How to Repair a Irrigation Solenoid Valve

When a solenoid valve (also called an electric valve or automatic sprinkler valve) fails to close it is almost always because something is stuck inside it. This might be a grain of sand, a small twig, a insect, or even a tiny snail. To fix the valve you need to disassemble and clean it. When a valve fails to open it is usually due to a bad solenoid or bad wiring, although in rare cases a grain of sand stuck inside the valve or a ripped diaphragm inside the valve. The following instruction tell how to disassemble, clean, and inspect the automatic valve.

To clean the valve:

As you disassemble the valve be sure to note how all the parts fit together so you can get it back together correctly! I strongly suggest you make a sketch and take notes. Each brand and model of valve is slightly different. The valve shown in the photos here is an anti-siphon type valve, which is a type commonly used on home sprinkler systems. The cap structure on the right side of this valve is the anti-siphon device.

Remove the solenoid from the valve. Most solenoids unscrew counter-clockwise to remove. When removing the solenoid watch that the spring loaded plunger inside it does not pop-out and fall into a mud puddle. On most newer valves the plunger is held "captive" so it won't fall out when the solenoid is removed, but sometimes even those ones come loose. Once the solenoid is removed, push in on the end of the spring-loaded plunger in the solenoid. It should spring gently back out when released, and it should slide in and out smoothly when pressed several times in a row. If the plunger doesn't move easily and smoothly, replace the solenoid; it is damaged and can't be repaired. Do not apply any oil or lubricant to the solenoid plunger, if it is sticking it is not repairable, replace it.

Remove the valve lid, most are held in place by several metal screws. Some models of valve have lids that screw off like the top of a jar, turn counter-clockwise (lefty losey) to remove this type of lid. You may need to use a strap wrench to remove the jar-top style lids. All valves have a spring under the lid, don't let it fall out into the mud! Remove the spring and set it aside.

Look for the tiny passages, called "ports", inside the valve lid. These ports lead from the bottom of the lid to the area where the solenoid was attached. The exact location of the ports varies with each valve brand and model. Make sure these passages are not clogged with a grain of sand or whatever. Be careful you do not scratch or enlarge these passages when trying to get the sand out! Do not try to drill out these ports to clean them or make them larger.

Remove the rubber diaphragm from the valve. Make sure it is not cracked or broken, if it is replace it. Some valve models also have a port in the diaphragm, check to see if there is one, if so make sure it is clean. On some valves the port in the diaphragm has a metal pin that runs through it, the purpose of the pin is to keep the port clean. The pin should slide freely in the port. The diaphragm in the photo below has a separate, removable seat gasket attached to the bottom of it with a screw. On many valves the rubber seat gasket and the diaphragm are one piece and the seat gasket is not removable. Make sure the seat gasket or diaphragm seat does not have anything stuck on it, like a grain of sand or twig. If the gasket surface is scratched or torn replace the gasket or diaphragm.

Examine the valve seat in the bottom of the valve body. The seat is the part of the valve body that the gasket presses against to stop the water flow through the valve. Make sure the seat is not scratched or pitted, if it is the valve will leak when closed. On some valves the seat is replaceable. On some brass valves the seat can be ground down with a special tool to remove pits and scratches. However, for most valves if the seat is scratched or pitted, the valve is not repairable and must be replaced.

With the valve disassembled turn on the water to flush any remaining sand and crud from the pipes upstream of the valve. Turn it on full blast, and run it for a minute or two, you need to get everything out of that pipe. Turn off the water, and dry yourself off. I know you don't want to get wet, but don't skip flushing the pipes and valve body, this is an important step!

Carefully clean everything, then reassemble the valve. Some valves have a separate lid gasket or o-ring that needs to be cleaned or replaced before being reassembled. If there are any o-rings, I strongly suggest you lubricate them before reassembling using K-Y Jelly or a similar product. Lubricating o-rings is optional, but recommended as it keeps them from crimping during assembly. If the o-ring crimps it will be ruined and will leak. K-Y Jelly is a water-based lubricant that you buy in the feminine hygiene department of a supermarket or drug store. (Don't ask for it at the hardware store unless you want to give the employees a good laugh at your expense. Yes, I admit I fell for this back when I was first starting out in this business, it's a favorite plumber gag to send the new guy out to buy the K-Y Jelly!) Do not use vaseline, silicone, oil or any petroleum based products on the valve, they may damage the seals and also may clog the ports in the valve.

When attaching the lid, avoid striping out the lid threads and warping the lid as follows: When inserting the screws that hold the cap on, start with one of the screws next to the solenoid. Insert the screw in the hole then turn it counter-clockwise (losey lefty) until you feel a slight click as the screw finds the threads. Then reverse direction (righty tighty) and lightly tighten it. Then insert the second screw on the opposite side of the valve lid. Like the first, find the threads then just lightly tighten the screw. Continue with one screw on one side and the next on the other until they are all in. Now go back and tighten them all, going in the same order you inserted them. Do not over-tighten the screws on plastic valves, you will strip out the threads.

If you're blessed and didn't mess up something the solenoid valve should work correctly now.

Suggestion: Your solenoid valve has already failed once, chances are that means something in the water got stuck in it, which means there is sand or whatever in the water supply. Consider installing a filter upstream of the solenoid valve to keep out the sand and crud in the future. Typically the cost of a valve repair is greater than the cost of installing a filter.

Pneumatic Tools

Pneumatic devices are various tools and instruments that generate and utilize compressed air. Pneumatics are everywhere in important inventions, however, they are relatively unknown to the general public.

History of Pneumatic Tools - Bellows

The hand bellows used by early smelters and blacksmiths for working iron and metals was a simple type of air compressor and the first pneumatic tool.

