Abstract: A fluid flow control valve which has a pair of solenoids that move a hollow ball valve between a first position and a second position. When the ball valve is in the first position, fluid is allowed to flow from an inlet port to a cylinder port. When the ball valve is in the second position, fluid is allowed to flow from the cylinder port to a drain port. The ball valve sits against one of two valve seats which are constructed from steel and a have radial shape that conforms to the shape of the ball. The hystersis of the steel maintains the ball valve in one of the two positions, so that power does not have to be continuously provided to the solenoids. The ball valve has a hollow inner chamber which significantly reduces the weight of the ball and increases the response rate of the control valve.

Abstract: A pump which has a digitally controlled internal by-pass valve. The pump includes a housing which has a pumping chamber that contains a piston which pumps fluid from an inlet port to an outlet port of the housing. The pump also has an intake valve that moves to an open position when the pump draws in fluid and moves to a closed position when the piston pumps the fluid through the outlet port. The intake valve can be maintained in the open position by a separate hydraulic system so that the piston pumps fluid back through the inlet port and by-passes the outlet port. The separate hydraulic system includes a three-way solenoid control valve which directs fluid to the intake valve to open the valve. The control valve may contain a pair of solenoids which latch an internal spool to control the flow of fluid to the intake valve. The spool can be latched into position by a digital pulse that is provided by an electrical controller.

Abstract: A mechanical control valve that can automatically direct the flow of fluid between two output lines. The control valve has a housing with a fluid inlet, a first outlet and second outlet. The valve also has a poppet that allows fluid to flow out of the first outlet when in a first position and through the second outlet when in a second position. The poppet is normally in contact with a mechanical timing switch. When fluid initially flows into the housing inlet, the poppet directs the fluid to the first outlet. The fluid activates the mechanical timing switch which releases from the poppet. When the fluid no longer flows through the valve, a spring moves the poppet into the second position. At the same time, the mechanical timing switch begins to move back into contact with the poppet. An orifice controls the movement of the switch, so that there is a time delay between the moment the fluid pressure in the valve drop, to the point when the poppet is pushed back to the first position.

Abstract: A control valve that has a pair of solenoids which move a spool between first and second positions. The spool and housing are constructed from a magnetic steel which maintains the spool in either the first or second position. The spool is located within a valve chamber of a housing which has at least two fluid ports. The valve controls the flow of fluid between the ports in accordance with the position of the spool. The valve can be constructed to be either a two-way, three-way or a four-way valve. The spool has an inner chamber which is in fluid communication with both the valve chamber and the drain port of the valve. The inner chamber insures that the ends of the spool are balanced and that a hydraulic pressure does not build up in the valve chamber.

Abstract: A pressure balanced gas control valve which uses a bellows to hermetically seal the solenoid from the valve. The gas valve has a valve housing which has an inlet port, an outlet port and a valve seat. Within the housing is a needle valve that moves between an open position and a closed position. The needle valve cooperates with the valve seat to control the flow of gas through the valve. The needle valve is moved to the open position by a solenoid and returned to the closed position by a spring. The bellows is attached to both the needle valve and the housing to prevent gas from flowing into the solenoid and contaminating the solenoid components. The bellows has an effective pressure area which is equal to the needle valve seat area such that there is a net force on the needle valve from the gas pressure that is approximately zero when the needle valve is in the closed position. The net zero force provides a gas valve which does not require additional force to open the needle valve.

Abstract: A camless intake/exhaust valve for an internal combustion engine that is controlled by a solenoid actuated fluid control valve. The control valve has a pair of solenoids that move a spool. Energizing one solenoid moves the spool and valve into an open position. The valve spool is maintained in the open position by the residual magnetism of the valve housing and spool even when power is no longer provided to the solenoid. Energizing the other solenoid moves the spool and valve to a closed position. The solenoids are digitally latched by short digital pulses provided by a microcontroller. The valve is therefore opened by providing a digital pulse of a short duration to one of the solenoids and closed by a digital pulse that is provided to the other solenoid. The valve may be opened by a plurality of pins. One of the pins may engage a stop so that the valve is initially opened with a relatively high force and then moved into the fully opened position with a lower force.

