Hard coating on a stator for improving the durability of a solenoid actuator

A solenoid actuator comprising:

• a stator being comprised of a relatively magnetic, soft material and including an inner surface defining a guide bore;
• a solenoid coil being mounted to the stator;
• a push pin including an outer surface and being movable between a first and second position within the guide bore;
• an armature being positioned adjacent to the solenoid coil and being attached to the push pin;
• and
• a relatively hard, nonmagnetic material being positioned between the inner surface of the stator and the outer surface of the push pin.

A valve assembly comprising:

• a valve including a valve body;
• at least one solenoid actuator being attached to the valve body;
• and comprising a stator including at least one relatively soft, magnetic impact surface;
• a solenoid coil being mounted to the stator;
• a moveable push pin including at least one impact surface;
• and an armature positioned adjacent to the solenoid coil and attached to the push pin;
• a valve member being operably coupled to move with the push pin;
• and
• a relatively hard, nonmagnetic material being positioned between the at least one relatively soft, magnetic impact surface of the stator and the at least one impact surface of the push pin.