The Lee Company

Gerald W O'Dell

Leighton Lee, Ii

Ludwig K Holtermann

A method and apparatus for high speed fluid dispensing suitable for ink jet printing comprising the dampening of supply pressure fluctuations during and following operation of the control valve by the incorporation of a resiliently compressible element within the system on the supply side of the valve seat, the element formed of a rubber air bladder placed within the valve chamber, the bladder configured to contract at pressures above the nominal supply pressure and to readily re-expand at pressures below the nominal supply pressure.

Method and apparatus for rapid fluid dispensing

An actuator for an axial flow control valve for operation at high speeds comprises an axially symmetrical plunger armature prebiased against a valve seat in a normally closed position, the plunger having a head portion of increased diameter and a rod portion, the rod portion being slidably received within a central passage of a bobbin, and axially spaced from a pole piece. The valve actuator further comprises a cylindrical housing encasing in coil wound around the bobbin with a central passage configured to allow the flow of fluid around the armature and pole piece when the valve is open, the pole piece, armature housing and end piece being magnetically permeable and the magnetic circuit being completed by a similarly magnetically permeable washer fitted into the housing having an internal opening diameter greater than the diameter of the plunger rod section and less than the diameter of the plunger head section positioned on the bobbin side of the plunger head. Upon excitation of the coil a magnetic circuit is completed, comprising two air gaps, the first being the conventional air gap between the pole piece face and the opposing face of the plunger rod section end, and the second air gap being between the axially opposing surfaces of the washer and the plunger head whereby both air gaps act in an axial direction to produce a high ratio of axial force to mass of the plunger armature creating high speed operation.

High speed solenoid valve actuator

A piezoelectric valve with a cantilevered control arm assembly, comprising a piezoelectric valve operating arm and a contiguous limit arm for limiting the opening deflection of the valve operating arm.

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Old Lyme, CT, United States of America

Gerald W O'Dell