U.S. patent application number 11/236325 was filed with the patent office on 2007-10-18 for electromagnetic apparatus and method for controlling fluid flow.
Invention is credited to Fatih Guler, Kay Herbert, Xiaoxiong Mo, Natan E. Parsons.
Application Number | 20070241298 11/236325 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46325070 |
Filed Date | 2007-10-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070241298 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Herbert; Kay ; et
al. |
October 18, 2007 |
Electromagnetic apparatus and method for controlling fluid flow
Abstract
An actuator including actuator base, bobbin, and pole piece
forming a pocket for a ferromagnetid 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.
Inventors: |
Herbert; Kay; (Winthrop,
MA) ; Parsons; Natan E.; (Brookline, MA) ; Mo;
Xiaoxiong; (Lexington, MA) ; Guler; Fatih;
(Winchester, MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
IVAN DAVID ZITKOVSKY PH.D PC
5 MILITIA DRIVE
LEXINGTON
MA
02421
US
|
Family ID: |
46325070 |
Appl. No.: |
11/236325 |
Filed: |
September 26, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10421359 |
Apr 23, 2003 |
6948697 |
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|
11236325 |
Sep 26, 2005 |
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PCT/US01/51098 |
Oct 25, 2001 |
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10421359 |
Apr 23, 2003 |
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09696154 |
Oct 25, 2000 |
6609698 |
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PCT/US01/51098 |
Oct 25, 2001 |
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|
10610954 |
Jul 1, 2003 |
6955334 |
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11236325 |
Sep 26, 2005 |
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10037473 |
Oct 19, 2001 |
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|
10610954 |
Jul 1, 2003 |
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09514491 |
Feb 29, 2000 |
6305662 |
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10037473 |
Oct 19, 2001 |
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09924130 |
Aug 7, 2001 |
6450478 |
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10037473 |
Oct 19, 2001 |
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60659343 |
Mar 5, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
251/129.04 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16K 7/16 20130101; F16K
37/0041 20130101; F16K 31/0655 20130101; F16K 37/00 20130101; F16K
31/082 20130101; F16K 31/0672 20130101; F16K 31/0675 20130101; F16K
41/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
251/129.04 |
International
Class: |
F16K 31/02 20060101
F16K031/02 |
Claims
1. An electromagnetic actuator, comprising: a solenoid coil and an
armature housing, providing an armature chamber, constructed and
arranged to receive a movable armature including a distal part; a
membrane arranged to enclose at least partially said distal part to
seal armature fluid inside said armature chamber, said armature
being constructed to control flow of fluid through a valve passage
by a linear displacement of said distal part caused by a coil drive
current applied to said solenoid coil thereby acting on said
armature, said displacement of said distal part displaces said
membrane with respect to said valve passage controlled by said
actuator; and a radial magnet arranged to maintain said armature in
a stationary position by a force of a magnetic field.
2. The actuator of claim 1 wherein said distal part of said
armature is arranged to compress said membrane against a valve seat
when closing said valve passage while said armature is disposed in
its extended armature position.
3. The actuator of claim 2 further including an armature sensor
constructed to detect displacement of said armature.
4. The actuator of claim 4 further including a control circuit
constructed to apply said coil drive current to said coil in
response to an output from said armature sensor.
5. The actuator of claim 1 further including a bias spring
positioned and arranged to biases said armature toward its extended
position.
6. The actuator of claim 5 wherein said distal part of the armature
is arranged to compress said membrane against a valve seat when
closing said valve passage while said armature is disposed in its
extended armature position.
7. The actuator of claim 5 further including an armature sensor
constructed to detect displacement of said armature.
8. The actuator of claim 5 further including a control circuit
constructed to apply said coil drive current to said coil in
response to an output from said armature sensor.
9. The actuator of claim 8 wherein said control circuit is
operatively connected to receive signals from an external object
sensor.
10. An electromagnetic actuator, comprising: a solenoid coil and an
armature housing constructed and arranged to receive in an armature
chamber a movable armature including a distal part; a control
circuit constructed to apply a coil drive current to said solenoid
coil and thereby cause a linear displacement of said distal part
with respect to a valve passage controlled by said actuator; and a
radial magnet arranged to maintain said armature in a stationary
position by a force of a magnetic field without application of said
coil drive current.
11. The actuator of claim 10 wherein said distal part of the
armature is arranged to compress a pliable member against a valve
seat when closing said valve passage while said armature is
disposed in its extended armature position.
12. The actuator of claim 11 further including an armature sensor
constructed to detect displacement of said armature.
13. The actuator of claim 10 wherein said control circuit is
powered by a battery.
14. The actuator of claim 12 wherein said control circuit is
constructed to apply said coil drive to said coil in a first
direction to displace said armature to a first end position and
being responsive to an output from said sensor meeting a
predetermined first current-termination criterion to stop applying
coil drive to the coil in the first drive direction.
15-23. (canceled)
24. The actuator of claim 10, wherein said control circuit is
operatively connected to an external object sensor.
25. The actuator of claim 24 wherein said object sensor includes a
motion sensor.
26. The actuator of claim 24 wherein said object sensor includes a
presence sensor.
27. The actuator of claim 24 wherein said object sensor includes an
active optical sensor.
28. The actuator of claim 24 wherein said object sensor includes a
passive optical sensor.
29. The actuator of claim 24 wherein said object sensor includes an
ultrasonic sensor.
30. The actuator of claim 20 wherein said object sensor includes a
capacitive sensor.
31. The actuator of claim 10 further including a pilot body member
operatively arranged with said membrane to provide a valve seat for
said valve passage.
32. The actuator of claim 31 wherein said pilot body member is
attached to an actuator base to provide a known, substantially
constant distance between an external surface of said membrane and
said valve seat.
33. The actuator of claim 31 wherein said pilot body member
includes a shoulder cooperatively designed with respect to said
actuator base to provide a reproducible stop and thereby achieve
said known, substantially constant distance when attaching said
pilot body member to said actuator base.
34. The actuator of claim 1 wherein said radial magnet includes a
single ring-like member.
35. The actuator of claim 1 wherein said radial magnet includes two
or more semicircular members.
36. The actuator of claim 1 wherein said radial magnet includes
several discrete magnets located radialy with respect to said
ferromagnetic armature.
37. The actuator of claim 10 wherein said radial magnet includes a
single ring-like member.
38. The actuator of claim 10 wherein said radial magnet includes
two or more semicircular members.
39. The actuator of claim 10 wherein said radial magnet includes
several discrete magnets located radialy with respect to said
ferromagnetic armature.
40. The actuator of claim 10 wherein said membrane includes a
compliant region, and a resilient region designed to be displaced
by said distal part of said armature and designed to come in
contact with said valve seat.
41. A method of controlling a valve passage, comprising the acts
of: providing an actuator including an armature and a coil operable
by application of a coil drive thereto in a first drive direction
to conduct current in a first current direction and thereby tend to
drive the armature to a first end position providing a radial
magnet; applying coil drive to the coil in the first drive
direction; and maintaining said ferromagnetic armature in a
stationary position by a force of a magnetic field.
42. The method of claim 41 further including determining whether
the armature has linearly displaced to reach the first end position
using an armature sensor.
43. The method of claim 42 wherein said maintaining includes
creating a magnetic flux through said armature for creating said
force upon said armature.
44. The method of claim 43 wherein said force depends on a magnetic
flux path outside said armature.
45. The method of claim 44 including changing said magnetic flux
path outside said armature.
46-47. (canceled)
Description
[0001] This application also claims priority from U.S. provisional
Application 60/659,343 filed on Mar. 5, 2005. This application is
also a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No.
10/421,359, filed on Apr. 23, 2003, entitled "Apparatus and Method
for Controlling Fluid Flow," which is a continuation of PCT
Application PCT/US01/51098, filed on Oct. 25, 2001, which is
continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/696,154, filed
on Oct. 25, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,609,698. This application is
also a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No.
10/610,954, filed on Jul. 1, 2003, which is a continuation of U.S.
application Ser. No. 10/037,473, filed on Oct. 19, 2001, which is a
continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/514,491, filed on Feb.
29, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,305,662, is a continuation-in-part of
U.S. application Ser. No. 09/924,130, filed on Aug. 7, 2001, now
U.S. Pat. No. 6,450,478. The disclosure of all of the
above-mentioned applications is considered part of, and is
incorporated by reference in, the disclosure of this
application.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1 . Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to controlling fluid flow in
various systems and more specifically to electromagnetic
actuators.
[0004] 2. Background Information
[0005] Industrial, agricultural and household systems use various
types of valves for controlling fluid flow. The most common form of
electrically operated valve employs a solenoid wound onto a bobbin,
and a valve member located inside the bobbin and driven by a drive
current passed through the solenoid. In a closed position, a tip of
the valve member (armature) is pressed against a valve seat and
thereby stops flow through a conduit in which the valve seat is
disposed. Although the tip of the valve member is in many cases
made of a synthetic resin, or other resilient material, other parts
of the valve member are made up of a material having relatively
high magnetic permeability, such as steel, so that it will be
subject to force from the solenoid's magnetic field and will act as
a solenoid armature.
[0006] In battery-operated actuators, electric valve-control
circuitry should employ as little power as possible. To achieve
highly energy efficient operation, the valve member (i.e., the
solenoid's armature) needs to be as magnetically permeable as
possible. Furthermore, the electric-valve control circuitry should
apply only the minimum drive current necessary for the minimum
duration during the armature activation for latching valves (i.e.,
valves whose actuators require power to open or close the valve but
not to keep it opened or closed). In non-latching actuators,
unnecessarily high drive current for holding the valve open also
may needlessly reduce the battery's longevity. Therefore, the
reduction of energy consumption is an important aspect of actuator
design.
[0007] In many prior art actuators, water (or other fluid being
regulated) can flow into the cavity of the bobbin containing the
actuator. The actuator frequently includes a flow passage in
communication with an internal void (i.e., armature chamber) to
provide a low-flow resistance path and to compensate for the
external pressure on the valve member (i.e., the pressure exerted
by the regulated fluid onto the armature). Thus, the regulated
fluid moves back and forth in response to closing or opening the
actuator. This usually causes degradation of the armature (i.e.,
corrosion) and problems with metal and other ions (or other
deposits) that accumulate within the bobbin's cavity. The severity
of this problem depends on the type of fluid being regulated.
