Low friction solenoid actuator and valve

摘要

An actuator (24) for a valve (10) includes a housing tube (26) enclosing an internal cavity (48). A plunger (42) is mounted for movement in the internal cavity. The plunger includes four slots (50). Rollable spheres (58) are positioned in the slots between staked areas (62). A magnetic field created by electrical current passing through a coil (34) moves the plunger downward to open fluid flow through a control element (20). Flow through the control element enables controlled flow from an inlet (14) to an outlet (16) of the valve. The actuator construction provides for substantial elimination of sliding friction acting on the plunger, reduces hysteresis and the amount of power required to move the plunger, and facilitates accurate control of fluid flow rate through the control element.