Wear-resistant electro-pneumatic converters are disclosed. An electro-pneumatic converter includes a body including an axial passageway extending between a first opening and a second opening, the first opening associated with a supply port, the supply port to receive pressurized fluid from a pressure supply source, a solenoid disposed within the axial passageway, an armature including a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the second side facing the solenoid, the armature movable between a first position and a second position, the pressurized fluid blocked from flowing through the output port when the armature is in the first position, the pressurized fluid to flow through the output port when the armature is in the second position, and a spring coupled to the first side of the armature, the spring to bias the armature toward the first position.

A method of operating a vehicle includes navigating the vehicle along a path, collecting a set of navigation parameters of the vehicle from at least one of a sensor, a global positioning system, or an inertial reference system, determining a set of statistical uncertainties related to at least some navigation parameters in the set of navigation parameters, and associating a set of statistical weights to the at least some navigation parameters.

Provided is a downsizable valve unit. A valve unit 1 includes a valve case 4 including a valve case main body 4A where a thermo valve 2 is housed and a valve seat 4Aa which a valve body 2b unseats from and seats on is formed, and a sleeve 4B formed protruding outward from the valve case main body 4A; a sub-flow path R2 formed to include a cooling water storage chamber S formed inside the sleeve 4B, a lead-out passage 4Ae communicating the upstream side of the valve seat 4Aa in the valve case main body 4A with the cooling water storage chamber S, and a lead-in passage 4Af communicating the downstream side of the valve seat 4Aa in the valve case main body 4A with the cooling water storage chamber S; and a sub-valve 3 attached to a sleeve 4B to open and close a sub-flow path R2.

A negative pressure massage apparatus includes a vacuum pump, two solenoid valves and a control board. The vacuum pump is used to generate a negative pressure outside the negative pressure massage apparatus. Two solenoid valves are used to control a gas flow input into the negative pressure massage apparatus. The control board is used to activate or stop at least one of the vacuum pumps, and the two solenoid valves. The present disclosure further includes a method of using the negative pressure massage apparatus.

A fluid ejection system includes an electromagnetically operated valve for regulating the flow of a fluid. The electromagnetically operated valve includes a valve body defining a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a plunger member, an electromagnetic driving means, and a spring adapted to bias the plunger member toward a closed position. The electromagnetic driving means is adapted to drive the plunger member along an open direction inside the valve body and into an open position facilitating the flow of the fluid through the valve body. The electromagnetic driving means includes a coil and a coil reel. The coil is arranged to surround the coil reel, and the coil reel is arranged to surround the plunger member for generating an electromagnetic field suitable for driving the plunger member into the open position. A nozzle is arranged at the fluid outlet for ejecting the cleaning fluid.

A translating actuator acting between two extreme positions defined by mechanical stops is described. Said actuator comprises: an armature mass movable relative to the armature body, a stiff armature spring set such that the natural resting position of the armature mass is close to the centre of travel between the two extreme positions and pair of latches with sufficient holding force that the armature mass can be held at either extreme position against the restoring force of the spring and can be released quickly relative to the natural period of vibration determined by the armature mass on the armature spring.

A solenoid proportional valve includes a valve body (12) defining an inlet (14) and an outlet (16) for a fluid flow through the valve body, and an armature (22) that is moveable along a longitudinal axis from a first closed position to a second open position to control the flow of fluid through the valve. The valve further includes a flux can (32) and a solenoid coil (30) positioned within the flux can. When the solenoid coil is energized, a magnetic field causes the armature to move away from the first position against the valve body, thereby opening the valve. The valve further includes a flux washer (28) that acts as a spring pivot for a spring (26) having an outer edge that is secured by the flux washer. When the solenoid coil is energized, the magnetic field causes the armature to move away from the first position against the spring force of the spring, thereby opening the valve.

The present disclosure relates to a solenoid valve including: a valve seat having a valve flow path; a plunger; a support member disposed at an end of the plunger facing the valve flow path, the support member having an insertion hole into which the valve seat is inserted, and the support member being connected to a spring member configured to elastically support a movement of the plunger; a valve member seated in the support member; an inclined guide surface provided along a periphery of the valve seat; and an inclined recess provided in an inner wall surface of the insertion hole facing the inclined guide surface, in which the inclined recess and the inclined guide surface collectively define a movement path that communicates with the valve flow path, thereby obtaining an advantageous effect of improving stability and reliability.

Wear-resistant electro-pneumatic converters are disclosed. An electro-pneumatic converter includes a body including an axial passageway extending between a first opening and a second opening, the first opening associated with a supply port, the supply port to receive pressurized fluid from a pressure supply source, a solenoid disposed within the axial passageway, an armature including a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the second side facing the solenoid, the armature movable between a first position and a second position, the pressurized fluid blocked from flowing through the output port when the armature is in the first position, the pressurized fluid to flow through the output port when the armature is in the second position, and a spring coupled to the first side of the armature, the spring to bias the armature toward the first position.

A valve assembly includes a valve body having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. An operator cavity is within the valve body, and the valve body includes a valve operator socket surface. A valve operator is slidably coupled with the valve body and in the operator cavity. The valve operator includes an operator surface configured to selectively isolate the fluid inlet from the fluid outlet, and an end surface. At least one of the valve operator socket surface or the end surface of the valve operator include a discontinuous interface. The discontinuous interface includes a recessed surface, and one or more interface breaking projections extending from the recessed surface, the one or more interface breaking projections space the recessed surface from the valve operator socket surface.