Patent ID: 8505573

Claim:
An actuator system comprising: an actuator including an armature housing including a rear pole piece and a permanent magnet, an elongated armature including ferromagnetic material and having a proximal and a distal part, and a solenoid coil operable by application of a coil drive to linearly displace said armature; a flexible membrane partially enclosing said distal part of said armature and secured at a mouth of said armature housing to form an armature pocket to seal armature fluid within said armature pocket; said armature being disposed in said armature pocket for movement between retracted and extended armature positions in response to magnetic force exerted on said ferromagnetic material as a result of current flow through said solenoid coil, wherein said rear pole piece and said permanent magnet are constructed to hold said armature being in contact with said rear pole piece in said retracted position; said armature being cooperatively arranged with said flexible membrane to act onto a valve seat and thereby control fluid flow between a valve inlet and a valve outlet, an armature sensor constructed to detect displacement of said armature; a control circuit constructed to apply said coil drive to said coil in response to an output from said armature sensor; and a battery for providing power to said control circuit.