Pneumatic Tools - Air Pumps and Compressors

During the 17th century, German physicist and engineer Otto von Guericke experimented with and improved air compressors. In 1650, Guericke invented the first air pump. It could produce a partial vacuum and Guericke used it to study the phenomenon of vacuum and the role of air in combustion and respiration.

In 1829, the first stage or compound air compressor was patented. A compound air compressor compresses air in successive cylinders.

By 1872, compressor efficiency was improved by having the cylinders cooled by water jets, which led to the invention of water-jacketed cylinders.

Pneumatic Tubes

The best known pneumatic device is of course the pneumatic tube. A pneumatic tube is a method of transporting objects using compressed air. In the past, pneumatic tube were often used in large office buildings to transport messages and objects from office to office.

The first documented genuine pneumatic tube in the United States is officially listed in a 1940 patent issued to Samuel Clegg and Jacob Selvan. This was a vehicle with wheels, on a track, positioned within a tube.

Alfred Beach built a pneumatic train subway in New York City (a giant pneumatic tube) based on his 1865 patent. The subway ran briefly in 1870 for one block west of City Hall. It was America's first subway.

The "cash carrier" invention sent money in little tubes traveling by air compression from location to location in department store so that change could be made. The first mechanical carriers used for store service was patented (#165,473) by D. Brown on July 13, 1875. However, it was not until 1882 when an inventor called Martin patented improvements in the system that the invention became widespread. Martin's patents were numbered 255,525 issued March 28, 1882, 276,441 issued April 24, 1883, and 284,456 issued on September 4, 1883.

The Chicago postal pneumatic tube service began between the post office and the Winslow rail road station on August 24, 1904. The service used miles of tube rented from the Chicago Pneumatic Tube Company.

Pneumatic Tools - Hammer and Drill

Samuel Ingersoll invented the pneumatic drill in 1871.

Charles Brady King of Detroit invented the pneumatic hammer (a hammer which is driven by compressed air) in 1890, and patented on January 28, 1894. Charles King exhibited two of his inventions at the 1893 Worlds Columbia Exposition; a pneumatic hammer for riveting and caulking and a steel brake beam for railroad road cars.

Modern Pneumatic Devices

During the 20th century, compressed air and of compressed-air devices increased. Jet engines use centrifugal and axial-flow compressors. Automatic machinery, labor-saving devices,and automatic-control systems all use pneumatics. In the late 1960s, digital-logic pneumatic-control components appeared.

Solenoid Valve Common Uses

A solenoid valve is a device which can be used to control the flow of liquids, gases, and slurries.

Also known as regulators, solenoid valves can be found in almost any situation: chances are that you are sitting within a few feet of a mechanical valve right now. There are a number of different designs for valves, depending on how they are being used, and they can be found in a range of sizes from smaller than a pinky to gigantic. solenoid valves also vary from the extremely basic to the extraordinarily complex, and they are one of the oldest mechanical designs; basic valves have been in use for thousands of years.

The term "valve" can be used to refer to human anatomy as well as a mechanical device. Valves throughout the body regulate the flow of blood, oxygen, and body fluids. Valves in the body include the extremely important heart valve, which works with the heart to pump blood through the body. Individuals with heart disease may have their heart valves replaced with artificial ones to perform this vital body function. The numerous valves in the human body work together to keep things running smoothly in your daily life.

Pneumatic valves have come a long way since the development of the compressor over a century ago. Starting with large manual and mechanical valves, they migrated to individually wired electric solenoids and ultimately ended up with plug-into-the-base electronics allowing for a single multi-pin connector or fieldbus installation. Today's valves are smaller, faster and more advanced than their predecessors and offer many advantages that can be easily overlooked. With advancements in ISO valve standardization, collective wiring solutions and diagnostic capabilities, both end users and original equipment manufacturers are seeing significant cost reductions resulting from multi-vendor support, wiring simplification and decreased machine downtime.

Numerous permutations of the pneumatic mechanical valve exist, but the following are common valves you probably see and use on a daily basis. The most basic mechanical valve is a gate valve, which has two positions: open, and closed. A globe valve is slightly more complex, controlling not only the flow of liquid, but also the amount, and is also called a throttle. For example, most taps are forms of a globe valve, allowing users to turn the water on and determine how much water is going to flow out. Manufacturers also make check valves, designed to restrict the flow of a substance to one direction only, and safety valves, which can release dangerous levels of pressure.

What is a solenoid valve ?

A solenoid valve is an electromechanical valve for use with liquid or gas controlled by running or stopping an electric current through a solenoid, which is a coil of wire, thus changing the state of the valve. The operation of a solenoid valves is similar to that of a light switch, but typically controls the flow of air or water, whereas a light switch typically controls the flow of electricity. Solenoid valves may have two or more ports: in the case of a two-port valve the flow is switched on or off; in the case of a three-port valve, the outflow is switched between the two outlet ports. Multiple solenoid valves can be placed together on a manifold.

Solenoid valves are the most frequently used control elements in fluidics. Their tasks are to shut off, release, dose, distribute or mix fluids. They are found in many application areas. Solenoids offer fast and safe switching, high reliability, long service life, good medium compatibility of the materials used, low control power and compact design.

Besides the plunger-type actuator which is used most frequently, pivoted-armature actuators and rocker actuators are also used.

A common use for 2 way solenoid valves is in central heating. The solenoid valves are controlled by an electrical signal from the thermostat to regulate the flow of heated water to the heating elements within the occupied space. Such valves are particularly useful when multiple heating zones are fed by a single heat source. Commercially available solenoid valves for this purpose are often referred to as zone valves.

Another common use for solenoid valves is in automatic irrigation sprinkler systems. See also Controller (irrigation).

Solenoid valves are also used for air control, to control fluid flow, and in pharmacology experiments, especially for patch-clamp, which can control the application of agonist or antagonist.

