Abstract: This invention relates to a pneumatic valve assembly for controlling a compressed air stream in response to a non-contacting actuation. It is desired to provide such a valve assembly which is adapted to control high working pressures without an intermediate amplifier. This is accomplished in that a pivoted one-armed or double-armed lever is provided with a permanent magnet on one side or on each of both sides of its pivotal axis and via a ferromagnetic or magnetic actuating member which is moved into the proximity of the permanent magnet or magnets and via a plunger causes a pilot orifice to be opened or closed, which orifice is adapted to be flown through by a pilot air stream for actuating a pilot piston for moving a valve piston to positions in which the valve is opened or closed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a pneumatically actuated stepping valve for an automatic control of inlets and outlets for a pneumatic fluid. Each stepping movement is performed in response to a feedback signal indicating that an operation controlled by the valve has been completed. A distributing disc is provided for selecting consecutive pairs of ports consisting of an inlet port and an outlet port each. The stepping valve consists mainly of plastic parts, which contain numerous bores and passages and can be made at low cost. In accordance with the invention the valve disc cooperates with a sealing piston, which in response to pressure applied to said piston establishes connections to through passages of the valve disc, whereas when the piston is pressure-relieved it will be urged by spring means to disengage the valve disc so that the latter will not be restrained by the piston during its stepping movement.