Solenoid-operated, two-way, two-position valve with bidirectional flow

Claim 1

A two-way, two-position electrically controlled valve comprising: a valve body having an inlet port, an outlet port, and a fluid flow passage between said ports; a movable valve member; electrical actuator means directly controlling said valve member; a seat engageable by said valve member to obstruct the said flow passage; a chamber within the valve body and on the side of said valve member opposite the seat; a first orifice in the valve member communicating said chamber with said inlet port; a second orifice in the valve member of larger diameter than said first orifice, communicating said chamber with said outlet port, whereby fluid under pressure from the inlet port may pass through said second orifice in operation of the valve and create in said chamber a pressure lower than that which bears on the opposite side of the valve member, thereby holding said valve member in its open position spaced from said seat, and non-return valve means cooperating with said second orifice for allowing free flow of fluid through the latter from said chamber, said non-return valve means closing said second orifice when pressure at said outlet port is greater than that at said inlet port to prevent an undesirable pressure buildup in said chamber.