In the paintball industry solenoid valve is usually referred to simply as "solenoids." They are commonly used to control a larger valve used to control the propellant (usually compressed air or CO2). In the industry, "solenoid" may also refer to an electromechanical solenoid commonly used to actuate a sear.

Two Way Direct Acting Solenoid Valves

Two Way Direct Acting Solenoid Valve For Corrosive and Ultra-Pure Liquids.Solenoid valves are designed using corrosion resistant thermoplastics and premium elastomer seals to offer bubble tight shut-off service and million cycle durability.

Solenoid valves are normally closed when de-energized. The patented vented design with a secondary backup diaphragm helps to avoid emergency shutdowns and gives a visual warning of potential problems is standard on most models. Most valves are supplied with coils rated for continuous service.

Design - An electric solenoid coil is basically a simple electromechanical unit used to control the opening and closing of a valve. Energizing the coil creates a magnetic field which lifts the shaft and seat of the valve off its orifice. When de-energized a small spring pushes the shaft and seat down to close the valve. Response time is a split second.

Coil Selection

The coils used are available in 11, 20 and 58 watts with AC voltages of 24, 120, 240 and 480 at 60 Hertz (may be used with 15% less voltage @ 50 Hz.)DC voltages are 12 and 24.

W11 and W20 - 11 and 20 watt coils are standard with weatherproof NEMA 4 polyester and nylon for corrosive environments. For indoor or outdoor service. Includes DIN connector with 1/2" conduit connection.

E20 and E58 - Explosion proof enclosure and water tight connection - NEMA 7 - CL. 1- Group C & D

DIN connector with indicator light is optional at modest cost

11 and 20 watt coils are rated for continuous service up to 95 F ambient temperature. 58 watt coils are rated for a 15 minute maximum on cycle.

Valve Selection Criteria - Solenoid valves selection is a combination of selecting the material of construction for the valve body, shaft seal type and elastomer. The sizing of the valve is dependent upon the flow rate required through the valve, the allowable pressure drop of the solution through the valve, the inlet pressure and back pressure of the solution. We will assist in the selection processEASMT & EASYMT - Teflon Bellows - For acids, caustics, chlorine and ultra-pure solutions.

Word and figurative mark of "People" brand was recognized by State Administration for Industry and Commerce as "China Famous Trademark" on January 5, which brought a big gift to the 10 th anniversary of the People Electrical Appliance Group.

Since the Group registered the trademark in 1997, Products of "People" brand have been well-known and popular in the domestic and international market as its exquisite process, stable performance, good quality and advanced technology. In 2005, gross industrial output & value of the Group reached RMB 12 billion. Our products were exported to more than 30 countries in American, Europe, Southeast Asia, Middle East and other regions, and the accumulated foreign exchange earning has reached USD 12 million from April to December.

"People" brand awarded "China Famous Trademark", identifying its competitive advantage and brand & value. People Electrical Appliance Group, obtaining honors of "China Famous Trademark", will make use of this opportunity to achieve further progress in market promotion and brand building.

The eighth information conference of China 500 largest enterprises and 500 large enterprises competitiveness of China was held in Great Hall of the people in Beijing. People Electrical Appliance Group enters one of the largest 500 enterprises and ranked 45th among 500 competitiveness of large enterprises ,owing to the excellent achivement of output - more than ten billion .

The "China largest 500 enterprises" was assessed under China industries & enterprises Information Center and China Information newspaper , which is in accordance with the National Bureau of Statistics Survey Center monitoring data with the latest statistics .It is learned that the China People Electrical Appliance Group has been successively hornored as China Top 500 since 2002,this is the seventh time on the list .

People Electrical Appliance Group board chairman Zhen Yuanbao won the honor "the man of Chinese reform and innovation " "Jin Jue Award "and was awarded with the title "Chinese of excellence".

People Electrical Appliance Group is not only one of the China Top 500 Enterprises,but it is also on the list of world' s top 500 machinery enterprises.As a helm of the large groups ,Zheng Yuanbao was successively awarded as "one of the recipients of National Excellence township entrepreneurs, the Chinese top ten management excellence,China top ten business thinkers,cylinder in particular the United Nations contribution to Science and Peace ; and successively elected as NPC deputies and CPPCC members and National Federation of Industry & Commerce Executive Committee.And he won the title at this time as the man of China reform and innovaton "Jin Jue Award" and "Chinese of Excellence", is a full recogniton of China People Electrical Appliance Group's policy :persist in reform and innovation ,scientific development road .

EASMT and EASYMT is the most common applied of this group of solenoid valve. Incorporating a Teflon bellow seal to prevent stem leakage and Viton seat sealing allow this valve to be used for both acid and caustic services. It offers the widest selection of sizes, materials and coil configurations.

Test of Wireless Pneumatic Thermostat Retrofit Solution From Cypress Envirosystems

Test of wireless pneumatic Thermostat Confirms Game-Changing Reduction in Cost, Time and Facilities Disruption To Retrofit Existing Buildings for Smart Grid Connectivity.

Cypress Envirosystems, a subsidiary of Cypress Semiconductor Corp. /quotes/comstock/15*!cy/quotes/nls/cy (CY 11.08, -0.49, -4.24%) , announced today that the California Smart Grid Center (CSGC), has successfully completed the demonstration testing of Cypress Envirosystems' Wireless Pneumatic Thermostat (WPT) solution. The CSGC is funded by the California Energy Commission and is the unbiased proving ground for Smart Grid technologies in California.

The test confirmed the WPT's significant reduction in cost, time and disruption to retrofit legacy buildings and thereby enable them for Smart Grid Auto-Demand Response connectivity. The patent-pending hybrid pneumatic and digital technology employed by the WPT opens up the potential for millions of legacy buildings to participate in peak load reduction and energy efficiency strategies that were previously impractical due to long investment payback and disruption to building occupants.

