JP7716896B2 - Solenoid devices and solenoid valves - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a solenoid device and a solenoid valve.

2. Description of the Related Art An electromagnetic hydraulic control valve (solenoid valve) using a linear solenoid (solenoid device) is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
This linear solenoid has a case, a sliding stator disposed within the case, and a plunger that slides within the sliding stator to move the shaft in the axial direction. Also, a ring-shaped auxiliary core is provided within the case to reinforce the magnetic coupling between the sliding stator and the case.

JP 2012-134234 A

However, in a linear solenoid having the above configuration, the number of parts increases and the number of assembly steps increases, which tends to increase manufacturing costs.
An object of the present invention is to provide a solenoid device that can improve the efficiency of assembly work and reduce manufacturing costs by reducing the number of parts, and a solenoid valve having such a solenoid device.

One aspect of the solenoid device of the present invention is a solenoid device comprising: a cylindrical bobbin;
a cylindrical core inserted into one axial side of the bobbin;
a cylindrical yoke inserted into the other axial side of the bobbin;
a plunger inserted into the yoke and movable along an axial direction;
a coil wound around the outer periphery of the bobbin, which generates a magnetic force when energized to move the plunger in the axial direction;
a pin inserted into the core and movable along the axial direction together with the plunger;
a cylindrical case having an opening on one axial side and a closing side on the other axial side, the case containing the bobbin, the plunger, the coil, the yoke, the core, and the pin, and made of a magnetic material;
The case has a cylindrical abutment portion at the bottom that protrudes toward one axial side, an end face of the abutment portion perpendicular to the axial direction contacts the end face of the bobbin on the other axial side, and an inner surface contacts the outer surface of the yoke.

Furthermore, one aspect of the solenoid valve of the present invention comprises the above-mentioned solenoid device including the case made of an iron-based material as the magnetic material, and a valve mechanism attached to one axial side of the solenoid device,
the valve mechanism has a cylindrical nozzle made of an aluminum-based material, and a valve body that is disposed in the nozzle and is movable in the axial direction together with the pin,
the nozzle has a flange portion at the other axial end portion thereof that protrudes radially outward,
The nozzle is connected to the solenoid device by covering the flange portion with the crimping portion, and the radially inner end of the crimping portion is joined to the flange portion with a welding alloy portion containing iron and aluminum.

One aspect of the solenoid device of the present invention is that the number of parts can be reduced, making assembly more efficient and reducing manufacturing costs.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a solenoid valve according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view of the solenoid valve shown in FIG.

1 and 2, an embodiment of a solenoid device and a solenoid valve of the present invention will be described.
For ease of explanation, the three mutually orthogonal axes are defined as the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis below. As an example, the XY plane including the X-axis and Y-axis is horizontal, and the Z-axis is vertical.
In addition, the X-axis direction is sometimes referred to as the "axis O direction," the radial direction centered on axis O is sometimes simply referred to as the "radial direction," and the circumferential direction centered on axis O is sometimes simply referred to as the "circumferential direction."

The positive side in the X-axis direction corresponds to "one side in the direction of the axis O," and the negative side in the X-axis direction corresponds to "the other side in the direction of the axis O."
In this specification, the terms "upper/lower direction,""horizontaldirection,""upperside," and "lower side" are simply terms used to describe the relative positional relationships of each part. Therefore, the actual positional relationships of each part may differ from the positional relationships indicated by these terms.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the solenoid valve 100 includes a solenoid device 1 and a valve mechanism 10 attached to the solenoid device 1 on the positive side in the X-axis direction.
The valve mechanism 10 includes a cylindrical nozzle 20 having a spool hole 201, and a spool valve (valve element) 30 arranged within the nozzle 20 (spool hole 201) so as to be movable along the X-axis direction.
The nozzle 20 has a plurality of through holes (ports) that penetrate its cylindrical wall and through which a fluid (e.g., oil) passes, and the connection state of the through holes changes as the spool valve 30 moves along the X-axis direction.

