WO2003060358A2

WO2003060358A2 - Magnetically actuated axial valve design

Info

Publication number: WO2003060358A2
Application number: PCT/US2003/001012
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ronn G. Smith; David W. French
Original assignee: Big Horn Valve Inc
Current assignee: Big Horn Valve Inc
Priority date: 2002-01-11
Filing date: 2003-01-13
Publication date: 2003-07-24
Anticipated expiration: 2004-07-11
Also published as: AU2003202987A1; WO2003060358A3

Abstract

A magnetically actuated axial valve reduces emissions associated with valve stems while retaining a high flow efficiency. In one embodiment, a valve may have inner and outer magnet rings (22 & 23) which may be permanent magnets (12 & 13). Magnetic actuation utilizing N dFeB rare earth magnets (12 & 13) to maximize available torque in rotating an outer magnet ring 180°, thereby forcing synchronous rotation of an inner magnet ring connected to the valve rotor may be provided. A rotary position sensor may provide reliable indication of open and closed valve positions. A valve incorporating a conical sealing interface between rotating and stationary graphite halves to minimize internal leakage by providing a high degree of self-alignment and amplifying the contact force between the two halves is also provided. Methods corollary to the disclosed apparatus are also provided.

Description

MAGNETICALLY ACTUATED AXIAL VALVE DESIGN

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Current industrial valves, including ball, gate, butterfly and globe valves, are operated by means of an actuator stem perpendicular to the flow path. Either a manual or an automated actuator, connected to the actuator stem, may be rotated to open or close the valve. The valve stem cavity is generally filled with a packing material to prevent fluid leakage from the process to the environment. This arrangement constitutes a moving seal, prone to leakage over time. In many applications transferring hazardous fluids, toxic chemicals or light hydrocarbons, the valve stem and packing can result in harmful vapors leaking to the environment. In many cases these emissions are regulated to protect human health or air quality.

Inherent of most valve actuation technology is some form of mechanical linkage between the rotating valve member and the external actuator, whether the latter be manual, electric, hydraulic or pneumatic. This linkage can necessitate a moving seal between the process and the environment, creating the likelihood of unwanted emissions for the applications referenced above.

Solenoid operated, axially reciprocating valves overcome this limitation by replacing mechanical engagement with electromagnetic engagement to position the valve. These valves, referred to as "coaxial" and exemplified by the plunger valve, have low flow efficiency due to inherent restrictions in the flow path. Therefore they are predominantly limited to small line sizes and gaseous fluids.

The valve and actuator design described herein eliminates emissions associated with valve stems, while retaining high flow efficiency. It achieves the emissions objective through a magnetically c oupled actuator that may enable either a static or hermetic seal between the process and the environment. It may achieve efficient, or low-loss fluid flow through implementation with the patented Venturi Offset Technology (VOST^ta) or with other technology.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The invention may comprise a high-flow, axially rotated valve apparatus with a magnetically coupled actuator that minimizes or eliminates process fluid leakage to the environment. Some of the objectives of various embodiments of the invention include: 5

1. Maximize dynamic flow efficiency in the valve open position

2. Eliminate external leakage,

3. Minimize internal leakage,

4. Minimize required torque to rotate the valve,

10 5. Maximize available torque transfer from the actuator,

6. Limit required rotary range to 180°,

7. Provide positive indication of open/closed position,

8. Operate reliably at either high or low duty cycle,

9. Maximize component life, and

15 10. Provide a practical design for actuation.

One embodiment of the invention may maximize flow efficiency with use of the offset venturi flow path (Fig. 1). It may eliminate external leakage by magnetically linking the external actuator to the rotating valve member.

20

Embodiments of the invention may also incorporate a conical sealing interface between the rotating and stationary halves of the valve to minimize internal leakage. The conical seal may afford a degree of self-alignment while also amplifying the contact force between the two halves. One preferred conical seal material, a graphite composite, has a high

25 lubricity that minimizes rotational friction. The graphite's self seating properties enhance component life and valve reliability.

The magnetic actuator may also utilize NdFeB rare earth magnets to maximize available torque. To achieve closure (Fig. 2), an external actuator may rotate an outer magnet ring

30 180°, forcing synchronous rotation of an inner magnet ring that may be connected to the valve rotor. A rotary position sensor may provide reliable indication of open and closed valve positions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 presents a three-dimensional cross section of the valve in the open position.

Figure 2 presents a three-dimensional cross section of the valve in the closed position.

Figure 3 presents a two-dimensional cross section of the valve in the open position, with all component parts numbered.

Figure 4 presents two, three-dimensional views of the valve's rotating cartridge.

Figure 5 presents two, three-dimensional views of the valve's stationary cartridge.

Figure 6 presents a three-dimensional view of the inner and outer magnet rings that make up the magnetic actuator coupling, as well as the rotating and stationary cartridges that comprise the face seal and a conical interface.

Figure 7 presents a cross-section, perpendicular to the flow axis, of the inner and outer magnet rings.

Figure 8 presents a sketch of the rotary position sensor concept.

Partial Item List for One Embodiment:

I. Downstream flange 2. Downstream shell

3. Mating flange - slip-on

4. Mating flange - threaded

5. Retaining sleeve

6. Upstream flange 7. Upstream containment shell

8. VOST rotating cartridge

9. VOST stationary cartridge

10. Downstream ramp

I I . Drive ring 12. Outer magnet

13. Inner magnet

14. Seal collar

15. Drive bearing (2) 16. Handle nut

17. Compression spring

18. Upstream ring seal (2)

19. Downstream ring seal

20. Flange screw (4) 21. Flange gasket

MODE(S) FORCARRYING OUTTHEINVENTION

Figure 3 identifies and illustrates the components of the invention in one embodiment. The invention provides the means to actuate an axially rotated valve while achieving certain, desired external and internal sealing objectives. The full range of rotational motion from open to closed, is 180°. Embodiments can include the VOST^ta flow passage, due to its combination of high flow efficiency and axial rotation. Actuation, sealing, and other advantages m ay be achieved through r otating the valve about an axis substantially parallel, rather than perpendicular, to the flow.

