Abstract: A vent valve insert comprises a bushing assembly, a piston assembly and a spring. It is designed to fit snugly and sealingly within a suitable borehole, such as the vent borehole of an ECP manifold assembly. The bushing assembly defines a longitudinal bore within which the piston assembly is situated. When pilot pressure is applied to its top surface, the piston assembly is forced to an open position wherein fluid is allowed to flow through the vent valve insert. Absent pilot pressure acting against the top surface, the spring acts to force the piston assembly upward within the longitudinal bore. Secured to the bottom portion of the piston assembly, an annular sealing member is carried upward so that its flat surface seats against a raised inner portion of an annular valve seat. The vent valve insert is thus normally biased to the closed position.

Abstract: A check valve is provided with first and second housing components that are telescoped together to define a valve housing having an inlet, an outlet and a valve chamber therebetween. The valving element is disposed in the valve chamber for movement between a first position where the valving element seals the inlet to the valve chamber and a second position where the valving element permits flow from the inlet, through the valve chamber and to the outlet. A disk spring has a central support secured to the valving element and an outer support secured between the first and second components of the housing. The disk spring is disposed to bias the valving element into a closed position. However, sufficient gas forces in the inlet will overcome the forces of the spring and open the valve. The spring is asymmetrical to prevent noise attributable to fluttering of the valving element and to achieve a more rapid opening response.

Abstract: A gate valve hydraulic actuator having a stem extension accessible from outside the actuator body to provide override operation of the gate valve, for example in the event of hydraulic failure. The stem extension is lockable to a spring compression hub in a valve open position and a valve closed position by locking dogs selectively engageable in recesses. The locking dogs are operated by a cam spindle coaxially received in the stem extension.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to propose an arrangement, with which, when shutting-off or throttling the transport of a liquid with a fitting, the occurrence of undesirable pressures in the pipeline is prevented reliably without supplying air or other gases into the pipeline, as well as without using an air chamber or an auxiliary fitting or additional controllers and without specifying a fixed shutting off and throttling rate. The implementation of the invention shall prevent impermissible pressures upstream as well as downstream of the shutting-off fitting. The invention provides that a braking system is connected with the pipeline and is driven by liquid pressure in the pipeline, acting on the drive shaft, the drive spindle or the drive rods of the shutting-off or throttling fitting.

Abstract: In a shutoff device, a shutoff body (2) is movable by a drive between abutments (1a, 5b). For the purposes of reducing noise and preventing so-called “valve chatter”, a friction brake (6) is movable with the shutoff body (2) between control bodies (5a; 3d, 3e) at which the friction brake (6) arrives a friction distance (R1, R2) before the time at which the shutoff body (2) reaches each abutment (1a, 5b). The friction brake (6) rubs along a friction surface (3a; 8a) during the movement of the shutoff body (2) along the friction distance (R1, R2). (FIG.

Abstract: In producing a semiconductor device by annealing with laser light irradiation, while a linear laser light is scanned in a direction perpendicular to a line, the annealing is performed for a semiconductor material. In this state, since an anneal effect in a beam lateral direction corresponding to a line direction is 2 times or more different than that in the scanning direction, a plurality of semiconductor elements are formed along a line direction in which the linear laser light is irradiated. Also, a line direction connecting the source and drain region of a thin film transistor is aligned to the line direction of the linear laser light.

Abstract: A valve has a valve body having a passage including a hole in which gas flows. A valve disc is provided for closing the hole, and an actuator is provided for operating the valve disc. An emergency cutoff device is provided so that the valve disc closes the hole in an emergency when electric power supply is cut off.

Abstract: A noise reducer for a valve having a quick release function is disclosed. The noise reducer is preferably an open-celled structure that is impervious to dirt, moisture, alcohol, and oil, and acts as both a dampener and a biasing spring to reduce the oscillations of an exhaust diaphragm in an ABS modulator and urge the diaphragm toward a closed position. The open-celled foam is preferably an annular configuration so that it does not interfere with the amplitude of displacement of the diaphragm.

Abstract: A valve having a mechanism for stabilizing the flow of fluid, such as in response to a nonlinear force, is disclosed herein. According to an embodiment of the valve, a tube is anchored within a retainer, and a solenoid mounted on the tube. A pole piece is fixed within the tube, and an armature is slidably disposed within the tube adjacent to the pole piece. A generally frustoconical gap is defined between the pole piece and the armature. A flexible, non-magnetic washer is disposed within the conical gap. The flexible washer counteracts the effect of a non-linear magnetic force by providing a non-linear force in opposition. The result is that the flow of fluid though the valve as well as the valve pressure is stabilized, in contrast with the prior art.