[0008] As mentioned above, an optimal armature of the solenoid has
as high a magnetic permeability as possible. However, materials
with very high magnetic permeability usually have low corrosion
resistance. Thus, designers in the past have had to compromise
permeability for corrosion resistance. For example, carbon steel
has a high magnetic permeability, but is quite vulnerable to rust
and corrosion. Therefore, designers have resorted to the higher
magnetic permeability grades of stainless steel, even though
stainless steel is less magnetically permeable than carbon steel.
Still, designers have had problems with the above-described
deposits, or conversely, problems with preventing fluid
contamination of the armature, bobbin or other valve elements.
Hence, the need for an improved valve actuator.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for
controlling fluid flow in various systems.
[0010] According to one aspect, an electromagnetic actuator
includes a solenoid coil and an armature housing constructed and
arranged to receive in an armature chamber a movable armature
including a distal part. The actuator also includes a control
circuit constructed to apply a coil drive current to the solenoid
coil and thereby cause a linear displacement of the distal part
with respect to a valve passage controlled by the actuator. The
actuator also includes a radial magnet arranged to maintain the
armature in a stationary position by a force of a magnetic field
without application of said coil drive current.
[0011] According to another aspect, an electromagnetic actuator
includes a solenoid coil, and an armature housing constructed and
arranged to form an armature pocket (or chamber) formed to receive
a ferromagnetic armature, including a distal part of the armature
(or a plunger tip). The actuator also includes a membrane secured
with respect to the pocket and arranged to enclose at least
partially the distal tip to seal armature chamber fluid within the
pocket, wherein displacement of the armature displaces the membrane
with respect to a valve passage controlled by the actuator.
[0012] According to another aspect, the invention incorporates an
electromagnetic actuator that includes a solenoid coil, a permanent
magnet, and an armature housing that forms an armature chamber
within which a ferromagnetic armature is found.
[0013] According to yet another aspect, the invention is an
electromagnetic actuator comprising a solenoid coil, an armature
housing, a radial magnet and a ferromagnetic armature inside an
armature chamber. The electromagnetic actuator also includes a
membrane arranged to at least partially enclose a distal part of
the armature to seal armature fluid inside the armature chamber. A
linear displacement of the armature, caused by a coil drive current
applied to the solenoid coil, displaces the distal part and thus
the membrane with respect to a valve passage controlled by the
actuator. The radial magnet is magnetically coupled to a magnetic
circuit arranged to maintain the ferromagnetic armature in a
selected position.
[0014] The actuator may include an armature sensor. The armature
sensor may be a piezoelectric transducer. The piezoelectric
transducer may be secured to an external housing of the actuator.
Alternatively, the armature sensor includes an optical sensor, or a
detector of electromagnetic radiation. The detector of
electromagnetic radiation may include a wire loop.
[0015] The above actuators are operable by driving electric current
through the solenoid coil to drive the armature between retracted
and extended armature positions. The actuator may include a
flexible membrane secured at the mouth of the pocket so as to
deform outward when the armature travels to its extended position.
The membrane helps form, with the housing, a substantially
fluid-tight armature chamber that contains the armature. The radial
magnet may include a single ring-like member, or may include two or
more semicircular members assembled to form a ring, or may include
several discrete magnets located within the armature housing.
[0016] If the membrane is used, a substantially incompressible
fluid occupies the entire chamber volume not occupied by the
armature. The chamber fluid may include incompressible fluid
comprising a corrosion inhibitor. The incompressible fluid may
consist essentially of water mixed with a corrosion inhibitor. The
incompressible fluid may include a liquid having relatively large
molecules.
[0017] For example, the armature liquid may be water mixed with a
corrosion inhibitor, e.g., a 20% mixture of polypropylene glycol
and potassium phosphate. Alternatively, the armature fluid may
include silicon-based fluid, polypropylene polyethylene glycol or
another fluid having a large molecule. The armature liquid may in
general be any substantially non-compressible liquid having low
viscosity and non-corrosive properties with respect to the
armature. Because of this protection, the illustrated embodiment's
armature material can be a low-carbon steel; corrosion resistance
is not as big a factor as it would otherwise be. Other embodiments
may employ armature materials such as the 420 or 430 series
stainless steels. It is only necessary that the armature consist
essentially of a ferromagnetic material, i.e., a material that the
solenoid and magnet can attract. Even so, it may include parts,
such as, say, a flexible tip, that are not ferromagnetic.
[0018] According to yet another aspect, an actuator system includes
an actuator including an actuator housing, an armature located
within an armature chamber a radial magnet, an armature sensor and
a coil operable by application of a coil drive provided from a
control circuit. The control circuit is constructed to provide the
coil drive in the first drive direction to conduct current in a
first current direction intended to drive the armature to a first
end position. The control circuit is constructed to begin applying
coil drive to a coil in the first direction and to be responsive to
the sensor output meeting a predetermined first current-termination
criterion to stop applying this coil drive to the coil in the first
drive direction.
[0019] This use of the armature sensor reduces the energy waste
that usually occurs in driving the actuator's armature. An armature
sensor may monitor the armature movement or determine when the
armature has reached the end of its travel. At a selected point,
based on the signal from the armature sensor, a drive signal to the
actuator coil drive ends. This can reduce energy consumption
greatly, because coil-drive duration does not always need to be
long enough to meet worst-case requirements, which are usually
applied to assure opening or closing when there is no armature
sensor. This reduction of energy use results in a significant
battery-longevity increase. Further, a sensor can check if the
actuator is functioning properly, and aid in monitoring the
condition of the actuator in question. These measurements show the
state of the condition of the valve. Once the armature reaches the
end position and makes a sound, for example, the sensor generates a
sensor output indicative of the sound sensed. The sound sensor may
be such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,450,478; 6,305,662;
6,293,516, which are incorporated by reference. Other signals
indicative of the armature position may be used.
[0020] Advantageously, the use of the membrane enables the use of
armature materials with a high magnetic permeability such as the
ferromagnetic types of carbon steel or stainless steel regardless
of their low corrosion resistance, and the armature does not need
to be subjected to a number of treatment steps to afford an
acceptable level of corrosion resistance. Furthermore, the present
design reduces the solenoid-wire size currently required because of
a regular armature's non-optimal magnetic permeability. When the
actuator includes a flexible membrane secured over the end of the
pocket in which the armature travels, the armature's
high-permeability material is not exposed to the possibly corrosive
fluid whose flow the valve is to control. The armature pocket is
filled with an incompressible fluid so as to counterbalance the
force exerted by the controlled fluid's pressure. The flexible
membrane also protects the valve assembly from contaminants present
in the fluids flowing in and controlled by the valve assembly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electromagnetic actuator
constructed and arranged for controlling fluid flow through a
valve.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the electromagnetic
actuator of FIG. 1 including the valve.
[0023] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the electromagnetic actuator
for controlling a valve.
[0024] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of
the electromagnetic actuator.
[0025] FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of
the electromagnetic actuator.
[0026] FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment of
the electromagnetic actuator
[0027] FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view of a fifth embodiment of
the electromagnetic actuator.
[0028] FIG. 5 and FIG. 5A schematically illustrate control
electronics for controlling the electromagnetic actuator.
[0029] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of an
electrically operated valve actuator.
[0030] FIG. 6A is an exploded view of the actuator shown in FIG.
6.
[0031] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the actuator shown in
FIG. 6 including a piezoelectric transducer.
[0032] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of another control system for the
actuator.
[0033] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an automatic bathroom
flusher using the electromagnetic actuator of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0034] Industrial, agricultural and household systems use various
types of valves that use electromagnetic actuators for controlling
fluid flow. Referring to FIG. 1, an electrically operable valve 10A
uses force from magnetic fields and the biasing force of a radial
magnet to drive an armature within an actuator into a valve seat,
thereby stopping flow through a conduit, and to move the armature
away from the valve seat, thereby opening the valve once more.
[0035] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an embodiment of the electrically
operable valve 10A. As seen in FIG. 2, the valve actuator 10A
includes an annular magnet 23, a rear pole piece 25, a
ferromagnetic armature 80, and the solenoid windings 28 wound about
a solenoid bobbin 14. The valve also includes a resilient membrane
90 and a replaceable pilot body member 100, which defines the valve
geometry. Resilient membrane 90 includes a thickened peripheral rim
92, flexible portion 94, portion 98, surrounding the plunger tip,
and deformable sealing part 96.
[0036] Actuator 10A includes ferromagnetic armature 80 linearly and
slideably movable in an armature pocket formed between rear pole
piece 25, solenoid bobbin 14, and actuator housing 18 (i.e.,
actuator body 18). Housing 18 includes an actuator base 16, a shelf
(i.e., flange) 20, and rear chamber 79. The entire armature 80 is
surrounded by a non-corrosive, incompressible fluid located in the
armature chamber (i.e., armature pocket). Valve 10A includes a
resiliently deformable O-ring 12 that forms a seal between bobbin
14 and the solenoid housing 18, all of which are held together
within housing 18. Actuator housing 18 is closed at actuator base
16 via pole piece 25 pressing against bobbin 14 at rear end 15,
thereby securing windings 28 and magnet 23 within housing 18.
[0037] Referring still to FIG. 2, the outer surface of pilot body
member 100, by its outer threads 72, engages complementary threads
74 provided at front base 76. An annular surface formed by flange
20 in base 16's lower part squeezes peripheral rim 92 of
resiliently deformable membrane 90 against shoulder 30 formed by
the rear surface of pilot body member 100.
[0038] Radial magnet 23 has its south pole facing inward, and its
north pole facing outward. The magnet is annular to prevent the
armature's attraction to one side or another of the bobbin,
therefore keeping it centered within the bobbin so it can move
smoothly.
[0039] Given the magnet's force, the armature tip (plunger tip 86)
sits on the valve seat 104, closing conduit 106 and stopping flow
through the conduit. Therefore, in the absence of a solenoid
current, armature 80 tends to seek the leftward, extended position,
and the valve is closed.
[0040] This force can be compensated for, and the valve opened, by
running current through coil 28 so that the force of the magnetic
field of magnet 23 is overcome by the magnetic force from coils 28.