In some embodiments, for the face seal (the seal that may be formed by the interface of the mating faces of the movable valve element and the stationary valve element) the invention may use a conical interface between rotating (or more generally, movable) and stationary cartridges (or more generally, valve elements) inside the valve (wherein valve in this instance is used to refer to the conduit section that may form a part of the entire valve apparatus).

The rotating cartridge (or more generally movable valve element) may be an axially rotatable valve element that is established along either or both of the entry and exit flowpaths and may have at least one male or other face. In the conical embodiment, the male conical face may also be referred to as a convex face (Fig. 4), while the stationary cartridge may have a corresponding female (also referred to as concave) conical face (Fig. 5). The entry and the exit flowpaths may be in substantially the same direction, meaning that one may be angled in one direction (such as upwards, e.g.) and another in an opposite direction (such as downwards, e.g.) but still pointing in the same general downflow direction (e.g., to the left). Flowpath refers to the direction of flowing fluid that is being delivered or conveyed in an intended direction, and not to the direction of fluid that might be "swirling" around before delivery in an intended direction, and/or demonstrating eddying behavior, as might be found with turbulent flow. Note that in some embodiments, the fluid flow may comprise a venturi flow and that fluid flow (including venturi flow) may refer to the fluid itself instead of simply to the conveyance.

The face (as in conical face for one embodiment) of the movable (or, less generally, the axially rotatable) valve element referred to can be more generally termed a movable (or the axially rotatable) valve element mating surface and may be an interfacing surface that may mate or correspond with an interfacing surface of a stationary valve. More specifically, the movable (or the axially rotatable) valve element mating s urface m ay be generally referred to as an oblique movable valve element mating surface (or, less generally, an oblique axially rotatable valve element mating surface) and may be movable (or axially rotatable) with the movable valve element (or axially rotatable valve element). Oblique as used herein can mean having any surface portion that is not perpendicular to the flowpath incident upon the surface. Importantly, axially rotatable may imply that an element is rotatable about an axis such as perhaps one defined by a conduit centerline, which itself might even be defined by the internal surface of or perhaps general flow path within the conduit and might also be further refined to represent the center (or more generally centroid) of the cross sectional area of some planar surface bounded by the conduit's internal surface. Alternatively, in some embodiments, axially rotatable may be viewed more broadly as implying that an element is rotatable about an axis that is substantially parallel to the generally conveyed direction of a contained and conveyed fluid. Note that conduit, as used herein, can, in s ome e mbodiments, also be refined to require that fluid within conduit walls be capable of being conveyed, perhaps sometimes fairly efficiently, when the valve is in a position other than closed, meaning that pipe end sections or "dead end" receptacles that may contain fluid but that do not convey flow nearly as efficiently as the other more sections (such as the other sections that are more aligned with the flow direction) may not, under this refinement, be construed as such a conduit section (nor might they be so construed as such a conduit). In other words, a conduit, according to this one of the various refinements possible, may have the ability to perhaps efficiently convey flow along a definable flowpath instead of simply containing fluid that might exhibit swirling and/or eddying flow patterns (e.g., perhaps turbulent flow), even though the contained flow eventually moves out of the internal confines of the surrounding flow containment apparatus. In one embodiment, constantly axially rotatable can imply that all rotation (i.e., from closed to open position and back) is perhaps about a conduit or even centerline axis, or more generally about an axis that is substantially parallel to some enclosed flowpath.

In one embodiment, the oblique movable (or axially rotatable) valve element mating surface may even be convex. The stationary cartridge (or more generally stationary valve element) may be established along at least one of the entry or exit flowpaths (or both) and in an embodiment may be established downflow of the movable valve element. In some embodiments, the stationary valve element can b e established in addition to the conduit section (e.g., the internal wall of the conduit section, where the conduit section is a pipe, might not serve as a stationary valve element). The stationary valve element may protrude radially from the internal surface of the conduit section. However, the conduit section, more specifically the inner surface of the conduit section, although a conveyer of fluid, need not necessarily be in direct contact with the fluid, for components such as an axially rotatable inner magnetic element may instead be in direct contact with the inner surface of the conduit section.

The stationary valve element may comprise at least one oblique stationary valve element mating surface that is responsive to the stationary valve element and that may interface with the oblique movable (or axially rotatable) valve element mating surface(s). Note that the oblique movable (or axially rotatable) valve element mating surface may also comprise at least one nonplanar movable (or axially rotatable) valve element mating surface, which itself may comprise a conical (meaning substantially conical), parabolloidic (meaning substantially parabolloidic), spherical (meaning substantially spherical), polar section (meaning substantially polar section) or substantially other shaped mating surface. ^" Similarly, the oblique stationary valve element mating surface may comprise at least one nonplanar stationary valve element mating surface, which itself may comprise a conical (meaning substantially conical), parabolloidic (meaning substantially parabolloidic), spherical (meaning substantially spherical), polar section (meaning substantially polar section) or substantially other shaped mating surface. Naturally flat, planar, or even orthogonal (perhaps with respect to the flow axis) mating is also possible. As used herein, the term substantially can be used to refer to approximately similar aspects and can be intended to include shapes that do not meet the shape's strict mathematical definition. Note that the stationary valve element mating surface may be the inverse of the movable (or axially rotatable) valve element mating surface, such that if the movable (or axially rotatable) valve element mating surface is convex, the stationary valve element mating surface may be roughly c oncave. Nonplanar a s used herein c an m ean simply not b eing coplanar or of one p lane, or not forming one plane. The movable (or axially rotatable) valve element mating surface may be movable (or axially rotatable) with the movable (or axially rotatable) valve element because it may be a part of the movable (or axially rotatable) valve element.

