Three-Position Solenoid Helps Improve Vehicle Emissions

An automotive company needed a solution to open and close the valve in their fuel vapor recirculation system. TLX Technologies designed an effective three-position solenoid.

Customer Problem

Sealed automobile fuel tanks use fuel vapor recirculation as part of the emissions system. When the engine is not running, the recirculation system pulls fumes out of the fuel tank and stores them in a charcoal canister. Once the engine starts, the system circulates the fumes into the engine to be burned off.

An automotive company needed a solution to open and close the valve that vented fumes between the fuel tank and the charcoal canister.

The TLX Solution

TLX Technologies designed an efficient three-position solenoid for the fuel vapor recirculation system. The first position closed the vent valve while fueling the car. The second position allowed vapors to be transmitted directly to the engine for consumption. The third position helped divert vapors to the charcoal canister for storage. High push-pull force and compact design produced the fast response needed for each function while consuming no power to hold the valve in each position.

View Design Solution

Three-Position Push Pull Solenoid

Stroke (either direction from center): 1.58 to 25.4 mm

Push-pull force: .03 to 4.5 kgf (1 oz to 10 lbf)

Resistance at 20°C: Per voltage requirement

Supply voltage: 3 to 48 Vdc

Duty rating (%ED): 100% ED

Operating temperature range: -40°C to 120°C

Durability: > 10M cycles

All TLX components are customized to fit system requirements, meaning technical specifications are unique to each customer and design. Examples given on our website are for illustration purposes only.

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Experienced partner of industry leaders, first-tier suppliers, and OEMs
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Localized production in USA and China
Dependable single-source solution from design to delivery

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Step 1 / Initial Review

Our engineering team works directly with you to determine the viability of your program and identify the best solution based on your specifications.

Step 2 / Quote

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Step 3 / Design Review & Prototypes

Our engineering team reviews the design with you and makes any adjustments needed. Prototypes are built according to design specifications for testing.

Step 4 / Testing

Prototypes are tested according to your specifications, with all relevant test data provided to you for evaluation.

Step 5 / APQP

DFMEA’s, PFMEA’s, control plans and process flow diagrams are started to drive the product intent design.

Step 6 / Pre-Production

Working drawings are developed for production. A second prototype build and a set of production parts are made from tooling and thoroughly tested.

Step 7 / PPAP/Production

The final design along with the PPAP (Production Part Approval Process) is developed and the new product enters production.

Step 8 / Ongoing Improvements

Our team collaborates with you to continue making improvements to the product to best meet your needs, increasing efficiency and reducing cost.

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