Electronic control valve having an integral non-contact noise mitigation device

Abstract

An electronic control valve having a valve stationary portion defining a substantially central bore extending along an axis of the valve, and a valve train including a movable member of the valve. The valve train moveable member is disposed in the central bore, and the valve train is adapted for reciprocal movement along the axis. A mass is engaged is with the valve train and adapted for reciprocal movement along the axis. A biasing means is disposed between the valve train and the mass. Reciprocal movements of the mass along the axis induced by forces exerted along the axis by the valve train are transmitted through the biasing means, whereby reciprocal movement of the valve train along the axis is dynamically reduced by the mass.

1 . An electronic control valve, comprising:
 a valve stationary portion defining a substantially central bore extending along an axis of said valve;   a valve train including a movable member of said valve, said valve train moveable member disposed in said central bore, said valve train adapted for reciprocal movement along said axis;   a mass engaged with said valve train and adapted for reciprocal movement along said axis; and   a biasing means disposed between said valve train and said mass, reciprocal movements of said mass along said axis induced by forces exerted along said axis by said valve train transmitted through said biasing means, whereby reciprocal movement of said valve train along said axis is dynamically reduced by said mass.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic control valve of  claim 1 , wherein said biasing means comprises a spring disposed between interfacing surfaces of said mass and said valve train. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic control valve of  claim 2 , wherein said spring has opposite first and second ends spaced along said axis, said spring first end engaged with a first surface located on said mass, said spring second end engaged with a second surface located on said valve train. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic control valve of  claim 1 , wherein said biasing means is a first biasing means disposed between a first pair of interfacing surfaces of said mass and said valve train, and further comprising a second biasing means disposed between said valve train and said mass, reciprocal axial movements of said mass induced by axial forces exerted by said valve train transmitted through said second biasing means. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic control valve of  claim 4 , wherein said first biasing means comprises a first spring having a pair of opposite ends spaced along a direction parallel with said axis, and said second biasing means comprises a second spring having a pair of opposite ends spaced along a direction parallel with said axis, said second spring disposed between interfacing surfaces of said mass and said valve train. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic control valve of  claim 5 , wherein said second spring is disposed between a second pair of interfacing surfaces of said mass and said valve train. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic control valve of  claim 5 , wherein said second spring has a pair of opposite ends spaced along said axis, one of said second spring ends engaged with a third surface located on said mass, the other of said second spring ends engaged with a fourth surface located on said valve train. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic control valve of  claim 7 , wherein said mass first and third surfaces are spaced along said axis, and said first and second springs are compression coil springs. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic control valve of  claim 4 , wherein said second biasing means is disposed between a second pair of interfacing surfaces of said mass and said valve train. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic control valve of  claim 1 , wherein said mass and said valve train define a chamber of variable volume containing said biasing means. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic control valve of  claim 1 , said mass carried by said valve train moveable member. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic control valve of  claim 11 , said biasing means carried by said valve train moveable member. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic control valve of  claim 1 , said mass located outside of said central bore. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic control valve of  claim 13 , said biasing means located outside of said central bore. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic control valve of  claim 1 , wherein reciprocal movement of said valve train along said axis is opposed by inertia-induced forces transmitted between said mass and said valve train through said biasing means. 
     
     
         16 . The electronic control valve of  claim 1 , wherein reciprocal movement of said valve train along said axis is partially a mechanical response to electromagnetic forces exerted on said valve train, said electromagnetic forces generated by pulsed electrical signals of variable duration having a range of time-averaged control current levels corresponding to electrical signal pulse lengths over a cycle, whereby said valve train has a control response to changes in control current levels within said range, said control response substantially devoid of discontinuities over said range. 
     
     
         17 . The electronic control valve of  claim 16 , wherein said range of control current levels extends from a minimum value corresponding to a pulse duration of zero percent of said cycle and a maximum value corresponding to a pulse duration of 100 percent of said cycle.