Interfacing may mean capable of interfacing (e.g., "interfaceable"), but also may be used address items characterized as continually interfacing. Thus, surfaces that, during valve closed position, directly contact one another, but during valve open position lose contact with one another may still be said to interface. Additionally, the oblique movable (or axially rotatable) valve element mating surface and the stationary valve element mating surface may each have a portion that continually (i.e., through all valve operation positions (open through closed)) interface each other.

Any mating (or interfacing) surfaces, whether c ontinually interfacing or not, may wear. Either the movable (or the axially rotatable) v alve e lement m ating surface or the stationary valve element mating surface may be made of a material that is more wear resistant than the mating surface of the other valve element with which it corresponds. In one embodiment, the oblique movable (or the axially rotatable) valve element mating surface may be made from a material that is more wear resistant than the material of which the stationary valve element mating surface with which it corresponds is made. In one embodiment, the part of the valve elements (whether movable or stationary) other than their respective mating surfaces may be made of a material that is the same as the material of which their respective mating surfaces are made. H owever, the mating surfaces may b e made from a material that is different from the respective valve element. Because of the wearing nature of the materials, the mating surfaces may wear away and therefore change in location with respect to their respective valve element (movable or stationary). Of course if materials of different wear resistance are used for the stationary valve element mating surface and the movable valve element mating surface, the mating surface that is made from the material that is more wear resistant will likely wear at a slower rate than the mating surface that is less wear resistant.

The oblique movable (or axially rotatable) valve element mating surface may be made from a material that is more wear resistant than the material from which the oblique stationary valve element mating surface is made. In one embodiment, the movable (or axially rotatable) valve element mating surface may be established in (as opposed to externally of) a flow environment. In a flow environment, the flow would be conveyed in an intended direction (as opposed to merely demonstrating some flow in that direction , e.g., in a situation of eddying behavior, as may be found in "dead end" pipe terminus and turbulent flow).

In one embodiment, the movable (or axially rotatable) valve element mating surface may comprise a vertex positioned within the exterior confines of the stationary valve element. The apparatus may also comprise a spatial void between the vertex and the stationary valve element. Also, in one embodiment, the movable valve element (or axially rotatable valve element) may be located upflow o f the stationary valve element. It may comprise a convex surface. Other permutations (i.e., a movable (or axially rotatable) valve element that is located downflow of the stationary valve element a nd or that is c oncave instead of convex) may be used. Together, at least a portion of the interfacing surfaces may form an oblique seal (that may additionally be a nonplanar seal) that may, upon reconfiguring the valve from the closed position, seal flow that otherwise would travel from the entry flowpath to the exit flowpath and pass downflow (or downstream) through the conduit section.

In one embodiment, a conical (or other shaped) interface may contribute to internal sealing between upstream and downstream segments in the closed position (Fig. 2) through its self-alignment and force transformation or even magnification characteristics. The movable valve element and the stationary valve element may also be configured so as to create a venturi flowpath, or a narrowed flow flowpath, that may also be eccentric (or offset), perhaps having a localized flow centerline that is not collinear with the conduit centerline. A high-lubricity, self-seating graphite or graphite composite (or other wearable material) may be used for the two valve cartridges (or more generally, valve elements) and/or their interfacing surfaces. In one embodiment, the material may be phenolic graphite (particulate), as opposed to fibrous. In an alternative embodiment, a raised or raised edge seal may be attached to one (or both) of the cartridges (or valve elements) to enhance internal sealing. S uch seal may be located at an intersection of the movable (or axially rotatable) valve element, the stationary valve element, and the fluid flow (including venturi flow). Note that the term fluid flow, as used herein, may refer to the fluid itself, instead of a fluid conveyance.

In some embodiments, the rotating and stationary valve cartridges (or valve elements) may comprise entry and exit ramps, respectively, to enhance flow efficiency.

More generally the downflow valve element may comprise an exit ramp while the upflow valve element may comprise an entry ramp. The ramps may each be made up of a high wear resistant material such as a limestone p owder in a p olyester r esin. They may also comprise a flat, intermediate section formed by the movable (or axially rotatable) valve element and the stationary valve element together that is in contact with the fluid flow during the valve open position (and during other positions) and that substantially matches an axial length of a seal section (the seal section being that interfacing portion of the interfacing surfaces that obstructs flow that would otherwise pass during valve open position). The purpose of the flat section may be to assure complete closure of the flow passage upon 180° of rotation from the fully open position (Fig. 1).

A helical compression spring (Fig. 3, item 17) or other such type of bias element may maintain pressure on the face seal (or the interfacing or mating surfaces). In such a configuration, the movable (or axially rotatable) valve element may be r esponsive to the bias element. A thrust washer (Fig. 8, item 29) may distribute the spring force to the rotating c artridge while minimizing rotational friction. Two upstream ring s eals (Fig. 3 , item 18) may serve as journal bearings for the rotating cartridge (Fig. 3, item 8) while sealing the magnet cavity from the process. The ring seals may be held in place by mating pieces (Fig. 3, items 4 and 14) upon assembly.

