Patent EA-002398-B1 (EA)
Title: Valve assembly
IPC: F16K31/06
Filed: 1999-10-01
Abstract: 1. A valve comprising a valve body and located therein, a valve member movable between a first position in which the valve is in a first operational mode adjacent a first magnetic or magnetizable member and a second position is which the valve is in a second operational mode adjacent a second magnetic or magnetizable member, the valve member including a rare earth magnet which, in conjunction with the first and/or second magnetic or magnetizable member, causes the valve member when in either one of said positions to be magnetically biased against movement towards the other of said positions, the valve being provided with means for generating a magnetic field sufficient to overcome the magnetic bias in the first or second position so as to cause said valve member to move to the other of said positions, the means for generating a magnetic field comprises a single coil lying outside the valve body and the valve body and valve member being arranged to prevent the valve member passing through the coil. 2. A valve according to claim 1 wherein the valve body acts as a stop preventing the valve member from passing through the means for generating a magnetic field. 3. A valve according to claims 1 or 2 wherein the lateral extent of the valve member is greater than the lateral extent of the means for generating a magnetic field. 4. A valve according to any preceding claim wherein the first magnetic or magnetizable member comprises a coil housing. 5. A valve according to claim 4 wherein the lateral extent of the valve member is substantially the same as the lateral extent of the coil housing. 6. A valve according to either of claims 4 or 5 wherein the coil is energised by means of a directly applied electrical current power supply. 7. A valve according to any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein reversing current across the coil ceases the rare earth magnet to be attracted or repelled whereby the valve member is moveable into either an open or closed position. 8. A valve according to any one of claims 4 to 7 wherein the coil is energised by a rechargeable battery. 9. A valve according to any one of claims 4 to 8 wherein the coil is composed of iron or iron ferrite. 10. A valve according to any preceding claim wherein the second magnetic or magnetizable member comprises magnetic material. 11. A valve according to any preceding claim wherein the valve member is provided with a plurality of rare earth magnets arranged in a substantially circular configuration. 12. A valve according to claim 11 wherein the rare earth magnets are evenly spaced apart. 13. A valve according to any preceding claim wherein the rare earth magnet or magnets is/are composed of neodymium and/or samarium. 14. A valve according to claim 13 wherein the magnet or magnets includes at least one element other than a rare earth clement. 15. A valve according to claim 14 wherein the magnet or magnets includes at least one of iron, boron and cobalt. 16. A valve according to any one of claims 13 to 15 wherein the rare earth magnet or magnets is/are such that it may be permanently magnetised with its magnetic axis aligned in any selected direction. 17. A valve according to any one of claims 13 to 16 wherein the rare earth magnet is a disc having substantially parallel faces. 18. A valve according to claim 17 wherein the disc is magnetised with its magnetic axis aligned perpendicular to said faces. 19. A valve according to either claim 17 or 18 wherein the disc forms the valve member. 20. A valve according to any preceding claim wherein the valve is substantially circular in plan and is of more than 5 cm in diameter. 21. A valve according to any preceding claim including means for causing said magnetic field to be generated for a period of between 0.25-10 seconds. 22. A valve according to any preceding claim further comprising one or more static seals mounted on one or both of either the valve member or valve body to provide sealing therebetween. 23. A valve according to any preceding claim in which the valve member is T-shaped is cross-section. 24. A valve according to claim 23 in which a first rare earth magnet is located within an upright central portion and a plurality of additional rare earth magnets are located in a circular configuration about the central portion. 25. Use of a valve according to any preceding claim as a control valve for controlling flow in conduits/pipes of fluids and/or explosive material and/or hazardous material and/or material that needs to be pathogen free.