Direct-acting pilot pressure control solenoid
A solenoid valve has a body with a fluid passage extending longitudinally at least partially through the body. Each of supply, control, and exhaust ports is disposed through the body and operably connected to the passage (the supply port also introducing fluid medium from a pressure source). Among the ports, there is a valve member operably disposed in the passage. A bore extends at least partially through the member. A metering orifice connects the passage or exhaust port with the bore. A solenoid portion has a coil with an armature movable within the portion in response to energization of the coil, and a shaft is connected to the armature. The shaft extends partially into the body and directly contacts the member, and the energization of the coil causes the shaft to slide within the solenoid portion and move the member in response to movement of the armature within the portion.
1. A valve comprising:
a valve body having a fluid passage extending longitudinally at least partially through said valve body;
a supply port disposed through said valve body and operably connected to said fluid passage;
a control port disposed through said valve body and operably connected to said fluid passage;
a valve member operably disposed in said fluid passage for controlling the flow of fluid medium between said supply port and said control port, wherein said valve member has a bore extending at least partially through said valve member for providing the flow between said supply port and said control port;
an exhaust port disposed through said valve body and operably connected to said fluid passage, a plurality of metering orifices extending through said valve member between said bore and fluid passage, said exhaust port further including a first portion that extends parallel to said metering orifices, a second portion spaced from said first portion that extends parallel to said metering orifices and an intermediate portion that extends obliquely with respect to said first and said second portions,
a metering land operably disposed in a sliding relationship with respect to said valve member and said metering orifices, wherein said valve member controls the flow of fluid between said control port and either of said supply port and said exhaust port by moving with respect to said metering land; and
a solenoid portion having a coil with an armature movable within said solenoid portion in response to energization of said coil and a shaft connected to said armature, wherein said shaft extends partially into said valve body and directly contacts said valve member and said energization of said coil causes said shaft to slide within said solenoid portion and move said valve member in response to movement of said armature within said solenoid portion.