Electromagnetic apparatus and method for controlling fluid flow

• Main Authors: Mo Xiaoxiong, Herbert Kay, Parsons Natan E, Guler Fatih
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 06.09.2016
• Subjects: ACTUATING-FLOATS; BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; BLASTING; COCKS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING; ELECTRICITY; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HEATING; INDUCTANCES; LIGHTING; MAGNETS; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES; TAPS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; TRANSFORMERS; VALVES; WEAPONS

An actuator including actuator base, bobbin, and pole piece forming a pocket for a ferromagnetic armature located therein. The actuator including a radial magnet and a solenoid coil constructed and arranged to cause a linear displacement of the armature upon application of a coil drive current from a control circuit. The actuator may include a flexible membrane that partially encloses the armature to form an armature chamber filled with an incompressible fluid. In a valve design, a fluid flow is stopped by driving the membrane against a valve seat. Pressure from the controlled fluid in the conduit is transmitted through the membrane to the fluid within the armature chamber so that the armature does not need to counteract force applied to the membrane by the conduit fluid's pressure. A fluid flow is opened by driving the membrane away from the valve seat.