Charge forming device and solenoid valve

Abstract

A fuel and air charge forming device, such as a carburetor, may include a main body, a fuel and air mixing passage in the body, a fluid passage communicating with the fuel and air mixing passage and a solenoid valve. The solenoid valve may include a coil and a valve body having a base fixed against movement and a valve head extending from the base. The valve head may be driven by the coil between a first position wherein the valve head at least partially obstructs the fluid passage and a second position wherein the valve head permits greater fluid flow in the fluid passage to control fluid flow through the fluid passage.

1. A fuel and air charge forming device, comprising:
 a main body; 
 a fuel and air mixing passage in the main body; 
 a fluid passage communicating with the fuel and air mixing passage; 
 a solenoid including a coil and a valve body having a base fixed against movement and a valve head attached to and extending from the fixed base, wherein the valve head is driven by the coil between a first position wherein the valve head at least partially obstructs fluid flow through the fluid passage and a second position wherein the valve head permits greater fluid flow in the fluid passage to control fluid flow through the fluid passage. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1  wherein the valve head inhibits fluid flow through the fluid passage when the valve head is in its first position and the valve head more readily permits fluid flow through the fluid passage when the valve head is in its second position. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1  wherein the valve body is formed from a single piece of material with the base fixed to the main body and the valve head extending from and connected to the base, and the valve body is flexed by the force provided by the coil when the coil is energized to move the valve head to its second position and the valve head returns to its unflexed and first position when the coil ceases to be energized. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1  wherein the valve body is a flat and planar piece of material when not acted upon by the energized coil and includes at least a portion that is magnetically receptive. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1  wherein the valve body includes a neck section between the base and the valve head and the neck section is narrower than at least one of the base or the valve head. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 1  wherein the base is fixed to the main body. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1  wherein the fluid passage includes an air bleed passage through which a supply of air may be selectively provided to the fuel and air mixing passage. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1  wherein the fluid passage includes a fuel passage through which a supply of fuel may be selectively provided to the fuel and air mixing passage. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 1  wherein the fluid passage includes a control passage through which a pressure signal may be selectively provided to the fuel and air mixing passage. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 9  wherein the control signal is at a subatmospheric pressure. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 1  which also comprises a throttle valve in the mixing passage, a fuel pump carried by the main body, and a diaphragm controlled valve communicating with a fuel outlet of the fuel pump and the fuel and air mixing passage. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 1  which also comprises a fuel float bowl carried by the main body, a float received in the float bowl, and a valve opened and closed by the float to control admission of fuel into the float bowl. 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 12  wherein the fluid passage communicates with the float bowl. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 13  which also comprises at least one passage communicating fuel in the float bowl with the fuel and air mixing passage. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 1  wherein the valve body is formed from a single piece of material that may be flexed by the force provided by the coil when the coil is energized to move the valve head and the valve body returns to its unflexed position when the coil is no longer energized. 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 15  wherein the valve body is a flat piece of material when not acted upon by the energized coil and includes at least a portion that is magnetically receptive. 
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 15  wherein the valve body includes a neck section between the base and the valve head and the neck section is narrower than at least one of the base or the valve head.