Control valve assembly with solenoid with two magnets for latching

A valve assembly comprising:

• an inlet which communicates fluid into said valve assembly;
• an outlet which discharges fluid from said valve assembly;
• a valve seat between said inlet and said outlet;
• a valve member which moves with respect to said valve seat between a first valve member position and a second valve member position such that said first valve member position provides greater restriction between said inlet and said outlet compared to said second valve member position;
• and
• a solenoid subassembly which allows said valve member to move between said first valve member position and said second valve member position, said solenoid subassembly comprising:
• a coil wound about an axis and having a coil first end and a coil second end;
• an armature which reciprocates, based on polarity of an electrical current applied to said coil first end and said coil second end, between 1) a first armature position which allows said valve member to move to said first valve member position and 2) a second armature position which allows said valve member to move to said second valve member position;
• a first magnet which latches said armature in said first armature position through magnetic attraction between said first magnet and said armature;
• and
• a second magnet which latches said armature in said second armature position through magnetic attraction between said second magnet and said armature;
• wherein said coil defines a passage extending axially therethrough;
• and
• wherein said second magnet is located within said passage.

A valve assembly comprising:

• an inlet which communicates fluid into said valve assembly;
• an outlet which discharges fluid from said valve assembly;
• a valve seat between said inlet and said outlet;
• a valve member which moves with respect to said valve seat between a first valve member position and a second valve member position such that said first valve member position provides greater restriction between said inlet and said outlet compared to said second valve member position;
• and
• a solenoid subassembly which allows said valve member to move between said first valve member position and said second valve member position, said solenoid subassembly comprising:
• a coil wound about an axis and having a coil first end and a coil second end;
• an armature which reciprocates, based on polarity of an electrical current applied to said coil first end and said coil second end, between 1) a first armature position which allows said valve member to move to said first valve member position and 2) a second armature position which allows said valve member to move to said second valve member position;
• a first magnet which latches said armature in said first armature position through magnetic attraction between said first magnet and said armature;
• and
• a second magnet which latches said armature in said second armature position through magnetic attraction between said second magnet and said armature;
• wherein said valve assembly is free of springs which bias said armature toward said first armature position;
• and
• wherein said valve assembly is free of springs which bias said armature toward said second armature position.