One embodiment may also comprise an actuator element through which the movement of the valve may be initiated or actuated by an operator, automatically or otherwise. Methods corollary to each of the disclosed apparatus are hereby presented as independent embodiments. Embodiments may use a rare-earth (NdFeB, meaning neodymium iron boron) or broadly a permanent magnet coupling that may comprise an outer and an inner magnet ring (Fig. 6). More generally, embodiments may use a movable magnetic actuator (more generally a magnetic actuator element) that may comprise an outer magnetic element that itself may comprise at least one electromagnetic element and/or at least one permanent magnetic element (i.e., a magnet that is not electromagnetic). The permanent (understand that a permanent magnet may still be movable) magnet(s) may be NdFeB rare-earth magnet(s). T he movable (or axially rotatable) outer magnetic element may be established externally of an inner surface of a conduit section. As u sed herein, externally does not necessarily imply immediately adjacent to, nor in direct contact with. Further elements of the magnetic actuator element may include an axially rotatable inner magnetic element that is magnetically responsive to the movable outer magnetic element and an inner attachment element that fixedly positions the axially rotatable inner magnetic element with respect to a movable or axially rotatable valve element. The movable outer magnetic element may be an axially rotatable outer magnetic element.

The movable (or axially rotatable) outer magnetic element may be entirely electromagnetic or permanently magnetic in design, and may also be a combination of the two and may c omprise a plurality o f i ndividual o uter m agnetic e lements, some or all o f which may be permanent magnets, such as NdFeB bar magnets, and some or all of which may b e electromagnets. The individual magnets, whether p ermanent or electromagnetic, may be redundant, and may be arranged in an alternating polarity fashion such that, e.g., one magnet is oriented with its north pole positioned downflow and the perimeterally (or circumferentially) adjacent individual outer magnetic element is oriented with its north pole positioned upflow. The inner ring, or more generally the inner magnetic element (or, with reference to a repositioning capability, the axially rotatable inner magnetic element), may similarly comprise a plurality of individual magnets, known as individual inner magnets; the individual m agnets may also b e p ermanent m agnets s uch as b ar m agnets arranged in a n alternating polarity fashion. Again, the permanent magnets may be NdFeB rare-earth magnets.

Note that the outer magnetic element may comprise an electromagnetic outer magnetic element. The individual outer magnetic elements that may comprise the movable outer magnetic element may each comprise at least one electromagnetic element; this electromagnetic element may be a stator or rotor or some other component of an electromagnet. Further, the step of establishing an outer magnetic element may comprise the step of establishing an outer electromagnetic element which itself may comprise the step of establishing at least one stator and/or rotor, and/or other electromagnet component. The step of establishing a plurality of individual outer magnetic elements may comprise the step of establishing a plurality of individual electromagnetic outer magnetic elements (a plurality of electromagnet components, wherein the term electromagnet components includes a stator(s), rotor(s), and/or other electromagnetic component)) or, more generally, at least one individual electromagnetic element (which may be an electromagnetic component). Additionally, the movable outer magnetic element may comprise at least one electromagnetic element, which again, may be an electromagnetic component.

A non-magnetizable and magnetically permeable flow containment element may be established internally of the movable (or axially rotatable) outer magnetic element, may be made from any non-magnetizable and magnetically permeable material such as stainless steel, and may form a part of (or all of) the conduit section. The overall outer magnetic element length (i.e., the distance from the most upflow point to the most downflow point of the outer magnetic element) may be related to a design torque, which may be the maximum external torque applied to the outer magnetic element which the actuator should be able to transmit to the movable valve element such that opening, closing, and throttling (movement to an intermediate position) may be accomplished. A greater amount may be established for redundancy as well. The design torque may depend on factors such as flow viscosity, fluid pressure, axial bias pressure, interfacing surface composition and flow speed, and environmental conditions such as temperature, among others. Further, a distance between each of the individual inner (or outer) magnetic elements and perimeterally (or perhaps circumferentially) adjacent individual inner (or outer) magnetic elements may be related to a radial thickness of the non-magnetizable and magnetically permeable flow containment element such that the ratio of the gap distance to the thickness may be approximately 2:1. Either or both of the inner magnetic element (including the individual inner magnets or magnetic elements) and the movable (or axially rotatable) outer magnetic element (including the individual outer magnetic elements) may be curved to correspond to a radially adjacent surface (externally radially adjacent in the case of the inner magnetic element; internally radially adjacent in the case of the outer magnetic elements) of the non- magnetizable and magnetically permeable flow containment element. The outer ring (or more generally outer magnetic element) can be connected to any type of operator, whether manual, electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic. More generally, this operator is referred to as an actuator operation facilitator element and may be configured such that the outer magnetic element responds to it. For simplicity, the design in Figure 6 may have a handle; as but one example, the design may incorporate a threaded nut (Fig. 3, item 16) or the like welded or otherwise attached/integral to the outer ring, to which a handle may be attached for manual actuation. Alternatively, or additionally, as but an example, manual activation may be facilitated by a textured and/or "grippy" outer surface. The i nner ring ( or i nner magnetic e lement) m ay b e c onnected t o t he rotating h alf o f the valve itself using an attachment element such as ribs and or adhesive. The two rings (outer magnetic element and inner magnetic element) may be magnetically coupled through a nonmagnetic, perhaps stainless steel containment shell (Fig. 3, item 7). Turning the outer ring (or magnetic element) 180° from the open position may force the inner ring to follow, rotating the valve to the closed position (Fig. 2). High torque transfer from outer to inner ring may be achieved in three ways (the following list is non-exclusive and presented merely for illustrative and exemplary reasons):

• The NdFeB material may have the highest combination of residual magnetization potential and resistance to demagnetization of any of the commercially available magnet materials.

