Patent ID: 7004446

Claim:
A dual-magnet valve unit comprising: a first outer magnet member displaceable between a first position and a second position; a second inner magnet member displaceable between a first position and a second position; a containment structure wherein the outer magnet member is proximately positioned around the inner magnet member, the magnet members being maintained in substantial repulsion, and, wherein displacement of the first outer magnet member from one of said first and second positions to the other of said first and second positions actuates the opposite displacement of the second inner magnet member from the opposite one of said first and second positions to the other of said first and second positions; and, a transport fluid conduit assembly with a tube located between the outer magnet member and the inner magnet member, wherein the inner magnet member is contained in the tube, the conduit assembly having end fittings with a fluid passage, one of said end fittings having a valve seat wherein the inner magnet member has a poppet member contactable with the valve seat when the inner magnet member is displaced against the end fitting having the valve seat, the other of said end fittings having an internal stop wherein the inner magnet member has a stop element contactable with the internal stop when the inner magnet member is displaced against the end fitting having the internal stop, the internal stop of the fitting and stop element of the inner magnet member being constructed with a bypass to pass fluid through the passage and tube when the stop element contacts the internal stop, and, wherein the tube has opposite ends and the end fittings are connected to the opposite ends of the tube; wherein the containment structure and transport fluid conduit assembly form a chamber in which the first outer magnet member is displaceable, the chamber being divided into a first compartment and a second compartment, each compartment having an entry port in the containment structure for a drive fluid, wherein on supply of drive fluid to a selected compartment through the port in the containment structure, the outer magnet member is displaced to one of said first and second positions, and on supply of drive fluid to the other of said compartments the outer magnet member is displaced to the other of said first and second positions; and, wherein the first outer magnet member comprises an annular magnet ring assembly with a casing and a series of ring poles and ring magnets contained in the casing, the annular magnet ring assembly being displaceable on the tube of the fluid conduit assembly, wherein the second inner magnet member comprises a cylindrical magnet disk assembly with a casing and a series of disk poles and disk magnets contained in the casing, the cylindrical magnet disk assembly being displaceable in the tube of the transport fluid conduit, and wherein the ring poles have radial ears for facilitating assembly in the annular casing and improving the magnetic flux directed at the cylindrical magnet disk assembly.