Patent ID: 7825758

Claim:
A solenoid assembly for use in connection with a housing and valve body, the assembly having a longitudinal axis and comprising: a magnetic coil; a magnetic pole piece, wherein a majority of the pole piece extends in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the assembly and is positioned inside of the coil; an operating rod positioned within a portion of a cavity or aperture formed by the pole piece, wherein the operating rod and pole piece are concentric; a magnetic armature positioned about an end of the operating rod, the armature configured to interact directly with said housing; a first bearing positioned between a first portion of the magnetic pole piece and a first portion of the operating rod; and a second bearing positioned between a second portion of the magnetic pole piece and a second portion of the operating rod, wherein the first and second portions of the magnetic pole piece comprise a single, integral component; wherein the operating rod is slidably disposed along the first and second bearings, the armature is at least in part centered relative to the pole piece, and activation of the coil provides an attraction between the armature and the pole piece.