Electro-pneumatic control valve for pneumatic door actuator

Claim 1

A control valve device for a pneumatic actuator comprising: (a) an inlet to which a source of compressed air is connected; (b) first and second outlets connected respectively to the opposite sides of said pneumatic actuator; (c) a first two-way valve member having a first position in which compressed air is connected from said inlet to said first outlet and having a second position in which compressed air is exhausted from said first outlet; (d) a second two-way valve member having a first position in which compressed air is connected from said inlet to said second outlet, and having a second position in which compressed air is exhausted from said second outlet; (e) each said first and second valve member comprising: (i) a spring acting on said respective valve member to urge movement thereof toward a first position; (ii) a primary coil having an electro-magnetic force when energized to urge said respective valve member toward a second position in opposition to said spring; (iii) a permanent magnet arranged in such proximity of said respective valve member in said second position thereof as to magnetically atract and thereby maintain said respective valve member in said second position following de-energization of said primary coil; and (iv) a secondary coil arranged to magnetically counteract said permanent magnet when energized; and (f) said primary and secondary coils of said first and second valve members being connected to one another so that a momentary impulse of electric current thereto causes said primary coil of one valve member and secondary coil of the second valve member to be simultaneously energized, whereby one of said valve members is operated to said first position and the other of said valve members is operated to said second position.