Valve apparatus and system

Abstract

A bistable valve. The valve includes an interior cavity; a first pressure source; a second pressure source; a first post connected to the interior cavity at a first end of the interior cavity; a second post connected to the interior cavity at a second end of the interior cavity; a magnetic shuttle located within the interior cavity; a first electromagnetic coil disposed about the first post; a second electromagnetic coil disposed about the second post; wherein when the first electromagnetic coil is energized, the first electromagnetic coil supplies a magnetic charge to the first post and actuates the magnetic shuttle to move towards the first end of the interior cavity towards the first post and seal the first pressure source.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bistable valve assembly comprising:
 an interior cavity;   a first pressure post having a first pressure orifice in fluidic communication with the interior cavity;   a second pressure post having a second pressure orifice in fluidic communication with the interior cavity;   a magnetic shuttle movable within the interior cavity;   a first electromagnetic coil disposed about the first pressure post; and   a second electromagnetic coil disposed about the second pressure post;   wherein actuation of the first and second magnetic coils cause displacement of the magnetic shuttle.   
     
     
         2 . The bistable valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second pressure posts are formed from ferromagnetic material. 
     
     
         3 . The bistable valve assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first electromagnetic coil, when energized, supplies magnetic charge to the first post, said magnetic charge moving the magnetic shuttle to a first end of the interior cavity sealing the first pressure orifice. 
     
     
         4 . The bistable valve assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the second electromagnetic coil, when energized, supplies magnetic charge to the second post, said magnetic charge moving the magnetic shuttle to a second end of the interior cavity sealing the second pressure orifice. 
     
     
         5 . The bistable valve assembly of  claim 2 , wherein one of the first and second electromagnetic coils, when energized, supplies an attractive magnetic charge and the other of the first and second electromagnetic coils, when energized, supplies a repellant magnetic charge. 
     
     
         6 . The bistable valve assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the first electromagnetic coil, when energized, supplies an attractive magnetic charge and the second electromagnetic coil, when energized, supplies a repellant magnetic charge, said attractive and repellant charges cooperating to move the magnetic shuttle to a first end of the interior cavity sealing the first pressure orifice. 
     
     
         7 . The bistable valve assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the first electromagnetic coil, when energized, supplies a repellant attractive magnetic charge and the second electromagnetic coil, when energized, supplies an attractive magnetic charge, said attractive and repellant charges cooperating to move the magnetic shuttle to a second end of the interior cavity sealing the second pressure orifice. 
     
     
         8 . The bistable valve assembly of  claim 1 , the magnetic shuttle further comprising:
 a first and second magnet, each magnet having a first magnetic pole and a second magnetic pole, the first magnetic poles facing each other and the second magnetic poles facing the first and second posts.   
     
     
         9 . The bistable valve assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second pressure posts are formed from ferromagnetic material. 
     
     
         10 . The bistable valve assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the first electromagnetic coil, when energized, supplies magnetic charge to the first post, said magnetic charge moving the magnetic shuttle to a first end of the interior cavity sealing the first pressure orifice. 
     
     
         11 . The bistable valve assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the second electromagnetic coil, when energized, supplies magnetic charge to the second post, said magnetic charge moving the magnetic shuttle to a second end of the interior cavity sealing the second pressure orifice. 
     
     
         12 . The bistable valve assembly of  claim 9 , wherein one of the first and second electromagnetic coils, when energized, supplies an attractive magnetic charge and the other of the first and second electromagnetic coils, when energized, supplies a repellant magnetic charge. 
     
     
         13 . The bistable valve assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the first electromagnetic coil, when energized, supplies an attractive magnetic charge and the second electromagnetic coil, when energized, supplies a repellant magnetic charge, said attractive and repellant charges cooperating to move the magnetic shuttle to a first end of the interior cavity sealing the first pressure orifice. 
     
     
         14 . The bistable valve assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the first electromagnetic coil, when energized, supplies a repellant attractive magnetic charge and the second electromagnetic coil, when energized, supplies an attractive magnetic charge, said attractive and repellant charges cooperating to move the magnetic shuttle to a second end of the interior cavity sealing the second pressure orifice. 
     
     
         15 . The bistable valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first post and the second post further comprising at least one stabilizing feature. 
     
     
         16 . The bistable valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the interior valve cavity is located between the first and the second post.