An extended range proportional valve which can control rates of mass flow over continuous low, intermediate and high ranges has a pilot member mounted on an armature of a solenoid which can be dithered onto and off of a pilot opening in a main valve member which seals a main valve opening to control mass flow rates over the low range by varying the duty cycle and/or frequency of a pulse width modulated current in the solenoid coil. Intermediate and high flow rates are achieved by dithering the pilot valve member with a duty cycle and/or frequency sufficient to raise the main valve member relatively short and relatively long respective distances from the main valve seat.

Extended range proportional valve

A method and apparatus for self-calibrating control of gas flow. The gas flow rate is initially set by controlling, to a high degree of precision, the amount of opening of a flow restriction, where the design of the apparatus containing the flow restriction lends itself to achieving high precision. The gas flow rate is then measured by a pressure rate-of-drop upstream of the flow restriction, and the amount of flow restriction opening is adjusted, if need be, to obtain exactly the desired flow.

Method and apparatus for gas flow control

An axle assembly with an electronic locking differential that employs a locking mechanism having components that are fixed to one another along an axis such that they co-translate with one another when the actuator that effects the locking and unlocking of the differential is operated. A method for assembling a differential is also provided.

Electronic locking differential with direct locking state detection system

A method for detecting actuation of an armature associated with a solenoid includes providing a voltage potential to a solenoid coil associated with the solenoid. The method also includes measuring a current flowing through the solenoid coil. The method further includes switching the voltage potential off when the measured current reaches a predetermined maximum value. The method also includes switching the voltage potential on when the measured current reaches a predetermined minimum value. The method further includes measuring a chop period between pulses associated with the switching on and off of the voltage potential. The method also includes analyzing successive chop periods to detect armature movement and armature seating. The method further includes determining, based on the comparison of chop periods, a pull-in time of an armature associated with the solenoid.

Systems and methods for detecting solenoid armature movement

An electromagnetic pump comprising a voltage sense device (124) for sensing the electrical voltage applied to the coil, a current sense device (122) for sensing the coil current, and control electronics (120) to detect the end of a pump stroke based on a change in flux over time calculated as a function of sensed coil current and sensed electrical voltage. Implantable infusion device comprising the said electromagnetic pump.

End of stroke detection for electromagnetic pump

An apparatus detects a position of an armature within a solenoid coil by superimposing a fixed frequency sensing signal onto the coil driver signal. The combined signal is applied to the solenoid coil and an alternating current component varies with changes in inductance of the solenoid coil that result from position changes of the armature. A current sensor produces an output signal indicating a level of current flowing through the solenoid coil and a filter extracts the alternating component of that output signal that results from the sensing signal. A position circuit determines the position of the armature from an output from the filter.

Method and apparatus for sensing armature position in direct current solenoid actuators

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect the position of an armature by superposing the detected signal on the current regulation signal of an electromagnetic actuator coil. SOLUTION: The signal V2 generated be a detection signal generator 72 is superposed on the current regulation signal V1 to drive a solenoid oil 38. Then, the reference signal is outputted to measure the inductance of the coil as the instruction of the position of a armature. Also, in order to surely move a solenoid armature at an appropriate position, a current sensor 76 detects the current flowing in the solenoid coil 38. The move the armature is moved into the solenoid coil 38, the more the inductance of the solenoid coil 38 is increased, and the more the AC component of the current flowing in the coil is reduced. Thus, the relative position of the armature can be determined detecting the AC component to be consumed by the solenoid coil 38.

Device and method for detecting armature position in reluctance electro-magnetic actuator

An apparatus detects a position of an armature within
a solenoid coil by superimposing a fixed frequency sensing
signal onto the coil driver signal. The combined signal
is applied to the solenoid coil and an alternating current
component varies with changes in inductance of the solenoid
coil that result from position changes of the armature. A
current sensor produces an output signal indicating a level
of current flowing through the solenoid coil and a filter
extracts the alternating component of that output signal
that results from the sensing signal. A position circuit
determines the position of the armature from an output from
the filter.

Li Long-Jang

Papers

Method and apparatus for sensing armature position in direct current solenoid actuators

Device and method for detecting armature position in reluctance electro-magnetic actuator

Method and apparatus for sensing armature position in reluctance electromagnetic actuators