Pivoting valve assembly

A pivot valve assembly for use in ultra-clean manufacturing operations comprising:

• a valve body having a fluid flow passage formed therein including an inlet, an outlet, and an orifice interposed between said inlet and outlet;
• a valve member tiltable with respect to said orifice for opening and closing a fluid flow path between said inlet and outlet;
• ball means pivotally contacting one end of said valve member for movement of said ball means to effect lilting of said valve member;
• a lever arm contacting said ball means to pivotally move said ball means, said ball means being unsecured to said lever arm;
• and,
• a solenoid pivotally moving said lever arm about a pivot for movement of said lever arm to tilt said valve member to open a fluid flow path between said inlet and said outlet through said orifice.

A valve assembly for use in a fluid flow system comprising:

• a valve body having a fluid flow passage formed therein including an inlet, an outlet, and an orifice interposed between said inlet and outlet;
• a valve member movable relative to said orifice between a valve closing position in which said valve member rests upon an edge extending about said orifice and a valve opening position;
• lever means supporting and moving said valve member;
• a solenoid including a flexible arm attached to said lever means for pivotally moving said lever means about a pivot for movement of said lever means to move said valve member to open a fluid flow path between said inlet and said outlet through said orifice;
• and,
• means contacting said lever means and said valve member and movable by said lever means when said lever means pivotally moves to move said valve member.