• The bar magnets (Fig. 3, items 12 and 13) may have a slightly curved cross section that may help to minimize the gap between inner and outer rings, thus affording a stronger coupling torque. • The polarity of the bar magnets (or of any type of outer or inner individual magnet or magnetic element) may alternate around the ring (or magnetic element), effecting repulsive forces that reinforce attractive forces when the outer ring (or outer magnetic element) rotates slightly with respect to the inner ring (or inner magnetic element). Note that alternating polarity may also be referred to as alternating phase.

A drive ring (Fig. 3, item 11) may hold the outer magnets in place through positioning ribs and a bonding agent (or adhesive). The inner magnets may be similarly indexed and may be bonded to a rotating cartridge (Fig. 3, item 8). For automated applications, the handle nut may be replaced by a worm gear or rack and pinion drive and an external source of power.

In one embodiment, the stationary valve element may comprise a stationary valve element that may be hollowed out or even not perfectly laminar in design. This could occur if a portion of the material of the stationary valve element that would otherwise interface with the movable valve element mating surface were eliminated or "hollowed out" from the stationary valve element or if the sloping surfaces were hollowed out so that they might not perfectly support laminar flow in the fully open position. They might even be abrupt and create cavitation in the flow if not critical to the design. The only interfacing, mating surfaces of a stationary valve element may be annular or ringed surface(s) and may even have a rib for structural enhancement. Such a stationary valve element mating surface may be referred to as a ribbed and ringed stationary valve element mating surface, such a stationary valve element may be said to ribbedly and ringedly interface with at least a portion, such a s a first portion, of the movable v alve e lement, and s uch s ealing m ay be referred to as ribbed and ringed sealing. Such hollowing out of the stationary valve element may improve performance of the valve by, for example, reducing friction caused by rotation of the interfacing surfaces. Note that a stationary valve element may create a type of conical (or other shape) seal (i.e., as long as the potential points of contact of the interfacing or mating surfaces lie on an imaginary cone (or other shape), the seal is conical (or other shaped)). Similarly, the mating surface of a stationary valve element may be a conical mating surface, but may also be a ribbed and ringed mating surface. The invention also envisions an inverted type of design where, instead of a stationary valve element being hollowed out, the movable valve element is hollowed out. Naturally both may be so designed as well. It is important also to realize that although the seal that results from such a design may result from one or more individual seals that each may be coplanar, the resulting seal in its entirety may be nonplanar as long as the individual seals are not of the same plane.

An upstream containment shell (Fig. 2, item 7) may provide a fluid barrier between inner and outer magnet rings (Fig. 7, items 22 & 23). These inner and outer magnet rings may also have inner and outer ring holders, respectively (Fig. 7, items 24 & 25). It may be made of a magnetically permeable but non-magnetizable material such as stainless steel to permit a magnetic circuit or the like and may be configured to provide a flow (including liquid, gas, or any other fluid) along an entry and exit flowpath, each of which can be delineated from the other by a conceptual surface that passes through the flow and that is roughly demarcated by the interface of the movable valve element with the stationary valve element. The nonmagnetizable and magnetically permeable flow containment element may have minimal thickness to promote magnetic coupling between inner and outer magnets. Further, its optimal thickness may be determinable in the following manner: a distance between each of the individual inner (or outer) magnetic elements and perimeterally (perhaps circumferentially) adjacent individual inner (or outer) magnetic elements may be approximately twice the radial thickness of the non-magnetizable and magnetically permeable flow containment element.

The choice of 8 bar magnets (Fig. 7) for the number of magnets in each the inner magnetic element and, where the outer magnetic elements includes permanent magnets, the outer magnetic element reflects a tradeoff between rotational resolution and packing factor. For increased torque and/or precision requirements, or for other design related reasons this number could easily be expanded to more magnets, such as, but not limited to, 12 or 16, for example. Fewer magnets may also be a design possibility. As an example, a non-exclusive list of the possibilities may include 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26.

Methods corollary to each of the disclosed apparatus are hereby presented as independent embodiments. A method of magnetically actuating a movable valve may comprise the steps of providing a flow having a directional flowpath, establishing an axially rotatable valve element alongside said directional flowpath, establishing an outer magnetic element externally of said axially rotatable valve element, magnetically coupling said outer magnetic element and said axially rotatable valve element, and axially rotating said axially rotatable valve element by moving said outer magnetic element. The step of moving the outer magnetic element may comprise the step of rotating the outer magnetic element, which itself may comprise the step of axially rotating. The step of magnetically coupling said outer magnetic element and the axially rotatable valve element may comprise the step of establishing an inner magnetic element, which itself may comprise the step of establishing a plurality of individual inner magnetic elements, each of which may be a permanent magnet, such as bar magnet. Regardless of whether the permanent magnets are bar magnets, they may be NdFeB permanent magnets. The term magnetically coupling denotes configuring the components of the apparatus such that the axially rotatable valve element magnetically responds to the outer magnetic element.

Establishing an outer magnetic element may comprise the step of establishing a plurality of individual outer magnetic elements, which itself may comprise establishing at least one electromagnetic element and/or establishing at least on permanent magnet (such as a bar magnet). This permanent magnet may be a NdFeB permanent magnet. Establishing an outer magnetic element and establishing an inner magnetic element may each also comprise the step of alternating the polarity (or phase) of the individual outer (or inner) magnetic elements such that an outer (or inner) individual magnetic element will have a polar orientation than is opposite that of perimeterally adjacent outer (or inner) individual magnetic elements. The method may further comprise the step of determining an axial length of the outer magnetic element according to a design torque, as it may also further comprise the step of determining a non-magnetizable and magnetically permeable flow containment element radial thickness according to said s ubstantially e qual adjacent outer magnetic element gap.