To close the valve, the drive voltage's polarity is applied such
that the resultant magnetic flux from coils 28 has the same
orientation as that of permanent magnet 23. This causes magnet 23's
hold on armature 80 once more and urges plunger tip 86 together
with membrane portion 98 onto valve seat 104. In the extended
position of armature 80, the force of permanent magnet 23 is great
enough to hold armature 80 without applying any "hold" drive
current. Once the valve has thus closed, the return spring and
magnet 23 keep it closed.
[0041] Other versions of valve 10A's actuator are possible in which
the magnetic field faces in the opposite direction, causing the
armature to remain open, and current is applied to coil 28 so that
armature 80 continues to be held in the downward position, and the
valve is closed. Once the valve is desired open, current is applied
in the opposite direction to reinforce the magnetic field, and
armature 80 sits in the retracted position once again due to the
magnetic field of magnet 23.
[0042] Resiliently deformable O-ring 12 forms a seal between
solenoid bobbin 14 and housing 18. This creates a fluid-tight seal,
so that membrane 90 protects armature 80 from exposure to fluid
flowing through fluid conduit 106 in pilot member 100. Membrane 90
also cooperates with an O-ring seal 46 (at pole piece 25) to form a
fluid-tight armature chamber (including chambers 79, 91 and 89)
filled with a chamber fluid (i.e., liquid or gas) that preferably
is relatively inviscid, incompressible and non-corrosive. The
liquid should have a large molecule, so that it is less predisposed
to diffuse through membrane 90.
[0043] Resilient membrane 90 encloses the armature fluid located
within the fluid-tight armature chamber. Resilient membrane 90 is
exposed to the pressure of the regulated fluid in conduit 106 and
may therefore be subject to considerable external force. However,
in the closed state, armature 80 does not have to overcome this
force, because conduit 106's pressure is transmitted through
membrane 90 to the incompressible armature fluid within the
armature chamber (i.e., armature pocket). The force that results
from the pressure within the armature chamber therefore
approximately balances the force that the external conduit pressure
exerts.
[0044] In the illustrated embodiment, armature 80's leftmost end
forms a narrowed tip portion 86 (i.e., plunger tip 86) having a
surface that touches membrane 90, which in turn comes in contact
with seat 104 to close conduit 106 to fluid movement. Plunger tip
86 may have a circular, elliptical, rectangular or other
cross-section. Plunger tip 86's surface is related to the seat
opening area, both of which can be increased or decreased. The
plunger surface and the seat 104's surface can be optimized for a
pressure range at which the valve actuator is designed to operate.
Reducing the plunger surface (i.e., narrowing tip portion 86)
reduces the plunger area involved in squeezing membrane 90 against
seat 104, and this in turn reduces the force required to counter a
given upstream fluid-conduit pressure. On the other hand, making
the plunger tip area too small tends to damage membrane 90 during
valve closing over time. An optimum range of tip-contact area to
seat-opening area is between 1.4 and 12.3. The present actuator is
suitable for a variety of pressures of the controlled fluid,
including pressures of about 150 psi. Without any substantial
modification, the valve actuator may be used in the range of about
30 psi to 80 psi, or even water pressures of about 125 psi.
[0045] Furthermore, flexible membrane 90 protects armature 80
located within an armature cavity that is filled with a
sufficiently non-corrosive liquid, and this, in turn, enables
actuator designers to make more favorable choices between materials
with high corrosion resistance and high magnetic permeability. The
entire armature 80 is surrounded by the armature liquid that has
substantially equilibrated pressure being applied to the plunger
surface (i.e., armature 80 substantially "floats" in the liquid in
the armature chamber). Furthermore, membrane 90 provides a barrier
to metal ions and other debris that would tend to migrate into the
cavity from the fluid whose flow is being controlled, which is
advantageous, especially if such debris is made of a magnetic
material.
[0046] Referring still to FIG. 2, chamber 91 is in communication
with a passage 85 on armature 80's body. Armature 80 is free to
move with respect to fluid pressures within chamber 91 between the
retracted and extended positions. Fluid passage 85 enables the
force-balancing fluid displaced from the armature chamber's front
well 89 through passage 85, to armature chamber's rear well 79,
from which the armature's rear end has been withdrawn upon
actuation. Although armature fluid can also flow around the
armature's perimeter, arrangements in which rapid armature motion
is required need a relatively low-flow resistance path such as the
one that passage 85 helps form. Similar considerations favor use of
a chamber liquid that has a relatively low viscosity.
[0047] For example, the armature liquid may be water mixed with a
corrosion inhibitor, e.g., a 20% mixture of polypropylene glycol
and potassium phosphate. Alternatively, the armature fluid may
include silicon-based fluid, polypropylene polyethylene glycol or
another fluid having a large molecule to prevent leakage. The
chamber liquid may in general be any substantially incompressible
liquid having low viscosity and non-corrosive properties with
respect to the armature. Because of this corrosion protection, the
illustrated embodiment's plunger material can be made from
low-carbon steel, or other materials susceptible to corrosion.
Other embodiments may employ materials such as the 420 or 430
series stainless steels. It is only necessary that the armature
consist essentially of a ferromagnetic material, i.e., a material
that the solenoid and magnet can attract. Even so, it may include
parts, such as, say, a flexible tip, that are not
ferromagnetic.
[0048] As referred to earlier, the narrowed base extension of pilot
body member 100 includes external threads 72. The housing's
internal threads 74 are made to fit the complementary external
threads 72 of pilot body member 100. Actuator housing base 16
includes shelf 20 in contact with bobbin 14. Shelf 20 engages
resiliently deformable membrane 90, pressing down its outer ring 92
and holding it in place.
[0049] Resiliently deformable membrane 90 includes outer ring 92, a
compliant region 94, resilient region 96, and a C-shaped region 98
cupping plunger tip 86. In general, deformable membrane 90 and
region 98 may have various shapes and sizes, depending on the
arrangement and size of pilot body member 100 and armature 80's
plunger tip 86.
[0050] Deformable membrane 90 is made of a durable material and may
at least partially be made of an elastic material. Membrane 90 may
be an EPDM diaphragm or another type of diaphragm. Furthermore, the
material of deformable membrane 90 is selected to resist possible
degradation caused by fluid regulated by valve 10A. Therefore, the
same valve actuator can be fabricated for various industrial,
agricultural, or other applications, with only deformable membrane
90 and pilot body member 100 specifically designed for the
regulated fluid. In medical applications, membrane 90 and pilot
member 100 (including O-rings 103 and 108) may be made of material
resilient to sterilization, or may be made of a disposable
material. Therefore, the valve actuator may be reused after being
sterilized, or with new disposable elements.
[0051] Referring to FIGS. 2, 4 and 4A, passage 85 located in
ferromagnetic armature 80, 80A or 80B enables fluid movement in the
armature chamber sealed by O-ring seals 12 and 46, and membrane 90.
This fluid-tight seal for the chamber liquid protects the armature
from exposure to the external fluid located in contact with pilot
body member 100. Passage 85 may be in form of a slot extending
along the entire length of armature 80. The low-resistance path
enables a rapid linear movement of armature 80.
[0052] In general, during field maintenance or replacement, the
valve actuator or other elements may be removed or replaced, which
may cause a change in the distance and geometry between valve seat
104 and the plunger tip 86 (or resilient region 96) of the valve
actuator. Furthermore, various piece-part tolerances and O-ring
deformability may result in some variability in the position of the
pilot body's conduit 106 with respect to C-shaped region 98 of
membrane 90. This variability can cause resultant inconsistency in
the valve operation during the open and close times, but such
problems are eliminated by the use of pilot body member 100.
[0053] The actuator assembly includes pilot body member 100
reproducibly secured to the operator assembly, which provides
numerous advantages: Specifically, pilot body member 100 includes
external threads 72, which engage complementary threads 74, and
therefore a flange 102. (Alternatively, actuator housing base 76
and pilot body member 100 may be connected by other types of
locking mechanisms.) Importantly, flange 102 butts against a
shoulder portion 76 of housing 18, thereby providing a positive
stop to housing 18 when it is screwed onto the operator assembly.
This positive stop provides a known, substantially constant
distance and geometry between an external surface of resilient
portion 96 and valve seat 104. The known, substantially constant
distance and geometry, in turn, assures reproducible closing and
opening action of the valve member.
[0054] The use of different pilot members 100 enables controlled
changes (design changes) in the pilot-valve, seat spacing, and
geometry when different pilot members 100 are pre-assembled onto
the valve operator, as shown in FIG. 2. Finally, pilot body members
100 are used.
[0055] In the closed position, region 96 seals the opening at valve
seat 104, and thus prevents fluid flow from a pilot passage 105 to
a pilot passage 106. Pilot body member 100 may be coupled via pilot
passages 105 and 106 to the pilot chamber of a diaphragm that
controls a toilet flusher or a faucet. Thus, the use of pilot body
member 100 is a novel improvement of the operation of
diaphragm-controlled flush valves, such as those disclosed in U.S.
Pat. Nos. 5,125,621; 5,195,720; 5,196,118; 5,244,179; or U.S.
Patent Publication US2004/0164261, all of which are incorporated by
reference. Furthermore, several diaphragms may be cascaded
together, wherein passages 105 and 106 are connected to a first,
smaller diaphragm, which in turn controls a second larger diaphragm
that enables flow of a large amount of fluid to pass the diaphragm
in its open state. These two diaphragms linked together create an
amplification effect for effectively controlling fluid flow at
large diaphragms or large fluid pressures.
[0056] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of different portions of the
electromagnetic actuator 10A. The dimensions of all of the
components of actuator 1 0A are shown in FIGS. 3A-F found in
application 60/659,343, which is incorporated by reference for all
purposes.
[0057] FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of an electromagnetic
valve. Valve 10B also has a pilot body member 100 and resilient
membrane 90. Valve 10B's actuator is composed of an armature 80A
housed in the armature cavity defined by bobbin 14, pole piece 25,
and membrane 90. This actuator also includes solenoid windings 28
wound about solenoid bobbin 14. Housing 18 has a base 16 to hold
pole piece 25 against bobbin 14 and thereby secure windings 28 and
magnet 23 together. Armature 80A is also slideably mounted in the
armature chamber, and is surrounded by non-corrosive, low viscosity
armature fluid. Again, pilot body member 100 is attached by
threading it onto actuator body 18. Armature 80A also has a tip
(plunger tip 86) that may have a circular, elliptical, rectangular
or other cross-section, such as in valve 1A. In an optional
embodiment, actuator armature 80A also includes a spring cavity 82
arranged to receive an optional spring 84, having tapered end
portions 84A and 84B. The tapered spring ends enable machine
sorting and assembly. Spring 84 is usually not needed since the
magnetic circuit provides sufficient force for bistable operation
of the solenoid (i.e. a latching actuator) without any drive
current in any of the hold positions.