Approximately 6,000 sq-ft of office space at Sacramento State University was selected for the demonstration test. Prior to the retrofit, the offices used non-communicating pneumatic thermostats for control of heating and cooling. These legacy thermostats were not capable of remote temperature setpoint control and could not interface with the Smart Grid for Auto-Demand Response. Retrofitting them to modern communicating digital thermostats using conventional technology would have been extremely costly, with a payback period of five years or longer. It would also require opening up walls and ceilings, with significant disruption to building occupants.

For the demonstration test, the CSGC used the innovative Wireless Pneumatic Thermostat system, which costs approximately 80% less than conventional technology. The installation at Sacramento State University was completed in about two hours during working hours, with virtually no disruption to occupants. If conventional technology were used, it would have taken several days and required clean-up of asbestos and other hazardous materials exposed during the work.

Once installed, the thermostats enabled remote control and monitoring of zone setpoint, temperature, and branch pressure (heating or cooling demand) via an operator station. The system can also interface with existing automation systems using BACnet, and has a built-in interface compliant with the OpenADR protocol developed by the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, which allows communication with utilities for Auto-Demand Response. This interface allows buildings to automatically curtail electricity use during periods of high demand (by increasing the setpoint temperature for thermostats, for example).

"For the Smart Grid to reach its full potential, we will need smart buildings to talk to it. Developing low cost and non-disruptive ways to make existing buildings 'smart' is a very important problem to address," said Emir Jose Macari, Dean of the College of Engineering and founding Director of the California Smart Grid Center at Sacramento State. "The Cypress Envirosystems' WPT system was installed in record time and has performed flawlessly for the three months of the demonstration test. I am impressed with the system's performance but above all because of the non-invasive nature of the devices and the installation."

Similar large-scale retrofits using the WPT, involving over one-million sq-ft, have confirmed each WPT can shed up to 1kW of peak load, and reduce 15-30% of HVAC energy use. The low installed cost enables very attractive payback periods of 18 months or less. To further reduce the upfront cost, the WPT also qualifies for utility incentives in many states, including PG&E, Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas and Electric in California.

"Most commercial buildings built before 1995 use pneumatic control systems. This equates to about 70% of the existing commercial building space, or over 60 billion sq-ft, which cannot be easily connected to the Smart Grid. We designed the WPT specifically to address this problem and also to deliver energy savings," said Harry Sim, CEO of Cypress Envirosystems. "The validation and endorsement from the California Smart Grid Center is a major milestone for the WPT, and will significantly enhance our ability to bid and win Smart Grid projects, especially involving stimulus funding participants. We sincerely thank the CSGC for the valuable service they provide to the community."

About the Cypress Envirosystems Wireless Pneumatic Thermostat

Cypress Envirosystems' patent pending WPT solution retrofits existing pneumatic thermostats to deliver direct digital control (DDC) functionality in minutes. Compared with the cost to implement conventional DDC retrofit, the WPT costs 80% less, pays back in 18 months or shorter, and can be installed in under 20 minutes with minimal disruption of occupants. It enables remote temperature sensing and control of setpoints, programmable zone control and night setback, automatic self-calibration, BACnet integration with existing automation systems, and communication with utility Demand Response programs. Sensor data gathered by the WPT is used for retro and ongoing commissioning to save energy and reduce maintenance costs. The WPT was first introduced in 2008, and is now used in over 100 sites across North America including Fortune 500 office buildings, hospitals, universities, K-12 schools, and government buildings. Kaiser Permanente, Santa Clara County Government, Western Michigan University, and the LA Chamber of Commerce are among the many customers.

About Cypress Envirosystems, Inc.

Cypress Envirosystems is a subsidiary of Cypress Semiconductor /quotes/comstock/15*!cy/quotes/nls/cy (CY 11.08, -0.49, -4.24%) . Its mission is to save energy and improve productivity in older plants and buildings, using state-of-the-art non-invasive and wireless technologies to minimize disruption and cost, delivering payback of 18 months or less. Visit Cypress Envirosystems at www.CypressEnvirosystems.com.

About Cypress

Cypress delivers high-performance, mixed-signal, programmable solutions that provide customers with rapid time-to-market and exceptional system value. Cypress offerings include the flagship PSoC(R) programmable system-on-chip families and derivatives such as PowerPSoC(R) solutions for high-voltage and LED lighting applications, CapSense(R) touch sensing and TrueTouch(TM) solutions for touchscreens. Cypress is the world leader in USB controllers, including the high-performance West Bridge(R) solution that enhances connectivity and performance in multimedia handsets. Cypress is also a leader in high-performance memories and programmable timing devices. Cypress serves numerous markets including consumer, mobile handsets, computation, data communications, automotive, industrial and military. Cypress trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol CY. Visit Cypress online at www.cypress.com.

Cypress, the Cypress logo, pneumatic Cypress Systems, the Cypress Systems logo, PSoC, West Bridge and EZ-USB are registered trademarks and CyFi is a trademark of Cypress Semiconductor Corp. All other trademarks are property of their owners.

Ryan Gosling discovers pneumatic charms in Lars and the Real Girl

In his new film Ryan Gosling falls in love with a sex doll. Will the part blow up in his face?

Just how "method" is Ryan Gosling? The 27-year-old actor and Oscar-nominated star of Half Nelson and The Notebook pushed actorly intensity to the limits for his new movie, Lars and the Real Girl, in which he plays a sweetly inhibited office worker who falls for a silicon sex doll. It's a performance balanced precipitously between comedy and tragedy and, to make it credible, the method supremo piled on an extra 20lb (9kg), lived in his character's garage and... "That's just bullshit man!" interrupts Gosling, scoffing broadly in the Toronto hotel bar where he is finishing a heavy day of movie promotion. "When I was shooting Lars, nobody would talk to me for the first two weeks! I finally found out that the word on set was that I was a hardcore method actor. People said 'You gotta call him Lars and you can't look him in the eye.' I was, like, 'This is such bullshit!'"

