Solenoid assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9324488-B2
Application number	US-201414486455-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 15, 2014
Priority date	Mar 28, 2012
Publication date	Apr 26, 2016
Grant date	Apr 26, 2016

Abstract

A solenoid assembly includes a coil assembly having a coil and a bobbin surrounding the coil. A first post extends from the bobbin. Electrical current is supplied to the coil through the first post. An armature at least partially surrounds the coil assembly and is configured so that the first post extends through the armature. The armature is configured to translate relative to the pole piece when the coil is energized. A feature is configured to prevent the armature from contacting the first post when the armature translates.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A solenoid assembly comprising:
a coil assembly having:
a coil;
a bobbin surrounding the coil; and
a first post that extends from the bobbin and through which electrical current is supplied to the coil;

a pole piece at least partially surrounding the coil assembly;
an armature at least partially surrounding the coil assembly; wherein the armature is configured to translate relative to the pole piece when the coil is energized; wherein the armature is configured so that the first post extends through the armature; and
a feature configured to prevent the armature from contacting the first post when the armature translates.

2. The solenoid assembly of claim 1 , wherein the coil is annular, and further comprising:
a substantially tubular member press-fit to the pole piece at a periphery of the pole piece to thereby surround the pole piece, the armature, and the coil assembly radially outward of the coil assembly.

3. The solenoid assembly of claim 2 , wherein the pole piece and the armature are powdered metal.

4. The solenoid assembly of claim 2 , wherein the armature includes an armature hub portion and an armature flange portion press-fit to the armature hub portion; wherein the armature flange portion extends radially outward from the armature hub portion;
wherein the pole piece includes a pole piece hub portion and a pole piece flange portion press-fit to the pole piece hub portion; wherein the pole piece flange portion extends radially outward from the pole piece hub portion; and
wherein the tubular member is press-fit to the pole piece flange portion.

5. The solenoid assembly of claim 4 , further comprising:
a pin extending from the armature and configured to move with the armature; and wherein the hub portion of the pole piece surrounds the pin radially outward of the pin and radially inward of the hub portion of the armature.

6. The solenoid assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a substantially annular solenoid housing configured to contain the armature, the pole piece and the coil assembly; and
wherein the feature is a ball bearing positioned between and contacting both the solenoid housing and the armature and configured to ride along the armature as the armature translates.

7. The solenoid assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first post extends through a first opening in the armature; wherein the bobbin has a second post;
wherein the armature has a second opening through which the second post extends;
wherein the feature is a sleeve on one of the first post and the second post; and wherein the sleeve is configured to prevent the armature from contacting the first post and the second post.

8. The solenoid assembly of claim 7 , wherein the sleeve is on the second post; wherein a gap defined between the sleeve and the second opening is smaller than a gap defined between the first post and the first opening so that the sleeve will stop rotation of the armature without the armature contacting the first post.

9. The solenoid assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a substantially annular solenoid housing configured to contain the armature, the pole piece and the coil assembly; and
a cap press-fit to the first post and the solenoid housing so that the cap and the solenoid housing together define a cavity in which the armature translates.

10. The solenoid assembly of claim 9 , further comprising:
an electrical terminal extending along the first post to the coil;
an elastomeric pad on the cap; and wherein the electrical terminal extends through a slit in the elastomeric pad.

11. The solenoid assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a substantially annular solenoid housing configured to contain the armature, the pole piece and the coil assembly;
wherein the pole piece has a locating feature; wherein the coil assembly and the solenoid housing have complementary locating features that interfit with the locating feature of the pole piece so that the pole piece and the coil assembly are positioned at a predetermined orientation within the solenoid housing.

12. The solenoid assembly of claim 1 , wherein the coil assembly is generally annular and has opposing sides; wherein the pole piece surrounds a first of the opposing sides and the armature surrounds a second of the opposing sides; and wherein the pole piece and the armature are each configured to extend both radially inward and radially outward of the coil assembly so that, when the coil is energized, a magnetic flux path is established around the coil that travels only through the armature and the pole piece.

13. A solenoid assembly comprising:
a substantially annular coil assembly having:
a coil; and
a bobbin with a first post and a second post both extending from the bobbin;

a pole piece at least partially surrounding the coil assembly;
an armature at least partially surrounding the coil assembly; wherein the armature has a first opening through which the first post extends and a second opening through which the second post extends; wherein the armature is configured to translate relative to the pole piece parallel to a center axis of the coil assembly when the coil is energized;
an electrical terminal extending along the first post and through which electrical current is supplied to the coil to cause the armature to translate;
a substantially tubular member press-fit to the pole piece at a periphery of the pole piece to thereby at least partially radially surround the pole piece, the armature, and the coil assembly; and
a sleeve mounted on and substantially surrounding one of the first post and the second post to prevent the armature from contacting the first post and the second post.

14. The solenoid assembly of claim 13 , wherein the pole piece and the armature are powdered metal.

15. The solenoid assembly of claim 13 , wherein the armature includes an armature hub portion and an armature flange portion press-fit to the armature hub portion; wherein the armature flange portion extends radially outward from the armature hub portion;
wherein the pole piece includes a pole piece hub portion and a pole piece flange portion press-fit to the pole piece hub portion; wherein the pole piece flange portion extends radially outward from the pole piece hub portion; and
wherein the substantially tubular member is press-fit to the pole piece flange portion.

16. The solenoid assembly of claim 15 , further comprising:
a pin extending from the armature and configured to move with the armature; and wherein the hub portion of the pole piece surrounds the pin radially outward of the pin and radially inward of the hub portion of the armature.

17. The solenoid assembly of claim 13 , wherein the sleeve is on the second post; wherein a gap defined between the sleeve and the second opening is smaller than a gap defined between the first post and the first opening so that the sleeve will stop rotation of the armature without the armature contacting the first post.

18. The solenoid assembly of claim 13 , further comprising:
a substantially annular solenoid housing configured to contain the armature, the pole piece and the coil assembly; and
a cap press-fit to the first post and the solenoid housing so that the cap and the solenoid housing together define a cavity in which the armature translates.

19. The solenoid assembly of claim 18 , further comprising:
an electrical terminal extending along the first post to the coil;
an elastomeric pad on the cap; and wherein the electrical terminal extends through a slit in the elastom

Assignees

• Eaton Corp

Inventors

• Dayton Robert A

Classifications

• H01F7/081 Primary

  Magnetic constructions · CPC title

• H01F2007/062

  Details of terminals or connectors for electromagnets · CPC title

• H01F7/126

  Supporting or mounting · CPC title

• H01F7/18 Primary

  Circuit arrangements for obtaining desired operating characteristics, e.g. for slow operation, for sequential energisation of windings, for high-speed energisation of windings · CPC title

• H01F7/128

  Encapsulating, encasing or sealing · CPC title