Patent ID: 7708026

Claim:
A fluid jet comprising: a valve body; a pair of confronting walls within said valve body; at least one fluid passage extending longitudinally within at least a portion of said valve body, said fluid passage defined by a space between said confronting walls; a valve element-retaining region extending longitudinally within said valve body between said confronting walls and interior to said at least one fluid passage; a fluid pressure actuated valve element located within said valve element-retaining region and moveable longitudinally therein between a valve open position and a valve closed position, wherein said valve element is restrained from vacillating within said valve body by said valve element retaining region; and a sleeve extending inwardly within said valve body, wherein said valve element is retained within said sleeve at the valve closed position, wherein fluid does not flow from the sleeve to the valve body at the valve closed position and further wherein the valve element at least substantially exits the sleeve at the valve open position, wherein the valve element floats along the length of the sleeve at low and transitional pressures to prevent said valve element from knocking against the sleeve as pressure drops.