Electromagnetic valve

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of automobile spare parts, and particularly discloses an electromagnetic valve. The electromagnetic valve comprises a shell, a valve seat, a valve rod and a movable iron core, an overflow channel is formed in the valve seat, and a valve nozzle is arranged in the overflow channel; a positioning hole, a mounting hole and a limiting hole which are coaxial are formed in the shell, the movable iron core is movably inserted into the mounting hole, and the valve rod is movably inserted into an inner hole of the movable iron core; one end of the valve rod extends into the mounting hole and is inserted into the positioning hole, the other end of the valve rod is provided with a sealing body used for sealing the valve nozzle, and the movable iron core abuts against the limiting hole through an elastic piece; wherein an annular limiting groove is formed in an inner hole of the shell, a flange is formed after the valve seat is riveted and deformed, and the flange is embedded in the limiting groove. Therefore, a welding heat affected zone can be eliminated, and cracks are avoided; a connecting structure is optimized, and airtight stability is improved; the motion resistance of the valve rod is reduced, and quick response of the electromagnetic valve is achieved; the manufacturing process is simplified and the cost is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of automotive parts technology, specifically to a solenoid valve. Background Technology

[0002] In recent years, with the rapid development of the new energy vehicle market, especially the electric vehicle market, air suspension systems have gradually replaced traditional coil spring suspensions due to their advantages such as lightweight design, low energy consumption, and adjustability. The core electronically controlled component of an air suspension system is the solenoid valve, which precisely adjusts the air pressure of the air springs via electrical signals to achieve dynamic adjustments to vehicle height, stiffness, and damping. By controlling the intake and exhaust of compressed air, the solenoid valve allows the vehicle body to rise, lower, or maintain a constant height. Simultaneously, combined with real-time feedback from sensors, it optimizes suspension stiffness, thereby improving vehicle stability and ride comfort.

[0003] CN114776821B discloses an electromagnetic valve body, specifically comprising a stationary iron core component, a valve seat component, and a valve seat core component connected axially. The valve seat core component includes a valve seat core sleeve and a valve seat core. The valve seat core provides the valve port of the electromagnetic valve. The upper end of the valve seat core is inserted axially into the valve seat core sleeve and welded to it. The upper end of the valve seat core sleeve is inserted axially into the valve seat component and welded to it. The outer peripheral wall of the valve seat core is provided with an annular step or an annular boss. The lower end face of the valve seat core sleeve abuts against the annular step or annular boss of the valve seat core and is welded to it.

[0004] However, actual testing revealed the following technical problems with this solenoid valve: The valve housing and seat are fixed together by high-temperature welding, resulting in high costs, susceptibility to cracking in the heat-affected zone, and unstable airtightness. Furthermore, the valve seat and housing are connected using an external riveting process, i.e., radial extrusion to fix the components. This riveting process easily leads to cracks on the metal surface and peeling off the protective coating. In addition, existing technologies directly vulcanize rubber onto the metal valve stem, resulting in high mold costs, potential damage to the valve stem surface during processing, and difficulty in controlling the cleanliness of the production environment.

[0005] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a new type of solenoid valve design that can eliminate the heat-affected zone of welding and avoid crack formation; optimize the connection structure and improve airtightness; reduce the resistance of valve stem movement and achieve rapid response of the solenoid valve; and simplify the manufacturing process and reduce costs. Utility Model Content

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide a solenoid valve that can eliminate the heat-affected zone of welding and avoid crack formation; optimize the connection structure and improve airtightness; reduce the resistance of valve stem movement and achieve rapid response of the solenoid valve; and simplify the manufacturing process and reduce costs.

[0007] This utility model is achieved through the following technical solution:

[0008] An electromagnetic valve includes a housing, a valve seat, a valve stem, and a moving iron core. The valve seat has an overflow channel, and a valve nozzle is disposed in the overflow channel. The housing has a coaxial positioning hole, a mounting hole, and a limiting hole. The moving iron core is movably inserted into the mounting hole, and the valve stem is movably inserted into the inner hole of the moving iron core. One end of the valve stem extends into the mounting hole and is inserted into the positioning hole, and the other end of the valve stem has a sealing body for sealing the valve nozzle. The moving iron core is pressed against the limiting hole by an elastic element. The inner hole of the housing has an annular limiting groove, and the valve seat is riveted and deformed to form a flange, which is embedded in the limiting groove.