[0058] Pole piece 25 can be unscrewed with respect to housing 18
(actuator body 18), which changes its location with respect to
magnet 23. This translation changes the reluctance in the
above-described magnetic circuit, which extends through housing 18,
thereby manually changing the plunger displacement properties due
to the magnetic field. The adjustment of pole piece 25 may be used
to optimize the magnetic circuit. This magnetic circuit provides
for the bistable arrangement of the solenoid (i.e. a latching
actuator). The use of spring 84 is optional, and is mainly used
against high external pressures, for example, in direct valve
arrangement (i.e., passage 106 is connected to fluid input).
[0059] FIG. 4A illustrates yet another embodiment of an
electromagnetic valve very similar to that in FIG. 4. Valve 10C
includes a pilot body member 100, and an armature 80B housed in the
armature cavity defined by bobbin 14 and pole piece 25. Valve 10C
also has a resilient membrane 90, to prevent the controlled fluid
from flowing into the armature chamber and hold the chamber liquid
in the cavity holding armature 80B. Actuator 10C also includes
solenoid windings 28 wound about solenoid bobbin 14. Housing 18 is
shaped in the same way as described above, to hold pole piece 25
against bobbin 14, and secure windings 28 and magnet 23 together.
Armature 80B is also slideably mounted in the armature chamber, and
pilot body member 100 is attached by threading it onto actuator
body 18. Actuator armature 80B also includes spring cavity 82 and
spring 84. Spring 84 in this case also includes the tapered ends,
84A and B, which enable machine sorting and assembly. Armature 80A
does not include a passage 85, extending length-wise down armature
80A. However, armature 80A includes a passage 81 B, which leads
into the spring cavity. Passage 81B thus provides a low-resistance
path for the chamber fluid, so that the liquid surrounding armature
80A can easily move into the cavity, and thus enabling a rapid
back-and-forth linear movement of armature 80A. In the absence of
passage 85, the presence of a passage 81B leading into spring
cavity 82, alone enables rapid back-and-forth movement of armature
80A due to its providing a low-resistance path for the chamber
fluid to move within cavities 79, 91, 89 and 82. However, both
passages could be included in an armature for the actuator, to
allow free motion of the chamber liquid.
[0060] Armature 80B includes a plunger tip 86 that may have a
circular, elliptical, rectangular or other cross-section, such as
in valve actuator 10A or 10B. Valve 10C also includes a valve
sensor 26 (262 or 263), which can detect the position of the
armature to ascertain the response of the valve for the purposes of
controlling it and assessing its performance; see FIG. 5.
[0061] FIG. 4B illustrates another embodiment of an electromagnetic
valve, 10D. Valve 10D also includes a pilot body member 100, an
armature 80C housed in the armature cavity as defined by bobbin 14
and pole piece 25. However, valve 10D does not have a resilient
membrane 90, therefore not having a barrier that prevents the
controlled fluid from flowing into the armature chamber. The
plunger tip is enclosed in a resilient, elastic encasement, 98A,
and there is an O-ring, 30, between flange 20 and pilot body member
100, replacing outer ring 92. In this embodiment, the regulated
fluid moves in through pilot passages 105, enters the armature
cavity, and flows into wells 79, 89 and 91 of the armature chamber.
Therefore, the armature in this embodiment has to be made of a
non-corrosive material (since it is not encased in a non-corrosive
fluid). The liquid is allowed out once the armature retracts, and
opens passage 106. Actuator 10C also includes solenoid windings 28
wound about solenoid bobbin 14. Housing 18 is shaped in the same
way as described above, to hold pole piece 25 against bobbin 14,
and secure windings 28 and magnet 23 together. As previously
described, armature 80C is slideably mounted in the armature
chamber, and pilot body member 100 is attached by threading it onto
actuator body 18. Actuator armature 80C also includes spring cavity
82 and spring 84. Armature 80C includes a plunger tip 86 that may
have a circular, elliptical, rectangular or other cross-section,
such as in the previously described valve actuators.
[0062] FIG. 4C illustrates yet another embodiment of an
electromagnetic valve, 10E. Valve 10E is very similar to that of
FIG. 4B, and includes all elements described above. However, it has
an additional element: a piezoelectric sensor, to control the valve
by evaluating the movement of armature 80. Piezoelectric transducer
410 responds to vibrations in the walls of housing 18.
Piezoelectric element 410's size and shape have been so chosen to
maximize its response to the predominant frequency components, and
it normally is mounted in a location where the sounds to be
detected are greatest in amplitude or most distinguishable from
noise. The sensor includes a terminal 414, which provides
electrical communication from the control circuit to one of the
sensor 410's electrodes through a contact spring 416 secured in
place by a plastic cap 412. This sensor is further explained in the
context of the control circuit in the example given in FIGS. 7 and
8, below.
[0063] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 5A, the operation of the actuators
10A, 10B, and 10C is controlled by a control circuit 250 or 250A.
To open the valve, a power driver 258 applies a drive current to
coil 28 of any of the actuators described (represented by actuator
260 in FIGS. 5 and 5A). The current orientation is such that the
resultant magnetic flux has the opposite orientation to the force
of the flux path 40 of magnet 23, which is shown in FIG. 2. (The
flux paths 40 and 42 of magnet 23 depicted in FIG. 2 are the same
for all actuators described.) The magnetic flux due to this current
orientation also goes against the force of spring 84 for actuators
10B and 10C. Thus, the magnetic flux applied overcomes the closing
force for the actuators, so that the valve is opened by applying a
drive current to coil 28. To close the valve, the drive current
applied to coil 28 has a polarity that induces magnetic flux having
the orientation that forces plunger tip 86 onto valve seat 104.
[0064] Referring again to FIG. 2, armature 80 is held in position
without the application of the drive current (i.e., held in the
latched or unlatched position at zero drive current) using the
magnetic circuit provided by radial magnet 23. Specifically, radial
magnet 23 provides magnetic flux paths 40 and 42 acting on linearly
movable armature 80 made of a magnetically soft material. In
general, the magnetic force on armature 80 depends on the magnetic
properties of the materials in the magnetic circuits, and also
depends on two gaps created by the linear displacement of armature
80. Specifically, inside the armature cavity, there is a front gap
located between flange 20 (i.e., shelf 20) and a shoulder 81 of
armature 80. There is also a rear gap located between the rear of
armature 80 and rear pole piece 25, near a rear chamber 79.
[0065] Flux path 40 extends from magnet 23 along and through
cylindrical housing 18, through flange 20 and across the front gap
to shoulder 81 of armature 80. Flux path 40 then extends along
armature 80 through bobbin 14 back to magnet 23. Flux path 42
extends from magnet 23 along and through cylindrical housing 18,
through rear pole piece 25 and across the rear gap to armature 80,
and then extends along armature 80 and through bobbin 14 back to
magnet 23.
[0066] After the coil drive linearly displaces armature 80 into the
extended position, resilient membrane 90 presses against closure
surface 104. In this extended position, the front gap between
flange 20 and shoulder 81 is much smaller that the rear gap between
armature 80 and rear pole piece 25. Since the front gap is smaller
than the rear gap, the force along flux path 40 is larger than the
force along flux path 42, and therefore, armature 80 is held in
place without any drive current. That is, plunger 86 is held in the
closed position solely by the force over the flux path 40.
[0067] After application of the opposite coil drive, armature 80 is
linearly displaced into the retracted position by the
electromagnetic force generated by the drive current in coil 28. In
the retracted position, the valve passage is open since resilient
membrane 90 no longer presses against closure surface 104. Now, the
front gap 15 between flange 20 and shoulder 81 is much larger that
the rear gap between armature 80 and rear pole piece 25. Since the
rear gap is smaller than the front gap, the force along flux path
42 is larger than the force along flux path 40. Therefore armature
80 is held in the retracted position without any drive current
flowing in coil 28.
[0068] Referring to FIGS. 2, 4 and 4A, electromagnetic actuators
10A, 10B and 10C are constructed to adjust the sizes of the front
gap and the rear gap by rotatably displacing rear pole piece 25
within cylindrical housing 18. By screwing rear pole piece 25
farther into housing 18, pole piece 25 pushes inside the armature
cavity coil stop 54, bobbin 14, coil 28 and armature 80 or 80A.
Therefore, the linear excursion of armature 80 or 80A is reduced.
This also reduces the total size of the front gap and the rear gap.
Alternatively, by unscrewing rear pole piece 25 with respect to
housing 18 (i.e., increasing the internal cavity size), the linear
excursion of armature 80 or 80A is increased. This also increases
the total size of the front gap and the rear gap. Therefore,
electromagnetic actuators 10A, 10B and 10C are constructed to
adjust the magnetic force by adjusting the position of rear pole
piece 25 within enclosure housing 18.
[0069] Referring again to FIGS. 4 and 4A, the embodiments of
actuator 10B and 10C are constructed to provide an increased
closure force of plunger tip 86 with respect to closure surface
104. Electromagnetic actuators 10B and 10C are constructed with
armatures 80A and 80B, which include a spring cavity 82 and a
spring 84. After the coil drive linearly displaces the armature
into the extended position, spring 84 further increases the closure
force of plunger tip 86, acting in addition to the magnetic force
over flux path 40, described above. The embodiments of FIGS. 4 and
4A are used for valves operating at higher pressures, or in the
direct flow arrangement, where the fluid pressure acts directly
opposite to plunger tip 86 or the armature.
[0070] After application of the opposite coil drive to the
actuators shown in FIGS. 4 and 4A, the armature 80A or 80B is
linearly displaced into the retracted position by the
electromagnetic force generated by the drive current in coil 28. In
the retracted position, the front gap is much larger that the rear
gap, and thus the force along flux path 42 is larger than the sum
of the spring force (provided by spring 84) and the force along
flux path 40. Therefore the armature is held in the retracted
position without any current flowing in coil 28. Spring 84 has a
spring constant selected to enable such a retracted state without
any drive current. The magnetic circuits are again adjusted by
adjusting the position of rear pole piece 25 within cylindrical
housing 18.