Abstract: A fuel injection valve is provided with an injection nozzle having an injection hole for fuel injection, a valve body for closing the injection hole, and an elastic body provided on one of a wall surface of the injection nozzle and a wall surface of the valve body. The elastic body is provided such that when the valve body closes the injection hole, the wall surface of the valve body comes into abutment with the wall surface of the injection nozzle after the valve body has come into abutment with the injection nozzle through the elastic body.

Abstract: Actuation means for actuating a structural part in an automobile, particuarly a flap for a fan, wherein the part is pivotally supported about an axis, comprising a pull wire a power transfer component connected to the pull wire and the structural part, and a damper coupled to the power transfer component or the structural part, with the power transfer component including a resilient portion such that upon exerting tension on the power transfer component the resilient portion is deformed until a force is transferred to the structural part or the damper element, respectively.

Abstract: An isolation gate valve (10, 10a, 10b, 124, 146, 210) is provided which has a valve body (12, 126, 212) presenting a passageway (14, 214) therethrough; a shiftable, apertured gate member (18, 224) is located within the body (12, 126, 212) and is shiftable between a valve open position permitting flow through the passageway (14, 214) and a valve closed position wherein the member (18, 224) is shifted into a flow-blocking relationship relative to the passageway (14, 214). A valve actuator (20, 130, 220) is provided which includes a gas-generating cartridge unit (22, 22a, 22b, 222) which, upon actuation, generates a charge of high pressure subsonic gas for shifting the gate member (18, 224) at a velocity of about 0.2 to about 0.33 in./msec. Preferably, the actuator includes a piston housing (56, 56a, 56b, 256) having a piston (72, 72a, 72b, 272) therein with a piston rod (71, 71a, 71b, 271) coupled between the piston (72, 72a, 72b, 272) and the gate member (18, 224).

Abstract: A wear-resistant valve, having at least two parts which move relative to each other, and which impact against each other, avoids damage to the contacting parts over long operating periods, with very little additional space requirement, and at low cost. At least one of the impact surfaces is covered with a thin coating. The material used for the coating is plastic, in particular, a fluorine-containing polymer material, such as polytetrafluoroethylene. The valve closing element, whose valve closing surface makes contact with a valve seat when the valve is actuated, is preferably provided with the coating. Valve arrangements which are actuated electromagnetically by a pulsing electrical signal are preferred areas of application for the present invention.

Abstract: In a method of controlling a duty-cycle type solenoid valve having a valve body that is driven at a controlled duty ratio and a valve seat on which the valve body rests when the solenoid valve is closed, an additional pulse is applied to the solenoid valve upon a lapse of a predetermined time from an ON/OFF switching point at which a level of a driving pulse is changed to drive the valve body in a direction to close the solenoid valve, so as to reduce the speed of the valve body when resting on the valve seat. The additional pulse has the same phase as the driving pulse applied before the ON/OFF switching point, and has a pulse width that is smaller than that of the driving pulse having the same phase.

Abstract: A control valve for controlling fluid flow in a hydraulic control unit of a vehicular brake system includes a valve body. A flux tube is mounted on the valve body. An armature core having first and second ends and a longitudinal passage is slidably received in the flux tube. A bearing element is formed from a low-friction material. The bearing element includes a stem received into the longitudinal passage and an end cap having a diameter greater than a diameter of the armature core.

Abstract: A fuel pump or injector has a control valve with a piston valve body axially movable over a motion displacement interval defined by first and second sub-intervals. A first control valve spring causes the piston valve body to be biased toward the unactuated position whenever the piston valve body is in the first sub-interval. A second control valve spring causes the piston valve body to be biased into damped engagement with the valve stop whenever the piston valve body is in the second sub-interval.

Abstract: An improved displacement control valve incorporated in a variable displacement compressor. The control valve is installed in an accommodating hole formed in a rear housing of the compressor. A cap is attached to a housing body of the control valve. A pressure sensing chamber is defined between the cap and the housing body. A pressure sensing member, or bellows, is located in the pressure sensing chamber. The bellows moves a valve body in accordance with pressure introduced into the pressure sensing chamber. A tubular protector, which is made of an elastic material, is attached to the cap. The control valve is installed in the rear housing by inserting the valve, cap first, into the accommodating hole. During this installation, the protector prevents the cap from directly contacting the housing or inner wall of the accommodating hole. The cap is therefore not deformed. The performance of the control valve is therefore improved.