The nozzle 20 also has a flange portion 202 that protrudes radially outward at its end on the negative side in the X-axis direction. As shown in Figure 2, a case 9 (body portion 911) of the solenoid device 1 (described later) has a plurality of crimping margins 911a formed by deforming the opening edge by crimping (hereinafter referred to as "crimping"). These crimping margins 911a cover the flange portion 202, thereby connecting the valve mechanism 10 to the solenoid device 1.
The nozzle 20 is made of, for example, an aluminum-based material (simple aluminum, an aluminum alloy, etc.).
The spool valve 30 is biased toward the negative side in the X-axis direction by a coil spring (biasing member) disposed in the spool hole 201 (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 1 , the solenoid device 1 includes a bobbin 2 , a plunger 3 , a coil 4 , a yoke 5 , a core 6 , a pin 7 , and a case 9 .
The bobbin 2 is a cylindrical member having a through hole 21. The through hole 21 passes through the bobbin 2 along the X-axis direction. The inner diameter of the through hole 21 is constant along the X-axis direction.
The bobbin 2 is made of various resin materials such as polyester and polyimide.

A coil 4 formed by winding a conductive wire is disposed on the outer periphery 22 of the bobbin 2 .
When the coil 4 is energized, a magnetic circuit is formed by the bobbin 2, the yoke 5, and the core 6, generating a magnetic force, which moves the plunger 3 along the X-axis direction.

A yoke 5 and a core 6 are inserted into the through-hole 21 of the bobbin 2. Furthermore, the plunger 3 is inserted inside the yoke 5, and the pin 7 is inserted inside the core 6. In other words, the yoke 5 is disposed between the bobbin 2 and the plunger 3, and the core 6 is disposed between the bobbin 2 and the pin 7.
The yoke 5 is disposed on the negative side of the bobbin 2 in the X-axis direction, and the core 6 is disposed on the positive side of the bobbin 2 in the X-axis direction.

The yoke 5 is a cylindrical member having a through-hole 50 passing through it along the X-axis direction, and is disposed along the X-axis direction. The core 6 is also a cylindrical member having a through-hole 60 passing through it along the X-axis direction, and is disposed along the X-axis direction.
The yoke 5 and the core 6 are made of a soft magnetic material (soft magnetic metal material) such as iron, for example, so that a magnetic circuit can be generated that is strong enough to move the plunger 3.

The end of the yoke 5 on the positive side in the X-axis direction is tapered so that its thickness decreases toward the positive side in the X-axis direction, and the end of the core 6 on the negative side in the X-axis direction is tapered so that its thickness decreases toward the negative side in the X-axis direction.
With this configuration, it becomes easier to cause the magnetic force generated by the magnetic circuit to act preferentially on the plunger 3 .

The plunger 3 is disposed inside the yoke 5 (inserted into the through hole 50) and is supported so as to be able to move alternately between the positive and negative sides along the X-axis direction (i.e., to reciprocate). When the plunger 3 moves to the positive side in the X-axis direction, its end on the positive side in the X-axis direction is positioned within a recess 68 formed on the negative side of the core 6 in the X-axis direction. The inner diameter of this recess 68 is the same as or slightly larger than the inner diameter of the through hole 50.
The plunger 3 is cylindrical and has a through hole 31 formed along the X-axis direction. Gas in the solenoid device 1 moves through this through hole 31. This allows the plunger 3 to move smoothly along the X-axis direction.

The pin 7 arranged inside the core 6 (inserted into the through hole 60) is columnar and can move in the X-axis direction when pressed by the plunger 3. When the pin 7 presses the spool valve 30, the spool valve 30 moves toward the positive side in the X-axis direction.
On the other hand, when the power supply to the coil 4 is released, the spool valve 30 moves toward the negative side in the X-axis direction due to the biasing force of the coil spring in the spool hole 201. Then, the spool valve 30 presses the pin 7 and plunger 3, moving them toward the negative side in the X-axis direction.