Gosling's face is an amiable grimace of self-deprecation, buttressed by self-confidence. He is aware, you suspect, that he is consistently described by Hollywood insiders and awards juries as the brightest actor of his generation - the new Ed Norton/Paul Newman/James Dean. "Acting's just a job for me, and it's certainly not art," he adds, with the casual disdain of a Brando or an Olivier. He admits, nonetheless, that Lars and the Real Girl required more actorly craft than most, just to pull it back from the salacious, the creepy or the plain absurd.

"I saw it as a Ken Loach-type movie about a guy who met a girl, fell in love and found out that they had similar hopes and dreams," he says. The film, from an Oscar-nominated script by the Six Feet Under writer-producer Nancy Oliver, and co-starring Emily Mortimer and Paul Schneider, examines the effect of Lars's eerie infatuation on his local community. Here, as he drifts around town with his sex doll, now called Bianca, fully clothed and in a wheelchair, it becomes clear that he is delusional but that his love for Bianca is utterly innocent. "I never really thought of Bianca as a doll," he says. "It was always a very real love story to me, and that's the way I played it."

It's all a long way from the squeaky clean Canadian pre-teen that he once was, busting some moves as a boy-band moppet opposite Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears on the Disney Channel's Mickey Mouse Club. There's some great footage on YouTube, I tell him, of his 12-year-old self dressed in a grey silk pyjama suit and beating his chest with a stiffened hand, which is boy-band semaphore for "Ya know ah love ya, girl."

"Yeah, man, there's some great stuff there," he giggles, cringing. "You can't hide any more. The days of selling some kind of image are over."

But even Gosling's clean-cut TV adolescence was something of a feint. The son of divorced Mormon parents from Cornwall, Ontario, Gosling saw TV work as a way to escape the two things that he hated most - school and, well, childhood. "I hated being a kid," he says, stony-faced for the first time. "I didn't like being told what to do, and no one ever asked me my opinion."

Gradually he built up a screen career. His role as Danny Balint, the conflicted Jewish neo-Nazi protagonist of The Believer, changed everything. "I couldn't have been more wrong for that part," he says. "I was 19, non-Jewish, and from Canada, playing a 26-year-old Jew from Queens. But I ended up operating on instincts I didn't even know I had."

The Believer, disturbing and award-winning, and driven by a toweringly physical performance from Gosling, transformed the young tyro, now living in LA, into the hottest prospect in town in others ways, too. His subsequent Murder by Numbers co-star Sandra Bullock, for instance, elided a 17-year age gap to date the actor in 2002, while his fiery onscreen relationship with Rachel McAdams, his The Notebook co-star, became a three-year romance that ended recently in turbulent style when, he claims, "We both went down swinging and we called it a draw."

It was also on The Notebook that Gosling's reputation as a method-acting madman was fully established. Here, while preparing to play a lovestruck carpenter, he became a fulltime woodworker's apprentice. For his follow-up role, playing a crackaddicted teacher in Half Nelson, he would shadow an inner-city teacher for weeks. And still, there are the denials. "Just because I made furniture for The Notebook, everyone thinks I'm method!?" he says, exasperated. "But that stuff doesn't matter, and nobody can tell anyway." He shrugs, shakes his head and adds, crucially: "You do that stuff for you, because it makes you feel like you're doing something to justify the stupid amount of money they're paying you to do this thing that's pretty easy."

This is not arrogance, this is simply Gosling in full flow. This is an actor, unlike most Hollywood actors, who feels that he has nothing to lose. He was recently bounced from Peter Jackson's highly anticipated Lovely Bones adaptation. The producers said that it was about creative differences, Gosling says that it was about his character's age, but secretly you hope that it was his devil-may-care recalcitrance that rattled the studio mindset. Similarly, his next big project, after a thriller with Kirsten Dunst and a romantic drama with Michelle Williams, is a self-financed movie about the child soldiers in the Lord's Resistance Army of Uganda. "We almost have all the money," he says. "I'm pretty confident that we're going to do it this year."

In the meantime, don't expect to spot him gadding about in Hollywood hotspots. Instead, the less salubrious downtown LA is Gosling's home turf, complete with wandering junkies and poverty. No, really. "I want a sense of community, and downtown is the only place you can get it in Hollywood," he explains. "It's full of crack-heads, but at least they will talk to you. And there is one store where I help out - I man the cash, and make sandwiches for people." He smiles, and adds: "It's not about me. It's simply part of life." He says this with the confidence of someone who knows which part of life, exactly, is real.

On the floor of a rocky alcove rests a prayer mat and an open copy of the Koran beside an old AK47 rifle. It was the favourite place of prayer for Sheikh Abbas Mussawi, a Hezbollah leader killed by Israel in 1992. A recording of Mussawi’s gravelly voice murmuring prayers wafts through the trees.

"Those of us who used to be based here in the 1980s when Sayyed Abbas was here begin to weep when they hear his voice in this place," Abu Hadi, who served in Mlita in the 1980s, said.

Perhaps the highlight of the exhibition is the 600ft (180m) tunnel built over three years from 1985. According to a sign at the entrance, it took 1,000 fighters to bore out the tunnel and adjoining chambers using picks and pneumatic drills.

New angled bodied solenoid valve from Alcon increase flow rates and reduce problems

Solenoid valve glands are designed to be maintenance-free, and 316 stainless steel is used in the body construction offering maximum internal and external protection form liquid and gases.

