초록 ▼

A solenoid operated valve has a pressure transducer sensing valve outlet pressure integrally formed in the valve body, such as by overmolding. Upon connection of the transducer and solenoid to an electronic controller, the controller generates a valve energization signal in response to a desired va

A solenoid operated valve has a pressure transducer sensing valve outlet pressure integrally formed in the valve body, such as by overmolding. Upon connection of the transducer and solenoid to an electronic controller, the controller generates a valve energization signal in response to a desired valve pressure output and the transducer input for providing closed loop control of the valve outlet pressure. An ASIC may also be integrally formed in the valve body, such as by overmolding for providing integrated signal conditioning; and, the optional ASIC, if employed, may also include the circuitry for the electronic controller for providing a "smart" pressure control valve.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method of making a valve assembly for closed loop pressure control comprising: (a) forming a valve body with a valving chamber communicating with an inlet and outlet; (b) disposing a valve member in the valving chamber for movement between a position increasing and a positi

What is claimed is: 1. A method of making a valve assembly for closed loop pressure control comprising: (a) forming a valve body with a valving chamber communicating with an inlet and outlet; (b) disposing a valve member in the valving chamber for movement between a position increasing and a position decreasing fluid pressure communication between the inlet and outlet; (c) disposing an electrical operator on said body and upon energization effecting said movement of the valve member; (d) integrally forming a pressure transducer in the material of the valve body to substantially enclose the pressure transducer in the valve body and sensing pressure in said outlet and providing an electrical indication thereof; and, disposing electrical terminal on said body for electrical connection thereto; and (e) disposing an ASIC and overmolding the ASIC with the valve body material. 2. A closed loop fluid pressure control system comprising: (a) a fluid pressure operated actuator operative for effecting a function to be controlled; (b) a source of pressurized fluid; (c) an electrically operated pressure control valve having a body with an inlet connected to receive said pressurized fluid and an outlet connected to said actuator; (d) a pressure transducer integrally formed in the valve body and substantially enclosed by the valve body, the pressure transducer being operative, upon circuit connection thereto, for providing an electrical indication of the pressure in said outlet; and, (e) an electronic controller disposed in circuit to receive said electrical indication from said transducer and operative in response thereto to generate and supply an electrical control signal to said electrically operated valve for a desired outlet pressure thereby providing closed loop pressure control of said actuator; and (f) wherein said pressure transducer is overmolded within the material of the valve body. 3. The system defined in claim 2, wherein said transducer is mounted on a substrate. 4. The system defined in claim 3, wherein said substrate includes an ASIC. 5. The system defined in claim 2, wherein said electronic controller is located remote from said electrically operated valve. 6. The system defined in claim 2, wherein said electrically operated valve includes a solenoid. 7. The system defined in claim 2, wherein said pressure transducer is mounted on a substrate including connector terminal and said solenoid electrically connects to said terminal in plug-in arrangement. 8. The system defined in claim 2, further comprising an ASIC formed integrally in said body. 9. The system defined in claim 8, wherein said ASIC includes said electronic controller. 10. The system defined in claim 2, wherein said pressure transducer includes a die mounted on a ceramic ring. 11. An electrically operated fluid pressure control valve capable of closed loop pressure control upon energization comprising: (a) a valve body defining an inlet, an outlet and a valving chamber communicating with the inlet and outlet; (b) a valve member disposed in the valving chamber and moveable therein between a position increasing and a position decreasing fluid flow between the inlet and outlet; (c) an electrical operator associated with said body and operable, upon energization for effecting the movement of said valve member; and, (d) a pressure transducer disposed for sensing pressure in said outlet and (e) an electronic controller disposed in a circuit with said transducer and said electrical operator, wherein said transducer and said controller are integrally formed in said body and wherein said transducer is substantially enclosed by the valve body; and (f) wherein said transducer and said controller are overmolded in the material of the body. 12. The valve defined in claim 11, wherein said body is molded of non-metallic material. 13. A method of making an electrically operated pressure control valve for closed loop pressure control comprising: (a) forming a valve body of non-metallic material with an inlet, outlet and a valving chamber communicating with the inlet and outlet; (b) disposing a valve member in said chamber for movement therein to increase or decrease flow between the inlet and outlet; (c) disposing an electrical operator in association with the body, and, upon energization, effecting said movement of said valve member; and, (d) integrally forming a pressure transducer and an electronic controller in the material of the valve body to substantially enclose the transducer in the valve body and connecting said controller in circuit with said transducer and said electrical operator wherein said step of integrally forming a pressure transducer and an electronic controller includes overmolding. 14. The method defined in claim 13, wherein said step of overmolding includes overmolding first with plastic material of relatively high plasticity and subsequently overmolding with plastic material of relatively high hardness. 15. The method defined in claim 13, wherein said step of overmolding includes one of (a) injection molding, (b) casting and (c) insert molding. 16. The method defined in claim 13, wherein said step of integrally forming an electronic controller includes overmolding an ASIC. 17. The method defined in claim 13, wherein said step of disposing an electrical operator includes disposing a solenoid. 18. The method defined in claim 13, wherein said step of disposing an electrical operator includes engaging a solenoid in plug-in engagement with said valve body. 19. The method defined in claim 13, wherein said step of integrally forming a pressure transducer includes mounting a die on a ceramic ring. 20. A method of making an electrically operated pressure control valve for closed loop pressure control comprising: (a) forming a valve body of non-metallic material with an inlet, outlet and a valving chamber communicating with the inlet and outlet; (b) disposing a valve member in said chamber for movement therein to increase or decrease flow between the inlet and outlet; (c) disposing an electrical operator in association with the body, and, upon energization, effecting said movement of said valve member; and, (d) integrally forming a pressure transducer and an electronic controller in the material of the valve body to substantially enclose the transducer in the valve body and connecting said controller in circuit with said transducer and said electrical operator; and (e) wherein said step of integrally forming a pressure transducer and an electronic controller includes mounting a piezoelectric device and an ASIC on a substrate, and wherein said integrally forming includes overmolding said piezoelectric device, said ASIC and said substrate. 21. The method defined in claim 20, wherein said step of overmolding includes applying a viscous material and overmolding with plastic material.