[0009] Alternatively, the sealing body is fitted onto the end of the valve stem, wherein the end of the valve stem is provided with an annular boss, the annular boss being used to define the position of the sealing body.

[0010] Alternatively, the solenoid valve may further include a second spring, on which an annular step adapted to the second spring is formed; the second spring is sleeved on the moving iron core and pressed against the elastic element through the limiting sleeve, and the end face of the second spring presses against the annular step, with the second spring located at the end away from the sealing body.

[0011] Alternatively, the solenoid valve may further include retaining rings, with annular grooves at both ends of the valve stem, and two sets of retaining rings respectively fitted into the annular grooves; the size of the retaining rings is smaller than the size of the positioning hole, wherein the retaining rings near the valve seat press against the elastic element.

[0012] Alternatively, the elastic element may be configured as a first spring sheet, which is sleeved on the outer periphery of the moving iron core.

[0013] Alternatively, a bearing may be provided in the positioning hole.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, this utility model has the following advantages and beneficial effects:

[0015] When assembling a solenoid valve, a tooling is applied to the flange of the valve seat, and a force is applied along the axial direction of the valve seat. This causes the flange of the valve seat to undergo plastic deformation and embed itself into and fill the limiting groove. At this time, the limiting groove of the outer shell and the valve seat can form a mechanical engagement, thereby achieving a fixed connection between the outer shell and the valve seat. In this way, the risk of welding cracks can be eliminated through embedded riveting, while avoiding surface damage caused by external riveting, such as surface micro-cracks or peeling of the electroplated layer.

[0016] A bearing is installed in the positioning hole of the housing, forming a clearance fit with the valve stem. The inner hole of the moving iron core also has a clearance fit with the valve stem. When the coil is energized, it generates electromagnetic excitation, which causes the moving iron core to move axially. The elastic element undergoes elastic deformation, causing the valve stem to move along the bearing guide, disengaging the sealing body from the valve nozzle, thereby opening the medium flow channel. At this time, the solenoid valve is in the open state. When the coil is de-energized, the elastic restoring force of the elastic element pushes the moving iron core back to its original position. The valve stem returns to its original position under the action of the elastic force, causing the sealing body to press against the valve nozzle, thereby closing the medium flow channel. At this time, the solenoid valve is in the closed state.

[0017] The above technical solution reduces the friction coefficient of the valve stem movement through the bearing in the positioning hole. The design based on the elastic element not only controls the axial preload within a certain range but also acts as a radial limit, reducing the movement gap between the moving iron core and the valve stem, and preventing metal-to-metal contact and abrasive particles. This ensures that the moving iron core does not contact the metal of the housing during the valve stem's movement. The synergistic effect of the bearing and the elastic element effectively reduces movement resistance while ensuring movement accuracy and improving response speed. Because this disclosure uses axial internal riveting (not traditional welding / external riveting), the valve seat flange is plastically deformed and embedded into the limiting groove of the housing, forming a cold-forged metal interlock. This not only eliminates the heat-affected zone of welding and prevents cracking but also optimizes the connection structure and improves airtightness stability. Attached Figure Description

[0018] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the exemplary embodiments of this utility model, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly described below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of this utility model and should not be considered as a limitation of the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort. In the drawings:

[0019] Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the solenoid valve provided by this utility model in one embodiment;

[0020] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the elastic element in the solenoid valve provided by this utility model;

[0021] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure of the solenoid valve before riveting provided by this utility model;

[0022] Figure 4 for Figure 3 A partial structural diagram of the solenoid valve;

[0023] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the structure of the solenoid valve after riveting provided by this utility model;

[0024] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A partial structural diagram of the solenoid valve;

[0025] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the structure of the solenoid valve provided by this utility model in one embodiment;

[0026] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the valve stem and sealing body in the solenoid valve provided by this utility model.

