Patent ID: 8038122

Claim:
A device for controlling a valve between an open position and a closed position, comprising: a valve actuating member able to move between two extreme positions corresponding to the valve open position and valve closed position, an elastic system to cause the actuating member to oscillate between the two extreme positions, at least one electromagnet associated with a control unit to attract the actuating member toward one or other of the two extreme positions, wherein the control unit is configured to: during an oscillation toward one of the extreme positions, determine an amount of energy needed by the electromagnet in order to bring the actuating member into the one extreme position, wherein when the amount of energy is at most equal to a predetermined threshold amount, power the electromagnet to complete the oscillation and bring the actuating member into the one extreme position, and when the amount of energy is above the predetermined threshold amount, allow the actuating member to set off again toward the other extreme position.