Patent ID: 8002206

Claim:
A solenoid operated valve assembly, comprising: a solenoid having a solenoid coil; a valve member movable under influence of the solenoid coil from a first position to a second position, wherein the valve member selectively contacts a first valve seat when the valve member is in the first position and a second valve seat when the valve member is in the second position; a biasing spring positioned on a first side of the valve member to bias the valve member towards the first position; an outer body containing the solenoid, the valve member, the first valve seat, and the second valve seat; and a grounding device positioned on a second side of the valve member opposite the first side to electrically couple the valve member to the outer body, the grounding device being positioned such that a closed electrical path is formed through at least the outer body, the biasing spring, the valve member, and the grounding device when the valve member is between the first position and the second position.