Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a valve apparatus is provided to proportionally control fluid flow. The valve apparatus includes a housing having a valve body with an inlet port having a valve seat and an outlet port; a valve assembly including an armature, a movable fluid control member, and at least one spring biasing the valve assembly into a closed position, a diaphragm in contact with the valve seat of the inlet port when the valve is in the closed position, and a poppet plate backing the diaphragm, in contact with the fluid control member and extending beyond the valve seat on the inlet port. The valve apparatus also has a solenoid assembly including an electromagnetic coil and a pole piece, the solenoid moves the armature when energized to allow fluid to flow through the valve apparatus.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a valve apparatus is provided to proportionally control fluid flow. The valve apparatus includes a housing having a valve body with an inlet port having a valve seat and an outlet port; a valve assembly including an armature, a movable fluid control member, and at least one spring biasing the valve assembly into a closed position, a diaphragm in contact with the valve seat of the inlet port when the valve is in the closed position, and a poppet plate backing the diaphragm, in contact with the fluid control member and extending beyond the valve seat on the inlet port. The valve apparatus also has a solenoid assembly including an electromagnetic coil and a pole piece, the solenoid moves the armature when energized to allow fluid to flow through the valve apparatus.

Abstract: A valve actuating apparatus for control of fluid flow that has a housing having a valve body with a first port and a second port that extend through the housing. In one embodiment the valve actuating apparatus also has a toggle valve assembly that includes an armature, at least one sealing surface connected to the armature, and a spring biasing the armature to a first position where the sealing surface closes the first port. The valve actuating apparatus further includes a solenoid assembly with an electromagnetic coil and a pole piece having a first leg and a second leg. The first leg is shorter than the second, and the first leg and the armature define an air gap when the armature is in the first position. The electromagnetic coil creates a magnetic field in the pole piece when it is electrically energized to attract the armature toward the first leg to a second position where the air gap is reduced.

Abstract: A valve actuating apparatus for providing proportional control of a fluid flow that includes a housing having a valve body with an inlet port and an outlet port. In one embodiment, the valve actuating apparatus also has a valve assembly including an armature, a movable fluid control member, and at least one spring biasing the armature into contact with the fluid control member. The valve actuating apparatus further includes a solenoid assembly having an electromagnetic coil and a pole piece. The pole piece and the armature define a gap that changes proportionally with the amount of current flowing through the electromagnetic coil. Fluid flow from the inlet port to the outlet port may proportionally increase or decreases as the gap increases or decreases. The valve actuating apparatus may further include a valve seat. The fluid control member may be in contact with the valve seat to inhibit fluid flow through the apparatus when the electromagnetic coil is not energized.

Abstract: A proportional solenoid-controlled valve provides for precise control of fluid flow using a flat spring and a damper. The flat spring is three-lobed and is constrained on its outer diameter in one of six degrees of freedom. The damper has three outer lobes which are compressed between the armature assembly and the valve body. A spring-loaded seal configuration having an annular elastomer seal compensates for dimensional instability of the elastomeric seal material and the armature assembly.

Abstract: A laminar flow control valve having a unitary housing, wherein the valve housing is coupled to a housing for an electrically powered solenoid device. The poppet is loosely secured to the valve stem by use of a magnet, which permits lateral movement between the poppet and the valve stem. In the preferred embodiment, a hemispherical poppet is mounted to the stem of the operating mechanism by a magnet which is fixedly secured to the stem, permitting lateral movement of the poppet to ensure self-alignment with the valve seat upon closing of the valve. An alternative embodiment utilizes conical surfaces of the valve seat and poppet.

Abstract: A solenoid device having an output which is substantially linearly proportional to its electrical input and which includes an axially adjustable polepiece. The polepiece carries a permanent magnet which is annularly disposed about the polepiece and which provides an efficient magnetic circuit in conjunction with the electromagnetic coil of the solenoid.

Abstract: A laminar flow control valve has a valve housing with an inlet and an outlet, an orifice plate, a poppet, an operating mechanism such as an electrically powered proportional solenoid, and a mechanism for realigning the poppet and orifice plate to maintain selected surfaces of those components in substantially parallel relation. The gaseous flow is throttled between respective parallel surfaces of the orifice plate and poppet such that the volumetric flow rate is linearly proportional to the pressure differential across the parallel surfaces. The poppet is mounted to a stem of the operating mechanism so as to be free to move in more than one plane relative to the orifice plate. In the embodiment illustrated, the poppet is free to swivel so that the metering surfaces "self-align" each time the valves close. The preferred embodiment of the invention utilizes a flat orifice plate and poppet. The poppet is attached to a stem of the operating mechanism by mechanical means.