Valve connections to the flow line may be flanged (Fig. 3, items 1 and 6), connected by screws (Fig. 3, item 20), a gasket (Fig. 3, item 21), and/or threaded to achieve a static seal. Applications requiring a hermetic seal may employ welded fittings or the like. Further, hermetic as used may also refer to a conduit or other element that is impervious to external influence (e.g., does not permit the entry of external gases or fluids) and may not necessarily require welding. The same may be true for mating the two valve halves (Fig. 3, items 3 and 4), where the flanges and gasket may be replaced by welded fittings to achieve a hermetic seal or the like. The mating flange (Fig. 3, item 4) threads may match the threads on the containment shell, allowing fine adjustment to precisely align inner and outer magnets.

The invention may also include a hermetically contained valve that comprises a movable valve element, a stationary valve element that interfaces with at least a first portion of the movable valve element, and an inflexible, non-moving hermetic enclosure element established externally of the movable valve element. The inflexible, non-moving hermetic enclosure element may be intended to distinguish from, among other designs, the bellows- type or accordion-type hermetic enclosure design. The inflexible, non-moving hermetic enclosure element may comprise a non-magnetizable and magnetically permeable flow containment element and a second portion of the stationary valve element may continually interface with a second portion of the movable valve element, the second portion being that portion which contact even during valve open position. The movable valve element may be an axially rotatable valve element, as it may rotate about a conduit centerline axis (or about an axis that is substantially parallel to the internal flowpath. The movable valve element and the stationary valve element may be configured to establish a reconfigurable offset (or eccentric) venturi flowpath. The valve may further comprise a movable outer magnetic element that may be established externally of an inner surface of the non-magnetizable and magnetically permeable flow containment element and that may comprise an axially rotatable outer magnetic element. The apparatus may further comprise an axially rotatable inner magnetic element established internally of the inner surface of the non-magnetizable and magnetically permeable flow containment element.

The movable (or axially rotatable) outer magnetic element may comprise at least one electromagnetic outer magnetic element and/or at least one permanent outer magnetic element. Either type of outer magnetic element may comprise a plurality of outer magnetic elements; an electromagnetic outer magnetic element may comprise electromagnetic individual outer magnetic elements while permanent outer magnetic elements may comprise individual permanent magnet(s) that may be bar magnets. In one embodiment, any permanent individual magnet may be a NdFeB rare-earth magnet. However, in other embodiments, any other type of permanent magnet may be used. The axially rotatable inner magnetic element may comprise a plurality of individual inner magnetic elements that may be bar magnets. Again, in one embodiment, any permanent magnet may be NdFeB rare earth magnets; in other embodiments any other type of magnet may be used. The stationary valve e lement m ay obliquely interface with at 1 east a first p ortion o f the m ovable valve element, where the first portion may comprise that part which makes up the second portion (i.e., the continually interfacing portion). This oblique interface may also be a nonplanar interface. The inflexible, non-moving hermetic enclosure element may comprise a stainless steel enclosure element and may comprise a conduit, which may itself comprise a substantially axially equal diameter conduit, which means that a diameter o f the c onduit measured at one location will be approximately the same at all other locations (in the vicinity of the valve) either upflow or downflow of the original measuring point. Methods corollary to the hermetically contained valve include flowing a fluid along a flowpath, hermetically enclosing at least a portion of said fluid, establishing a movable valve element in the flowpath, causing motion of the movable valve element, and inflexibly maintaining a hermetic enclosure. The step of causing motion of the movable valve element may comprise the step of causing axial rotation of the movable valve element, while the step of hermetically enclosing at least a portion of said fluid comprises the step of enclosing at least a portion of the fluid within a non-magnetizable and magnetically permeable flow containment element, which itself may be a stainless steel containment element such as a stainless steel shell. The step of causing motion of the movable valve element may also comprise the step of moving, as by axially rotating, e.g., an actuator operation facilitator element. Further, said step of establishing a movable valve element comprises the step of interfacing a movable valve element with at least a portion of a stationary valve element.

The drive bearings (Fig. 3, item 15) may serve as both thrust and journal bearings to keep the drive ring centered and to minimize rotational friction. A retaining sleeve (Fig. 3, item 5), bonded or welded to the containment shell, may hold the drive ring and drive bearings in place.

The stationary element may comprise a stationary valve cartridge (Fig. 3, item 9) (the term cartridge is used because the stationary valve element may be a part that is separable from the rest of the valve apparatus for maintenance reasons, e.g.) and may have a non-circular outer cross-sectional shape that may be polygonal, or more specifically, octagonal to match an inner surface of the surrounding conduit, which may be the downstream shell (Fig. 3, item 2). This may prevent rotation and serve to align the stationary cartridge rotationally and axially. There are other shapes of surfaces that match the downstream shell and achieve the same purpose. A ring seal (Fig. 3, item 19) may aid in aligning the stationary cartridge. A downstream ramp (or exit ramp) (Fig. 3, item 10) may have a truncated circular opening to match the stationary cartridge (or more generally, the stationary valve element) if in fact it is the stationary valve element that is located downflow (or downstream). The exit ramp may be properly aligned and perhaps bonded to the internal diameter of the downstream shell. It may even have a longer ramp profile than the upstream cartridge (or valve element) ramp (also know as entry ramp), due to inherently asymmetrical flow dynamics through an offset venturi. The entry ramp and the valve element mating surface in its vicinity (in a preferred embodiment, the movable (or axially rotatable) valve element mating surface) may each be made from different materials with the possible result that the components having different wear characteristics.

