Abstract: A multifunctional regulator provides a housing having an inlet passage joined with an outlet passage through a poppet valve. The housing has a control diaphragm separating the control chamber into a first volume and a second volume and depending on the differential pressure between the two volumes, the diaphragm will push open the poppet valve. Pressurizing and depressurizing valves join the first volume with the inlet and outlet passages, whereby, with an inlet pressure level within the inlet passage greater than an outlet pressure level within the outlet passage, and with the pressurizing valve admitting the inlet pressure level to the first volume, the diaphragm is displaced into the second volume thereby forcing the poppet valve to open and thereby raising the outlet pressure toward the inlet pressure with fluid flow from the inlet to outlet passages.

Abstract: A multi-force actuator valve invention including a radially polarized permanent magnet, a pair of associated electromagnetic coils, a movable magnetically operated armature member, a valve located to be actuated by movement of the armature member, and mechanical force exerting means located and positioned to exert a force on the movable magnetically operated armature member. The multi-force actuator valve invention has electrical current control input means for supplying and controlling electrical current to the electromagnetic coils for controlling the movable magnetically operated armature member. The electrical current control input means for supplying and controlling electrical current to the electromagnetic coils for controlling the movable magnetically operated armature member has a plurality of types of controls that allow the multi-force actuator valve invention to operate or function as a plurality of types of valves such as a latching valve or a modulating valve.

Abstract: A multifunctional regulator provides a housing having an inlet passage joined with an outlet passage through a poppet valve. The housing has a control diaphragm separating the control chamber into a first volume and a second volume and depending on the differential pressure between the two volumes, the diaphragm will push open the poppet valve. Pressurizing and depressurizing valves join the first volume with the inlet and outlet passages, whereby, with an inlet pressure level within the inlet passage greater than an outlet pressure level within the outlet passage, and with the pressurizing valve admitting the inlet pressure level to the first volume, the diaphragm is displaced into the second volume thereby forcing the poppet valve to open and thereby raising the outlet pressure toward the inlet pressure with fluid flow from the inlet to outlet passages.

Abstract: A torque motor (20) has a base (21), four polepieces (22A, 22B, 22C, 22D) extending away from the base, the polepieces being separated from one another and being arranged at the corners of an imaginary polygon (27), each polepiece terminating in a pole (23A, 23B, 23C, 23D); a coil (24A, 24B, 24C, 24D) surrounding each of the polepieces; an armature (26) pivotally mounted on the base, the armature having a portion arranged to move toward and away from an associated one of the poles, respectively, to define a variable-reluctance air gap (gA, gB, gC, gD) therebetween; a permanent magnet (29) mounted on one of the base and armature and polarized in a direction parallel to the pivotal axis of the armature; and wherein at least a portion of the torque motor is formed by a MEMS technique; whereby the coil may be selectively energized to cause the armature to pivot about its axis.

Abstract: A torque motor (20) has a base (21), four polepieces (22A, 22B, 22C, 22D) extending away from the base, the polepieces being separated from one another and being arranged at the corners of an imaginary polygon (27), each polepiece terminating in a pole (23A, 23B, 23C, 23D); a coil (24A, 24B, 24C, 24D) surrounding each of the polepieces; an armature (26) pivotally mounted on the base, the armature having a portion arranged to move toward and away from an associated one of the poles, respectively, to define a variable-reluctance air gap (gA, gB, gC, gD) therebetween; a permanent magnet (29) mounted on one of the base and armature and polarized in a direction parallel to the pivotal axis of the armature; and wherein at least a portion of the torque motor is formed by a MEMS technique; whereby the coil may be selectively energized to cause the armature to pivot about its axis.

Abstract: A propellant supply device (10) is provided for a vehicle (11) having a main propulsion motor (12) and having an attitude control system (11) including a plurality of thrusters (14A, 14B, 14C, . . . , 14F). The improved device comprises: a pressure vessel (15); first and second movable walls (20, 21) operatively arranged within the pressure vessel and dividing the interior space therewithin into three separate sealed chambers (22, 23, 24) from each of which fluid may be supplied; a first fluid (e.g., a first bipropellant) in one of the chambers; a second fluid (e.g., a second bipropellant) in a second of the chambers; and a third fluid (e.g., ammonia) in a third of the chambers, the third fluid being a volatile liquid having a liquid phase and a gaseous phase, and wherein all three chambers are pressurized to the vapor pressure of the third fluid.

