Bi-stable two-port valve

1. An electronically switchable, bi-stable two-port valve comprising:

a sleeve;

a first pole piece having air flow passages formed therethrough and a first wire-wound coil mounted therein and connected to a source of electrical power;

a second pole piece having air flow passages formed therethrough and a second wire-wound coil mounted therein and connected to the source of electrical power;

wherein the first pole piece is mounted in a first end of the sleeve and the second pole piece is mounted in a second end of the sleeve; and

a permanent magnet defining an armature and movably mounted between the first and second pole pieces;

wherein the armature includes a substantially disk shaped body having a first planar surface, a second planar surface, and a longitudinally extending bore formed therethrough, and wherein an axially extending member is attached within the longitudinally extending bore and includes a first axially extending portion that extends outwardly from the first planar surface and a second axially extending portion that extends outwardly from the second planar surface.

2. The electronically switchable, bi-stable two-port valve according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second wire-wound coils have a magnetomotive force between about 140 to about 180 amp-turns.

3. The electronically switchable, bi-stable two-port valve according to claim 1 , wherein the first pole piece is substantially cylindrical, and has a circular coil groove and a centrally formed and axially extending armature receiving bore formed therein.

4. The electronically switchable, bi-stable two-port valve according to claim 3 , wherein an outside surface of the first pole piece includes a plurality of axially extending grooves formed therein, the grooves defining one of air inlet ports and air outlet ports.

5. The electronically switchable, bi-stable two-port valve according to claim 4 , wherein the outside surface of the first pole piece further includes at least one wire groove formed therein.

6. The electronically switchable, bi-stable two-port valve according to claim 1 , wherein the second pole piece is substantially cylindrical, and has a circular coil groove and a centrally formed and axially extending armature receiving bore formed therein.

7. The electronically switchable, bi-stable two-port valve according to claim 6 , wherein a plurality of axially extending passageways are formed through the second pole piece about the armature receiving bore, the passageways defining one of air inlet ports and air outlet ports.

8. The electronically switchable, bi-stable two-port valve according to claim 7 , wherein an axially extending wire bore is formed through an axial end wall of the coil groove.

9. The electronically switchable, bi-stable two-port valve according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second pole pieces are formed from ferromagnetic material.

10. The electronically switchable, bi-stable two-port valve according to claim 1 , wherein a central portion of the axially extending member has a diameter larger than a diameter of the first and second axially extending portions and is attached within the longitudinally extending bore of the body of the armature.

11. The electronically switchable, bi-stable two-port valve according to claim 10 , further including one of a resilient seal attached to the second planar surface and a resilient member attached to the first planar surface.

12. A method of controlling an electronically switchable, bi-stable two-port valve, the method comprising:

providing an electronically switchable, bi-stable two-port valve having a sleeve, a first pole piece having air flow passages formed therethrough and a first wire-wound coil mounted therein and connected to a source of electrical power, a second pole piece having air flow passages formed therethrough and a second wire-wound coil mounted therein and connected to the source of electrical power, wherein the first pole piece is mounted in a first end of the sleeve and the second pole piece is mounted in a second end of the sleeve, and a permanent magnet defining an armature and movably mounted between the first and second pole pieces;

applying an electric current to the first wire-wound coil to magnetize the first pole piece, thus causing the armature to move toward the first pole piece and to an open position;

removing the electric current from the first wire-wound coil; and

subsequently applying an electric current to the second wire-wound coil to magnetize the second pole piece, thus causing the armature to move toward the second pole piece and to a closed position;

wherein the armature includes a substantially disk shaped body having a first planar surface, a second planar surface, and a longitudinally extending bore formed therethrough, and wherein an axially extending member is attached within the longitudinally extending bore and includes a first axially extending portion that extends outwardly from the first planar surface and a second axially extending portion that extends outwardly from the second planar surface.

13. The method according to claim 12 , further including alternatingly applying electric current to the first and second wire-wound coils to cause the armature to move alternatingly between the open and the closed positions.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the electric current applied to the first and second wire-wound coils is sufficient to create a magnetomotive force between about 140 to about 180 amp-turns.

15. The method according to claim 13 , further including removing the electric current from both the first and second wire-wound coils, thus causing the armature to be held against the one of the first and second pole pieces to which the armature is closest.

16. The method according to claim 12 , wherein when the electric current is removed from one of the first wire-wound coil and the second wire-wound coil, the armature forms a magnetic circuit with one of the first pole piece and the second pole piece to maintain the armature in one of the open position and the closed position.