Abstract: A statically and dynamically pressure balanced fluid control valve. The valve contains a spool that is moved within an inner chamber of a valve housing by a pair of solenoids. The ports are symmetrically located on each side of a center port, wherein the resultant fluid forces on the spool are in opposite directions. The opposing forces create a net fluid force of approximately zero, so that the spool is dynamically pressure balanced when the valve is switched to a new position. The spool also has an inner channel and a pair of end openings that are in fluid communication with the inner chamber of the valve. When the spool is pulled to a new position, the end openings and inner channel allow fluid within the inner chamber to flow out of the space between the end of the spool and the housing. The flow of fluid through the end openings and inner channel prevent the formation of hydrostatic fluid pressure that will counteract the movement of the spool.

Abstract: A control valve assembly adapted for a fuel injector includes a valve seat with fluid inlet and fluid outlet. A poppet valve controls the flow of fluid through the valve seat. A pair of electrical actuators are selectively operably energized for releasing the poppet and moving the poppet to valve open and closed positions. Split fuel injection can be provided using either sequential operation or concurrent operation, i.e., phasing. Permanent magnets, holding current and residual magnetism enable the latching of the poppet valve in each of the valve open and closed positions.

Abstract: A fuel injector that has an integral hydraulically driven mechanically actuated dual action intensifier and a solenoid control valve/spring assembly that accurately controls the movement of the injector intensifier piston, and the amount and timing of fuel ejected by the injector.

Abstract: A Chatterless AC Solenoid without pole shading is disclosed. The solenoid has a stationery member and a moveable member forming a magnetic circuit having a small but predetermined gap in the magnetic circuit when the moveable member is in the solenoid actuated position, and a much larger gap when the moving member is in the unactuated position. Both the stationery member and the moveable member are fabricated from a relatively soft magnetic material, with a coil associated with the stationery member providing a magnetizing force for the resulting magnetic circuit responsive to a current in the coil.

Abstract: A pump module that controls and varies the pressure of a fluid within a hydraulic system. The module includes a housing which has an inlet port, an outlet port and a return port. The inlet port is typically coupled to a pump. The return port is typically connected to a fluid reservoir. The outlet port is typically connected to a working device such as the fuel injector of an internal combustion engine. The module contains a spring loaded variable volume accumulator which maintains the fluid pressure at the outlet of the module. The module also has a three-way valve that provides fluid communication between the inlet port and the outlet port when in a first position, and fluid communication between the inlet port and the return port when in a second position. The module further includes a pressure transducer that senses the fluid pressure at the outlet port and provides a corresponding pressure feedback signal to an electronic controller.

Abstract: A fuel injector which has a double solenoid three-way or four-way spool valve that controls the flow of a working fluid that is used to move an intensifier piston of the injector.

Abstract: A mechanical control valve that can automatically direct the flow of fluid between two output lines. The control valve has a housing with a fluid inlet, a first outlet and second outlet. The valve also has a poppet that allows fluid to flow out of the first outlet when in a first position and through the second outlet when in a second position. The poppet is normally in contact with a mechanical timing switch. When fluid initially flows into the housing inlet, the poppet directs the fluid to the first outlet. The fluid activates the mechanical timing switch which releases from the poppet. When the fluid no longer flows through the valve, a spring moves the poppet into the second position. At the same time, the mechanical timing switch begins to move back into contact with the popper. An orifice controls the movement of the switch, so that there is a time delay between the moment the fluid pressure in the valve drop, to the point when the poppet is pushed back to the first position.

