Abstract: An electromagnetic assembly includes a casing, a solenoid disposed inside the casing, a stationary magnetic core, and a movable magnetic core. The stationary magnetic core is disposed at least partially inside the solenoid and is fixed relative to the solenoid and the casing, while the movable magnetic core is disposed for reciprocation partially inside the solenoid along an axis. The stationary magnetic core, the movable magnetic core, the solenoid, and the casing have rectangular or square cross-sections in planes oriented essentially perpendicularly to the axis.

Abstract: A device for shaping a vacuum includes a housing having a primary passageway which includes an inlet. A fluid shaping mechanism is disposed in the primary passageway in fluid communication with the inlet for changing the shape of a fluid flow into a planar fluid flow flowing radially outwardly from a central point. The fluid shaping mechanism includes a conically-shaped portion disposed within the primary passageway, a plurality of secondary passageways extending through the housing from a periphery of the cone-shaped surface to outlets at a bottom surface of the housing, and a reflector adjacent to and spaced from the bottom surface for uniformly reflecting the fluid from the secondary passageways radially outwardly to create a vacuum adjacent thereto.