[0071] The above-described latched and unlatched positions
maintained without any drive current enable substantial reduction
in power consumption. This, in turn, extends the life of battery
270 (FIGS. 5 and 5A).
[0072] Membrane 90 isolates the pressurized chamber fluid and
prevents mixing of the chamber fluid with the fluid being
regulated. Thus, optimally membrane 90 is made of an impermeable
material with minimal or no diffusion of the chamber liquid to the
input or output conduit and vice versa. Since that the movement of
armature 80 also stresses membrane 90 and applies relatively large
amounts of pressure, the diffusion of fluids from one side of the
membrane to the other may be increased. The diffusion of the
chamber fluid out to the input or output conduit would, over time,
deplete the chamber of its liquid and cause device failure. Thus,
to maximize the efficiency of the invention over time, membrane 90
is preferably composed of a polymer or a polymer blend optimized to
withstand the stress of armature movement while it minimizes
permeability of the membrane.
[0073] The composition of the membrane may include polymer blends
and fillers that bring about the proper hardness, maximize tear
strength, minimize compression set, minimize extractable
components, minimize modulus, and minimize diffusion and maximize
impermeability. Components are preferably inert to the fluids being
regulated (including any trace amounts of chemicals, e.g., chlorine
or fluorine) as well as the chamber fluid, and to any changes in
temperature or pH. For example, in a public restroom, the membrane
is preferably inert to traces of chemicals present in potable
water, as well as in various cosmetic applications. Further, the
components of the membrane preferably take into account the way it
will be manufactured, as the composition of the membrane can
improve the manufacturing process. For example, the fillers can be
chosen so as to enhance the properties required for successful
demolding of the membrane, and to enhance efficient curing.
[0074] For example, membrane 90 may include an EPDM/bromobutyl
blend, or Viton.RTM.. The first is a blend of EPDM (Ethylene
Propylene Diene Monomer) and bromobutyl. EPDM is a rubber
principally composed of ethylene and propylene which has low water
absorption, as well as excellent abrasion and ageing resistance. It
also can be compounded to obtain other desirable qualities.
Viton.RTM. fluoroelastomer is a high molecular weight polyethylene
membrane with the highest retention efficiency of any membrane
known so far. EPDM elastomer is available from Harwick Standard
Distribution Corporation (Akron, Ohio). Viton.RTM. fluoroelastomer
is available from R.T. Vanderbuilt Company, Inc. (Norwalk,
Conn.).
[0075] As described above, the chamber fluid is pressurized and
isolated. The fluid composition may be selected to prevent growth
of microorganisms which could eventually lead to device's failure.
Optionally, to prevent this microorganismal contamination, several
important actions can be taken: First, during manufacturing of the
actuator, sterilization of the equipment, as well as of the chamber
fluid being added to the device, may be performed. This should
minimize the chances of contaminating the chamber fluid. Further, a
preservative may be added to the armature liquid to eliminate any
contaminating organisms. In this case, the preservative may vary
depending on the context of the device. For example, in a public
restroom, the preservative is best compatible with potable water,
as well as cosmetic applications. Examples of possible
preservatives to use in this context include Neolone.TM. 950 and
Liquapar Oil.TM.. Neolone.TM. 950 (2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one
and 2-methyl-3(2H) isothiazolinone) is a formaldehyde-free
bactericidal solution, found to be very effective at low
concentrations, and compatible with fungicides, which may be added
separately. Neolone.TM. 950 is stable in high pH solutions, which
include potable water systems, and which are generally difficult to
preserve.
[0076] In general, the valve actuator may use different types of
control circuits such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos.
5,781,399; 5,803,711; 5,815,365; or 6,021,038, all of which are
incorporated herein. FIGS. 5 and 5A schematically illustrate
control electronics 250 and 250A, powered by a battery 270, which
can drive the valves' actuators and control them in relation to
particular signals received by external passive sensor and signal
processing unit 252. As shown in FIG. 5, control electronics 250
include battery regulation unit 272, no or low battery detection
unit 275, passive sensor and signal processing unit 252, and
microcontroller 254. Battery regulation unit 272 provides power for
the whole system. Specifically, battery regulation unit 272
provides 6.0 V power to low battery detector 275, and 6.0 V to
power driver 258. Furthermore, it provides a regulated 3.0 V power
to a microcontroller 254.
[0077] The "low battery" detector 275 generates "low battery"
signals in the form of pulses to microcontroller 254 to notify the
microcontroller of the condition of the battery. Low battery
detector 275 is coupled to the battery/power regulation through the
6.0V power it provides to the detector. When power drops below
4.2V, detector 275 generates a pulse to the microcontroller (i.e.,
a low battery signal). When the "low battery" signal is received,
microcontroller 254 will flash indicator 280 (e.g., an LED) with a
frequency of 1 Hz, or may provide a sound alarm.
[0078] External sensor and signal processing module 252 checks for
external signals to open and close the actuator to control a
faucet, a bathroom flusher, or another device. Microcontroller 254
operates the valve actuator in response to a trigger signal from
module 252 via power driver 258. Control circuit 250 can be
constructed to operate different types of external object sensors
that detect presence of a user or motion of a user. The external
object sensor 252 can be an active optical sensor, a passive
optical sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, or a capacitive sensor.
Various optical sensors are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,984,262;
6,127,671; or 6,212,697, all of which are incorporated by
reference. Preferred passive optical sensors are described in PCT
Applications PCT/US03/38730 and PCT/US04/40887, both of which are
incorporated by reference.
[0079] Referring still to FIG. 5, control electronics 250 receives
signals from sensor and signal processing unit 252 and controls the
actuator 260, a controller or microcontroller 254, an input element
(e.g., the sensor 262), a solenoid driver (power driver 258)
receiving power from a battery 270 regulated by a voltage regulator
272. Microcontroller 254 is designed for efficient power operation.
To save power, microcontroller 254 is initially in a low frequency
sleep mode and periodically addresses sensor 252 to see if it was
triggered. After triggering, the microcontroller provides a control
signal to a power consumption controller 268, which is a switch
that powers up voltage regulator 272 (or a voltage boost, as
required), passive sensor and signal processing unit 252, and a
signal conditioner 273. (To simplify the block diagram, connections
from power consumption controller 268 to passive sensor and signal
processing unit 252 and to signal conditioner 273 are not
shown.)
[0080] Microcontroller 254 can also receive an input signal from an
external input element (e.g., a push button) that is designed for
manual actuation or control input for actuator 260. Specifically,
microcontroller 254 provides control signals 256A and 256B to power
driver 258, which drives the actuator 260. Power driver 258
receives DC power from battery 270 and voltage regulator 272
regulates the battery power to provide a substantially constant
voltage to power driver 258. An armature sensor 262 (actuator
sensor 262) registers or monitors the armature position of actuator
260 and provides a control signal 265 to signal conditioner 273. A
low battery detection unit 275 detects battery power and can
provide an interrupt signal to microcontroller 254.
[0081] Actuator sensor 262 provides data to microcontroller 254
(via signal conditioner 273) about the motion or position of the
actuator's armature, and this data is used for controlling power
driver 258. The actuator sensor 262 may be present in a number of
different ways: an electromagnetic sensor (e.g., a pick up coil), a
sound sensor, a capacitive sensor, a Hall effect sensor, an optical
sensor, a pressure transducer, or other type of a sensor.
[0082] Preferably, microcontroller 254 is an 8-bit CMOS
microcontroller TMP86P807M made by Toshiba. The microcontroller has
a program memory of 8 Kilobytes and a data memory of 256 bytes.
Programming is done using a Toshiba adapter socket with a
general-purpose PROM programmer. The microcontroller operates at 3
frequencies (f.sub.c=16 MHz, f.sub.c=8 MHz and f.sub.s=332.768
kHz), wherein the first two clock frequencies (f.sub.c) are used in
a normal mode and the third frequency (f.sub.s) is used in a low
power mode (i.e., a sleep mode). Microcontroller 254 operates in
the sleep mode between various actuations. To save battery power,
microcontroller 254 periodically samples the passive sensor and
signal-processing unit 252 for an input signal, and then triggers
power consumption controller 268. Power consumption controller 268
powers up signal conditioner 273 and other elements. Otherwise,
passive sensor and signal processing unit 252, voltage regulator
(or voltage boost) 272 and signal conditioner 273 are not powered
to save battery power. During operation, microcontroller 254 also
provides data to status indicator 280. Control electronics 250 may
receive a signal from a passive sensor or an active sensor. The
passive sensor and signal-processing unit includes only a detector
providing a detection signal to microcontroller 254.
[0083] Low battery detection unit 275 may be low battery detector
model no. TC54VN4202EMB, available from Microchip Technology
(http://www.microchip.com). Voltage regulator 272 may be the
voltage regulator part no. TC55RP3502EMB, also available from
Microchip Technology. Microcontroller 254 may alternatively be
microcontroller part no. MCU COP8SAB728M9, available from National
Semiconductor.
[0084] Since the above-described actuator is bistable, the control
circuit can typically discontinue current flow after the valve has
reached the desired state. Since the time required for the valve to
reach the desired state can vary widely, conventional control
circuits make the current-flow duration relatively long so that it
will be adequate for worst-case conditions. Since most actuations
are not performed under worst-case circumstances, though, coil
drive typically continues for some time after the valve reaches its
stable position. This is a waste of battery energy. To reduce this
waste, a control circuit can monitor the armature with a sensor to
determine the armature's state, and stop applying coil drive just
before or when it reaches its final state. Therefore, a sensor
reduces the energy waste that usually occurs in driving the
actuator's armature. A sensor can also confirm that the valve is
working properly, and could potentially be used in monitoring the
valve.
[0085] In general, to monitor the position of plunger tip 86 for
regulation by the control electronics, the actuators include an
actuator sensor or a coil sensor. This internal sensor, when placed
on the housing, is able to detect vibrations from the impact of
plunger tip 86 onto surface 104 (i.e., sound made by the armature
in reaching the first end position). Alternatively, this internal
sensor detects current passing through solenoid 28. Another option
is for the sensor to measure the electromagnetic force from the
solenoid. These measurements show the state of the condition of the
valve. The sensor may be a piezoelectric transducer, a capacitive
transducer, an inductive transducer, an optical transducer, or any
other transducer directly or indirectly coupled to armature 80.
