Patent ID: 6892997

Claim:
A method for reducing valve opening and closing time durations for a valve having a movable valve element, the method comprising: moving the valve element away from a valve closed position during a first time period, wherein a fluid flow passage cross-sectional area of a valve opening, which is at least partially defined by the valve element and a surrounding valve body, does not change or substantially does not change during the first time period, moving the valve element farther away from the valve closed position during a second time period, wherein the fluid flow cross-sectional area rapidly increases, moving the valve element farther away from the valve closed position into its valve open position during a third time period, wherein the fluid flow cross-sectional area does not change or substantially does not change, thereby achieving the maximum opening area of the fluid flow cross-sectional area at the beginning of the third time period and maintaining said maximum opening area throughout the third time period, moving the valve element away from the valve open position during a fourth time period, wherein the fluid flow passage cross-sectional area does not change or substantially does not change, thereby maintaining the fluid flow cross-sectional area at its maximum opening area during the fourth time period, moving the valve element farther away from the valve open position during a fifth time period, wherein the fluid flow cross-sectional area rapidly decreases during the fifth time period, and moving the valve element farther away from the valve open position into the valve closed position during a sixth time period, wherein the fluid flow cross-sectional area reaches its minimum opening area and does not change or substantially does not change during the sixth time period.