Sealed valve with electromagnetic action

Claim 1

A sealed valve comprising in combination, a conduit through which fluid is adapted to flow; a cavitied transverse protrusion sealed to the conduit; a closure member slidable between an open position in which it is at least predimonantly contained in the cavity of the protrusion and a closed position in which it closes the conduit; a ferro-magnetic core consisting of a single element connected to the closure member and housed slidably in the cavity of the protrusion, at least that part of the protrusion which houses the single core element being of non-magnetic material; at least three electrical windings surrounding different zones of the length of the protrusion and adapted to be selectively excited to displace the single core element and move the closure member between its open and closed positions; a rod connecting the core to the closure member, the rod having a boss on its surface, said valve further including means to mechanically lock said closure member in at least one of its open and closed positions, a plurality of rockers pivoted about fixed points and each having a hooked first arm adapted to engage the boss in one of its open and closed positions, means being provided to contact a second arm of the rocker and hold the rocker in the locked position of the hooked arm while the core remains in such one of its positions.