[0027] The markings and corresponding component names in the attached diagram are as follows: 1-Housing, 11-Positioning hole, 12-Mounting hole, 13-Limiting hole, 14-Limiting groove, 2-Valve seat, 21-Valve nozzle, 22-Medium flow channel, 23-Valve hole, 24-Flange, 3-Valve stem, 31-Annular boss, 4-Moving iron core, 5-Bearing, 6-Elastic element, 61-Strip groove, 611-Inner ring section, 612-Outer ring section, 613-Transition section, 7-Sealing body, 8-Snap ring, 9-Second spring, 100-Electromagnetic coil. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be noted that while the description of these embodiments is intended to aid in understanding the present invention, it does not constitute a limitation thereof. The specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are only for describing exemplary embodiments of the present invention. However, the present invention may be embodied in many alternative forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments described herein.

[0029] According to a specific embodiment of this disclosure, a solenoid valve is provided. Wherein, Figures 1 to 8 Specific embodiments thereof are shown.

[0030] See Figures 1 to 8 As shown, the solenoid valve includes a housing 1, a valve seat 2, a valve stem 3, and a moving iron core 4. The valve seat 2 is provided with an overflow channel, and a valve nozzle 21 is provided in the overflow channel. The housing 1 is provided with a coaxial positioning hole 11, a mounting hole 12, and a limiting hole 13. The moving iron core 4 is movably inserted into the mounting hole 12, and the valve stem 3 is movably inserted into the inner hole of the moving iron core 4. One end of the valve stem 3 extends into the mounting hole 12 and is inserted into the positioning hole 11. The other end of the valve stem 3 is provided with a sealing body 7 for sealing the valve nozzle 21. The moving iron core 4 is pressed against the limiting hole 13 by an elastic element 6. The inner hole of the housing 1 is provided with an annular limiting groove 14. After the valve seat 2 is riveted and deformed, a flange 24 is formed, and the flange 24 is embedded in the limiting groove 14.

[0031] During the assembly of the solenoid valve, a tooling is applied to the flange 24 of the valve seat 2, and a force is applied along the axial direction of the valve seat 2. This causes the flange 24 of the valve seat 2 to undergo plastic deformation and embed into and fill the limiting groove 14. At this time, the limiting groove 14 of the outer shell and the valve seat 2 can form a mechanical engagement, thereby achieving a fixed connection between the outer shell and the valve seat 2. In this way, the risk of welding cracks can be eliminated by the embedded riveting method, while avoiding surface damage caused by external riveting, such as surface micro-cracks or peeling of the electroplated layer.

[0032] A bearing 5 is installed in the positioning hole 11 of the housing 1, forming a clearance fit with the valve stem 3. The inner hole of the moving iron core 4 also has a clearance fit with the valve stem 3. When the coil is energized, it generates electromagnetic excitation, which causes the moving iron core 4 to move axially. The elastic element 6 undergoes elastic deformation, causing the valve stem 3 to move along the bearing 5, allowing the sealing body 7 to disengage from the valve nozzle 21, thereby opening the medium flow channel 22. At this time, the solenoid valve is in the open state. When the coil is de-energized, the elastic restoring force of the elastic element 6 pushes the moving iron core 4 to reset. The valve stem 3 returns to its original position under the action of the elastic force, causing the sealing body 7 to press against the valve nozzle 21, thereby closing the medium flow channel 22. At this time, the solenoid valve is in the closed state.

[0033] Through the above technical solution, the bearing 5 in the positioning hole 11 reduces the friction coefficient of the valve stem 3. The design based on the elastic element 6 not only controls the axial preload within a certain range but also acts as a radial limit, reducing the movement gap between the moving iron core 4 and the valve stem 3, thus preventing metal-to-metal contact and the generation of abrasive particles. This ensures that the moving iron core 4 does not come into metal-to-metal contact with the housing 1 during the entire movement of the valve stem 3. The synergistic effect of the bearing 5 and the elastic element 6 effectively reduces movement resistance while ensuring movement accuracy and improving response speed. Because this disclosure uses axial internal riveting (not traditional welding / external riveting), the flange 24 of the valve seat 2 is plastically deformed and embedded into the limiting groove 14 of the housing 1, forming a cold-forged metal interlock. This not only eliminates the heat-affected zone of welding and prevents cracking but also optimizes the connection structure and improves airtightness stability.

