Parker-Hannifin Corporation
HIGH FLOW MINIATURE PROPORTIONAL CONTROL VALVE WITH LINEAR MOVING MAGNETIC VOICE COIL MOTOR

Abstract:

A proportional valve includes a valve assembly including a valve body that houses a valve operator. The valve body defines an inlet and an outlet for a fluid flow through the valve body. The valve operator has a longitudinal axis and includes a poppet that is moveable along the longitudinal axis between a closed position and an open position. The proportional valve further includes an actuator, wherein the actuator comprises an actuator housing that houses: a first magnet element and a second magnet element; a non-magnetic carrier in which the first magnet element and the second magnet element are mounted; a first wire coil located adjacent to the magnet elements and a second wire coil located adjacent to the magnet elements on an opposite side of the magnet elements relative to the first wire coil; a first spring beam to which the non-magnetic carrier is suspended adjacent to the first magnet element, and a second spring beam to which the non-magnetic carrier is suspended adjacent to the second magnet element; and a flux frame that conducts magnetic field lines through the actuator. When the wire coils are energized, a magnetic field is created which causes the non-magnetic carrier to move against the valve operator to move the valve poppet away from the closed position against the valve seat, thereby opening the valve. The first and second spring beams restrain the movement of the non-magnetic carrier to an arc of sufficient radius that said movement is quasi-linear.