Hard magnetic valve actuator adapted for a fuel injector

摘要

A solenoid actuator, adapted for use in a fuel injector, has a pole member, an armature associated therewith, and an energizable winding associated with the pole member. The solenoid actuator is latchable by residual magnetism between the pole member and the armature without the aid of a permanent magnet. The pole member and the armature are composed of steel having a carbon content of between 0.8% and 1.2% and an RC hardness of between 40 and 60. The armature is reciprocable between a first position in which the armature makes physical contact with the pole member and a second position in which the armature is spaced from the pole member. The armature occupies the first position when the winding is energized and the second position when the winding is deenergized. The armature is held in the first position by residual magnetism between the pole member and the armature when the winding is deenergized after being initially energized. The actuator may also be embodied in the form of a dual-acting actuator having an armature and first and second pole members. The armature and pole member(s) of the actuator may be formed via a heat treating method which is based on the recognition of the relationship between the hardness of the pole member(s) and armature and the resultant residual magnetism of those components.