[0034] It should be noted that the directional terms used, such as "inner" and "outer," refer to the "inner" and "outer" relative to the outline of the solenoid valve, facing the solenoid valve (which can be combined with...). Figure 1 (For understanding purposes) The direction of the axis is "inward," and vice versa. Furthermore, it should be noted that the terms used, such as "first" and "second," are used to distinguish one element from another and do not indicate sequence or importance. Moreover, in the following descriptions with accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals in different drawings represent the same element.

[0035] In one embodiment, the sealing body 7 is sleeved on the end of the valve stem 3, and the end of the valve stem 3 is provided with an annular boss 31 to limit the position of the sealing body 7, so that the two can maintain a stable assembly state and prevent the sealing body 7 from falling out.

[0036] By using the separate design of the annular boss 31 and the sealing body 7 (PTFE composite material or fluororubber), the fit between the two can be ensured, so that the sealing body 7 is fixed on the valve stem 3. This replaces the traditional vulcanization bonding process, reduces mold costs, and does not affect the surface hardness of the valve stem 3.

[0037] In a preferred embodiment, the solenoid valve further includes a second spring plate 9, and an annular step adapted to the second spring plate 9 is formed on the limiting hole 13; the second spring plate 9 is sleeved on the moving iron core 4 and presses against the elastic member 6, and the end face of the second spring plate 9 presses against the annular step, with the second spring plate 9 located at the end away from the sealing body 7. By adding the second spring plate 9, the moving iron core 4 can be helped to move into position with sufficient force.

[0038] Specifically, as the moving iron core 4 is about to complete its stroke, the second spring activates, increasing the force and generating a counterforce that acts on the moving iron core 4, thus slowing down the movement. This ensures a rapid energization response while effectively reducing impact noise. When the solenoid valve is de-energized, the moving iron core 4, after being attracted to the housing, has a significant attraction force, making it difficult to detach from the housing during current changes. However, the additional force provided by the second spring in the closing direction allows the moving iron core 4 to more easily break free from the housing's attraction, resulting in a faster energization response and a higher energization current. Simultaneously, this effectively reduces the impact noise generated by the instantaneous attraction of the moving iron core 4 to the housing when the solenoid valve is energized, allowing the solenoid valve to complete its opening and closing actions in a quiet environment.

[0039] In the initial motion phase, only the elastic element 6 provides the basic reset force to ensure rapid start-up and increase the speed of the moving iron core 4 during movement. In the final buffer phase, the second spring 9 intervenes and forms a composite elastic force, generating a nonlinear resistance gradient that can reduce the final velocity of the moving iron core 4. In this way, when power is cut off, the additional separation force of the second spring 9 can be used to overcome the residual magnetic attraction force and shorten the power-off response time.

[0040] It should be noted that the number of the second spring clips 9 can be adapted to the usage requirements and the steps provided. In some cases, the second spring clips 9 can be configured as two sets spaced apart.

[0041] In this disclosure, the second spring 9 is pressed against the elastic element 6 (i.e., the first spring) by a limiting sleeve. The limiting sleeve is sleeved on the outer periphery of the moving iron core 4, so that the position of the elastic element 6 and the second spring 9 can be constrained to a certain extent.

[0042] In a further embodiment, a bearing 5 is provided in the positioning hole 11. The inner ring of the bearing 5 is tightly fitted with the valve stem 3, and the outer ring is coaxially assembled with the positioning hole 11, forming a high-precision guiding structure. The valve stem 3 moves linearly along the axis of the bearing 5 with minimal deviation, which can avoid additional friction or sealing failure caused by misalignment. The rigid support of the bearing 5 can suppress the radial wobble of the valve stem 3, especially during high-frequency operations (such as real-time suspension adjustment), reducing vibration and noise.