Abstract: With the system the movement a solenoid valve valving member is damped both during opening and during closure by delaying pulses applied during the movement of the valve mobile member, to reduce end-of-travel impact both during opening and during closure, and to reduce vibration and noise.

Abstract: In a solenoid valve device, a valving element opens and closes a fluid passage by exerting an electromagnetic force between an armature and a core. The solenoid valve device includes a movable portion which includes the armature and the valving element. A fixed portion includes the core. An impact absorbing unit absorbs an impact of the movable portion on the fixed portion, the impact absorbing unit including a gel part which transforms a mechanical energy of the impact into a thermal energy.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a servo valve, in particular for hydraulic power steering systems of motor vehicles, in the form of a rotary slide valve having a rotary slider and a control bushing which coaxially encloses the latter and is rotatable about a rotation axis, against spring force, relative to the rotary slider. The present invention includes a particular spring arrangement which has two helical compression springs lying in a radial plane of the rotation axis.

Abstract: A diaphragm valve including structure which incorporates a support surface positioned to limit extension away from a main valve seat of a valve seat closure diaphragm. Alternative embodiments have the support surface formed on an insert within the valve housing, and formed as part of the interior surface of a wall of the housing. Alternatives for conveying control pressure to the side of the seat closure diaphragm adjacent the support surface include forming the surface on a body of porous material, and forming the surface with a channel which communicates with a relief port. Inclusion of a support surface minimizes stress and strain in the closure diaphragm when the valve is in an open state, thereby increasing the allowable valve working pressure.

Abstract: A bounce depression device 29 for a high speed poppet valve 11 in a electronically controlled hydraulically operated unit fuel injector 1 comprises a poppet valve 11 with a central bore 35 and a counter bore 33 having a flat inner end 37 and a annular grove 39 on the other end which receives a retainer ring 41 that holds a plurality of flat washer shaped damping rings 31 in the counter bore 33 to absorb momentum by rattling and bouncing as the poppet valve 11 seats to prevent the poppet valve 11 bouncing off the seats 13 and 15.

Abstract: A magnet armature for an electromagnetically operable valve, having a sealing body which can be brought into engagement with a valve seat to seal against it. The magnet armature has at least one stop buffer made of an elastomeric material arranged on the end of the armature facing away from the sealing body. The stop buffer has a diminishing cross section in the opening direction to achieve a progressive spring characteristic.

Abstract: A valve assembly (14) has an internal main flow passage through a valve body (24) between a first port (25) and a second port (26), an electric actuator (30), and a valve (86) operated by an armature (58) of the actuator to selectively open and close the passage. A force-balancing mechanism (92) applies to the valve (86) a force that opposes force created by pressure differential between the first and second ports. This mechanism includes an internal chamber (126) bounded in part by a fluid-impermeable movable wall (94) that extends between and is sealed to both the body (24) and the valve (86), and a communication passage (110, 112) that communicates one of the ports (26) to the chamber space when the valve is closing the passage. The valve (86) has a head part (88) and a seal part (90) joined together. The seal part seals the head part to the valve seat (29) when the valve is closing the passage. A retainer part (116) holds the inner margin of the movable wall sealed on the head part.

Abstract: A valve assembly (14) has an internal main flow passage through a valve body (24) between a first port (25) and a second port (26), an electric actuator (30), and a valve (86) operated by an armature (58) of the actuator to selectively open and close the passage. A force-balancing mechanism (92) applies to the valve (86) a force that opposes force created by pressure differential between the first and second ports. The valve has cushion media (76, 80, 142) that cushions impact of lateral displacements of the armature and cushion media (76) for cushioning axial impact between the armature and stator. An overmold (32) encloses internal parts, and one of the ports contains sonic nozzle structure (28). the valve exhibits improved noise attenuation, durability, and performance.

