Abstract: A proportional actuator, and a unibody magnetic housing for use in a proportional actuator. The proportional actuator includes a coil assembly with a coil and coil cover; the coil assembly is fitted to the unibody magnetic housing to form a magnetic coupling. The unibody magnetic housing includes a wall having a region of varying wall thickness, which may be formed by an annular groove, and a central bore in which a plunger may be slidably mounted so that its end moves along the region of varying wall thickness as it slides within the central bore.

Abstract: A proportional solenoid-controlled fluid valve assembly having a fluid pressure balancing arrangement includes a poppet and diaphragm. The valve assembly also includes a solenoid coil assembly having a cylindrical conduit and a magnetic orifice piece positioned within the conduit. A plunger is positioned within the conduit and is movable within the conduit between a de-actuated position and an actuated position. A valve poppet is provided having a top cylindrical upstanding portion and a poppet face configured to abut the valve seat. Further, a diaphragm is positioned within the valve base with the top cylindrical upstanding portion of the poppet extending through a diaphragm opening.

Abstract: A proportional solenoid-controlled fluid valve assembly having a fluid pressure balancing diaphragm. The valve assembly also includes a solenoid coil assembly having a cylindrical conduit and a magnetic orifice piece positioned within the conduit. A plunger is positioned within the conduit and is movable within the conduit between a de-actuated position and an actuated position. A pressure balancing diaphragm is provided having a top side, a bottom side, an outer annular flange portion, a U-shaped portion, and an inner annular flange terminating at a diaphragm opening, with the diaphragm being positioned within valve base with the outer annular flange portion abutting the ledge of the valve base and the U-shaped portion abutting the valve seat. A retainer is also provided having a top cylindrical upstanding portion extending through the diaphragm opening and an aperture formed in the plunger.

Abstract: A proportional solenoid-controlled fluid valve assembly having a fluid pressure balancing arrangement includes a poppet and diaphragm. The valve assembly also includes a solenoid coil assembly having a cylindrical conduit and a magnetic orifice piece positioned within the conduit. A plunger is positioned within the conduit and is movable within the conduit between a de-actuated position and an actuated position. A valve poppet is provided having a top cylindrical upstanding portion and a poppet face configured to abut the valve seat. Further, a diaphragm is positioned within the valve base with the top cylindrical upstanding portion of the poppet extending through a diaphragm opening.

Abstract: A proportional solenoid-controlled fluid valve assembly having a fluid pressure balancing diaphragm. The valve assembly also includes a solenoid coil assembly having a cylindrical conduit and a magnetic orifice piece positioned within the conduit. A plunger is positioned within the conduit and is movable within the conduit between a de-actuated position and an actuated position. A pressure balancing diaphragm is provided having a top side, a bottom side, an outer annular flange portion, a U-shaped portion, and an inner annular flange terminating at a diaphragm opening, with the diaphragm being positioned within valve base with the outer annular flange portion abutting the ledge of the valve base and the U-shaped portion abutting the valve seat. A retainer is also provided having a top cylindrical upstanding portion extending through the diaphragm opening and an aperture formed in the plunger.

Abstract: A valve assembly includes a valve base having a tubular section with a longitudinal bore formed therein, a fluid inlet port and a common port with an internal passageway therebetween. A solenoid coil is adapted to generate a magnetic flux and includes a longitudinal axis and a bore coaxial therewith. The valve assembly further includes an orifice piece positioned within the longitudinal bore of the valve base. The orifice piece includes a central passageway with a first end and a second end. A plunger is movable within the longitudinal bore between a first de-actuated position and a second actuated position.

Abstract: A valve assembly includes a valve base having a tubular section with a longitudinal bore formed therein, a fluid inlet port and a common port with an internal passageway therebetween. A solenoid coil is adapted to generate a magnetic flux and includes a longitudinal axis and a bore coaxial therewith. The valve assembly further includes an orifice piece positioned within the longitudinal bore of the valve base. The orifice piece includes a central passageway with a first end and a second end. A plunger is movable within the longitudinal bore between a first de-actuated position and a second actuated position.

