Patent ID: 7497203

Claim:
An apparatus for suppressing spark damage to components of a solenoid operated valve assembly, comprising: a solenoid having a solenoid coil; an armature movable under influence of the solenoid coil; a biasing spring in operable communication with the armature; a valve member operably connected to the armature and configured to selectively contact a valve seat; and an element associated with the solenoid operated valve assembly and configured to suppress spark discharge between two or more of the components of the solenoid operated valve assembly; wherein the biasing spring includes a coil spring wound about a central, longitudinal axis, the biasing spring also including a first end and a second end longitudinally spaced from the first end along the central, longitudinal axis; and wherein the element includes a spacer positioned along the central, longitudinal axis, between the first end of the biasing spring and the housing.