Apparatus and method for controlling fluid flow

Abstract

An actuator base, bobbin, and pole piece form a pocket for an armature that a flexible membrane encloses to form an armature chamber filled with an incompressible fluid. The membrane protects the armature from exposure to corrosive fluids flowing in a conduit. Conduit flow can be stopped by driving the membrane against a valve seat. Pressure from the controlled fluid in the conduit is transmitted through the membrane to the fluid within the armature chamber so that the armature does not need to counteract force applied to the membrane by the conduit fluid's pressure.

1 - 8 . (canceled)  
   
   
       9 . An actuator system comprising: 
 an actuator including an armature housing an armature and a coil operable by application of a coil drive to linearly displace said armature;    a membrane partially enclosing a distal Part of said armature to seal armature fluid within an armature Pocket:    an armature sensor constructed to detect displacement of said armature; and    a control circuit constructed to apply said coil drive to said coil in response to an output from said armature sensor.    
   
   
       10 . The actuator system of  claim 9  wherein 
 said sensor is so coupled to the actuator as to sense said armature reaching said first end position; and    said control circuit is operable to begin applying coil drive to said coil in said first drive direction and responsive to an output from said sensor meeting a predetermined first current-termination criterion to stop applying coil drive to the coil in the first drive direction.    
   
   
       11 . The actuator system of  claim 10  wherein: 
 the coil is operable by application of a coil drive thereto in a second drive direction to conduct current in a second current direction and thereby tend to drive the armature to a second end position;    said sensor is so coupled to the actuator as to sense said armature reaching the second end position; and    said control circuit is operable to begin applying coil drive to the coil in the second drive direction and responsive to said sensor output meeting a predetermined second current-termination criterion to stop applying coil drive to said coil in the second drive direction.    
   
   
       12 . The actuator system of  claim 11  wherein the first and second current-termination criteria differ.  
   
   
       13 . The actuator system of  claim 9  wherein said sensor includes a piezoelectric transducer.  
   
   
       14 . The actuator system of  claim 10  wherein, if the sensor output does not meet the first current-termination criterion within a predetermined first drive duration after the control circuit begins application of coil drive to the coil in the first drive direction, the control circuit applies coil drive to the coil in the first drive direction at a level higher than that at which it began application of coil drive to the coil.  
   
   
       15 . The actuator system of  claim 10  wherein, if the sensor output does not meet the second current-termination criterion within a predetermined second drive duration after the control circuit begins application of coil drive to the coil in the second drive direction, the control circuit applies coil drive to the coil in the second drive direction at a level higher than that at which it began application of coil drive to the coil.  
   
   
       16 - 20 . (canceled)  
   
   
       21 . The actuator system of  claim 9  further including a motion sensor.  
   
   
       22 . The actuator system of  claim 9  further including a presence sensor.  
   
   
       23 - 27 . (canceled)  
   
   
       28 . An actuator system comprising: 
 an actuator including an armature and a coil operable by application of a coil drive to displace linearly said armature;    a membrane partially enclosing said armature;    an armature sensor; and    a control circuit constructed to apply said coil drive to said coil in response to an output from said armature sensor.    
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 28  wherein the armature sensor includes a sound sensor.  
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 28  wherein the armature sensor includes a piezoelectric sensor.  
   
   
       31 . A battery-operated valve system, comprising: 
 an actuator including an armature and a coil constructed to displace linearly said armature by application of a coil drive; said actuator including a housing removably connectable to a distal valve element having a valve inlet and a valve outlet; a distal part of said armature including a resilient valve member cooperatibely arranged with a valve seat formed in said distal valve element to provide a valve passage sealable by said resilient valve member, displacement of said resilient valve member with respect to said valve seat enables control of the fluid flow between said valve inlet and said valve outlet, and    a control circuit, powered by a battery, constructed to apply to said coil said coil drive upon receiving a signal originated from an external sensor.    
   
   
       32 . The valve system of  claim 31  installed in a flusher wherein said sensor includes an object sensor is constructed to detect a user leaving the flusher's vicinity.  
   
   
       33 . The valve system of  claim 31  wherein said actuator includes a permanent magnet arranged to form a latching actuator.  
   
   
       34 . The valve system of  claim 31  wherein said actuator includes a bias spring positioned and arranged to bias said armature toward its extended position.  
   
   
       35 . The valve system of  claim 31  further including an armature sensor.  
   
   
       36 . The valve system of  claim 35  wherein said armature sensor is coupled to said housing of said actuator.  
   
   
       37 . The valve system of  claim 36  wherein said sensor is a sound sensor arranged to sense sound made by said armature reaching an end position.  
   
   
       38 . The actuator system of  claim 31  wherein said actuator is non-latching, wherein said control circuit is constructed apply said coil drive to displace said armature to an end position from a rest position, and wherein said actuator includes a bias spring biased and arranged to return said armature to said rest position in the absence of said coil drive.  
   
   
       39 . The actuator system of  claim 38  wherein said control circuit is constructed to apply said coil drive initially at a first level and subsequently in response to said output from said sensor apply said coil drive at a second level.  
   
   
       40 . The actuator system of  claim 39  wherein said output from said sensor indicates said end position of said armature, and wherein said second level is smaller than said first level but great enough to keep said armature in said end position.