Abstract: An actuator assembly comprised of: a first coil and a second coil, each with a bore and a producing a magnetic flux when subject to an electric signal; a tube extending through the bores such that coils are coaxial; a magnetic pole piece within the tube and generally between the first bore and the second bore; a magnetic ring set outside of the tube and between the coils, in which the magnetic flux paths both travel through the magnetic pole piece and the magnetic ring to complete their respective magnetic paths; and a first and second axially translatable movable member within the tube and wherein the movable members each axially translate towards the magnetic pole piece in the presence of the magnetic flux such that by controlling the electric signal, proportionality can be achieved.

Abstract: A valve assembly comprised of a solenoid coil, having a coil bore, and being operative to produce a magnetic field when subject to an electric signal, a fixed magnetic pole piece within the coil bore, a generally cylindrically and axially translatable armature with a disc-shaped portion and an aperture therethrough, a valve base with a fixed portion over which the armature fits and forming a fluid cavity therebetween. The armature aperture allows a fluid to pass through the disc-shaped portion and into the fluid cavity to substantially equilibrate the fluid pressure on the armature in an axial direction. The valve assembly further includes a solenoid base which forms a chamber around the armature and a biasing mechanism between the magnetic pole piece and the armature which axially translates when the magnetic pole piece is subject to the electric signal, allowing the fluid to pass through the valve assembly in proportion to the electric current.

Abstract: A proportional solenoid-driven valve control assembly comprised of a moveable, magnetic armature adjacent to a fixed magnetic pole piece, providing fluid leakage containment, and having no non-magnetic element for alignment, support, or magnetic flux path control. A valve unit coupled with the armature contains a fluid cavity in fluid communication with a fluid inlet port and a fluid exit port. The valve is closed by a poppet coupled to the armature. To compensate for fluid pressures exerted against the poppet, a flow restriction is provided between an armature cavity and the fluid cavity. In addition, a bore is formed through the armature to provide fluid communication between the fluid exit port and the armature cavity. This serves to balance fluid pressures at the fluid inlet and exit ports applied to the opposite sides of the fluid flow restriction.

Abstract: A proportional solenoid-driven valve control assembly contains a moveable, magnetic armature positioned adjacent to one end of a fixed pole piece that protrudes from a solenoid bore and is supported by means of a pair of flat suspension springs adjacent to the one end of the bore. The movable armature is configured to provide two generally cylindrical radial magnetic flux paths. One flux path traverses a radial gap at one end of fixed magnetic pole piece that protrudes from the one end of the solenoid bore. The other flux path traverses a generally cylindrical gap between a rim portion of the armature and an inwardly projecting magnetic element of the solenoid housing. The two radially separate cylindrical gaps function as coaxial guide air-bushings for the moveable magnetic armature that prevent off-axis play between the moveable armature and the pole piece and the inwardly projecting magnetic element.

Abstract: A proportional solenoid-driven valve control assembly contains a moveable, magnetic armature positioned adjacent to one end of a fixed magnetic pole piece. The magnetic pole piece has a longitudinal axial pole piece portion, and a relatively thin, annular axial pole piece portion, that rapidly saturates, and is effectively mechanically solid with the longitudinal pole piece portion for fluid leakage containment. A radial portion is solid with the annular axial portion and provides support and alignment for the armature relative to the magnetic pole piece, without the need for non-magnetic material for alignment, support or magnetic flux flow path control.

Abstract: A proportional solenoid-driven valve control assembly contains a moveable, magnetic armature adjacent to a fixed pole piece, providing fluid leakage containment, and having no non-magnetic element for alignment, support or magnetic flux path control. A valve unit coupled with the armature contains a fluid cavity in fluid communication with a fluid inlet port and a fluid exit port. The valve is closed by a poppet coupled with the armature. To compensate for fluid pressures exerted against the poppet, a flow restriction is provided between an armature cavity and the fluid cavity. Also, a bore is formed through the armature to provide fluid communication between the fluid exit port and the armature cavity. This serves to balance fluid pressures at the fluid inlet and exit ports applied to the opposite sides of the fluid flow restriction.

Abstract: A proportional solenoid-driven valve control assembly contains a moveable, magnetic armature positioned adjacent to one end of a fixed magnetic pole piece. The magnetic pole piece has a longitudinal axial pole piece portion, and a relatively thin, annular axial pole piece portion, that rapidly saturates, and is effectively mechanically solid with the longitudinal pole piece portion for fluid leakage containment. A radial portion is solid with the annular axial portion and provides support and alignment for the armature relative to the magnetic pole piece, without the need for non-magnetic material for alignment, support or magnetic flux flow path control.