Because it may eliminate any mechanical linkage between the valve rotor and the external actuator (or actuator operation facilitator element), the invention may take steps to provide direct, visual confirmation of valve position. Such position feedback may be accomplished through a rotary position sensor (Fig. 8, item 26), some aspects of which are depicted in one embodiment in Figure 8. The valve apparatus may also comprise a rotary position sensor that indicates whether the valve is open or closed (if it is merely a binary rotary position sensor) or that may also indicate intermediate throttling positions. In one embodiment, two small, disc-shaped magnets (Fig. 8, item 27) may be embedded 180° apart within the valve rotor and as close as practical to a nonmagnetizable and magnetically permeable flow containment shell that may separate inner and outer magnet rings (Fig. 7, items 22 & 23), or inner and outer magnetic elements. The disc magnets may be magnetized across the thin dimension, perhaps with one with its north pole facing outward and the other with its south pole facing outward. A sensor, either Hall Effect or magnetoresistive, may be installed on the outside of the containment shell and may even be connected to a low-voltage power supply. The disc magnets may be positioned such that one magnet may be directly aligned with the sensor when the valve is open, forcing reverse alignment when the valve is closed. The sensor may respond to the proximity of either disc magnet by altering its output voltage. The direction of voltage change may depend on the disc magnet's field orientation. Thus, the sensor may output one voltage when the valve is open and another when the valve is closed. All positions in between the open and closed positions may correspond to a neutral output voltage from the sensor. Methods corollary to each of the disclosed apparatus are hereby presented as independent embodiments.

One method for controlling a fluid flow comprises the steps of creating a fluid flow with a flow area, axially rotating an axially rotatable valve element so as to change the flow area, and obliquely s ealing the fluid flow, while another alternate method comprises the steps of creating a venturi fluid flow with a venturi flow area, moving a movable valve element so as to change the venturi flow area, and obliquely sealing the venturi fluid flow. A flow area refers to a planar area that is normal to the direction of fluid flow and generally represents the area through which a fluid flows. A venturi fluid flow may be a fluid flow that is locally narrowed in comparison with upflow or downflow; it has a smaller flow area, referred to as a venturi flow area. Axially rotating generally may refer to rotation about an axis that is substantially the same as a conduit centerline axis (Fig. 8, item 28), or rotating about an axis that is substantially parallel to the internal flowpath. An offset (or eccentric) venturi flow may be a venturi flow where the localized flowpath of the venturi flow is not the same as a conduit centerline flow upflow or downflow of the narrowed section; such a flow has an eccentric or offset venturi flow area. Sealing, as well as the term seal, may refer to obstruction of flow that would otherwise pass through the valve in an open position (in other words, there is no sealing in valve open position). Obliquely (or oblique) sealing may refer to sealing that is accomplished by an interface of surfaces that is not perpendicular to the localized flowpath. Only one part of an interface need be oblique for that interface and the seal that it creates to be termed oblique. Nonplanarly sealing refers to a type of sealing where the interface created by mating surfaces is not coplanar. Conically sealing is a type of nonplanarly sealing and comprises any sealing that is caused by an interface of surfaces that are substantially conical in shape (one may be convex and the other concave, as with all interfacing surfaces). Self-aligned sealing refers to sealing wherein the interfacing surfaces are caused to align in some fashion, such as along a centering axis, by the mating, interfitting nature of shapes (such as convex conical and concave conical, e.g.) that correspond with one another. Note that any type of fluid flow (i.e., including venturi) may be obliquely, nonplanarly, conically and/or self-aligned sealed.

One embodiment of the invention includes constantly axially rotating an axially rotatable valve element, meaning that all rotation, from closed position to open position, including through intermediate throttling positions, is about an axis that is substantially the same as the conduit centerline, or substantially parallel to the internal flowpath. Also, the method for controlling fluid flow may also comprise the step of interfacing a first portion of a movable (or axially rotatable) valve element with a first portion of a stationary valve element, and perhaps the step of continually interfacing a second portion of a movable (or axially rotatable) valve element with a second portion of a stationary valve element, wherein the second portion may be a part of the first portion and wherein the second portion interfaces even in a valve open position. The second portion may be in the vicinity of the movable (or axially rotatable) valve's axis of rotation and may have a circular or annular shaped projection that is substantially normal to the axis of rotation. Interfacing of surfaces may also be axially biased interfacing, wherein a bias element such as a helical compression spring, e.g., may b e used to exert a force in a direction parallel to the c enterline of the conduit.

A preferred embodiment may add more discs around the 360° circle to provide more than binary position feedback. For precise throttling applications, the disc magnets may be replaced with a multi-pole ring magnet to provide continuous, rotary position feedback.

As can be easily understood from the foregoing, the basic concepts of the present invention may be embodied in a variety of ways. It involves both valve actuation and sealing techniques as well as devices to accomplish the appropriate actuation or sealing. In this application, the techniques are disclosed as part of the results shown to be achieved by the various devices described and as steps which are inherent to utilization. They are simply the natural result of utilizing the devices as intended and described. In addition, while some devices are disclosed, it should be understood that these not only accomplish certain methods but also can be varied in a number of ways. Importantly, as to all of the foregoing, all of these facets should be understood to be encompassed by this disclosure.

The discussion included is intended to serve as a basic description. The reader should be aware that the specific discussion may not explicitly describe all embodiments possible; many alternatives are implicit. It also may not fully explain the generic nature of the invention a nd may not explicitly show how each feature or element can actually be representative of a broader function or of a great variety of alternative or equivalent elements. Again, these are implicitly included in this disclosure. Where the invention is described in device-oriented terminology, each element of the device implicitly performs a function. A pparatus claims m ay not o nly b e i ncluded f or t he d evice d escribed, but a lso method or process claims may be included to address the functions the invention and each element performs. Neither the description nor the terminology is intended to limit the scope of the claims potentially to be included at any point.

