Patent ID: 7469878

Claim:
A magnetostrictive valve assembly, comprising: a housing defining a passage therethrough with said passage having a seat formed therein; a magnetically-biased magnetostrictive assembly slidingly fitted in said passage and retained therein, said magnetostrictive assembly configured as a hollow and open-ended conduit adapted to support a flow of a fluid therethrough; current-carrying means disposed about said passage in the region of said magnetostrictive assembly; a hollow valve body coupled on one end thereof to an axial end of said magnetostrictive assembly wherein the fluid enters said valve body after exiting said magnetostrictive assembly, said valve body having another end thereof designed to seal with said seat when brought into contact therewith, said valve body further having at least one opening formed through its periphery between said ends thereof through which the fluid can flow when entering the valve body; and means mounted in said housing for continually applying an axial compression force to said magnetostrictive assembly.