Fast acting double puff valve

Abstract

The valve is designed for the ejection of a plurality of different gases from within the valve, simultaneously, by having a plurality of plenum chambers within the chamber of the valve, and a poppet therein, that are charged with gases under pressure. The gases are sealed within the respective plenum chambers by the action of a spring that urges the poppet against a gas exit port associated with each plenum chamber. Ejection of the gases is accomplished by the application of an electrical current into a coil surrounding the poppet which produces an electromagnetic field that causes a non-ferrous hammer to be driven away from the coil and strike the poppet. Upon being struck by the hammer, the poppet is driven off of the plurality of gas exit ports thereby allowing the gases to be ejected, simultaneously, from the respective plenum chambers into a region of lower pressure.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A valve comprised of: 
       a valve housing having one or more plenum chambers;  
       a poppet positioned within said housing having one or more plenum chambers;  
       a gas within each plenum chamber of the valve housing and poppet under a predetermined pressure;  
       a plurality of gas exit ports, each port associated with an individual plenum chamber, the poppet being positioned over the ports so as to prevent the flow of gases from the plenum chambers when the valve is in a rest position;  
       means for generating an electrical current;  
       an electrical coil surrounding the poppet which, when activated by the electrical current, generates an electromagnetic field; and  
       a hammer surrounding the poppet, and resting on said coil, said hammer being repelled from the coil by the electromagnetic field displacing the poppet, thereby opening the gas exit ports and allowing the gases to be ejected from each plenum chamber, simultaneously and unmixed.  
     
     
       2. A valve comprised of: 
       a valve housing having one or more plenum chambers for storing one or more gases under predetermined pressures;  
       a poppet positioned within said housing having one or more plenum chambers for storing one or more gases under a predetermined pressure;  
       a plurality of gas exit ports, each port associated with an individual plenum chamber, the poppet being positioned over the ports so as to prevent the flow of gases from the plenum chambers when the valve is in a rest position;  
       an electrical coil for generating an electromagnetic field surrounding said poppet;  
       a non-ferrous hammer resting on the coil which, when the electromagnetic field is activated, is repelled from the coil thereby displacing the poppet, opening the gas exit ports, and allowing the gases to be ejected from the plenum chambers, simultaneously, into a region of lower pressure; and  
       means for detecting when the gases are ejected from the plenum chambers.