08); F16K 31/0658 (2013.01); F16K 31/0668 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electro-pneumatic converter comprising:
a body including an axial passageway extending between a first opening and a second opening, the first opening associated with a supply port, the supply port to receive pressurized fluid from a pressure supply source;
a solenoid disposed within the axial passageway;
an armature including a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the second side facing the solenoid, the armature movable between a first position and a second position, the pressurized fluid blocked from flowing through an output port of the electro-pneumatic converter when the armature is in the first position, the pressurized fluid to flow through the output port when the armature is in the second position; and
a spring coupled to the first side of the armature, the spring to bias the armature toward the first position, wherein the spring is a sheet, the sheet including a first spiral cutout and a second spiral cutout, a portion of the first spiral cutout positioned within the second spiral cutout, a portion of the second spiral cutout positioned within the first spiral cutout.