Retaining element for a mechanical component

Abstract

A retaining element which retains a mechanical element within the cavity of a body is described. Specifically, an electronically controlled valve and a motor housing retainer are described. The motor housing retainer comprises a printed circuit board, which may provide a connection to the motor.

1 . A retaining element comprising:
 a substrate composed of a dielectric material configured to be affixed over a cavity in a body,   where the affixed substrate prevents a mechanical element from exiting the cavity in the body and further where the affixed substrate provides one or more connection points for electrical connections.   
   
   
       2 . The retaining element in  claim 1 , where the body is a valve body. 
   
   
       3 . The retaining element in  claim 1 , where the mechanical element is a motor housing. 
   
   
       4 . The retaining element in  claim 1 , where the substrate has an opening to allow access to the cavity. 
   
   
       5 . The retaining element in  claim 1 , where the substrate is configured to fit within a recess on the valve body. 
   
   
       6 . The retaining element in  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a printed circuit board where at least two connectors are connected via a circuit on the printed circuit board. 
   
   
       7 . The retaining element in  claim 1 , wherein a first connector is connected to the mechanical element and a second connector is connected to a cover and further where the first connector and the second connector are electrically connected. 
   
   
       8 . The retaining element in  claim 7 , where the first connector is a Flexible Printed Circuit connector and uses a flat cable to connect to a voice coil. 
   
   
       9 . The retaining element in  claim 7 , where the connection is used for coil current transfer. 
   
   
       10 . An electronically controlled valve comprising:
 a valve body;   a cavity within the body;   a motor housing within the cavity; and   a motor housing retainer, where the retainer comprises a substrate composed of a dielectric material configured to be affixed over a cavity in a valve body, where the affixed substrate prevents a motor housing from exiting the cavity in the valve body and further where the affixed substrate provides one or more connection points for electrical connections.   
   
   
       11 . The electronically controlled valve in  claim 10 , where the substrate has an opening to allow access to the cavity. 
   
   
       12 . The electronically controlled valve in  claim 10 , where the substrate configured to fit within a recess on the valve body. 
   
   
       13 . The electronically controlled valve in  claim 10 , wherein the substrate is a printed circuit board where at least two connectors are connected via a circuit on the printed circuit board. 
   
   
       14 . The electronically controlled valve in  claim 13 , further comprising a coil header assembly, which includes a voice coil, wherein a first connector is connected to the voice coil and a second connector is connected to a motor housing cover and further where the first connector and the second connector are electrically connected. 
   
   
       15 . The electronically controlled valve in  claim 14 , where the first connector is a Flexible Printed Circuit connector and uses a flat cable to connect to the voice coil. 
   
   
       16 . The electronically controlled valve in  claim 14 , where the connection is used for coil current transfer. 
   
   
       17 . A retaining element comprising:
 means for preventing a mechanical element from exiting a cavity in a body; and   means for providing one or more electronic connections enabling coil current transfer.   
   
   
       18 . The retaining element in  claim 17 , where the body is a valve body and the mechanical element is a motor housing. 
   
   
       19 . The retaining element in  claim 17 , where a first connection is used to connect to a voice coil and a second connection is used to connect to a connector on a cover and further where the first connector and the second connector are electrically connected. 
   
   
       20 . A method, comprising:
 providing a valve body;   inserting a spool actuator through an opening into a cavity within the valve body; and   affixing a printed circuit board over the opening, the printed circuit board providing an electrical connection to the spool actuator and also mechanically preventing the spool actuator from passing through the opening.