Designed for water, steam and corrosive fluid applications, Alcon has introduced the ASAST series of 316 stainless steel valves, offering improved life particularly in high temperature process applications. By directing the flow of fluids and gases under the valve seat, the angled body design promotes higher flow rates while eliminating traditional problems associated with water hammer, helping to prolong the operating life of the valve and ensuring a smoother delivery of fluid.

Alcon has applied over 50 years experience and used state-of-the-art materials in order to maximise performance and minimise maintenance of the new extreme environment ASAST valves. Inert to all but a few obscure substances a PTFE (Teflon) is used in the main seal to maintain performance across a wide range of temperatures, allowing the valves to reliably control fluids and gases from –200 OC to +180OC (-328 ° F to +356 ° F).

Taking into account any future maintenance operations at the design stage, Alcon have angled the main body of the valve to reduce the height of the unit. This allows engineers in compressed air, packaging, water and paper processing industries to develop smaller, more compact systems with additional room for maintenance operations. Ease of fitting and maintenance has been further improved by the introduction of an optical indicator, which allows easy identification of valve position; the body of the valve can also be rotated 360 O for quicker status checking.

Remote control is achieved via 13mm BS21 or NPT port connections for single spring return or double acting compressed air piloting arrangements. Alternatively the solenoid valve bodies are designed for the attachment of Alcon 31 Series solenoid pilot valves for electronic operation. Control inputs can come from 12v, 24v, 48v, 110v DC sources or 24v, 110v, 120v, 220v, 230v, 50/60HZ AC supplies . The valves cater for pipe sizes from 13mm (1/2”) to 50mm (2”) and are available with NPT, BSP, Butt or Socket Weld fitting arrangements, high flow rates of up to 52.8Kv are possible using the 50mm (2”) unit. Alcon ASAST series valves function reliably in external temperatures ranging from -10 ° C to +60 ° C (+14 ° F to +140 ° F).

Symptom: short coil life

Diagnosis: Excessive heat is typically the cause of short coil life. Heat can be generated by media temperature, ambient temperature, excessive voltage, or an incomplete magnetic circuit.

Remedy: Care should be taken to specify a coil insulation system capable of withstanding the various operating temperatures. Never energize a coil when it isn't in the plunger tube.

Most solenoid coils today are epoxy or plastic encapsulated. However, if a tape-wound coil is used, moisture or dust may cause premature failure.

Altogether, solenoid valves are reliable and easy to maintain. If they are installed properly and inspected thoroughly in a regular maintenance program, they should operate efficiently and with few problems.

The use of solenoid valves

Solenoid valve: for liquid and gas pipeline of the switch control, is 2 DO control which is generally used for small pipe control.

micro solenoid valve : the amount can only be used as a switch is a DO control, can only be used for small pipe controls, common in DN50 and below pipes up very much.Air treatment units

1. Switch Type:

Mini solenoid valves through the coil drive, can only be on or off, switch, action time is short.

2. The nature of work:

Solenoid valve flow coefficient in general is very small, and the work of a very small pressure difference. For example the general 25-caliber electromagnetic valve flow coefficient than the 15-caliber electric valve is much smaller. Solenoid valve driven by electromagnetic coils, voltage surge damaged more easily. The equivalent of switching function, that is the role of open and closed two.

General power outage can be reset solenoid valve, electric valve should be such a function need to add reset device.

3. Application process:

Solenoid valve is suitable to process some special requirements, such as leakage of fluid medium special and so on, the price more expensive.

Alcon introduces new explosion proof solenoid valve

Alcon engineer in rapid response times and flexible operation to their new EExd Solenoid valve

The new high-flow high-speed EExd NAMUR series solenoid valves from Alcon, are designed for use in hazardous area / extreme environment applications. Offering universal 5/2 or 3/2 operations in offshore, processing and chemical industries, the series is ideal for piloting single or double actuators on NAMUR solenoid valves. An explosion proof, submersible, water tight & dust tight aluminium body suitable for indoor or outdoor use, along with Nitrile seals ensures reliable operation while meeting requirements for a wide range of environments.

Alcon Solenoid Valves, a division of International Motion Control, has been designing and engineering solenoid valves for over fifty years. Be it a stand alone valve or bespoke equipment for a customers particular application, it has built up an enviable reputation as a global supplier of high-quality, reliable solenoid valves to a wide range of customers across a multitude of industries.

Alcon NAMUR series solenoid valves are designed for use with actuators controlling butterfly and ball valve systems in hazardous areas found in offshore, paper, recycling, food processing and chemical industries. A solenoid activated spool valve system allows for rapid response times of up to 5 cycles per second, and the duty cycle of the coil has been 100% continuously rated for a multimillion cycle life span.

The ATEX approved EExd hard-anodised IP67 aluminium solenoid enclosures feature two mounting holes and can be rotated through 360 O to assist with fitting. Integrated exhaust ports allow users to manually convert from a 5/2 to a 3/2 configuration, as well as enabling variable speed control during 3/2 operation. With a manual override screw for ease of maintenance and repairs, the valves also feature a high flow ( Cv = 1.4) design allowing for faster operation with larger valves.

The new solenoid valve offer an operating pressure window of between 37 – 150psi (2.5 – 10 bar) and deliver reliable operation in environments where fluid/gas temperatures from -10° C (14° F) up to +80° C (176° F) can be expected. Coil voltage can be DC, 12 or 24v and AC operation is possible with 24, 110, 120, 220, 230v – 50/60Hz voltages.

Solenoid valve Information

A solenoid valve is an electromechanical valve for use with liquid or gas. The valve is controlled by an electric current through a solenoid coil. Solenoid valves may have two or more ports: in the case of a two-port valve the flow is switched on or off; in the case of a three-port valve, the outflow is switched between the two outlet ports. Multiple solenoid valves can be placed together on a manifold.