Abstract: A torque motor (20) has a base (21), four polepieces (22A, 22B, 22C, 22D) extending away from the base, the polepieces being separated from one another and being arranged at the corners of an imaginary polygon (27), each polepiece terminating in a pole (23A, 23B, 23C, 23D); a coil (24A, 24B, 24C, 24D) surrounding each of the polepieces; an armature (26) pivotally mounted on the base, the armature having a portion arranged to move toward and away from an associated one of the poles, respectively, to define a variable-reluctance air gap (gA, gB, gC, gD) therebetween; a permanent magnet (29) mounted on one of the base and armature and polarized in a direction parallel to the pivotal axis of the armature; and wherein at least a portion of the torque motor is formed by a MEMS technique; whereby the coil may be selectively energized to cause the armature to pivot about its axis.

Abstract: A torque motor (20) has a base (21), four polepieces (22A, 22B, 22C, 22D) extending away from the base, the polepieces being separated from one another and being arranged at the corners of an imaginary polygon (27), each polepiece terminating in a pole (23A, 23B, 23C, 23D); a coil (24A, 24B, 24C, 24D) surrounding each of the polepieces; an armature (26) pivotally mounted on the base, the armature having a portion arranged to move toward and away from an associated one of the poles, respectively, to define a variable-reluctance air gap (gA, gB, gC, gD) therebetween; a permanent magnet (29) mounted on one of the base and armature and polarized in a direction parallel to the pivotal axis of the armature; and wherein at least a portion of the torque motor is formed by a MEMS technique; whereby the coil may be selectively energized to cause the armature to pivot about its axis.

Abstract: A propellant supply device (10) is provided for a vehicle (11) having a main propulsion motor (12) and having an attitude control system (11) including a plurality of thrusters (14A, 14B, 14C, . . . , 14F). The improved device comprises: a pressure vessel (15); first and second movable walls (20, 21) operatively arranged within the pressure vessel and dividing the interior space therewithin into three separate sealed chambers (22, 23, 24) from each of which fluid may be supplied; a first fluid (e.g., a first bipropellant)in one of the chambers; a second fluid (e.g., a second bipropellant) in a second of the chambers; and a third fluid (e.g., ammonia) in a third of the chambers, the third fluid being a volatile liquid having a liquid phase and a gaseous phase, and wherein all three chambers are pressurized to the vapor pressure of the third fluid.

Abstract: A device and method for controlling small flows of gas, such as would be used by a satellite (or microsatellite) for orientation thrusters includes a photoetched silicon body etched to provide one or more particular flow paths, and optionally filters, where the flow path is defined by the silicon body and a sealing glass layer bonded thereto. Flow is controlled through the flow path(s) by heating the body to decrease the gas flow.

Abstract: A microvalve and microthruster are provided. Both include a housing with an interior in which an armature can travel and abut a valve seat to provide an electromagnetic valve. The armature acts as a valve body that is maintained in a or normally closed position by a permanent magnet, and is opened by interaction with a selectively activatable electromagnet. A microthruster is provided by fashioning the valve discharge as a nozzle, preferably of a material that is permanently and selectively magnetizable, so that the nozzle functions as the permanent magnet and which magnetism can be adjusted to assure proper opening and closing of the valve portion. The valve body is guided without any sliding fit mechanism and is suitable for controlling gas or liquid fluid flows.

Abstract: Systems, valves and methods for controlling fluid flow using the systems and the valves for applications involving the control of micro flow of fluids, such as, for example, spacecraft rocket thrusters, oil well production, medical/biological apparatus, industrial apparatus is disclosed. The valves used in the systems and in the methods include a housing having a cavity and an inlet and an outlet. A seat is positioned in the housing and connected to both the inlet and the outlet. A poppet member is positioned in the cavity relative to the seat for controlling fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet. A magnetostrictive member is positioned in the cavity and connected to the poppet member. Electromagnetic excitation means are positioned in the cavity relative to the magnetostrictive member such that current applied to the electromagnetic excitation means controls the position of the poppet relative to the seat.

Abstract: A valve construction relies upon solenoid-driven axial elongation of an annular magnetostrictive core element for opening displacement of an elongate poppet-valve member that is carried within the annulus of the core element. A first stiffly compliant preload independently urges the poppet-valve member into its seated position of lock-up at valve closure, and a second stiffly compliant preload independently prestresses the annular magnetostrictive core element into a fixed referencing abutment with valve-body structure. The currently preferred material of the core is Terfenol-D, which offers a strong elongation response to inductively coupled excitation. The elongation response is sufficient to serve the purposes of (1) closing a pretravel clearance prior to a flange engagement with the poppet-valve member and (2) also, via the flange engagement, displacing the poppet-valve member out of its normal valve-closing engagement with the valve seat.

