Valve actuating apparatus

A valve actuating apparatus for control of fluid flow, including:

• a housing having a valve body with a first port and a second port;
• a toggle valve assembly including an armature, a first and second poppets connected to and extending from the armature, the first poppet being longer than the second poppet, a diaphragm mounted to at least one of the poppets to provide sealing surfaces against valve seats on the ports, and a spring biasing the armature to a first position such that the first poppet closes the first port;
• and
• a solenoid assembly including an electromagnetic coil and a pole piece, the electromagnetic coil creating a magnetic field in the pole piece when electrically energized to attract the armature to a second position wherein the first port is open and the second port is closed.

A valve actuating apparatus for control of fluid flow, including:

• a housing having a valve body with a first port and a second port;
• a toggle valve assembly including an armature, a spring having legs extending outwardly from the armature and an encapsulation medium enclosing at least a portion of the armature and the spring, the spring providing a torsional force to bias the armature to a first position wherein the first port is closed;
• and
• a solenoid assembly including an electromagnetic coil and a pole piece, the electromagnetic coil creating a magnetic field in the pole piece when electrically energized to attract the armature to a second position in which the first port is open.

A valve actuating apparatus for control of fluid flow, including:

• a housing having a valve body with a first port and a second port;
• a toggle valve assembly including an armature having an off-center pivot axis, first and second poppets connected to and extending from the armature, the first poppet being longer than the second poppet, and the second poppet being closer to the pivot axis than the first poppet, and a spring biasing the armature to a first position such that the first poppet closes the first port;
• and
• a solenoid assembly including an electromagnetic coil and a pole piece, the electromagnetic coil creating a magnetic field in the pole piece when electrically energized to attract the armature to a second position wherein the first port is open and the second port is closed.

A valve actuating apparatus for control of fluid flow, including:

• a housing having a valve body with a first port and a second port;
• a toggle valve assembly including an armature, first and second poppets connected to and extending from the armature, the first poppet being longer than the second poppet, and a spring biasing the armature to a first position such that the first poppet closes the first port;
• and
• a solenoid assembly including an electromagnetic coil and a pole piece, the pole piece including a first leg and a second leg, the first leg being shorter than the second leg, wherein the longitudinal length of the first leg is shorter than the longitudinal length of the second leg along respective longitudinal lengths thereof, the legs straddling the electromagnetic coil and creating a magnetic field in the pole piece when electrically energized to attract the armature to a second position wherein the first port is open and the second port is closed.