Overmolded or pressed-in sleeve for hydraulic routing of solenoid
A valve having a metal insert with a fluid passage formed in the metal insert. A composite valve body is disposed at least partially around the metal insert and having at least one port in fluid communication with the fluid passage with the metal insert. A valve member is partially disposed in the metal insert and operable to control the fluid flow through the fluid passage of the metal insert and parts of the valve body.
1. A solenoid pressure control valve comprising:
a metal insert having a fluid passage formed in said metal insert, wherein said metal insert contains one or more apertures that extend from an exterior of said metal insert to said fluid passage formed in said metal insert;
a composite valve body overmolded at least partially around said metal insert, wherein said composite valve body has a bore where said metal insert is positioned and said composite valve body has one or more ports in fluid communication with said one or more apertures and said fluid passage of said metal insert; and
a spool valve member at least partially disposed in said metal insert, wherein said spool valve member is operable to control fluid flow through said fluid passage, wherein said spool valve member has a bore extending at least partly through said spool valve member for providing flow between said fluid passage and said at least one port and said spool valve member.
2. The solenoid pressure control valve of claim 1 , further comprising a solenoid portion having a coil with an armature moveable within said solenoid portion in response to the energization of said coil, wherein said armature is operably connected to said spool valve member, and wherein energization of said coil causes said armature to act on said spool valve member to control fluid flow through said fluid passage.
3. The solenoid pressure control valve of claim 2 , further comprising a spring operably connected to said armature for biasing said armature in one direction when said coil is not energized.
4. The solenoid pressure control valve of claim 1 , wherein said spool valve member is slideable within said fluid passage.
5. The solenoid pressure control valve of claim 1 , wherein said composite valve body is composed of a thermoplastics material.
6. A solenoid pressure control valve comprising:
a metal insert having a fluid passage formed in said metal insert;
a composite valve body disposed at least partially around said metal insert, wherein said composite valve body has a bore where said metal insert is positioned;
a supply port disposed through said composite valve body and said metal insert, wherein said supply port is connected to said fluid passage;
a control port disposed through said composite valve body and said metal insert, said control port being connected to said fluid passage;
an exhaust port disposed through said composite valve body and said metal insert, said exhaust port being connected to said fluid passage;
a spool valve member at least partially disposed in said metal insert for controlling the flow of fluid medium between said supply port and said control port, wherein said spool valve member controls the flow of fluid medium between said control port and either said supply port or said exhaust port by moving with respect to said metal insert;
a solenoid portion having a coil with an armature moveable within said solenoid portion in response to energization of said coil, wherein said armature is operably configured to contact said spool valve member and causes said spool valve member to slide within said fluid passage; and
a spring operably connected to said armature for biasing said armature in one direction when said coil is not energized.
7. The solenoid pressure control valve of claim 6 , wherein said composite valve body is composed of a thermoplastics material.
8. A method of making a composite solenoid pressure control valve including a metal insert, composite valve body, spool valve member, fluid passage and at least one port, said method comprising the steps of:
forming the fluid passage in said metal insert;
placing said spool valve member in said fluid passage;
overmolding said composite valve body to said metal insert such that said composite valve body at least partially surrounds said metal insert; and
forming said at least one port in said composite valve body, wherein said at least one port is operably connected to said fluid passage.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising the steps of:
providing an actuator; and
operably connecting said actuator to said spool valve member, wherein said actuator controls the movements of said spool valve member.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said actuator has a housing integrated with said composite valve body.
11. The solenoid pressure control valve of claim 6 , further comprising a metering land formed in said fluid passage for controlling the flow of fluid medium through said fluid passage.
12. The solenoid pressure control valve of claim 6 , further comprising a metering orifice for fluidly communicating said fluid passage with at least one of said control port, said supply port, and said exhaust port.
13. The solenoid pressure control valve of claim 12 , further comprising a metering land, with said metering land engageable with said metering orifice for controlling the flow of fluid medium through said metering orifice.
14. The solenoid pressure control valve of claim 13 , wherein said metering land has metering edges for metering the flow of fluid medium through said metering orifice.
15. The solenoid pressure control valve of claim 12 , wherein said spool valve member has a bore extending at least partially through said spool valve member for providing the flow of fluid medium between said supply port and said control port, and wherein said metering orifice extends through said spool valve member between said bore and said fluid passage.
16. The solenoid pressure control valve of claim 13 , wherein said metal insert presents said metering land, with said metering land engageable with said metering orifice for controlling the flow of fluid medium through said metering orifice.
17. The solenoid pressure control valve of claim 6 , wherein said metal insert has upper and lower bearings.
18. The solenoid pressure control valve of claim 6 , wherein said metal insert contains one or more apertures that extend from an exterior of said metal insert to said fluid passage formed in said metal insert, with said one or more apertures configured to align with at least one of said control port, said supply port, and said exhaust port.
19. The solenoid pressure control valve of claim 6 , wherein said composite valve body is overmolded at least partially around said metal insert.