The pin 7 is made of a lightweight metal material such as aluminum.
The pin 7 of this embodiment has a pin body 71 and an expanded diameter portion 72 that is provided at the end of the pin body 71 on the negative side in the X axis direction and has a diameter larger than the inner diameter of the through hole 60 (core 6). When the pin 7 moves to the most positive side in the X axis direction, the expanded diameter portion 72 comes into contact with the opening edge of the through hole 60 on the negative side in the X axis direction. This configuration makes it possible to prevent the pin 7 from easily falling off the core 6 (solenoid device 1) during storage of the solenoid device 1, installation in the valve mechanism 10, etc.

Furthermore, the core 6 has a recess 69 recessed toward the positive side in the X-axis direction on the bottom surface of the recess 68. This recess 69 can accommodate the enlarged diameter portion 72 of the pin 7. By providing the recess 69 and the recess 68, the length of the solenoid device 1 in the X-axis direction can be shortened.
The expanded diameter portion 72 is configured so that a portion of it protrudes from the recess 69 to the negative side in the X-axis direction when housed in the recess 69. This allows the plunger 3 to reliably press the pin 7 toward the positive side in the X-axis direction.

Furthermore, the surface 721 on the X-axis direction negative side of the expanded diameter portion 72 is spherical, which reduces the influence of the inclination of the pin 7 and makes it easier to transmit the pressing force of the plunger 3 in the X-axis direction of the pin 7.
The pin 7 further has a reduced diameter portion 73, which is smaller in diameter than the outer diameter of the pin body 71, at the boundary between the pin body 71 and the expanded diameter portion 72. Providing this reduced diameter portion 73 makes it easier to prevent interference with the core 6 (particularly the opening edge portion on the negative side of the X-axis direction of the through hole 60) at the boundary between the pin body 71 and the expanded diameter portion 72.

The core 6 has a flange portion 61 at its end on the positive side in the X-axis direction that protrudes radially outward.
The case 9 accommodates the bobbin 2, the plunger 3, the coil 4, the yoke 5, the core 6, and the pin 7. The case 9 has a case body 91 and a connector member 92.
A connector (not shown) that supplies electricity to the coil 4 is connected to the connector member 92. Like the bobbin 2, the connector member 92 is made of, for example, a resin material.
The case body 91 is a bottomed cylindrical member that includes a cylindrical body 911 that extends along the X-axis direction and a bottom 912 that closes the X-axis direction negative side of the body 911. Therefore, the case body 91 is open on the X-axis direction positive side.

The flange portion 202 of the nozzle 20 is in contact with the flange portion 61 of the core 6 , and its outer peripheral edge is covered with three crimping margins 911 a formed on the opening edge of the case 9 .
As a result, the bobbin 2, plunger 3, coil 4, yoke 5, core 6, and pin 7 are housed within the case 9, and movement of the core 6 in the positive X-axis direction is restricted, thereby fixing each part and assembling the solenoid device 1. In addition, in this state, the valve mechanism 10 is connected to the solenoid device 1.

The case body 91 is made of a magnetic material such as an iron-based material (iron element, iron alloy, etc.).
In this embodiment, the radially inner end of each crimping portion 911a is joined to the flange portion 202 by a weld alloy portion 94 containing iron and aluminum. This allows the valve mechanism 10 to be firmly fixed to the solenoid device 1. Furthermore, during the work of forming the weld alloy portion 94 (welding work), the nozzle 20 is fixed to the case body 91 by the crimping portion 911a, so the work can be performed more accurately.
In this embodiment, the three crimping margins 911a are arranged at approximately equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the flange portion 202. This ensures that the valve mechanism 10 is stably attached to the solenoid device 1.
In this specification, the term "almost equally spaced" is a concept that includes situations in which the intervals are constant as well as situations in which the intervals vary slightly.