Abstract: A proportional solenoid-driven valve control assembly contains a moveable, magnetic armature positioned adjacent to one end of a fixed pole piece that protrudes from a solenoid bore and is supported by means of a pair of flat suspension springs adjacent to the one end of the bore. The movable armature is configured to provide two generally cylindrical radial magnetic flux paths. One flux path traverses a radial gap at one end of fixed magnetic pole piece that protrudes from the one end of the solenoid bore. The other flux path traverses a generally cylindrical gap between a rim portion of the armature and an inwardly projecting magnetic element of the solenoid housing. The two radially separate cylindrical gaps function as coaxial guide air-bushings for the moveable magnetic armature that prevent off-axis play between the moveable armature and the pole piece and the inwardly projecting magnetic element.

Abstract: An incremental swaging process securely affixes a sleeve, such as a metal ring, to the external surface of a cylindrically workpiece, such as a hollow configured metallic casing. Successive portions of the sleeve are incrementally swaged by a tooling element whose tooling surface dimension is less than the axial dimension of the sleeve. During relative rotation between the tooling element and the casing upon which the sleeve has been place, the tooling element is incrementally brought into and out of mechanical engagement with axially adjacent and overlapping surface regions of the sleeve. This incremental swaging technique results in very tightly swaging axially successive annular portions of the sleeve against axially successive, annular surface portions of the rotating casing, leaving the sleeve very securely affixed to the casing.

Abstract: A proportional solenoid-driven valve control assembly contains a moveable, magnetic armature positioned adjacent to one end of a fixed pole piece that protrudes from a solenoid bore and is supported by means of a pair of flat suspension springs adjacent to the one end of the bore. The movable armature is configured to provide two generally cylindrical radial magnetic flux paths. One flux path traverses a radial gap at one end of fixed magnetic pole piece that protrudes from the one end of the solenoid bore. The other flux path traverses a generally cylindrical gap between a rim portion of the armature and an inwardly projecting magnetic element of the solenoid housing. The two radially separate cylindrical gaps function as coaxial guide air-bushings for the moveable magnetic armature that prevent off-axis play between the moveable armature and the pole piece and the inwardly projecting magnetic element.

Abstract: A proportional solenoid-driven valve control assembly contains a moveable, magnetic armature positioned adjacent to one end of a fixed pole piece that protrudes from a solenoid bore and is supported by means of a pair of flat suspension springs adjacent to the one end of the bore. The movable armature is configured to provide two generally cylindrical radial magnetic flux paths. One flux path traverses a radial gap at one end of fixed magnetic pole piece that protrudes from the one end of the solenoid bore. The other flux path traverses a generally cylindrical gap between a rim portion of the armature and an inwardly projecting magnetic element of the solenoid housing. The two radially separate cylindrical gaps function as coaxial guide air-bushings for the moveable magnetic armature that prevent off-axis play between the moveable armature and the pole piece and the inwardly projecting magnetic element.

Abstract: A proportional solenoid-driven valve control assembly contains a moveable, magnetic armature positioned adjacent to one end of a fixed pole piece that protrudes from a solenoid bore and is supported by means of a compact suspension spring arrangement adjacent to the one end of the bore. The movable armature is configured to provide two radial magnetic flux paths. One flux path traverses a fixed radial shunt gap at one end of fixed magnetic pole piece that is located in and protrudes from the one end of the solenoid bore. The other flux path traverses a variable geometry reluctance gap defined between a radially projecting, tapered rim portion of the armature and an inwardly projecting tapered portion of the solenoid assembly housing.

Abstract: A dual pressure regulator device for a spray gun is supplied with an input fluid under pressure and outputs a first regulated pneumatic pressure to a pressurized tank, and a second regulated pneumatic pressure to the spray gun. The dual pressure regulator device has a unitary body having a fluid passageway extending from an inlet port at a first end of the body, to which inlet port the input fluid is supplied, to a first valve chamber in which a first regulator valve is installed, and to a second valve chamber in which a second regulator valve is installed. The pressure in the nozzle device's main pressure internal line and the head pressure within the tank are maintained within specified tolerances, independent of pressure fluctuations in the main supply line to the nozzle device. The body has an inclined body wall portion that is conformal with the handle, such that the valve assemblies are physically accommodated and accessible in a space directly beneath the handle, adjacent to the tank.