Once the armature reaches the desired position, the internal sensor
generates a sensor output indicative of the position sensed and
provides this output to microcontroller 254.
[0086] Upon application of an opposite coil drive from
microcontroller 254, power driver 258 provides drive current in the
second drive direction to coil 28 and thereby drives the armature
to a second end position. The internal sensor detects the armature
position or the armature reaching the second end position.
Microcontroller 254 not only controls applying the coil drive to
coil 28, but is also responsive to the sensor output meeting a
predetermined second current-termination criterion, and stops
applying coil drive to the coil in the second direction. The first
and second current-termination criteria may in general differ.
[0087] For example, a piezoelectric transducer can monitor location
of armature 80 by taking advantage of the sound that armature 80
makes when it reaches either end of its travel. We use the term
"sound" here in the broad sense of a pressure or strain wave. In
most embodiments, moreover, the predominant frequency components of
the "sound" are typically above the audible range. The actuator
sensor 262 can be a piezoelectric transducer that responds to
vibrations in the housing wall. The piezoelectric element's size
and shape have typically been so chosen as to maximize its response
to the predominant frequency components, and it normally is mounted
in a location where the sounds to be detected are greatest in
amplitude or most distinguishable from noise.
[0088] Alternatively, the armature sensor is a capacitive sensor
that includes one plate located on a stationary actuator surface
and the other plate located on a surface of moving armature 80. The
movement of armature 80 causes relative displacement of the two
capacitor plates, which in turn changes the measured capacitance
value. Based on the capacitance value, the capacitive sensor
determines the end position or any instantaneous position of
armature 80 (and thus the position of plunger tip 86).
[0089] Alternatively, the armature sensor is an optical sensor that
includes an optical source and an optical detector. The source
emits optical radiation that is reflected from (or possibly
transmitted through) a surface of the armature and detected by the
detector. The reflection surface modifies the emitted optical
signal. Thus, the detected signal varies depending on the position
of the armature (i.e., instantaneous location of plunger tip 86).
Based on the detected optical signal, the optical sensor determines
the end position or any instantaneous position of armature 80.
Alternatively, the armature sensor uses a source of electromagnetic
radiation and a corresponding detector. The detector measures
perturbation of the generated electromagnetic radiation by the
armature depending on the location of the armature. Based on the
detected perturbed radiation, the sensor determines the end
position or any instantaneous position of the armature.
[0090] A terminal can provide electrical communication to one of
the transducer's electrodes through a contact spring secured in
place by a plastic cap, for example, while the other transducer
electrode may be shared with coil 28, e.g., if the transducer is
secured to the housing 18 by conductive bonding between the housing
and that electrode.
[0091] Referring to FIG. 5, the sensor provides a sensor signal
when armature 80 reaches an endpoint and causes housing vibration:
as sonic amplitude is higher when the valve opens than when it
closes, microcontroller 254 sets a threshold whose value when the
valve is being opened is different from the value it has when the
valve is being closed. It can, for example, convert the resistance
of a photoresistor checking for light signals to a pulse, which is
sent to microcontroller 254 through the charge pulse signal. Pulse
width changes correspond to the changes in light detected for an
actuator, and this will, in turn, cause control of the actuator
(i.e., opening or closing of a valve due to the light changes).
[0092] For example, upon receiving a trigger signal from passive
sensor and signal processing unit 252, microcontroller 254 may
provide an "open" signal to power driver 258, when the sensor
detects a user leaving a flusher's vicinity. This causes current to
be driven through actuator 28's coil in the direction that will
cause the valve to open. Furthermore, microcontroller 254 may
provide a "close" signal after the valve has been open for a
predetermined duration.
[0093] When the open signal current starts flowing, the sensor
output is less than the threshold, so the sensor is not receiving
sound of a magnitude consistent with the armature's reaching the
end of its travel. The microcontroller 254 therefore keeps the OPEN
signal asserted. But the sensor's output changes in response to the
sound made by the armature 80 at the end of its travel. When
armature 80 has reached that point, the valve will stay open
without current flow, so the microcontroller de-asserts its OPEN
output and thereby stops applying drive current to actuator coil
28. The result usually is that the current-flow duration has been
much less than the time required to open the valve under worst-case
conditions, so the system has saved considerable energy.
[0094] To close the valve, the microcontroller 254 asserts its
CLOSE output and thereby applies the drive signal to actuator coil
28 in the opposite direction. Again, the microcontroller allows
current flow only until sensor 262 informs it that the armature has
reached the end of its travel.
[0095] Control circuit 250 can be used to control not only the
drive signal's duration but also its magnitude. The drive signal
duration may be in the range of less than about 1 msec to about 10
msec, and preferably in the range of 1.5 msec to 8 msec. A
coil-drive level high enough for ordinary operation may
occasionally be inadequate, and the coil-drive level can be
increased if the armature fails to reach the endpoint. One way to
increase the coil-drive level is to increase the voltage on
capacitors discharged through the actuator coil.
[0096] Under some conditions, various factors (e.g., element
expansion due to high temperature, high actuator fluid viscosity
due to low temperature, degradation of membrane 90 or other
actuator elements) may make it harder than usual to displace
armature 80. However, the drive signal is normally set at normal
operation values. Otherwise, energy consumption would be
unnecessarily high if, during normal operation, the battery voltage
were set high enough to deal with such more-difficult
circumstances. The present embodiment therefore regularly uses a
battery-voltage level that is adequate for normal situations, and
thus saves power.
[0097] Moreover, although a simple amplitude criterion has been
employed to determine whether the armature has reached the end of
its travel, other criteria may be found preferable for some
applications. For instance, the sonic signal could be sampled and
compared by signal processing with a stored waveform known to be
characteristic of the armature's reaching one of its endpoints. The
stored signal may be different for different endpoints, and there
may be circumstances in which it will be considered valuable to use
such a comparison to distinguish between the actuator's two
states.
[0098] FIG. 5A schematically illustrates another embodiment of
control electronics 250. Control electronics 250A receives signals
from passive sensor and signal processing unit 252 and controls
actuator 261. As described above, the control electronics also
includes microcontroller 254, solenoid driver 258 (i.e., power
driver), voltage regulator 272, and a battery 270. Solenoid
actuator 261 includes two coil sensors, 263A and 263B (for example,
wire loops around coil 28). Coil sensors 263A and 263B provide a
signal to the respective preamplifiers 266A and 266B and low pass
filters 267A and 267B. A differentiator 269 provides the
differential signal to microcontroller 254 in a feedback loop
arrangement.
[0099] To open a fluid passage, microcontroller 254 sends an OPEN
signal 256B to power driver 258, which provides a drive current to
the drive coil of actuator 261 in the direction that will retract
the armature. At the same time, coils 263A and 263B provide induced
signal to the conditioning feedback loop, which includes the
preamplifier and the low-pass filter. If the output of
differentiator 269 indicates less than a selected threshold
calibrated for the retracted armature (i.e., signaling that the
armature did not reach a selected position), microcontroller 254
maintains the OPEN signal 256B asserted. If no movement of the
solenoid armature is detected, microcontroller 254 can apply a
different (higher) level of OPEN signal 256B to increase the drive
current (up to several times the normal drive current) provided by
power driver 258. This way, the system can move the armature, which
is stuck due to some operational problem or debris located in the
armature chamber.
[0100] Microcontroller 254 can detect the armature displacement (or
even monitor armature movement) using induced signals in coils 263A
and 263B provided to the conditioning feedback loop. As the output
from differentiator 269 changes in response to the armature
displacement, microcontroller 254 can apply a different (lower)
level of OPEN signal 256B, or can turn off OPEN signal 256B, which
in turn directs power driver 258 to apply a different level of
drive current. The result usually is that the drive current is
reduced, or the duration of the drive current is much shorter than
the time required to open the fluid passage under worst-case
conditions (those that have to be used without using an armature
sensor). Therefore, the control system saves considerable energy
and thus extends the life of battery 270.
[0101] Advantageously, the arrangement of coil sensors 263A and
263B can detect latching and unlatching movement of the actuator
armature with great precision. (However, a single coil sensor, or
multiple coil sensors, or capacitive sensors may also be used to
detect movement of the armature.) Microcontroller 254 can direct a
selected profile of the drive current applied by power driver 258.
Various profiles may be stored in microcontroller 254, and may be
actuated based on the fluid type, the fluid pressure, the fluid
temperature, the time actuator 261 has been in operation since
installation or last maintenance, battery level, input from an
external sensor (e.g., a movement sensor or a presence sensor), or
other factors. Based on the liquid pressure and the known sizes of
the orifices, the automatic valve can deliver a known amount of
liquid.
[0102] Similar valves can be constructed which may again be
latching (including a magnet) or, alternatively, non-latching types
(and not include a magnet). Further, for the latching valves, the
magnet location can differ. FIGS. 6 and 6A illustrate yet other
embodiments of a latching electrically operable valve actuator.
Valve actuator 410A includes a magnet 323, a ferromagnetic pole
piece 325, a ferromagnetic armature 380, slideably mounted in an
armature pocket formed between solenoid bobbin 314 and pole piece
325, and an actuator base 370. Valve 410A also includes solenoid
windings 328 wound about solenoid bobbin 314, resilient membrane
390 and a pilot body member 400. Resiliently deformable O-ring 312
forms a seal between solenoid bobbin 314 and actuator base 370, all
of which are held together by actuator housing 318. Bobbin 314
forms a recess 320 for a distal end of pole piece 325 and
disk-shaped magnet 323. Housing 318 is crimped at actuator base 370
to hold magnet 323 and pole piece 325 against bobbin 314 and
thereby secure windings 328 and actuator base 370 together. Valve
actuator 310A may be constructed either as latching (as shown in
FIG. 6) or non-latching.
[0103] Referring still to FIGS. 6 and 6A, actuator base 370
includes a wide base body in contact with bobbin 314, crimped
inside housing 318, and a narrowed base extension. The narrowed
base extension of actuator base 370 includes external threads 372
and internal threads 374. Internal threads 374 are made to fit
complemental external threads 401 of the pilot body member 400 to
engage a resiliently deformable membrane 390.
[0104] Resiliently deformable membrane 390 includes an outer ring
392, compliant region 394, and a resilient, C-shaped region 396.
Membrane 390 may be an EDPM diaphragm or another type of diaphragm.