2, the weld alloy portion 94 is in the form of a spot and is located across the crimping margin 911a and the flange portion 202. This allows the valve mechanism 10 to be fixed to the solenoid device 1 more firmly.
When weld alloy portion 94 is viewed from the positive side in the X-axis direction, the ratio of the area of portion 94a located on flange portion 202 to the area of portion 94b located on crimping margin 911a is preferably 4/6 to 6/4, and more preferably 5/6 to 5/4. In this case, the strength of weld alloy portion 94 can be further increased.
The aluminum content in weld alloy portion 94 is preferably 45 mass% or less, more preferably 5 to 40 mass%, and even more preferably 10 to 33 mass%, in which case the ratio of iron to aluminum in weld alloy portion 94 becomes appropriate, further improving its strength and wear resistance.

Each weld alloy portion 94 is preferably a weld alloy portion formed by laser welding. Laser welding makes it easy to form a weld alloy portion 94 of a desired size (in other words, a weld alloy portion 94 with a desired aluminum content).
When laser welding is used, the spot diameter of the laser light is not particularly limited, but is preferably about 0.15 to 0.35 mm, and more preferably about 0.2 to 0.3 mm.
Usable laser light includes, for example, gas laser, solid laser, semiconductor laser, and liquid laser, with carbon dioxide laser and YAG laser being preferred.

The case 9 also has a cylindrical abutment portion 913 that protrudes toward the X-axis direction positive side at its bottom 912. The abutment portion 913 has an end surface 913a that is perpendicular to the X-axis direction and that contacts the end surface 23 of the bobbin 2 on the X-axis direction negative side, and an inner peripheral surface 913b that contacts the outer peripheral surface 51 of the yoke 5.
This configuration improves the efficiency of assembly work and reduces manufacturing costs by reducing the number of parts in the solenoid device 1. In addition, magnetic flux is transferred between the case 9 and the yoke 5 without disturbance and reliably, thereby enabling more accurate movement of the plunger 3.

The end face 23 of the bobbin 2 is also perpendicular to the X-axis direction. In other words, the end face 913a of the abutment portion 913 and the end face 23 of the bobbin 2 are not inclined with respect to the X-axis direction. This makes it difficult for the case 9 and the bobbin 2 to become misaligned in the radial direction when assembling the solenoid device 1. As a result, the inner peripheral surface of the bobbin 2 and the outer peripheral surface 51 of the yoke 5 are prevented from separating from each other, preventing disturbance of the magnetic flux.
The case 9 further has an annular groove 914 located radially outward of the abutment portion 913 in the bottom 912 and recessed toward the negative side in the X-axis direction. This groove 914 functions to ensure a space between the case 9 and the bobbin 2. The presence of this groove 914 prevents unnecessary portions of the bobbin 2 from interfering with the bottom 912 of the case 9, and more reliably prevents the inner circumferential surface of the bobbin 2 from separating from the outer circumferential surface 51 of the yoke 5 due to deformation of the bobbin 2 caused by this interference.

While the solenoid device and electromagnetic valve of the present invention have been described above in relation to the illustrated embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these, and each component of the solenoid device and electromagnetic valve may be replaced with any component that can perform the same function. In addition, any component may be added.
Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the positive side of the core 6 in the X axis direction is indirectly covered by the crimping margin 911a of the case 9 via the flange portion 202, thereby restricting movement of the core 6 in the X axis direction. However, if the valve mechanism 10 is omitted, the positive side of the core 6 (flange portion 61) in the X axis direction may be directly covered by the crimping margin 911a of the case 9, thereby restricting movement of the core 6 in the X axis direction. In this case, the solenoid device 1 can be used by being attached to an attachment object such as a valve body.

Furthermore, the number of crimping margins 911a is not limited to three, but may be one, two, four or more.
Although the case where one weld alloy portion 94 is provided for each crimping portion 911a has been described, it is also possible to provide a plurality of weld alloy portions 94. The shape of the weld alloy portion 94 is not limited to a spot shape, and may be an arc shape that follows the radially inner end of the crimping portion 911a.
Furthermore, the valve element disposed in the nozzle is not limited to the spool valve 30, but may be a valve element having another function.

