Magnetic valves reach 8 billion

Two of the fast, bistable pneumatic valves described in a feature article in Eureka's February 2002 edition have reached 8 billion cycles in a 24 hour 7 day life test. Developed by Harston, Cambridgeshire based Camcon Technology, the valves are of the vibrator type, and use mild steel valve seals. The life test programme began in January 2002. Proprietor Wladyslaw Wygnanski says, "The result is conclusive proof that our binary switching technology based on energy recycling provides four fundamental features: high speed, very low reaction time, low energy and extended life span." TS Wladyslaw Wygnanski