In general, deformable membrane 390 and region 396 may have various
shapes and sizes, depending on the arrangement and size of pilot
body member 400 and the plunger 386 of armature 380. Deformable
membrane 390 is made of a durable material and may at least
partially be made of an elastic material. Furthermore, the material
of deformable membrane 390 is selected to resist possible
degradation caused by the fluid regulated, which will collect in
pilot body member 400. Therefore, the same valve actuator can be
fabricated for various industrial, agricultural applications, while
only deformable membrane 390 and pilot body member 400 are
specifically designed for the regulated fluid. In medical
applications, membrane 390 and pilot member 400 are sterilized or
may be made of disposable material. Therefore, the valve actuator
may be reused with new disposable or sterilization-resistant
elements.
[0105] Like the actuators shown in FIGS. 4 and 4A, the actuator in
FIG. 6 has a ferromagnetic armature 380 including a tip portion 386
(i.e., plunger 386) and a spring cavity 382 arranged to receive
spring 384, having tapered end portions 384A and 384B. The tapered
spring ends enable machine sorting and assembly. Ferromagnetic
armature 380 also includes a passage 385 enabling fluid
communication between cavity 382 and front chamber 389 sealed by
O-ring seal 346 and membrane 390. This again creates a fluid-tight
seal for the armature liquid, wherein membrane 390 protects
armature 380 from exposure to external fluid being regulated, which
is in contact with pilot body member 400. As mentioned above, the
armature liquid preferably has a very low viscosity and is
non-compressible and non-corrosive. Furthermore, bobbin 314, pole
piece 325, armature 380 and passage 385 enable a relatively
unobstructed flow of the sealed armature fluid as the actuator
moves, i.e., there is a low-resistance path for the armature
fluid.
[0106] The actuator assembly includes pilot body member 400
reproducibly secured to the operator assembly, which provides
numerous advantages. Specifically, pilot body member 400 includes
external threads 401, which engage complementary threads 374 in
pole piece 370, and a flange 402. Flange 402 butts against a
shoulder portion 376 of pole piece 370 providing a positive stop to
the pilot body member's being fastened onto the operator assembly.
This positive stop provides a known, substantially constant
distance and geometry between an external surface of resilient
portion 386 and a valve seat 404. The known, substantially constant
distance and geometry in turn assures reproducible closing and
opening action of the valve member.
[0107] In general, during field maintenance or replacement, the
valve actuator or other elements may be removed or replaced, which
in turn may cause a change in the distance and geometry between
valve seat 404 and element 386 of the valve actuator. Furthermore,
various piece-part tolerances and O-ring deformability may result
in some variability in the position of the pilot body's central
conduit 406 with respect to the tip 386, covered by resilient
member 396. This variability can cause resultant variability in the
valve operation or during the open and close times. On the other
hand, the pilot-valve and seat spacing and geometry are set when
pilot member 400 is pre-assembled onto the valve operator, as shown
in FIGS. 6 and 7.
[0108] In the closed position, resilient portion 396 seals the
opening at valve seat 404, and thus prevents fluid flow from the
pilot passages 405 to conduit 406. Pilot body member 400 may be
coupled to a diaphragm via pilot passages 405 and 406. Thus, the
use of pilot body member 400 is a novel improvement of the
operation of diaphragm-controlled flush valves, for example,
disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,125,621; 5,195,720; 5,196,118; and
5,244,179, which are incorporated by reference. Furthermore,
several diaphragms may be cascaded together, wherein passages 405
and 406 are connected to a first, smaller diaphragm, which in turns
controls a second larger diaphragm that enables flow of a large
amount of fluid pass the diaphragm in its open state. These two
diaphragms linked together create an amplification effect for
effectively controlling fluid flow by a diaphragm.
[0109] FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of the valve actuator.
Valve actuator 310B includes coil 328 wound on bobbin 314, and
actuator base 370 mounted inside an actuator housing 318. The
latching version of valve actuator 310B includes latching magnet
323, ferromagnetic pole piece 325, and a ferromagnetic armature
380, slideably mounted in an armature pocket formed between
solenoid bobbin 314 and pole piece 325, and an actuator base 370.
Resiliently deformable O-ring 312 forms a seal between solenoid
bobbin 314 and actuator base 370, and O-ring 346 forms a seal
between pole piece 325 and solenoid bobbin 314. Bobbin 314 forms
recess 320 shaped for a distal end of pole piece 325 and
disk-shaped magnet 323. Valve actuator 310B also includes a
position sensor such as a piezoelectric transducer 410 located
within sensor housing 412. A non-latching version of valve actuator
310B does not include latching magnet 323, but may optionally
include the position sensor in the place of magnet 323. As
described above, these actuator elements are crimped inside
solenoid housing 318.
[0110] Referring still to FIG. 7, valve actuator 310B also includes
resiliently deformable membrane 390 located between actuator base
370 and pilot body member 400. As described above, actuator base
370 includes a wide base body in contact with bobbin 314, and a
narrowed base extension. The narrowed base extension of actuator
base 370 includes external threads 372 and internal threads 374.
Pilot body member 400 includes external threads 401, which engage
complementary internal threads 374, and flange 402, all as in the
actuator in FIG. 6. (Alternatively, actuator base 370 and pilot
body member 400 may be connected by other types of locking
mechanisms.) Flange 402 butts against a shoulder portion 376 of
pole piece 370 providing a positive stop to the pilot body member's
being screwed onto the operator assembly. This positive stop again
provides a known, substantially constant distance and geometry
between an external surface of resilient portion 396 and a valve
seat 404.
[0111] As described above, resiliently deformable membrane 390
includes outer ring 392, compliant region 394, and resilient,
C-shaped region 396. There are various possible shapes and sizes of
deformable membrane 390 and region 396, depending on the
arrangement and size of pilot body member 400 and plunger 386.
[0112] Ferromagnetic armature 380 includes plunger, or plunger tip
386 and a spring cavity 382 arranged to receive spring 384, having
tapered end portions 384A and 384B. The tapered spring ends enable
machine sorting and assembly. Plunger tip 386 may have a circular,
elliptical, rectangular or another cross-section. Ferromagnetic
armature 380 also includes a passage 385 (as shown in FIG. 6A)
enabling fluid communication between cavity 382 and a chamber 389
sealed by O-ring seal 346 and membrane 390. This again creates a
fluid-tight seal for the armature liquid, wherein membrane 390
protects armature 380 and plunger 386 from exposure to external
fluid located in contact with pilot body member 400. That is, the
entire armature 380 is surrounded by the armature liquid that has
substantially equilibrated pressure being applied to the armature
surface (i.e., armature 380 substantially "floats" in the armature
liquid). As mentioned above, the armature liquid preferably has a
very low viscosity and is non-compressible and non-corrosive.
Furthermore, bobbin 314, pole pieces 325 and 370, armature 380 and
passage 385 enable a relatively unobstructed flow of the armature
fluid as the actuator moves, i.e., there is a low-resistance path
for the armature fluid.
[0113] Advantageously, the actuator assembly includes pilot body
member 400 reproducibly secured to the operator assembly, as
described above. Flange 402 butts against a shoulder portion 376 of
pole piece 370, providing a positive stop that provides a known,
substantially constant distance and geometry between an external
surface of resilient portion 396 and a valve seat 404. The known,
substantially constant distance and geometry in turn assures
reproducible closing and opening action of the valve member.
Furthermore, pilot body member 400 may be shaped to receive a
diaphragm.
[0114] FIG. 8 is a partially schematic and partially diagrammatic
illustration of a control circuit used for valve actuator 410B.
Control circuit 430 includes a sensor amplifier and envelope
detector 432, a comparator 434, a microcontroller 436 receiving
signals from an object sensor 438, a comparator 440 and a valve
driver 442. To close the valve, valve driver 442 applies a drive
voltage, e.g., through terminals 329A and 329B (shown in FIG. 7),
to pass a drive current through coil 328, as described in U.S. Pat.
Nos. 6,293,516 and 6,305,662, both of which are incorporated by
reference.
[0115] In general, the valve actuator may use different types of
control circuits such as the circuits described in U.S. Pat. Nos.
5,781,399; 5,803,711; 5,815,365; or 6,021,038. The drive current
induces the corresponding magnetic flush guided largely by
ferromagnetic housing 318, rear pole piece 325, and front pole
piece 370. In the latching embodiment, the drive voltage's polarity
is such that the resultant magnetic flux opposes that of the
permanent magnet 323. This breaks the magnet 323's hold on armature
380 and allows return spring 384 to urge plunger tip 386 together
with membrane portion 396 onto valve seat 404. Once the valve has
thus closed, the return spring keeps it closed without any further
assistance from coil 328. In the closed state, the magnetic force
by magnet 323 on armature 380 is less than that of return spring
384 due to the armature 380's increased distance from magnet
323.
[0116] To open the valve, valve driver 442 applies drive voltage in
the opposite direction so the resultant magnetic flux has the same
orientation as the flux from magnet 323. Thus, the applied magnetic
flux reinforces that of the permanent magnet 323 and overcomes the
force of return spring 384. Therefore, armature 380 moves toward
magnet 323, and in the retracted position of plunger tip 386, the
permanent magnet 323's force is great enough to hold armature 380
against the return spring 384's force without applying any "hold"
drive current. On the other hand, in the non-latching embodiment,
the "hold" drive current must be applied since there is no
permanent magnet 323.
[0117] Because of the latching valve's bistable nature, control
circuits that operate it typically discontinue current flow after
the valve has reached the desired state. Since the time required
for the valve to reach the desired state can vary widely,
conventional control circuits make the current-flow duration
relatively long so that it will be adequate for worst-case
conditions. Since most actuations are not performed under
worst-case circumstances, though, coil drive typically continues
for some time after the valve reaches its stable position. This is
a waste of battery energy. To reduce this waste, control circuit
430 can monitor the armature to determine whether the armature has
reached its endpoint, and it stops applying coil drive just before
or when that occurs.
[0118] In general, to monitor the position of plunger 386, valve
actuator 310B includes a position sensor that may be a
piezoelectric transducer, a capacitive transducer, an inductive
transducer, an optical transducer, or any other transducer directly
or indirectly coupled armature 380. For example, piezoelectric
transducer 410 monitors location of armature 380 by taking
advantage of the sound that armature 380 makes when it reaches
either end of its travel, as described above.