Abstract: A control valve assembly for a fuel injector includes a valve seat with fluid inlet and fluid outlet and a flat seating surface. A poppet valve has a concave end portion with knife edge for sealingly engaging the flat seating surface on the valve seat. The poppet valve is operated to close by a solenoid coil and is opened and maintained open by a return spring or a permanent magnet. Faster valve closing and faster valve opening is obtained.

Abstract: A attachment that can be attached to the opening of a container to pressurize the same with a gas. The attachment has a housing which holds a removable cartridge that contains either pressurized nitrogen or CO.sub.2. Extending from the attachment is a button that is connected to a valve which controls the flow of gas into the container. The button and valve are coupled to a spring which functions as a regulator that controls the gas pressure within the container. When the button is depressed, the valve is opened and the gas is allowed to flow into the container. The spring maintains the valve in the open position until the gas pressure overcomes the spring force and closes the valve. Varying the movement of the button varies the spring force and the gas pressure within the container.

Abstract: A high speed solenoid valve that has a housing with an inlet and outlet that are typically connected to a pneumatic system to control the flow of air across the valve. The solenoid has a first magnetic core coaxial with an armature. Wrapped around the first core is a coil that is connected to a source of power. The coil emits a magnetic flux when current flows through the coil. Adjacent to the coil is a second magnetic core that is attached at one end to the first core and spaced from the opposite end of the first core by a first bushing. Attached to the armature is a magnetic plate that is adjacent to the spaced apart ends of the first and second cores. When the coil is energized, the magnetic flux flows through the magnetic cores and plate, pulling the plate toward the cores and moving the armature from a first to a second position.

Abstract: A solenoid valve which has a first magnetic core that is separated from a second magnetic core by a bushing. The bushing has an inner corner that sits within an outer seat of the first magnetic core, and an outer seat that cooperates with an inner seat of the second magnetic core such that the magnetic cores capture the bushing.

Abstract: A portable dispenser for fastening to a conventional carbonated beverage container and providing the convenient dispensing of the contents therein while maintaining the carbonation of the beverage until fully consumed is disclosed. The dispenser is comprised of a body assembly for threadedly engaging a conventional carbonated beverage container, such as one liter, two liter and three liter PET containers, and sealing with respect thereto. The body assembly contains a tube assembly for extending from the bottom of the beverage within the container to the dispenser outlet, with a valve mechanism spring loaded to squeeze the tube closed and manually operable for controllably allowing the flow of the beverage therethrough. The body assembly includes a unique pressure regulator and a CO.sub.2 cartridge in a cartridge holder for providing a source of CO.sub.2 at the regulated pressure to the beverage container.

Abstract: A temperature compensated position sensor which may be used with hydraulic and pneumatic actuators having a magnetic piston and a non-magnetic cylinder is disclosed. The position sensor comprises a pair of Hall effect sensors mounted adjacent a permanent magnet on the outside of a hydraulic cylinder. One Hall effect sensor is oriented upside down with respect to the second Hall effect sensor such that the two Hall effects sensors perceive equal and opposite magnetic fields. The voltage outputs of both Hall effect sensors are amplified, and one is inverted. The resultant voltage signals are added together. Because changes in temperature produce equal changes in the output voltage of each sensor, the summing process cancels out temperature induced variations in the voltage signals. The resultant sum is dependent only on the magnitude of the magnetic field perceived by the Hall effect sensors, regardless of the variation in temperature.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for efficiently and economically reducing and removing static charge from a surface of a dielectric material. One device is a window assembly comprising a window having an outer surface and a perimeter. The outer surface comprises a dielectric material. A frame is around the window and houses the perimeter. The frame has an outer surface which terminates along the outer surface of the window at a border. At least one corona point is attached to the window assembly proximate the border. Means for grounding the corona point is in electrical communication with the corona point. The number of corona points required to dissipate the static charge is minimized by a method that locates arc attracting regions and installs the corona points proximate these regions. Also provided are a corona point assembly and a kit comprising (1) the corona point assembly and (2) means for attaching the corona point assembly to the frame.