Solenoid valves are the most frequently used control elements in fluidics. Their tasks are to shut off, release, dose, distribute or mix fluids. They are found in many application areas. Solenoids offer fast and safe switching, high reliability, long service life, good medium compatibility of the materials used, low control power and compact design.

Besides the plunger-type actuator which is used most frequently, pivoted-armature actuators and rocker actuators are also used.

Working principle

A solenoid valve has two main parts: the solenoid and the valve. The solenoid converts electrical energy into mechanical energy which, in turn, opens or closes the valve mechanically. A direct acting valve has only a small flow circuit, shown within section E of this diagram (this section is mentioned below as a pilot valve). This diaphragm piloted valve multiplies this small flow by using it to control the flow through a much larger orifice.

Solenoid valves may use metal seals or rubber seals, and may also have electrical interfaces to allow for easy control. A spring may be used to hold the valve opened or closed while the valve is not activated.

The diagram to the right shows the design of a basic valve. At the top figure is the valve in its closed state. The water under pressure enters at A. B is an elastic diaphragm and above it is a weak spring pushing it down. The function of this spring is irrelevant for now as the valve would stay closed even without it. The diaphragm has a pinhole through its center which allows a very small amount of water to flow through it. This water fills the cavity C on the other side of the diaphragm so that pressure is equal on both sides of the diaphragm. While the pressure is the same on both sides of the diaphragm, the force is greater on the upper side which forces the valve shut against the incoming pressure. In the figure, the surface being acted upon is greater on the upper side which results in greater force. On the upper side the pressure is acting on the entire surface of the diaphragm while on the lower side it is only acting on the incoming pipe. This results in the valve being securely shut to any flow and, the greater the input pressure, the greater the shutting force will be.

In the previous configuration the small conduit D was blocked by a pin which is the armature of the solenoid E and which is pushed down by a spring. If the solenoid is activated by drawing the pin upwards via magnetic force from the solenoid current, the water in chamber C will flow through this conduit D to the output side of the valve. The pressure in chamber C will drop and the incoming pressure will lift the diaphragm thus opening the main valve. Water now flows directly from A to F.

When the solenoid is again deactivated and the conduit D is closed again, the spring needs very little force to push the diaphragm down again and the main valve closes. In practice there is often no separate spring, the elastomer diaphragm is moulded so that it functions as its own spring, preferring to be in the closed shape.

From this explanation it can be seen that this type of valve relies on a differential of pressure between input and output as the pressure at the input must always be greater than the pressure at the output for it to work. Should the pressure at the output, for any reason, rise above that of the input then the valve would open regardless of the state of the solenoid and pilot valve.

In some solenoid valves the solenoid acts directly on the main valve. Others use a small, complete solenoid valve, known as a pilot, to actuate a larger valve. While the second type is actually a solenoid valve combined with a pneumatically actuated valve, they are sold and packaged as a single unit referred to as a solenoid valve. Piloted valves require much less power to control, but they are noticeably slower. Piloted solenoids usually need full power at all times to open and stay open, where a direct acting solenoid may only need full power for a short period of time to open it, and only low power to hold it.

Common uses

Solenoid valves are used in fluid power pneumatic and hydraulic systems, to control cylinders, fluid power motors or larger industrial valves. Automatic irrigation sprinkler systems also use solenoid valves with an automatic controller. Domestic washing machines and dishwashers use solenoid valves to control water entry to the machine. In the paintball industry, solenoid valves are usually referred to simply as "solenoids." They are commonly used to control a larger valve used to control the propellant (usually compressed air or CO2). In the industry, "solenoid" may also refer to an electromechanical solenoid commonly used to actuate a sear.

Besides controlling the flow of air and fluids solenoid valve is used in pharmacology experiments, especially for patch-clamp, which can control the application of agonist or antagonist.

New material for pneumatic seals

Polyurethane's elastic properties, mechanical strength and wear resistance make it a good material for pneumatic seals. When the polymer's composition and design development are tuned to the specific demands of pneumatic applications, modern polyurethane pneumatic seals shift operating limits to new levels. This has been validated by rigorous testing and validation.

Pneumatic actuators are key elements of material-handling and automation systems used for moving, clamping and positioning goods, boxes, flaps, gates, etc. A typical pneumatic cylinder (Figure 1) contains several static and dynamic seals. The dynamic seals are:

Double-acting piston seal (often two U-cup seals)

Rod seal and dirt wiper (often combined in one element)

Two cushioning seals for the adjustable pneumatic end cushioning.

The dynamic seals have to work well with:

Oil-free compressed air using only the minimal grease lubrication that was applied during cylinder assembly

Operating pressures to 100 psi with excursions to 360 psi during cushioning

Creep velocity of 3+ ft./sec.

A temperature range of -4°F to +176°F

With a typical cumulative lifetime travel of at least 4,000 miles, the area of dynamic contact must maintain grease lubrication. A flexible sealing lip geometry provides low radial forces, and a rounded contact area allows the lip to float on a grease film.

If hydraulic seals were used in pneumatic cylinders, the high radial force and sharp sealing edges would scrape the grease away from the contact area. The grease would collect at the ends and the ensuing poor lubrication would result in high friction, heavy wear and shortened useful life.

Seal design refined

The seal design follows the principles described above. Additional features ensure proper function under any operating condition.

Piston seal: U-cup-type piston seals have been used in pneumatic cylinders for many years. The design in Figure 2 has several special features. It has a thin connection between sealing lip and body to achieve low radial force. Toward the contact area, the lip is larger to give stability under pressure.

