Solenoid valve with a metallic tube bobbin

1. A solenoid valve ( 200 ), comprising:

a fixed core ( 206 );

a conductor board ( 204 );

a movable armature ( 420 ) located below the fixed core;

a metallic tube bobbin ( 308 ) surrounding at least a portion of the fixed core ( 206 ) and/or the movable armature ( 420 ); and

a wire coil ( 203 ) in at least partial contact with the metallic tube bobbin ( 308 ), wherein wire ends of the wire coil ( 203 ) are affixed to the conductor board ( 204 ) wherein the wire coil ( 203 ) is prevented from moving above a predetermined position on the metallic tube bobbin ( 308 ) by the fixed core ( 206 ) and wherein the wire coil ( 203 ) is prevented from moving below a predetermined position on the metallic tube bobbin ( 308 ) by a pole piece ( 309 ).

2. The solenoid valve ( 200 ) of claim 1 , further comprising a coupling joint ( 430 ) formed between the fixed core ( 206 ) and the metallic tube bobbin ( 308 ) to form a substantially fluid-tight seal.

3. The solenoid valve ( 200 ) of claim 1 , further comprising a flux retaining member ( 207 ) surrounding at least a portion of the wire coil ( 203 ) and the metallic tube bobbin ( 308 ).

4. The solenoid valve ( 200 ) of claim 1 , further comprising a sealing member ( 431 ) forming a substantially fluid-tight seal between the metallic tube bobbin ( 308 ) and a valve housing ( 201 ).

5. The solenoid valve ( 200 ) of claim 1 , further comprising a printed circuit board ( 204 ) coupled to the fixed core ( 206 ).

6. The solenoid valve ( 200 ) of claim 5 , wherein the wire coil ( 203 ) is attached to the printed circuit board ( 204 ) to provide electrical energy to the wire coil ( 203 ).

7. The solenoid valve ( 200 ) of claim 5 , further comprising an aperture ( 304 ) formed in the printed circuit board ( 204 ) for receiving at least a portion of the fixed core ( 206 ).

8. A method for forming a solenoid valve including a fixed core and a movable armature, comprising steps of:

locating the movable armature below the fixed core;

surrounding at least a portion of the fixed core and/or the movable armature with a metallic tube bobbin;

providing a pole piece on the metallic tube bobbin; and

wrapping a wire coil around the metallic tube bobbin such that the wire coil ( 203 ) is in at least partial contact with the metallic tube bobbin ( 308 ) wherein the wire coil is prevented from moving above a predetermined position on the metallic tube bobbin by the fixed core and the wire coil is prevented from moving below a predetermined position on the metallic tube bobbin by a pole piece.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising a step of forming a coupling joint between the fixed core and the metallic tube bobbin to provide a substantially fluid-tight seal.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising a step of surrounding at least a portion of the wire coil and metallic tube bobbin with a flux retaining member.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising a step of positioning a sealing member between the metallic tube bobbin and a valve housing to form a substantially fluid-tight seal.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising a step of coupling a printed circuit board to the fixed core.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising a step of attaching the wire coil to the printed circuit board to provide electrical energy to the wire coil.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising a step of receiving at least a portion of the fixed core in an aperture formed in the printed circuit board.

15. A solenoid valve ( 200 ), comprising:

a fixed core ( 206 );

a movable armature ( 420 );

a metallic tube bobbin ( 308 ) surrounding at least a portion of the fixed core ( 206 ) and the movable armature ( 420 );

a ledge ( 408 ) formed in the metallic tube bobbin ( 308 ); and

a wire coil ( 203 ) wrapped around the metallic tube bobbin ( 308 ), wherein the wire coil ( 203 ) is prevented from moving above a predetermined position on the metallic tube bobbin ( 308 ) by the fixed core ( 206 ) and wherein the ledge prevents the wire coil ( 203 ) from moving below a predetermined position on the metallic tube bobbin ( 308 ), and wherein wire ends of the wire coil ( 203 ) may be attached to the conductor board ( 204 ).

16. The solenoid valve ( 200 ) of claim 15 , further comprising a coupling joint ( 430 ) formed between the fixed core ( 206 ) and the metallic tube bobbin ( 308 ) to form a substantially fluid-tight seal.

17. The solenoid valve ( 200 ) of claim 15 , further comprising a flux retaining member ( 207 ) surrounding at least a portion of the wire coil ( 203 ) and the metallic tube bobbin ( 308 ).

18. The solenoid valve ( 200 ) of claim 15 , further comprising a sealing member ( 431 ) forming a substantially fluid-tight seal between the metallic tube bobbin ( 308 ) and a valve housing ( 201 ).

19. The solenoid valve ( 200 ) of claim 15 , further comprising a printed circuit board ( 204 ) coupled to the fixed core ( 206 ).

20. The solenoid valve ( 200 ) of claim 19 , wherein the wire coil ( 203 ) is attached to the printed circuit board ( 204 ) to provide electrical energy to the wire coil ( 203 ).

21. The solenoid valve ( 200 ) of claim 1 , wherein the conductor board ( 204 ) further comprises an aperture; and wherein at least a portion of the fixed core ( 206 ) is received in the aperture.

22. The solenoid valve ( 200 ) of claim 1 , further comprising a ledge ( 408 ) formed in and extending radially outwardly relative to the metallic tube bobbin ( 308 ), wherein the pole piece ( 309 ) abuts the ledge ( 408 ).

23. The method of claim 8 , further comprising the step of receiving at least a portion of the fixed core in an aperture of a conductor board provided to the valve.

24. The method of claim 8 , wherein the metallic tube bobbin comprises a ledge formed in and extending radially outwardly relative to the metallic tube bobbin, and wherein the pole piece abuts the ledge.

25. The solenoid valve ( 200 ) of claim 15 , further comprising a pole piece ( 309 ), wherein the pole piece ( 309 ) abuts the ledge ( 408 ).