Electromechanical valve actuator

Abstract

A compact electromechanical valve actuator that allows the electromechanical valves to generally be situated in closer proximity to each other, thereby reducing overall packaging space requirements. The electromechanical valve actuator includes a connecting rod that is at least partially within the envelope of the electromagnets and armature plate. The armature plate also defines an armature envelope and the connecting rod is pivotably coupled to the armature plate with a pivot axis within the armature envelope.

1 . An electromechanical valve actuator comprising: 
 an armature plate defining an armature envelope; and    a connecting rod pivotably coupled to said armature plate and having a pivot axis located within the armature envelope.    
     
     
         2 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 1  further including a valve electromagnet and an armature electromagnet, and wherein said armature plate is located between said electromagnets, said valve electromagnet defining a valve electromagnet recess for receiving at least a portion of said connecting rod.  
     
     
         3 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 2  wherein said armature plate includes an open and closed position, and wherein said valve electromagnet defines a valve envelope, said connecting rod including a pivot head and a shaft, said shaft being substantially received within said valve envelope as said armature plate moves between said open and closed positions.  
     
     
         4 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 2  wherein said connecting rod includes an armature end and said armature electromagnet includes a pivot recess for receiving a portion of said armature end when said armature plate is in said closed position.  
     
     
         5 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 1  wherein said armature plate includes a reinforcing pin and wherein said connecting rod is pivotably coupled to said reinforcing pin.  
     
     
         6 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 5  wherein said armature plate has a plate lateral extent and wherein said armature plate further includes a hinge pin laterally displaced from said reinforcing pin.  
     
     
         7 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 6  further including a rotary position sensor and wherein said hinge pin extends beyond said armature envelope, said rotary position sensor being coupled to said hinge pin.  
     
     
         8 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 1  wherein said connecting rod is formed from a substantially non-magnetic material.  
     
     
         9 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 1  wherein said armature plate includes a plate longitudinal extent and a plate lateral extent and wherein said longitudinal extent is at least 1.2 times greater than the lateral extent.  
     
     
         10 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 1  further including a valve and a valve electromagnet, said valve being located substantially under said valve electromagnet.  
     
     
         11 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 10  wherein said valve includes a valve stem and said connecting rod includes an armature end, said armature end being pivotably coupled to said armature plate and having an arcuate movement as said valve is moved between an open and closed position.  
     
     
         12 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 11  wherein said valve stem and said connecting rod are substantially aligned for a portion of said arcuate movement.  
     
     
         13 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 10  further including a spring assembly substantially located under said valve electromagnet.  
     
     
         14 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 1  further including a spring assembly and wherein said connecting rod is configured to apply bidirectional force to said spring assembly.  
     
     
         15 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 14  wherein said connecting rod is coupled to said spring assembly with a wedge.  
     
     
         16 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 14  wherein said connecting rod is supported for movement by said armature plate and said spring assembly without a guide bushing.  
     
     
         17 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 14  wherein said connecting rod is coupled to said spring assembly with a pivot pin.  
     
     
         18 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 17  further including a valve having a valve stem and wherein said connecting rod pivots relative to said valve stem.  
     
     
         19 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 1  further including a second armature plate and a second connecting rod wherein each of said armature plates includes a pivot pin and a hinge pin and wherein said pivot pins and hinge pins are arranged in a parallel relationship and wherein said connecting rod is in closer proximity to the hinge pin of said second armature plate than the second connecting rod is to the hinge pin of said armature plate.  
     
     
         20 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 1  wherein said armature plate has a protruding portion, said protruding portion including a reinforcing pin.  
     
     
         21 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 20  wherein said connecting rod is pivotably coupled to said reinforcing pin.  
     
     
         22 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 20  further including a second armature plate having a second protruding portion, said armature plates being arranged with said protruding portions being substantially aligned.  
     
     
         23 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 20  further including a second armature plate having a second protruding portion and wherein said second protruding portion faces said armature plate and said protruding portion faces said second armature plate.  
     
