The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 13, 2010
Filed:
Jul. 22, 2005
Kevin R. Douglas, Lockport, IL (US);
William O. Teach, Frankfort, IL (US);
Paul W. Gibson, Manteno, IL (US);
Donald C. Harris, Crete, IL (US);
Scott H. Goodwin, Hillsborough, NC (US);
David E. Dausch, Raleigh, NC (US);
Wayne D. Dettloff, Wake Forest, NC (US);
Kevin R. Douglas, Lockport, IL (US);
William O. Teach, Frankfort, IL (US);
Paul W. Gibson, Manteno, IL (US);
Donald C. Harris, Crete, IL (US);
Scott H. Goodwin, Hillsborough, NC (US);
David E. Dausch, Raleigh, NC (US);
Wayne D. Dettloff, Wake Forest, NC (US);
AFA Controls LLC, Wilmington, DE (US);
Abstract
A valve assembly may include a main housing and first and second electro-statically actuated valves. The main housing may define at least three chambers, with a first chamber configured to be coupled to a high pressure supply port, a second chamber configured to be coupled to an output port, and a third chamber configured to be coupled to a low pressure exhaust port. The first electro-statically actuated valve may be provided between the first and second chambers, and the first electro-statically actuated valve may allow or substantially block fluid communication between the first chamber and the second chamber responsive to a first electrical signal. The second electro-statically actuated valve may be provided between the second and third chambers, and the second electro-statically actuated valve may allow or substantially block fluid communication between the second chamber and the third chamber responsive to a second electrical signal. Related methods are also discussed.