Patent ID: 8297589

Claim:
A method for operating a valve, the method comprising the steps of: Holding a flow determining component in a position that closes a passageway between an inlet and an outlet of the valve; providing a plurality of actuating signals to a movable element of a linear motor; incrementally controlling, in a predetermined manner, movement of the movable element, the movement being incrementally controlled using the plurality of actuating signals; contacting the flow determining component with an actuating element connected to the movable element; and moving, as a result of the contact, the flow determining component away from the position that closes the passageway; wherein the valve is operated by a change in the position of the flow determining component, wherein incrementally controlling movement of the movable element comprises: providing an arming signal to the movable element, said arming signal being capable of closing a gap in a thrust path between a motor shaft of the linear motor and the flow determining component while the flow determining component is held in the position that closes the passageway between the inlet and the outlet of the valve; providing an actuating opening signal to the movable element, the actuating opening signal being capable of providing a force, transmitted by the actuating element in contact with the flow determining component, sufficient to place the flow determining component in a condition allowing flow; and limiting a rate-of-rise of the actuating opening signal so as to achieve a controlled rate of opening.