Notches at both lips and on the outer diameter of the back side avoid malfunctions. The notches on the side of the outer sealing lip ensure proper activation when the pressure increases. Notches at the outer diameter of the back and on the inner lip act as pressure-release channels in case pressure is trapped between the two U-cups in a double-acting piston. Without these notches, a pressure trap, together with friction, can tilt the seal in the groove, which results in an inoperable cylinder. The rounded contact area of the sealing lip was optimized by finite element analysis to ensure good function over the whole pressure range.

A polyurethane material was developed for the specific demands of pneumatic applications. The 83 Shore A hardness is relatively low to minimize the radial force. With its good compression set, low friction and extraordinary wear resistance, it provides the preconditions for good functional properties and long service life.

Rod seal: The rod seal is designed to suit grooves for pneumatic cylinders to ISO 15552. The seal has a sealing lip and a dirt wiper lip, and is fixed by a retainer "nose" at the outer diameter. The seal can be mounted into an unsplit gland by pushing it into the bore until the retainer nose snaps into the mating groove of the housing bore. The outer, static sealing lip is chamfered for ease of installation.

As the seal is fixed only by its retainer nose, the seal material must be stiff enough to withstand the axial forces of pressure and friction. Therefore, a harder material (94 Shore A) is used to maintain the proper seal orientation.

Cushioning seals provide smooth piston movement at the dead-end positions. The cushioning seal (Figure 5) works better than O-rings. The specific design features are:

Dynamic sealing lip gives good tightness and low friction

Axial sealing edge with check valve functionality

Combined notches at the lip side and on the outer diameter to allow air flow

The cushioning seal is active only at the end of the stroke. A pressure chamber, which is formed between cushioning seal and piston seal, works like an air pillow to absorb the kinetic energy smoothly. To ensure that the cushioning seal doesn't affect movement when the cylinder reverses direction, the seal has an integrated check-valve function that forces the pressure to act on the full cylinder area. If O-rings are used as cushioning seals, the movement is delayed because the air pressure can't act on the full cylinder area until the cushioning rod has moved out of the O-ring.

Tests validated performance

A test program performed with commercially available pneumatic cylinders confirmed the material and design-development efforts. The cylinders were equipped with a rod seal-scraper, two piston seals and two cushioning seals. The test program included:

High-pressure test

Bursting pressure test

Low-temperature test

Temperature cycling test

Minimum speed test

Endurance test

The test procedures reflected harsh, but realistic, operating conditions using oil-free compressed air with an oil content < 0.01 mg/m3 (class 1 to ISO 8573-1). Testing monitored two indicators of seal functionality: the leak rate at two pressure values (29 psi and 145 psi) and the break-off pressure in both directions. The break-off pressure is the minimum pressure needed to move the cylinder. It's different for outstroke and return stroke because the pressurized area of the cylinder is smaller on the rod side.

High-pressure test: This test reflects the situation at peak pressure during the cushioning cycle. To avoid having to produce and dissipate excessive energy, the test equipment included a pressure intensifier to generate an operating pressure of 360 psi. The cylinders have a short stroke of 0.59 in. to simulate only the cushioning cycles. Special high-pressure lines and high-pressure valves are used.

After 100,000 cycles, the sealing function wasn't compromised by physical damage, seal wear or leakage. Break-off pressure was the same as when new. The sealing system proved its robustness and reliability even under extreme pressure peaks during the pneumatic end-cushioning cycle.

Bursting pressure test: This test confirms seal robustness and safety in case of abnormally high pressure. For the rod seal, this test shows the safe fixation by the retainer nose. The cylinders functioned at the target pressure of 725 psi without problem. The first leakage occurred at 942 psi, when the rod seal was partly extruded out of the housing, but no seals were damaged. After re-installing the rod seal, the cylinder was fully functional with a leak rate and break-off pressure the same as new.

Low-temperature test: This test shows the minimum temperature under which the cylinder functions properly. The cylinders were installed in a temperature chamber and connected to an external measuring station to enable measuring of leak rates and break-off pressure. An additional air dryer helped avoid water accumulation in the system. After cooling down the system, the measuring was done quickly to avoid frictional heating that would affect the result.

The low temperature limits of the piston seals depend on their location on the piston, although the two piston seals are identical. The piston seal at the bottom of the cylinder is the most critical position because it is measured with the rod extended, when the guidance clearance causes a misalignment between the piston and the cylinder tube. The piston seal at the rod side is measured with the rod retracted, when piston and cylinder tube are in good alignment. Under such good conditions, the piston seal works well at lower temperatures. So, the degree of misalignment leads to a low-temperature limit between -4°F (piston seal bottom side, rod extended) and -22°F (piston seal rod side, rod retracted). The rod seal is tight down to -40°F because the volume shrinkage from temperature reduction helps to keep the lip in sealing contact.

To summarize, testing showed that the pneumatic cylinder remains fully functional down to -4°F under worst-case conditions, and down to -13°F under normal conditions.

Temperature cycling test: This test cycles between minimum and maximum operating temperature to show the seal material's ultimate behavior. The test equipment was the same as for low-temperature testing. Temperature cycling revealed no leakage and no change in break-off pressure, which proves that frequent changes of operating temperatures don't affect the service life.

Minimum speed test: This test explores a cylinder's operation at creep velocity. The cylinder, equipped with a side-load weight, is pressurized on one side while a throttle valve on the other side is closed until the cylinder begins to exhibit stick-slip mode.

The test results demonstrate how a sealing system can be optimized with material technology and design knowledge. The thorough consideration of functional aspects and use of latest development tools produce better performance. The material development, focused on the specific demands of pneumatic applications, was the second component of a high-performance polyurethane sealing system. Pneumatic equipment manufacturers and end users can be sure of the best functionality under extreme conditions, absolute reliability and outstanding service life. Thus, the costs for replacement and consequential costs from production shutdowns can be reduced.