[0043] In one embodiment provided in this disclosure, the solenoid valve further includes a retaining ring 8, and the valve stem 3 has annular grooves at both ends. The retaining rings 8 are configured in two sets and respectively fitted into the annular grooves. The size of the retaining ring 8 is smaller than the size of the positioning hole 11, wherein the retaining ring 8 near the valve seat 2 presses against the elastic member 6.

[0044] The retaining ring 8 is fixed to both ends of the valve stem 3 via an annular groove, forming a mechanical stop to prevent the valve stem 3 from axially shifting or completely dislodging during high-speed movement (such as when a vehicle is bumpy). When the solenoid valve is frequently opened and closed, the engagement of the retaining ring 8 with the annular groove suppresses the inertial offset of the valve stem 3, ensuring precise alignment between the sealing body 7 and the valve nozzle 21. The retaining ring 8, located near the valve seat 2, directly presses against the elastic element 6, efficiently transmitting the elastic restoring force of the elastic element 6 to the valve stem 3, reducing power transmission loss.

[0045] When the solenoid valve is closed, the valve stem 3 is subjected to a force from the lateral valve port 23 (formed on the valve seat 2), and the greater the air pressure, the greater the pressure. In a traditional no-backflow design, opening the solenoid valve may result in a slow opening response due to excessive air pressure, or insufficient electromagnetic force. Increasing the excitation intensity, while opening the solenoid valve, increases energy consumption and compromises the reliability of its opening and closing. However, based on the backflow design of this disclosure (the distance between the upper retaining ring 8 and the positioning hole 11 is the backflow), the moving iron core 4 only needs to overcome the resistance of the elastic element 6 during the backflow. When the moving iron core 4 completes its backflow and contacts the valve stem 3, it is very close to the magnetic core end face, receiving greater electromagnetic force support and exerting a certain inertial impact force on the valve stem 3, making it easier to lift the valve stem 3. This allows for easy valve opening without increasing electromagnetic excitation, thus saving energy.

[0046] In application, those skilled in the art can select retaining rings 8 of different thicknesses according to actual needs, thereby adjusting the initial compression of the elastic element 6 and thus precisely controlling the reset force of the valve stem 3.

[0047] In one embodiment, the retaining ring 8 may be made of stainless steel or polyetheretherketone (PEEK) material, thereby acting as a buffer medium to reduce the impact between the valve stem 3 and the elastic element 6 and reduce metal wear.

[0048] In one embodiment provided in this disclosure, the elastic element 6 is configured as a first spring sheet, which is sleeved on the outer periphery of the moving iron core 4. The first spring sheet can provide an initial preload to ensure that the moving iron core 4 quickly resets after power is cut off.

[0049] In one possible design, the first spring can be designed with a gradually varying thickness, so that the elastic force changes with the amount of compression, thereby better matching the attenuation of electromagnetic force.

[0050] In one embodiment provided in this disclosure, the first spring sheet is provided with a strip groove 61 arranged along its circumference. The design of the strip groove 61 can reduce the stress in the stress area of ​​the spring sheet and avoid the cracks that are prone to occur at the edges of traditional solid spring sheets. In addition, the micro airflow channel formed by the strip groove 61 is beneficial for guiding airflow and reducing aerodynamic noise when the moving iron core 4 moves at high speed. At the same time, the groove structure also helps to increase the heat dissipation surface area, thereby reducing the operating temperature of the spring sheet.

[0051] Furthermore, at least two strip grooves 61 are provided and staggered. The staggered strip grooves 61 form an asymmetric stress transmission path, which reduces the stress when the spring is subjected to force.

[0052] In one exemplary embodiment provided in this disclosure, the strip grooves 61 are arranged in three spaced-apart configurations. The strip grooves 61 are inclined, and adjacent strip grooves 61 form a "Y" shape. This arrangement allows the first spring piece to have good rigidity and strength, thereby providing sufficient elastic force to the moving iron core 4.

