Directly operated pneumatic valve having an air assist return

A directly operated valve assembly comprising:

• a valve body having a pressurized air supply inlet port in communication with a source of pressurized air and at least one cylinder port;
• a valve bore extending axially within said valve body;
• a valve member having a pair of opposed valve heads slidingly disposed within said valve bore and movable between predetermined first and second positions within said valve bore to selectively direct pressurized air from said inlet port through said at least one cylinder port;
• an actuator disposed upon said valve body at one end of said valve member for moving said valve member in one direction from said first to said second position;
• a biasing member disposed at the other end of said valve member between said valve member and said valve body adapted to providing a biasing force to said valve member;
• and
• an air-assist passage disposed within said valve member providing fluid communication between said distal end of said valve member and the source of pressurized air such that pneumatic pressure acts in combination with said biasing member to operatively move said valve member in a direction opposite to the movement produced by said actuator and from said second to said first position.

A directly operated valve assembly comprising:

• a valve body having a pressurized air supply inlet port in communication with a source of pressurized air and at least one cylinder port;
• a valve bore extending axially within said valve body;
• a valve member having a pair of opposed valve heads slidingly disposed within said valve bore and movable between predetermined first and second positions within said valve bore to selectively direct pressurized air from said inlet port through said at least one cylinder port;
• an actuator disposed upon said valve body at one end of said valve member for moving said valve member in one direction from said first to said second position;
• a biasing member disposed at the other end of said valve member between said valve member and said valve body adapted to providing a biasing force to said valve member;
• and
• an air assist passage formed within said valve body and extending between said at least one cylinder port and one of said pair of opposed valve heads to provide selective fluid communication between said source of pressurized air and said valve head.