Solenoid operated check valve

A valve for use with an actuating system comprising a substantially incompressible fluid, a flexible vessel and a reservoir having associated with it a heat source to heat the fluid to expand the vessel, the valve comprising:

• a first passageway communicating with the reservoir;
• a second passageway communicating with the flexible vessel;
• a valve seat formed between the two passageways;
• a valve member to contact the valve seat;
• a valve stem separate from the valve member;
• a solenoid operable to move the valve stem between a first, extended position where it contacts the valve member to move the valve member onto the seat to close the valve and a second, retracted position where the valve member can move off the valve seat to open the valve;
• a third passageway;
• an electromagnet surrounding the third passageway;
• a magnetic core in the third passageway;
• the valve stem being adapted to move with the magnetic core;
• compression spring means attached to the valve stem and acting in a direction opposed to the direction moved by the magnetic core when the electromagnet is energized, the compression spring means thus acting to tend to urge the valve stem into contact with the valve member;
• a tubular housing which is slide fit in the third passageway, said valve member being attached to the tubular housing.

A valve for use with an actuating system comprising a substantially incompressible fluid, a flexible vessel and a reservoir having associated with it a heat source to heat the fluid to expand the vessel, the valve comprising:

• a first passageway communicating with the reservoir;
• a second passageway communicating with the flexible vessel;
• a valve seat formed between the two passageways;
• a valve member to contact the valve seat;
• a valve stem separate from the valve member operable to move between a first, extended position where it contacts the valve member to move the valve member onto the seat to close the valve and a second, retracted position where the valve member can move off the valve seat to open the valve;
• and
• resilient means joining the valve stem and the valve member and tending to draw the valve member towards the valve stem but allowing independent movement of the valve stem and the valve member, said resilient means acting to move the valve member off the valve seat.