Abstract: A fuel pump for a vehicular diesel fuel pump member having a control valve assembly which includes a housing having a control valve chamber, and an actuatable control valve disposed in the control valve chamber. The control valve includes a piston valve body axially movable over a motion displacement interval between first and second positions. The motion displacement interval is defined by first and second sub-intervals bounded by the first and second positions, respectively. The control valve assembly further includes means for actuating the control valve. A valve stop is disposed in the housing adjacent the control valve chamber, and a piston valve body seat contacts the valve stop whenever the piston valve body is in the second position. The piston valve body seat contacts a pump body seating surface whenever the piston valve body is in the first position.

Abstract: A solenoid valve for use in heating systems in motor vehicles is disclosed. The solenoid valve includes a housing having a core which is axially movable in the housing and is connected by a shaft to a valve member. The valve member includes two valve heads, spaced apart from one another, one of which contacts an abutment region formed in a base plate of the solenoid housing. The abutment region provides damping to reduce solenoid noise.

Abstract: A solenoid operated valve of the type intended to be operated with a constant frequency variable duty cycle electrical pulse signal. The valving member/armature has an elastomeric cap provided on one end which functions to close one face on a valve seat when the solenoid is de-energized and the opposite face functions to act as a limit stop for valving member movement in the opposite direction when the solenoid is energized.

Abstract: A magnet valve having a valve seat body that has a valve opening with a valve seat. A spring-loaded valve member cooperates with the valve seat, in which the valve member forms the magnet armature of an electromagnet and is disposed between the valve seat body, acting as the check yoke of the electromagnet, and a hollow-cylindrical magnet core of the electromagnet. A valve member has a coaxial through opening, and having a damper element, disposed on the valve member, of elastic damping material that forms a sheathlike lining of the through opening that extends outward to cover one face end of the valve member and on the other face end of the valve member protrudes past this valve member, longitudinally continuous axial grooves open toward the through opening are made in the valve member and filled with damping material which protrudes past the second end face of the valve member, in order to assure long-term damping of switching noises.

Abstract: A diaphragm type flow regulator has an electrically operated bleed valve to control fluid signal pressure in a chamber on one side of the diaphragm. A valve member mounted on the opposite side of the diaphragm is moved, in response to the difference in pressure between the signal chamber and a flow regulating chamber, with respect to a valve seat for controlling flow of a compressible fluid between an inlet and outlet in the flow regulating chamber. An inertial mass is mounted for limited, resiliently opposed movement on the diaphragm, and serves to dampen diaphragm vibration caused by pressure pulses in the fluid supply conduit.

Abstract: A solenoid valve, whose valve member is acted upon by a feed pressure in a closed setting by the feed pressure obtaining in an inlet duct. In order to render possible rapid switching operations a moving ancillary drive member is provided which is acted upon by a control pressure and which acts through an outlet duct in the opening direction, and hence against the feed pressure, on the valve member.

Abstract: An electrically operated trigger valve for a fuel injection pump includes a valve member secured to an armature to form an armature and valve member assembly. The valve member is slidably mounted in a bore and controls communication between the fuel inlet and a fuel outlet. In use, the valve is maintained in its closed position by energizing a stator coil to attract the armature. When the stator is de-energized the armature and valve member assemblies moved in the valve opening direction by a valve opening spring. The length of the valve opening spring is such that when the valve is in the fully open position a gap exists between one end of the opening spring and its adjacent seat. Accordingly, initial movement of the armature and valve member assembly in the closing position, upon subsequent energization of the state of coil, is not opposed by the spring until the gap has been eliminated by initial movement of the armature.

Abstract: A two-way valve has a poppet valve displaceably disposed in a bonnet for selectively opening and closing a communication passage between primary and secondary ports, and a resilient member disposed in a diaphragm chamber defined between the bonnet and the poppet valve and resiliently deformable for dampening a load applied to a diaphragm of the poppet valve which is exposed to the communication passage.

Abstract: The method provides for applying to the solenoid valve, during its movement of closure by the action of a spring, a voltage signal the purpose of which is to brake this closure movement. The circuit comprises a static switch connected between the coil of the solenoid valve and earth, and an intermediate tap between these two components from which a voltage signal is withdrawn and is transformed by a microcontroller into a control signal for the static switch, such as to apply the braking signal to the solenoid valve.

Abstract: A fluid flow regulator having a spring clip frictionally engaging the pivoting regulator lever to stabilize flow fluctuations. Alternatively, a disk wedge with opposite leg portions frictionally engages the moving regulator diaphragm.