[0053] Preferably, the strip groove 61 includes an inner ring segment 611 and an outer ring segment 612, wherein the connection between the inner ring segment 611 and the outer ring segment 612 forms a transition segment 613 convex towards the axis of the first spring piece; in adjacent strip grooves 61, the inner ring segment 611 of one strip groove 61 is disposed inside the outer ring segment 612 of the adjacent strip groove 61. In this way, the "Y"-shaped continuous material region formed by the misalignment of adjacent strip grooves 61 can effectively hinder crack propagation, and at the same time form a mechanical interlocking structure, improving radial stiffness while maintaining good axial compliance. In addition, the arc-shaped transition convex towards the axis at the connection between the inner ring segment 611 and the outer ring segment 612 can also help to smoothly redirect stress.

[0054] In one embodiment provided in this disclosure, the thickness of the valve nozzle 21 gradually increases in the direction away from the sealing body 7, and the end face of the valve nozzle 21 is formed as a plane that fits against the sealing body 7.

[0055] The thickness of the valve nozzle 21 gradually increases from the sealing end to the free end, which enhances the bending stiffness of the valve nozzle 21 while maintaining sufficient elastic deformation capacity at the sealing end. The thickness gradient shifts the point of maximum stress from the sealing surface to the root of the valve nozzle 21, reducing the stress on the sealing surface. The gradually thickened structure generates micro-deformation under high pressure, which can automatically compensate for the wear of the sealing surface.

[0056] In this disclosure, an electromagnetic coil 100 is sleeved on the outer periphery of the housing 1. The coil is wound around the outer periphery of the housing 1 (made of a magnetic material such as electrical pure iron) to form the shortest magnetic circuit path, which is beneficial to reduce magnetic resistance and increase the magnetic field strength.

[0057] The above specific embodiments further illustrate the purpose, technical solution and beneficial effects of this utility model. It should be understood that the above are only specific embodiments of this utility model and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this utility model. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this utility model should be included within the scope of protection of this utility model.

[0058] Finally, it should be noted that this utility model is not limited to the above-described optional embodiments, and anyone can derive other various forms of products under the guidance of this utility model. The above specific embodiments should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of this utility model, which should be determined by the claims, and the description can be used to interpret the claims.

Claims

1. A solenoid valve, comprising a housing (1), a valve seat (2), a valve stem (3), and a moving iron core (4), wherein the valve seat (2) is provided with an overflow channel, and a valve nozzle (21) is provided in the overflow channel; the housing (1) is provided with a coaxial positioning hole (11), a mounting hole (12), and a limiting hole (13), wherein, The moving iron core (4) is movably inserted into the mounting hole (12), and the valve stem (3) is movably inserted into the inner hole of the moving iron core (4); one end of the valve stem (3) extends into the mounting hole (12) and is inserted into the positioning hole (11), and the other end of the valve stem (3) is provided with a sealing body (7) for sealing the valve nozzle (21). The moving iron core (4) is pressed against the limiting hole (13) by an elastic element (6); wherein, the inner hole of the housing (1) is provided with an annular limiting groove (14), and the valve seat (2) is riveted and deformed to form a flange (24), and the flange (24) is embedded in the limiting groove.

2. The solenoid valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sealing body (7) is sleeved on the end of the valve stem (3), wherein the end of the valve stem (3) is provided with an annular boss (31), and the annular boss (31) is used to define the position of the sealing body (7).

3. The solenoid valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, The solenoid valve also includes a second spring (9), and an annular step adapted to the second spring (9) is formed on the limiting hole (13); the second spring (9) is sleeved on the moving iron core (4) and pressed against the elastic member (6) through the limiting sleeve, and the end face of the second spring (9) presses against the annular step, and the second spring (9) is located at the end away from the sealing body (7).

4. The solenoid valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, The solenoid valve also includes a retaining ring (8), and the valve stem (3) has annular grooves at both ends. The retaining ring (8) is configured in two sets and is respectively fitted in the annular grooves. The size of the retaining ring (8) is smaller than the size of the positioning hole (11). The retaining ring (8) near the valve seat (2) presses against the elastic element (6).

5. The solenoid valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, The elastic element (6) is configured as a first spring sheet, which is sleeved on the outer periphery of the moving iron core (4).

6. The solenoid valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, A bearing (5) is provided in the positioning hole (11).

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