Solenoid valve structure has only one moving part, a ball and spring assembly. This eliminates wear caused by sliding motion contact between stationary and moving parts or between moving parts

Anderson, J. W.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

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July 1967	 Brief 67-10219 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
NASA Tech Briefs are issued to summarize specific innovations derived from the U.S. space program, 
to encourage their commercial application. Copies are available to the public at 15 cents each 
from the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information, Springfield, Virginia 22151. 
Solenoid Valve Design Has One Moving Part 
Central Opening 
The problem: 
To design a simple solenoid valve with a mini-
mum number of moving parts. A need exists for 
a valve which has the capability of being recycled 
many hundreds of thousands of times without 
experiencing malfunction or complete deteriora-
tion. Further, valves are needed which do not 
require lubrication and which are not worn or 
made inoperative by constant usage and the
effect of friction caused by sliding and moving 
parts. 
The solution: 
A valve structure that has only one moving 
part, a ball and spring assembly. There is no 
sliding motion contact between stationary and 
moving parts or between moving parts within this 
valve.
(continued oveñeaf) 
MW
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States
Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
will be free from privately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19670000219 2020-03-11T20:30:19+00:00Z
How it's done: 
A centrally positioned solenoid core is sur-
rounded by a fluid passage through which fluid 
may flow from the inlet to the discharge side of 
the valve. A cylinder made of magnetically 
permeable material surrounds the core and forms 
the outer wall of the fluid flow passage. The 
solenoid core is controlled by the coil and current 
to the coil may be controlled by conventionally 
known means particularly adaptable to the speci-
fic installation requirements for this valve. 
The valve ball which seats on the valve nozzle 
is retained by the valve spring. The valve spring 
has many holes through which the fluid may flow 
into the chamber before it is released by the ball 
for flow through the nozzle. 
The solenoid core attracts the metallic upper 
part of the ball to move the ball off the valve 
seat of the nozzle. The spring provides a down-
ward force which resists the upward pull of the 
solenoid core. Thus the position of the ball rela-
tive to the valve nozzle is determined by the 
force differential between the forces exerted by 
the solenoid core and the spring. By properly 
controlling the flow of electrical current to the 
coil by appropriate electrical current control 
means, a proper setting may be constantly main-
Famed for the ball in relation to the nozzle,
thereby controlling the flow of the fluid for any 
desired flow rate through the solenoid valve. 
Notes:	 - 
1. This valve is theoretically capable of producing 
0.010-inch movement in 10-milliseconds. 
2. The reliability provided by this design is 
required in situations where the valve struc-
ture is not accessible for maintenance, repair 
or replacement for long periods of time during 
which the valve must operate continuously and 
effectively. 
3. This development is in a conceptual stage only, 
and as of date of publication of this Tech 
Brief, neither a model nor prototype has been 
constructed. 
4. Inquiries concerning this invention may be di-
rected to: 
Technology Utilization Officer 
NASA Pasadena Office 
4800 Oak Grove Drive 
Pasadena, California 
Reference: B67-10219 
Patent status: 
No patent action is contemplated by NASA. 
Source: John W. Anderson
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
(N P0-10039) 
Brief 67-10219	 Category 05


Solenoid valve design has one moving part

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