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Solenoid operated fluid control valve for a cam phasing mechanism of an internal combustion engine includes first and second control ports, a 2-stage hydraulically pilot-actuated, pressure balanced spool having an integral control feedback passage and a linear force solenoid actuator operably couple

Solenoid operated fluid control valve for a cam phasing mechanism of an internal combustion engine includes first and second control ports, a 2-stage hydraulically pilot-actuated, pressure balanced spool having an integral control feedback passage and a linear force solenoid actuator operably coupled to a pilot valve of a pilot stage. The spool valve includes an exhaust path common to pilot and spool exhaust passages.

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1. Solenoid operated fluid control valve, comprising first and second control ports, a hydraulically pilot-actuated, pressure balanced spool having a control feedback passage communicated to one of the first and second control ports and having a spool supply recess for communication to one or the ot

1. Solenoid operated fluid control valve, comprising first and second control ports, a hydraulically pilot-actuated, pressure balanced spool having a control feedback passage communicated to one of the first and second control ports and having a spool supply recess for communication to one or the other of the first and second control ports depending on a first position or a second position of the spool, and a linear force solenoid actuator motor for controlling a pilot valve that controls movement of the spool between the first position and the second position. 2. The valve of claim 1 wherein the first control port and the second control port both are communicated to the spool supply recess when the spool is moved between the first position and the second position. 3. The valve of claim 1 wherein the spool includes an exhaust path common to pilot and spool exhaust exhaust passages. 4. The combination of a cam phasing mechanism of an internal combustion engine and a fluid control valve of claim 3 wherein the first and second control ports are communicated to respective inlets of the cam phasing mechanism. 5. The combination of a transmission clutch control system of a vehicle and a fluid control valve of claim 3 wherein the first and second control ports are communicated to respective first and second clutches of the clutch control system. 6. The valve of claim 1 wherein the spool is disposed in the first position when the motor is deenergized where a supply pressure port is open to a first control port, the first control port is communicated to the control feedback passage, the first control port is closed to an exhaust port, the supply pressure port is closed to a second control port, and the second control port is open to the exhaust port with the pilot valve closed on a valve seat. 7. The valve of claim 6 wherein the control feedback passage communicates to an end of the spool to provide supply pressure thereto. 8. The valve of claim 6 wherein the spool is disposed in the second position when the motor is energized where the supply pressure port is open to the second control port, the second control port is closed to the exhaust port, the supply pressure port is closed to the first control port, and the first control port is communicated to the exhaust port with the pilot valve opened off of the valve seat. 9. The valve of claim 8 wherein the control feedback passage communicates exhaust to an end of the spool when the motor is energized. 10. The valve of claim 1 wherein the actuator motor comprises a solenoid coil, an armature movable in response to electrical current applied to the solenoid coil in a manner that an inner end thereof controls movement of the pilot valve, and a permanent magnet disposed about an opposite remote end of the armature proximate the solenoid coil. 11. The valve of claim 1 including a particle gettering magnet to remove ferrous contaminants from the fluid. 12. The combination of a cam phasing mechanism of an internal combustion engine and a fluid control valve of claim 1 wherein the first and second control ports are communicated to respective inlets of the cam phasing mechanism. 13. The combination of a transmission clutch control system of a vehicle and a fluid control valve of claim 1 wherein the first and second control ports are communicated to respective first and second clutches of the clutch control system. 14. Solenoid operated fluid control valve having a pilot valve, a hydraulically pilot-actuated spool that controls fluid pressure at a control port, a single exhaust port, said spool having a longitudinal exhaust passage communicating a pilot exhaust passage and also a spool exhaust passage to said single exhaust port, and a solenoid actuator motor for controlling the pilot valve for the spool. 15. The valve of claim 14 wherein the spool includes the longitudinal exhaust passage that communicates a pilot chamber and also the spool exhaust passage to said single exhaust port. 16. A method of controlling fluid pressure at first and second control ports, comprising moving a pressure balanced spool between first and second positions corresponding to first and second control pressures using a solenoid-actuated pilot valve controlled by a linear force solenoid actuator motor, and exhausting fluid from pilot and spool exhaust passages through a common spool exhaust path to an exhaust port. 17. The method of claim 16 wherein the actuator motor is deenergized at the first position and wherein a supply pressure port is open to a first control port, the first control port is communicated to a control feedback passage, the first control port is closed to an exhaust port, the supply pressure port is closed to a second control port, and the second control port is open to the exhaust port with a pilot valve closed on a valve seat. 18. The method of claim 16 wherein the actuator motor is energized at the second position and wherein the supply pressure port is open to the second control port, the second control port is closed to the exhaust port, the supply pressure port is closed to the first control port, and the first control port is open to the exhaust port with the pilot valve opened off of the valve seat. 19. The method of claim 16 including moving the spool between the first and second positions in linear proportional manner to electrical current provided to the actuator motor. 20. The method of claim 16 including communicating the first control port and the second control port to a respective inlet of a cam phasing mechanism of an internal combustion engine. 21. The method of claim 16 including communicating the first control port and the second control port to a respective clutch of a transmission control system. 22. A method of controlling fluid pressure at first and second control ports using a spool, comprising moving the spool using a solenoid-actuated pilot valve so that the spool controls fluid pressure at first and second control ports and exhausting fluid from a pilot exhaust passage and also from a spool exhaust passage through a common spool exhaust path to a single exhaust port. 23. A method of controlling fluid pressure, comprising moving a spool from a pressure balanced position, where opposite ends of the spool are fluid pressure balanced, to another spool position using a pilot valve controlled by a solenoid actuator motor wherein the pilot valve receives supply pressure via a supply passage in the spool and wherein pilot valve exhaust communicates through a longitudinal passage in the spool to an exhaust port.