[0119] In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 7, the armature sensor
is piezoelectric transducer 410 that responds to vibrations in the
housing wall. The piezoelectric element 410's size and shape have
typically been so chosen as to maximize its response to the
predominant frequency components, and it normally is mounted in a
location where the sounds to be detected are greatest in amplitude
or most distinguishable from noise. Alternatively, the armature
sensor is a capacitive sensor that includes one plate located on a
stationary actuator surface and the other plate located on a
surface of moving armature 380. The movement of armature 380 causes
relative displacement of the two capacitor plates, which in turn
changes the measured capacitance value. Based on the capacitance
value, the capacitive sensor determines the end position or any
instantaneous position of armature 380 (and thus the position of
plunger 386).
[0120] Alternatively, the armature sensor is an optical sensor that
includes an optical source and an optical detector. The source
emits optical radiation that is reflected from (or possibly
transmitted through) a surface of the armature and detected by the
detector. The reflection surface modifies the emitted optical
signal. Thus, the detected signal varies depending on the position
of the armature (i.e., instantaneous location of plunger 386).
Based on the detected optical signal, the optical sensor determines
the end position or any instantaneous position of armature 380.
Alternatively, the armature sensor uses a source of electromagnetic
radiation and a corresponding detector. The detector measures
perturbation of the generated electromagnetic radiation by the
armature depending on the location of the armature. Based on the
detected perturbed radiation, the sensor determines the end
position or any instantaneous position of the armature.
[0121] Referring again to FIG. 7, a terminal 414 provides
electrical communication to one of the transducer 410's electrodes
through a contact spring 416 secured in place, for example, by a
plastic cap 412. The other electrode of transducer 410 may be
shared with coil 328, e.g., if the transducer is secured to the
housing 318 by conductive bonding between the housing and that
electrode.
[0122] Referring to FIG. 8, piezoelectric sensor 410 provides a
sensor signal 431 to amplifier and envelope detector 432, which
includes an amplifier tuned to the expected sound's predominant
(typically ultrasonic-range) frequency components. Amplifier and
envelope detector 432 rectifies the resultant filtered signal, and
low-pass filters the result to produce an output representative of
the tuned-amplifier output's envelope. When armature 380 reaches an
endpoint and causes housing vibration, the resultant envelope value
exceeds a threshold that a comparator 434 applies. Since in the
illustrative embodiment the sonic amplitude is higher when the
valve opens than when it closes, a microcontroller 436 sets a
comparator threshold whose value when the valve is being opened is
different from the value it has when the valve is being closed.
[0123] Microcontroller 436 may operate the valve actuator in
response to a trigger signal from an object sensor 438. Control
circuit 430 can be constructed to operate with different types of
object sensors that detect presence or motion. For example, object
sensor 438 may be an ultrasonic sensor, a capacitive sensor, or an
optical sensor such as any one of the sensors described in U.S.
Pat. Nos. 5,984,262; 6,127,671; or 6,212,697, all of which are
incorporated by reference.
[0124] According to one embodiment, object sensor 438 is an optical
sensor described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,212,697. The optical sensor
includes a light source and a light detector. The light source
(e.g., an infrared LED) is disposed behind a lens having a
generally circular portion of its optically useful part. The source
lens forms a rear surface that is spherically convex, having a
0.63-inch radius of curvature and a peripheral edge that defines a
plane normal to a line that extends downward to the right at an
angle of 18.6 degrees with the horizontal. The lens's front, exit
surface is also spherically convex, having a 2.0-inch radius of
curvature and a peripheral edge that defines a plane normal to a
line that extends downward to the left at an angle of 9.8 degrees
with the horizontal. The source is positioned to provide a
radiation pattern described and shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,212,697.
The radiation detector (e.g., a photodiode) is located behind a
receiver lens having shapes of left and right faces the same as
those of the transmitter lens's corresponding surfaces. The
receiver lens surfaces collect light received from a target (e.g.,
a person in front of a urinal) and tend to direct it toward the
radiation detector. This arrangement is responsible a receiver
pattern also described and shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,212,697.
[0125] For example, upon receiving a trigger signal from object
sensor 438, microcontroller 436 may provide an "open" signal to
valve driver 442, when the sensor detects a user leaving the
flusher's vicinity. Furthermore, microcontroller 436 may provide a
"close" signal after the valve has been open for a predetermined
period of time. To open the valve, the microcontroller sets an OPEN
signal applied to a valve-driver circuit 442. This causes that
circuit to drive current through the actuator 328's coil in the
direction that will cause the valve to open.
[0126] When that current starts flowing, comparator 434's output
initially indicates that amplifier 432's output is less than the
threshold, so the amplifier is not receiving sound of a magnitude
consistent with the armature's reaching the end of its travel. The
microcontroller 436 therefore keeps the OPEN signal asserted. But
comparator 434's output changes in response to the sound made by
the armature 380 at the end of its travel. When armature 380 has
reached that point, the valve will stay open without current flow,
so the microcontroller de-asserts its OPEN output and thereby
causes the valve driver 442 to stop applying drive current to
actuator coil 328. The result usually is that the current-flow
duration has been much less than the time required to open the
valve under worst-case conditions, so the system has saved
considerable energy.
[0127] To close the valve, microcontroller 436 asserts its CLOSE
output and thereby causes the valve driver 442 to apply the drive
signal to actuator coil 328 in the opposite direction. Again, the
microcontroller allows current flow only until comparator 434
informs it that the armature has reached the end of its travel.
[0128] Control circuit 430 can be used to control not only the
drive signal's duration but also its magnitude. The drive signal
duration may be in the range of less than about 1 msec to about 10
msec, and preferably in the range of 1.5 msec to 8 msec. A
coil-drive level high enough for ordinary operation may
occasionally be inadequate, and the coil-drive level can be
increased if the armature fails to reach the endpoint. One way to
increase the coil-drive level is to increase the voltage on
capacitors discharged through the actuator coil.
[0129] FIG. 8 depicts the valve driver 442 as being powered by a
battery 444. The valve driver 440 typically includes energy-storage
capacitors, which the battery 444 charges up between actuations
through an inductor L1 and a Shottky diode D1. When the
microcontroller 436 asserts its OPEN or CLOSE signal, the driver
discharges the capacitors through actuator coil 328. Ordinarily, it
is the voltage of battery 444 itself that determines the voltages
to which the capacitors will be charged, and this in turns
determines coil current and thus armature force.
[0130] Under some conditions, various factors (e.g., element
expansion due to high temperature, high actuator fluid viscosity
due to low temperature, degradation of membrane 390 or other
actuator elements) may make it harder than usual to displace
armature 380. However, the drive signal is normally set at normal
operation values. Otherwise, energy consumption would be
unnecessarily high if, during normal operation, the battery voltage
were set high enough to deal with such more-difficult
circumstances. The present embodiment therefore uses a
battery-voltage level that is adequate for normal situations, but
not for more-difficult ones.
[0131] Control circuit 430 is constructed to increase the capacitor
voltage if the armature has not moved after initial application of
drive signal, or has not reached the end of its travel within a
predetermined maximum current-flow duration. Specifically,
microcontroller 436 turns the valve driver off temporarily when the
predetermined maximum current-flow duration is reached, and it
begins to pulse a transistor Q1 through a current-limiting resistor
R1. During each pulse, the transistor draws current from battery
444 through inductor L1. Because of diode D1, though, it does not
discharge the valve driver's capacitors. At the end of each pulse,
transistor Q1 turns off, and the resultant electromotive force in
inductor L1 causes current to continue to flow and thereby charge
the drive circuit's capacitors through diode D1 even if the battery
voltage exceeds that of the battery 444. So those capacitors can be
charged to voltages that exceed those of the battery.
[0132] To achieve the appropriate capacitor voltage, a comparator
440 compares the capacitor voltage to a level that microcontroller
436 sets. In response to the comparator's resultant output,
microcontroller 436 increases the pulses's duty cycle if the
capacitor voltage is less than the threshold, and it decreases
their duty cycle if the capacitor voltage exceeds the threshold.
The threshold is set higher than the battery voltage, so the force
on the armature is greater and more likely to open or close the
valve when the microcontroller then turns the valve driver on
again.
[0133] The illustrative embodiment is only one of many that can
employ the present invention's teachings. For example, although we
prefer to use a sonic sensor--in particular, an ultrasonic
transducer-other ways of detecting the end of armature travel can
be used instead. Also, although the illustrated embodiment controls
coil-drive duration both when the valve is being opened and when it
is being closed, some embodiments may control that duration only
during opening or only during closing. And latching-actuator
systems that operate mechanisms other than valves can also benefit
from the present invention's teachings.
[0134] The above-described actuators can be used in many different
applications. For example, FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an
automatic bathroom flusher using electromagnetic actuator 10A, 10B,
10C, or 10D. This automatic bathroom flusher is described in detail
in U.S. application Ser. No. 10/783,906, filed on Feb. 20, 2004, or
US patent publication US 2004/0164261 A1, which is incorporated by
reference.
[0135] Furthermore, the above-described valve actuators are
suitable for numerous other applications. For example, the
described valve actuator can be used in a two-fluid valve described
in U.S. application Ser. No. 718,026 filed on Nov. 20, 2000, which
is hereby incorporated by reference. Alternatively, the valve
actuator can be used in a bathroom flusher described in US patent
application US 2004/0232370 A1, which is hereby incorporated by
reference. Alternatively, the valve actuator can be used in a
faucet described in US patent application US 2004/0221899 A1, which
is hereby incorporated by reference. Alternatively, the valve
actuator can be used in a fluid dispensing system described in U.S.
Pat. No. 6,161,726 or PCT Application PCT/US99/30898 (published as
WO 00/38561), both of which are incorporated by reference.
Furthermore, the valve actuator can be used in various irrigation
systems used in agriculture or gardening.
[0136] Having described various embodiments and implementations of
the present invention, it should be apparent to those skilled in
the relevant art that the foregoing is illustrative only and not
limiting, having been presented by way of example only. There are
other embodiments or elements suitable for the above-described
embodiments, described in the above-listed publications, all of
which are incorporated by reference as if fully reproduced herein.
The functions of any one element may be carried out in various ways
in alternative embodiments. Also, the functions of several elements
may, in alternative embodiments, be carried out by fewer, or a
single, element.
* * * * *
References