# US 10,760,702 B2 · Bi-stable two-port valve > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,760,702 B2 - Document ID: US10760702B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/236,913 - Filed: 2018-12-31 - Published: 2019-08-22 - Granted: 2020-09-01 - Earliest claimed: 2018-02-19 - Assignees: DunAn Microstaq, Inc. - Applicants: DunAn Microstaq, Inc. - Inventors: E. Nelson Fuller; Parthiban Arunasalam; Kevin C. Sinkar; Dhaman K. Besarla; Gengxun K. Gurley; Joe A. Ojeda; Chen Yang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10760702B2 ## CPC - F16K 31/0658: {Armature and valve member being one single element} - F16K 31/0651: {the fluid passing through the solenoid coil} - F16K 31/0679: {with more than one energising coil} - F16K 31/082: {using a electromagnet and a permanent magnet} - F16K 31/0655: {Lift valves} - F16K 31/08: using a permanent magnet - F16K 31/084: {the magnet being used only as a holding element to maintain the valve in a specific position, e.g. check valves (F16K31/082, F16K31/086 take precedence)} - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} ## Abstract An electronically switchable, bi-stable two-port valve includes a sleeve, a first pole piece having air flow passages formed therethrough and a first wire-wound coil mounted therein and connected to a source of electrical power, a second pole piece having air flow passages formed therethrough and a second wire-wound coil mounted therein and connected to the source of electrical power, and a permanent magnet defining an armature and movably mounted between the first and second pole pieces. The first pole piece is mounted in a first end of the sleeve and the second pole piece is mounted in a second end of the sleeve. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronically switchable, bi-stable two-port valve comprising: a sleeve; a first pole piece having air flow passages formed therethrough and a first wire-wound coil mounted therein and connected to a source of electrical power; a second pole piece having air flow passages formed therethrough and a second wire-wound coil mounted therein and connected to the source of electrical power; wherein the first pole piece is mounted in a first end of the sleeve and the second pole piece is mounted in a second end of the sleeve; and a permanent magnet defining an armature and movably mounted between the first and second pole pieces; wherein the armature includes a substantially disk shaped body having a first planar surface, a second planar surface, and a longitudinally extending bore formed therethrough, and wherein an axially extending member is attached within the longitudinally extending bore and includes a first axially extending portion that extends outwardly from the first planar surface and a second axially extending portion that extends outwardly from the second planar surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronically switchable, bi-stable two-port valve according to claim 1, wherein the first and second wire-wound coils have a magnetomotive force between about 140 to about 180 amp-turns. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electronically switchable, bi-stable two-port valve according to claim 1, wherein the first pole piece is substantially cylindrical, and has a circular coil groove and a centrally formed and axially extending armature receiving bore formed therein. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The electronically switchable, bi-stable two-port valve according to claim 3, wherein an outside surface of the first pole piece includes a plurality of axially extending grooves formed therein, the grooves defining one of air inlet ports and air outlet ports. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The electronically switchable, bi-stable two-port valve according to claim 4, wherein the outside surface of the first pole piece further includes at least one wire groove formed therein. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electronically switchable, bi-stable two-port valve according to claim 1, wherein the second pole piece is substantially cylindrical, and has a circular coil groove and a centrally formed and axially extending armature receiving bore formed therein. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The electronically switchable, bi-stable two-port valve according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of axially extending passageways are formed through the second pole piece about the armature receiving bore, the passageways defining one of air inlet ports and air outlet ports. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The electronically switchable, bi-stable two-port valve according to claim 7, wherein an axially extending wire bore is formed through an axial end wall of the coil groove. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The electronically switchable, bi-stable two-port valve according to claim 1, wherein the first and second pole pieces are formed from ferromagnetic material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The electronically switchable, bi-stable two-port valve according to claim 1, wherein a central portion of the axially extending member has a diameter larger than a diameter of the first and second axially extending portions and is attached within the longitudinally extending bore of the body of the armature. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The electronically switchable, bi-stable two-port valve according to claim 10, further including one of a resilient seal attached to the second planar surface and a resilient member attached to the first planar surface. ### Claim 12 A method of controlling an electronically switchable, bi-stable two-port valve, the method comprising: providing an electronically switchable, bi-stable two-port valve having a sleeve, a first pole piece having air flow passages formed therethrough and a first wire-wound coil mounted therein and connected to a source of electrical power, a second pole piece having air flow passages formed therethrough and a second wire-wound coil mounted therein and connected to the source of electrical power, wherein the first pole piece is mounted in a first end of the sleeve and the second pole piece is mounted in a second end of the sleeve, and a permanent magnet defining an armature and movably mounted between the first and second pole pieces; applying an electric current to the first wire-wound coil to magnetize the first pole piece, thus causing the armature to move toward the first pole piece and to an open position; removing the electric current from the first wire-wound coil; and subsequently applying an electric current to the second wire-wound coil to magnetize the second pole piece, thus causing the armature to move toward the second pole piece and to a closed position; wherein the armature includes a substantially disk shaped body having a first planar surface, a second planar surface, and a longitudinally extending bore formed therethrough, and wherein an axially extending member is attached within the longitudinally extending bore and includes a first axially extending portion that extends outwardly from the first planar surface and a second axially extending portion that extends outwardly from the second planar surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, further including alternatingly applying electric current to the first and second wire-wound coils to cause the armature to move alternatingly between the open and the closed positions. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the electric current applied to the first and second wire-wound coils is sufficient to create a magnetomotive force between about 140 to about 180 amp-turns. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, further including removing the electric current from both the first and second wire-wound coils, thus causing the armature to be held against the one of the first and second pole pieces to which the armature is closest. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein when the electric current is removed from one of the first wire-wound coil and the second wire-wound coil, the armature forms a magnetic circuit with one of the first pole piece and the second pole piece to maintain the armature in one of the open position and the closed position.