Abstract: In a preferred ball-valve construction, a valve body has spaced inlet and outlet ports on an axis of flow that is controlled by an interposed ball; the ball is rotatable about a body-fixed axis which intersects the axis of flow at the geometric center of the ball. In the closed condition of the valve, an annular valve-seat member associated with one of the ports has circumferentially sealed contact with the ball. The annular valve-seat member is guided for axial displaceability into and out of its engageability with the ball, and actuation of the valve utilized coordination of valve-seat displacement with ball rotation such that valve-seat engagement with the ball is only for the closed condition of the valve, and such that, valve-opening rotation of the ball can occur only while the annular valve-seat member is in axial-clearance relation with the ball. Various embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A valve for fail-safe return to its normally closed condition relies upon solenoid-driven elongation of a magnetostrictive core element, for opening displacement of a valve member, and also relies upon a continuously available, stiffly compliant preload of the valve member into its position of lock-up at valve closure. The currently preferred material of the core is Terfenol-D, which offers a strong elongation response to inductively coupled excitation. The elongation response is sufficient to serve the purposes of driving a poppet-valve member from closed to open position, with a relatively short time constant, as well as to permit a closed condition of the valve wherein the driving end of the core is effectively disconnected from the poppet-valve member, so that the prestressed stiff compliance can alone be operative on the poppet-valve member for fail-safe closure of the valve.

Abstract: A multiple-valve system is transiently electromagnetically actuated by a single electrical winding, for concurrent change of state for each of the multiple valves, and a permanently magnetized portion of involved magnetic circuitry serves to latch both valves in the operative state into which they have been actuated. The preferred embodiment is based on valve-body structure which is a unitary consolidation of plural slabs of magnetic material in alternation with slabs of non-magnetic material. An electromagnetic actuator includes a U-shaped core having pole faces secured to the uppermost slab, in confronting relation with valve members of magnetic material. A first polarized magnetic-latch circuit exists via the U-shaped core, together with the valve members and a magnetized body slab when in valve-open condition. A second polarized magnetic-latch circuit exists via the magnetized slab, the valve members and another magnetic slab, when the system is in valve-closed condition.

Abstract: The invention contemplates a method of making a valve body for a magnetically actuated twin-valve system, wherein the valve body comprises a body block of three relatively thick slabs vertically bonded to each other and to the consolidated height of their combined thicknesses, the first and lower most slab being of non-magnetic material, the second and intermediate slab being of magnetic material, and the third and uppermost slab being of non-magnetic material; the method comprises the steps of (a) inertia-welding said slabs to each other; and (b) machining first and second spaced valve-member guide bores through said second and third slabs and through at least a portion of said first slab, with a valve-seat opening at the otherwise closed lower end of each bore of said first slab and with independent lateral-access inlet-port communication with the respective bores in said first slab.

Abstract: An electro-magnetically actuated twin-valve system wherein the respective valves are series-connected within a single housing and in a single generally axial line of fluid flow from an upstream or inlet end to a downstream or outlet end, and wherein an annular electrical winding is operative to concurrently operate both valves for a like change of state in each valve. A generally toroidal configuration of magnetic-core elements is provided by generally cylindrical housing structure which includes annular end-closure elements and wherein the core path is completed by magnetic armature and pole-face features. The annular winding is magnetically coupled to the armatures and is contained within the generally toroidal configuration of magnetic-core elements. Separate springs axially preload the armatures in their valve-closed direction of engagement with annular valve-seat formations along the path of flow.

Abstract: A magnetically linked twin-valve assembly is electromagnetically actuated in response to excitation of a single solenoid winding. Valve-body structure features relatively thick non-magnetic and magnetic slabs which are bonded into a consolidated body block, in laminated alternation, prior to machining the same for dual-valve purposes. Two spaced guide bores through the body block accommodate movement of separate valve members of magnetic material; the upper end of each of these valve members is upwardly exposed in confronting relation with one to the exclusion of the other pole face of the U-shaped core of an electromagnet, whereby a single magnetic circuit, established by the U-shaped core and the valve members, relies upon the middle slab of magnetic material to complete the circuit by magnetically linking both valve members. Inlet and outlet flows of pressure fluid pass through separate chambers formed primarily in the lowermost slab on the respective guide-bore alignments.

Abstract: A magnetic-latching of either of the selected operating positions of a two-position valve utilizes a generally toroidal magnetic circuit that is established by spaced inner and outer annular walls which are connected at their axial ends, with an inlet-port fluid-flow connection at one end to the interior of the inner wall, and with an outlet-port fluid-flow connection from the interior of the inner wall. The inner wall has a gap between axially spaced first and second annular pole faces. A single electrical excitation coil is coupled to the magnet circuit at overlap with the inner annular wall on one side of the gap. A disc-shaped armature is compliantly supported for axially shuttled displacement in the gap in alternating abutment with one to the exclusion of the other of the pole faces.