An electromagnetic flexure valve (1) including: a first pole piece (50a) and a second pole piece (50b); a flexure assembly (40) a portion of which is configured for movement between a first state adjacent the first pole piece and a second state adjacent the second pole piece; a coil (20) configured to receive electrical power from a power supply and to actuate the flexure assembly between the first and second states; and a biasing configuration configured to bias the flexure assembly into the first or the second state when the coil is not powered and irrespective of the current state of the flexure assembly such that a failsafe mode is provided.

An actuator arrangement for an electromagnetically actuatable valve comprises a housing having a first wall, and a second wall situated opposite the first wall, a solenoid armature, with first and second axial armature end surfaces facing toward the first and second housing walls respectively, movable along an axis between a first position, where the first end surface makes contact with the first wall, and a second position, where the first end surface is away from the first wall. A damping element of an elastomer material extends from the second end surface toward the second wall and contacts the second wall in the first and second positions of the solenoid armature, A stop element of an elastomer material extends from the second end surface toward the second wall and, in the first position, is away from the second wall and, in the second position, contacts the second wall.

A valved manifold module is disclosed, constructed and arranged to be readily connected in a chain with similar modules to form a manifold assembly. The modular manifolds allows for expansion or modification of the manifold assembly to control a group of pneumatically or hydraulically driven pumps, valves or combinations thereof in a liquid flow control apparatus. The valved manifold module can be configured to accept a group of four substantially identical valve assemblies, and can be controlled by a local controller mounted to the manifold module, thus forming an independently programmable valved manifold module. The resulting modular system is expandable to allow for coordinated operations of a liquid flow control system, using substantially independent controller functions originating at the manifold assembly level.

A valve arrangement for a pressurized fluid source includes a valve housing comprising an inlet, an outlet, and a main fluid channel extending along a longitudinal axis of the valve housing. The valve arrangement further includes a spool and a regulating poppet valve coaxially located in the main fluid channel. The spool and a regulating poppet valve are both configured to translate along the longitudinal axis of the valve housing independent of each other. In response to the spool moving to an open position, the poppet valve regulates the flow of a pressurized fluid flowing from the inlet to the outlet of the valve housing.

The absence of high efficiency, compact fluidic pumps has until recently blocked the consideration of using hydraulic devices within portable and/or alkaline battery powered consumer and non-consumer products. The higher the functionality and programmability desired for a consumer and/or non-consumer product exploiting a fluidic pump then the more complex the overall fluidic system in terms of the number of actuators, valves, switches etc. within the fluidic system coupled to the one or more fluidic pumps. Accordingly, there exists a requirement to provide compact fluidic valves and switches to support configurability, programmability, and operation of these portable battery-operated consumer and non-consumer devices in conjunction with these newly available high efficiency, compact fluidic pumps. Such fluidic valves and switches should offer high efficiency, have a small footprint, be low complexity for high reliability and ease of manufacture, and low cost.

A bistable hydraulic solenoid valve has a valve spool that transitions between two positions, remaining in one of the two positions under an attractive magnetic force when the solenoids are not energized. The valve spool has a first permanent magnet attached to one end and a second permanent magnet attached to the other end, so that the first permanent magnet faces a first solenoid, and the second permanent magnet faces a second solenoid. The first solenoid is energized to have a first polarity, and the second solenoid is energized to have an opposite polarity to concurrently push and pull the valve spool within the valve body between a first position and a second position, the first position establishing a first flow path and the second position establishing a second flow path through the valve body and valve spool so as to enable flow of hydraulic fluid.

An inductive driver circuit with improved speed of clamping down a powered solenoid element, which solenoid exhibits inductive properties, for purposes of rapid shut down of the solenoid.

A suspension system of an associated vehicle. The suspension system comprises an outer reservoir tube extending along an axis between a first end and a second end and defining a chamber. A piston assembly is at least partially located in the chamber. The piston assembly includes a piston rod and a piston head. A solenoid assembly is connected to the piston rod. The solenoid assembly comprises a core including a core head and a core body. A spool extends about the core body and defines a space. A coil is wrapped around the spool within the space. An induction plate is at least partially located between the spool and the core head. As the input current is modulated the induction plate promotes the induction of eddy currents opposing the field induction attenuating the force ripples of the magnetic field buildup and decay.

A valve (10) including a first port (12), a second port (14), a third port (16) and a flexure (30), the flexure (30) being moveable between a first position which causes the first port (12) to open, a second position which causes the second port (14) to open, and a third position which causes the first and second ports (12, 14) to close, wherein at least a part of the flexure (30) is magnetisable, to provide a first magnet (32), a second magnet (34) is associated with the first port (12) and a third magnet (36) is associated with the second port (14). A valve assembly includes a pair of valves wherein only one of the valves is operable at any given time.

The invention relates to a valve arrangement (10) comprising valves and coil arrangements (20), each coil arrangement (20) having two coils (110, 210) which are electrically connected to separate control units (100, 200). Each valve can be independently actuated by either the first coil (110) or the second coil (210) of the coil arrangement (20) associated therewith. The invention further relates to a brake system (400, 500) having such a valve arrangement (10).