     
         24 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 20  further including a second armature plate and wherein each of said armature plates includes a pivot axis and wherein said pivot axes are displaced so that said reinforcing pins are approximately aligned.  
     
     
         25 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 1  further including a valve electromagnet having a core and a power coil, said power coil being looped and defining a center portion therebetween, and wherein said valve electromagnet defines a valve electromagnet recess in said center portion for receiving said connecting rod.  
     
     
         26 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 1  wherein said armature plate includes sheets of ferromagnetic material.  
     
     
         27 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 1  wherein said armature plate defines a recess, said connecting rod pivotable within said recess, and wherein said connecting rod may be aligned with said armature plate.  
     
     
         28 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 1  further including an armature c-block and a valve c-block, said valve c-block securing a valve electromagnet and said armature c-block securing an armature electromagnet, said electromagnets defining a gap wherein said armature plate is located within said gap.  
     
     
         29 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 28  wherein said armature plate includes a hinge pin substantially secured between said armature c-block and said valve c-block.  
     
     
         30 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 29  wherein each of said armature c-block and said valve c-block include a recess for receiving said hinge pin.  
     
     
         31 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 30  further including a bushing located between said c-blocks and said hinge pin.  
     
     
         32 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 1  further including a valve electromagnet and an armature electromagnet and wherein said armature plate includes an armature surface facing said armature electromagnet and a valve surface facing said valve electromagnet, and wherein said valve surface and said armature surface are not parallel.  
     
     
         33 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 1  wherein said armature plate includes a pivot end and a lever end and wherein said armature plate tapers from said pivot end to said lever end.  
     
     
         34 . An electromechanical valve actuator comprising: 
 an armature plate including a reinforcing pin;    a connecting rod pivotably coupled to said reinforcing pin;    
     
     
         35 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 34  wherein said armature plate includes sheets of ferromagnetic material.  
     
     
         36 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 34  wherein said armature plate defines an armature envelope and said connecting rod includes a pivot axis, said pivot axis being located within said armature envelope.  
     
     
         37 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 34  wherein said connecting rod is formed from a nonmagnetic material.  
     
     
         38 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 34  further including a spring assembly and wherein said connecting rod is configured to apply bidirectional force to said spring assembly.  
     
     
         39 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 34  further including a valve electromagnet and an armature electromagnet and wherein said armature plate includes an armature surface facing said armature electromagnet and a valve surface facing said valve electromagnet, and wherein said valve surface and said armature surface are not parallel.  
     
     
         40 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 34  wherein said armature plate includes a pivot end and a lever end and wherein said armature plate tapers from said pivot end to said lever end.  
     
     
         41 . An electromechanical valve actuator comprising a valve electromagnet having an outer valve electromagnet perimeter and a valve, said outer valve electromagnet perimeter being extended toward said valve and wherein said valve is substantially within said extended outer valve electromagnet perimeter.  
     
     
         42 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 41  further including an armature plate defining an armature envelope and a connecting rod pivotably coupled to said armature plate.  
     
     
         43 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 42  wherein said connecting rod has a pivot axis located within the armature envelope.  
     
     
         44 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 42  wherein valve electromagnet includes a valve electromagnet recess for receiving at least a portion of said connecting rod.  
     
     
         45 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 42  wherein said armature plate further includes a reinforcing pin and wherein said connecting rod is pivotably coupled to said reinforcing pin.  
     
     
         46 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 45  wherein said connecting rod is formed from a nonmagnetic material.  
     
     
         47 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 41  wherein said valve electromagnet includes a core and a power coil, said power coil being looped and defining a center portion therebetween, and wherein said valve electromagnet defines a valve electromagnet recess in said center portion for receiving said connecting rod.  
     
     
         48 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 47  further including an armature electromagnet having a pivot recess.  
     
     
         49 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 41  further including an armature plate having an armature surface facing said armature electromagnet and a valve surface facing said valve electromagnet, and wherein said valve surface and said armature surface are not parallel.  
     
     
         50 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 41  further including an armature plate having a pivot end and a lever end and wherein said armature plate tapers from said pivot end to said lever end.