Abstract: A pressure regulator includes a housing having a chamber that receives a pressure responsive member 30. The pressure responsive member 30 includes an internal charge 90 that allows a movable portion 68 of the regulator to react in response to pressure differentials. A preferred embodiment of the regulator includes a dampening member defined by an o-ring 82 that exerts a drag on the pressure responsive member 30 to address oscillations associated with high flow rates. The dampening force can be varied according to the subject invention. Moreover, a normally planar poppet retaining member reduces manufacturing costs of the regulator and allows for a highly polished surface to address concerns with impurities. A biasing arrangement 120 is also incorporated into the regulator to assure that the poppet 68 seals against the valve seat 70 if the internal pressure charge of the regulator is lost.

Abstract: An apparatus achieves passive damping of flow disturbances to control centrifugal compressor surge. The apparatus includes a centrifugal compressor for compressing a low pressure fluid. The centrifugal compressor has an impeller, an inlet which communicates with an atmosphere and a discharge through which compressed air is supplied to a compressed air system. A fluid flow control is flow connected with the inlet for controlling the flow of a low pressure fluid to the compressor. A check valve is flow connected with the discharge for preventing high pressure fluid from back flowing to the compressor. A vane diffuser assembly fluidly communicates with the impeller. A spring-mass-damper system is coupled to any one or all of the fluid flow control, check valve or vane diffuser to dampen low amplitude flow disturbances of the compressible fluid.

Abstract: An apparatus achieves passive damping of flow disturbances to control centrifugal compressor surge. The apparatus includes a centrifugal compressor for compressing a low pressure fluid. The centrifugal compressor has an impeller, an inlet which communicates with an atmosphere and a discharge through which compressed air is supplied to a compressed air system. A fluid flow control is flow connected with the inlet for controlling the flow of a low pressure fluid to the compressor. A check valve is flow connected with the discharge for preventing high pressure fluid from back flowing to the compressor. A vane diffuser assembly fluidly communicates with the impeller. A spring-mass-damper system is coupled to any one or all of the fluid flow control, check valve or vane diffuser to dampen low amplitude flow disturbances of the compressible fluid.

Abstract: An improved pre-detent tactile feedback assembly for a fluid control valve is provided. The pre-detent tactile feedback assembly includes an elastic member seated within an annular groove formed in the bore of a plunger valve assembly. Preferably, this elastic member is a garter type spring. When the plunger is moved from an opened to a closed position, a portion of the plunger contacts the elastic member, urging the elastic member outwardly into the groove. The additional force required to urge the elastic member into the groove provides a "feel" force to the control lever. Preferably, the groove is positioned within the bore so that this "feel" force is sensed just prior to actuation of an associated detent assembly.

Abstract: A noise dampening feature is provided to a valve by incorporating an annular resilient member in association with the plunger of a solenoid valve. The annular resilient member comprises an annular portion and a series of protrusions extending axially away from the annular portion. A plunger of a solenoid valve is adapted to have an annular groove into which the annular portion of the resilient member is received. By preventing the direct physical contact of the upper surface of the plunger with the lower surface of a stop member, the resilient member prevents the clicking noise that is undesirable in certain circumstances. In order to avoid restricting the normal flow of fluid through the valve, the resilient member is provided with a plurality of protrusions and recesses, or interstitial spaces, that allows fluid to flow radially inward from the region of the fluted sides of the plunger toward the central location of a secondary port formed through a stop member.

Abstract: A piston valve assembly in which a piston member is outfitted with a plastic insulator between the metal piston member and a cover with which the piston member is otherwise engageable in one case and between the metal piston member and a valve actuator stem with which the piston member is otherwise engageable in another case, thereby preventing metal-to-metal contact therebetween and consequent metallic abrasion and pulverization.

Abstract: A fluid pressure regulator capable of adjustably setting a cut-off pressure between an upper and a lower limit having a two-piece valve body where the two pieces are threadably joined such that adjusting the distance between the two pieces of the valve body moves a piston stem valve operating a high pressure port towards or away from the high pressure port while not changing the distance between the spring engaging the piston and the piston head.

Abstract: A valve is disclosed having a valve piston slidably movable within a valve casing. The valve also includes a spring biasing the valve piston against a valve seat such that the valve is normally closed, but may be opened when the pressure acting on the valve piston exceeds the biasing force of the spring. In order to assure perfect sealing between the valve piston and the valve seat, the valve seat is formed on a member which is movably mounted in the valve casing by a generally annular elastic element. The elastic element connects the valve seat to the valve casing, as well as a shoulder extending from the valve casing into the valve chamber,d such that an axial clearance exist between the valve seat member and the shoulder, and a radial clearance exists between the valve seat member and the valve casing under all operating conditions of the valve. Such clearances enable the valve seat member to move axially and radially so as to assure perfect sealing between the valve seat and the valve piston.

