Electro-Fluid Four-Way On-Off Pneumatic Valve

Abstract

The development of an electro-fluid fourway on-off pneumatic valve is described. The design utilizes two permanent magnet valving elements between ferromagnetic nozzles; coils around the nozzles are energized to cause the permanent magnets to switch from one nozzle to the other. The valve can direct fluid flow to one of two loads alternately. It consumes electrical power during switching only; once the switch has been completed no further electrical power is required. Furthermore, the first stage of the valve only consumes air during switching, no steady state fluid power is consumed by this stage.