100...Solenoid valve, 1...Solenoid device, 2...Bobbin, 21...Through hole, 22...Outer periphery, 23...End face, 3...Plunger, 31...Through hole, 4...Coil, 5...Yoke, 50...Through hole, 51...Outer periphery, 6...Core, 60...Through hole, 61...Flange portion, 7...Pin, 71...Pin body, 72...Expanded diameter portion, 721...Face, 73...Constricted diameter portion, 9...Case, 91...Case body, 911...Body portion, 911a...Crimping margin, 912...Bottom, 913...Abutment portion, 913a...End face, 913b...Inner periphery, 914...Groove, 92...Connector member, 94...Welded alloy portion, 94a, 94b...Part, 10...Valve mechanism, 20...Nozzle, 201...Spool hole, 202...Flange portion, 30...Spool valve, O...Shaft

Claims (9)

A cylindrical bobbin,
a cylindrical core inserted into one axial side of the bobbin;
a cylindrical yoke inserted into the other axial side of the bobbin;
a plunger inserted into the yoke and movable along an axial direction;
a coil wound around the outer periphery of the bobbin, which generates a magnetic force when energized to move the plunger in the axial direction;
a pin inserted into the core and movable along the axial direction together with the plunger;
a cylindrical case having an opening on one axial side and a closing side on the other axial side, the case containing the bobbin, the plunger, the coil, the yoke, the core, and the pin, and made of a magnetic material;
the case has a cylindrical abutment portion at its bottom that protrudes toward one axial side, an end face of the abutment portion perpendicular to the axial direction contacts an end face of the bobbin on the other axial side, and an inner peripheral surface of the abutment portion contacts an outer peripheral surface of the yoke ,
an end surface of the bobbin on the other axial side has a recess recessed toward one axial side of the bobbin, and the end surface of the abutting portion is accommodated in the recess;
the case further has, at the bottom, an annular groove positioned radially outward of the abutting portion, recessed toward the other axial side, and ensuring a space between the case and the bobbin;
The solenoid device is characterized in that the annular groove covers the end face on the other axial side of the bobbin other than the recess and a portion of the recess, and a portion of the annular groove is formed by the abutment portion . 2. The solenoid device according to claim 1, wherein the core is restricted from moving in one axial direction by being directly or indirectly covered on one axial side by at least one crimping area formed by deforming the opening edge of the case by crimping. a solenoid device according to claim 2 , wherein the case is made of an iron-based material as the magnetic material; and a valve mechanism attached to one axial side of the solenoid device,
the valve mechanism has a cylindrical nozzle made of an aluminum-based material, and a valve body that is disposed in the nozzle and is movable in the axial direction together with the pin,
the nozzle has a flange portion at the other axial end portion thereof that protrudes radially outward,
The nozzle is connected to the solenoid device by covering the flange portion with the crimping portion, and the radially inner end of the crimping portion is joined to the flange portion with a welding alloy portion containing iron and aluminum. 4. The solenoid valve according to claim 3 , wherein the case has a plurality of the crimping portions arranged at substantially equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the flange portion. 5. The solenoid valve according to claim 3 , wherein the weld alloy portion is in the form of a spot and is located across the crimped portion and the flange portion. 6. The solenoid valve according to claim 5, wherein when the weld alloy portion is viewed from one axial side, the ratio of the area of the portion located on the crimping margin to the area of the portion located on the flange portion is 4/6 to 6/4. The solenoid valve according to any one of claims 3 to 6 , wherein the welded alloy portion is a welded alloy portion formed by laser welding. 8. The solenoid valve according to claim 3 , wherein the aluminum content in the welded alloy portion is 45 mass % or less. The solenoid valve according to any one of claims 3 to 8 , wherein the valve element is a spool valve that is movable in the axial direction together with the pin.