Abstract: The electromagnetic valve includes a magnetic housing (11, 12, 13), an electromagnetic coil (15) received in the magnetic housing and a plurality of movable parts including a movable magnetic armature (23,36) and a movable valve stem device (58) for valve opening and closing. To provide a damping of the motion of the movable parts, at least one of the movable parts (23, 36, 58), advantageously a part of the armature, is provided with a hollow compartment (72) and a damping mass (74) at least partial filling the hollow compartment (72). The volume of the hollow compartment (72) is greater than the volume of the damping mass (74) so that motions of the magnetic armature and other parts are damped by the frictional and impact losses occurring in the damping mass (74).

Abstract: The closing system has a closure member, and a carriage for translational displacement of the closing member along rails. A jack is mounted on the carriage for non-resilient axial displacements of the closure member to and from a flow opening. A damper transmits the vibrations of the closure member to the carriage and ensure axial displacement of the closure member. The closure member closes the flow opening by first axially aligning the closure member with respect to the flow opening by displacing the carriage. The jack axially displaces the closure member to urge the closure member against the flow opening to close it without translational displacement. The closure member is retracted away a minimal distance from the opening for clearance and then the carriage is actuated to reduce or enlarge the flow opening, with precision and without friction to a seal disposed about the opening.

Abstract: An improved reed valve mechanism having a cushioned reed valve seat is disclosed. The present invention provides a smooth resilient insert which is attached around ports in a reed cage and projects beyond the reed cage surface on which the reed valve members seat. The benefits of conventional rubber coated reed cages are supplied without the expenses inherent in previous construction methods. Various mechanical mounting means are disclosed for ease in construction and improved reed valve performance.

Abstract: A magnetic valve for controlling a flow opening of a connection line for guiding fluid, particularly fuel,valve has a valve housing having a guide bore hole, a valve member displaceably supported in the guide bore hole and bringable into contact with a valve seat encircling the flow opening under the action of a closing force and also liftable from the valve seat under the action of an opening force, a coupling member transferring the closing force to the valve member. The coupling member is guided in the guide bore hole and has a damping collar with an end face which faces in direction of the valve seat and is bringable into contact with a contact surface provided in the valve housing and extending substantially parallel to the end face of the damping collar.

Abstract: A gate valve including a valve housing defining an inlet and an outlet aligned therewith; the housing having a planar inlet surface surrounding the inlet and a planar outlet surface surrounding the outlet and parallel to, facing and spaced a given distance from the inlet surface; a gate plate having a uniform thickness substantially equal to the given distance and defining a throughput opening, the gate plate mounted for sliding movement between the inlet and outlet surfaces and between an open position wherein the throughput opening is aligned with the inlet and outlet and a closed position wherein the throughput opening is substantially transversely displaced from the inlet and outlet; and an actuator for producing movement of the gate plate between the open and closed positions.

Abstract: A pressure regulator includes a housing having a chamber that receives a pressure responsive member. The pressure responsive member includes an internal charge that allows a movable portion of the regulator to react in response to pressure differentials. A preferred embodiment of the regulator includes a dampening member defined by an O-ring that exerts a drag on the pressure responsive member to address oscillations associated with high flow rates. The dampening force can be varied according to the subject invention. Moreover, a normally planar poppet retaining member reduces manufacturing costs of the regulator and allows for a highly polished surface to address concerns with impurities. A biasing arrangement is also incorporated into the regulator to assure that the poppet seals against the valve seat if the internal pressure charge of the regulator is lost.

Abstract: An air bag inflator includes a gas source and a gas outlet opening to allow flow of gas from the gas source into the air bag. A valve assembly for controlling flow of gas through the gas outlet opening includes a piston disposed in a cylinder. The piston has a surface against which the gas acts to move the piston in a first direction in the cylinder to allow increased flow of gas through the gas outlet opening. A honeycomb is disposed in the path of movement of the piston. The honeycomb is preferably made of aluminum or stainless steel. As the piston moves in the cylinder, the honeycomb crushes, resisting the movement of the piston.