A method for switching over a solenoid valve having a movable valve body between a first position and a second position, wherein the method comprises at least the following method steps: a) adjusting a switching current to a pre-energization current intensity, in which the valve body remains in the present position, for a first time interval, and b) adjusting the switching current to a first switchover current intensity, which introduces a switchover movement of the valve body, for a second time interval.

A method for actuating a valve with a magnetic valve drive, through which electric current is passed to open the valve, to close the valve, and to hold the valve in an open or closed position, includes receiving an opening signal. The method further includes varying the electric current that is passed through the valve drive as a first current signal to open the valve in response to the received opening signal. The method further includes receiving a closing signal and varying the electric current that is passed through the valve drive as a second current signal for closing the valve in response to the received closing signal. The second current signal has at least two variations of the electric current at separate times.

A method for actuating a solenoid valve, which is used for throughflow rate control, of an agricultural spreading machine, wherein the solenoid valve has a valve armature, comprising: energizing the solenoid valve in order to cause an opening movement of the valve armature and/or in order to hold the valve armature in an open position in which the solenoid valve is open, interrupting or changing the energization of the solenoid valve in order to cause a closing movement of the valve armature in the direction of a valve seat, and causing a reduction in the movement speed of the valve armature during the closing movement of the valve armature.

Provided according to the present invention is a solenoid with a built-in permanent magnet, with which it is possible to suppress an increase in the amount of magnetic flux that passes through the chuck part, even when the magnetic flux generated by a coil is greater than the magnetic flux of the magnet, and to reliably reduce attraction force. In this solenoid, a permanent magnet and a coil are both built into a cylindrical case having an opening part; the permanent magnet and the coil are both separated and arranged inside the case; a ring member is arranged adjacent to the permanent magnet; a movable iron core is inserted inside the coil; and between the movable iron core and the coil, a metal coil cover is provided so as to cover the coil. The distance d between the case inner wall and the ring member can also be in the range of 0.1-0.3 mm.

A method for actuating a valve with a magnetic valve drive, through which electric current is passed to open the valve, to close the valve, and to hold the valve in an open or closed position, includes receiving an opening signal. The method further includes varying the electric current that is passed through the valve drive as a first current signal to open the valve in response to the received opening signal. The method further includes receiving a closing signal and varying the electric current that is passed through the valve drive as a second current signal for closing the valve in response to the received closing signal. The second current signal has at least two variations of the electric current at separate times.

An exemplary contactor control system and method to reduce the amount of sound during the translation of an automotive contactor from a closed state to an open state is provided. The contactor has an electrical coil and first and second electrical contacts. The control system includes a microcontroller and a high side driver circuit. The microcontroller generates a pulse width modulated signal that is applied to the high side driver circuit and decreases a duty cycle thereof to decrease a first control voltage applied to the electrical coil over a time interval. The microcontroller maintains a duty cycle for another time interval to maintain the contactor in the closed operational state. Next, the microcontroller decreases the duty cycle to reduce a speed of a contactor armature prior to contacting a stop member to reduce an amount of sound while transitioning the contactor to the open state.

Coil-based actuators for use in opening and closing the separable contacts of circuit interrupters provide increased initial velocity for opening strokes and improved damping at the end of opening strokes by utilizing current-based damping and omitting contact springs and contact dampeners.

A method for actuating a solenoid valve, which is used for throughflow rate control, of an agricultural spreading machine, wherein the solenoid valve has a valve armature, comprising: energizing the solenoid valve in order to cause an opening movement of the valve armature and/or in order to hold the valve armature in an open position in which the solenoid valve is open, interrupting or changing the energization of the solenoid valve in order to cause a closing movement of the valve armature in the direction of a valve seat, and causing a reduction in the movement speed of the valve armature during the closing movement of the valve armature.