Patent ID: 8235064

Claim:
A single coil redundant valve, comprising: a first plunger tube formed at least in part from a substantially non-magnetic, flux conducting material and having an open end; a second plunger tube formed at least in part from a substantially non-magnetic, flux conducting material and having an open end, wherein the second plunger tube is laterally offset and spaced from the first plunger tube; a magnetic coil extending around at least part of the first plunger tube; a first plunger formed at least in part from a magnetic-flux-conducting material, the first plunger having a top end and a bottom end; the first plunger is slidably disposed within the first plunger tube with the bottom end of the first plunger oriented toward the open end of the first plunger tube, wherein activation of the magnetic coil moves the first plunger from a second position toward a first position, wherein when the first plunger is in the first position, the top end of the first plunger does not engage a hard mechanical stop; a first valve member operatively coupled to the bottom end of the first plunger; a second plunger formed at least in part from a magnetic-flux-conducting material, the second plunger having a top end and a bottom end; the second plunger is slidably disposed within the second plunger tube with the bottom end of the second plunger oriented toward the open end of the second plunger tube, wherein activation of the magnetic coil moves the second plunger from a second position toward a first position, wherein when the second plunger is in the first position, the top end of the second plunger does not engage a hard mechanical stop; a second valve member operatively coupled to the bottom end of the second plunger; a first flux plate formed at least in part from a magnetic-flux-conducting material extending between the first plunger tube and the second plunger tube, wherein the first flux plate is positioned adjacent but extends above the top end of the first plunger and the top end of the second plunger when the first plunger and second plunger are in their second positions; and a second flux plate formed at least in part from a magnetic-flux-conducting material extending between the first plunger tube and the second plunger tube, wherein the second flux plate is positioned adjacent but extends above the bottom end of the first plunger and the bottom end of the second plunger when the first plunger and second plunger are in their second positions.