It should also be understood that a variety of changes may be made without departing from the essence of the invention. Such changes are also implicitly included in the description. They still fall within the scope of this invention. A broad disclosure encompassing both the explicit embodiment(s) shown, the great variety of implicit alternative embodiments, and the broad methods or processes and the like are encompassed by this disclosure and may be relied upon when drafting any claims if desired.

Further, each of the various elements of the invention and claims may also be achieved in a variety of manners. This disclosure should be understood to encompass each such variation, be it a variation of an embodiment of any apparatus embodiment, a method or process embodiment, or even merely a variation of any element of these. Particularly, it should be understood that as the disclosure relates to elements of the invention, the words for each element may be expressed by equivalent apparatus terms or method terms -- even if only the function or result i s the same. S uch e quivalent, b roader, or even more generic terms should be considered to be encompassed in the description of each element or action. Such terms can be substituted where desired to make explicit the implicitly broad coverage to which this invention is entitled. As but one example, it should be understood that all actions may be expressed as a means for taking that action or as an element which causes that action. Similarly, each physical element disclosed should be understood to encompass a disclosure of the action which that physical element facilitates. Regarding this last aspect, as but one example, the disclosure of an "actuator" should be understood to encompass disclosure of the act of "actuating" ~ whether explicitly discussed or not ~ and, conversely, were there effectively disclosure of the act of "actuating", such a disclosure should be understood to encompass disclosure of a "actuator" and even a "means for actuating" Such changes and alternative terms are to be understood to be explicitly included in the description.

All patents, publications, or other references mentioned in this application for patent are hereby incorporated by reference. In addition, as to each term used it should be understood that unless its utilization in this application is inconsistent with such interpretation, common dictionary definitions should be understood as incorporated for each term and all definitions, alternative terms, and synonyms such as contained in the Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, second edition are hereby incorporated by reference. Finally, all references listed in the following list of references are hereby appended and hereby incorporated by reference, however, as to each of the above, to the extent that such information or statements incorporated by reference might be considered inconsistent with the patenting of this/these invention(s) such statements are expressly not to be considered as made by the applicant(s). U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

Thus, the applicant(s) should be understood to have support to claim at least: i) each of the actuated devices as herein disclosed and described, ii) the related methods disclosed

10 and described, iii) similar, equivalent, and even implicit variations of each of these devices and methods, iv) those alternative designs which accomplish each of the functions shown as are disclosed and described, v) those alternative designs and methods which accomplish each of the functions shown as are implicit to accomplish that which is disclosed and described, vi) each feature, component, and step shown as separate and independent

15 inventions, vii) the applications enhanced by the various systems or components disclosed, viii) the resulting products produced by such systems or components, and ix) methods and apparatuses substantially as described hereinbefore and with reference to any of the accompanying examples, x) the various combinations and permutations of each of the elements disclosed, and xi) each potentially dependent claim or concept as a dependency on each and every one of the independent claims or concepts presented. In this regard it should be understood that for practical reasons and so as to avoid adding potentially hundreds of claims, the applicant may eventually present claims with initial dependencies only. Support should be understood to exist to the degree required under new matter laws — including but not limited to European Patent Convention Article 123(2) and United States Patent Law 35 USC 132 or other such laws— to permit the addition of any of the various dependencies or other elements presented under one independent claim or concept as dependencies or elements under any other independent claim or concept. In drafting the claims whether in this application or in any subsequent application, it should also be understood that the applicant has intended to capture as full and broad a scope of coverage as legally available. To the extent that insubstantial substitutes are made, to the extent that the applicant did not in fact draft any claim so as to literally encompass any particular embodiment, and to the extent otherwise applicable, the applicant should not be understood to have in any way intended to or actually relinquished such coverage as the applicant simply may not have been able to anticipate all e ventualities; one skilled in the art, should not be reasonably expected to have drafted a claim that would have literally encompassed such alternative embodiments.

Any claims set forth at any time are hereby incorporated by reference as part of this description of the invention, and the applicant expressly reserves the right to use all of or a portion of such incorporated content of such claims as additional description to support any of or all of the claims or any element or component thereof, and the applicant further expressly reserves the right to move any portion of or all of the incorporated content of such claims or any element or component thereof from the description into the claims or vice- versa as necessary to define the matter for which protection is sought by this application or by any subsequent continuation, division, or continuation-in-part application thereof, or to obtain any benefit of, reduction in fees pursuant to, or to comply with the patent laws, rules, or r egulations o f a ny c ountry o r t reaty, a nd s uch c ontent incorporated by reference shall survive during the entire pendency of this application including any subsequent continuation, division, or continuation-in-part application thereof or any reissue or extension thereon. Further, if or when used, the use of the transitional phrase "comprising" is used to maintain the "open-end" claims herein, according to traditional claim interpretation. Thus, unless the context requires otherwise, it should be understood that the term "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", are intended to imply the inclusion of a stated element or step or group of elements or steps but not the exclusion of any other element or step or group of elements or steps. Such terms should be interpreted in their most expansive form so as to afford the applicant the broadest c overage 1 egally permissible.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus comprising: a conduit section having an internal flowpath and an inner surface; a movable permanent outer magnetic element established externally of said inner surface of said conduit section; an axially rotatable permanent inner magnetic element magnetically responsive to said movable outer magnetic element; and an inner attachment element that fixedly positions said axially rotatable inner magnetic element with respect to an axially rotatable valve element.

2. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said movable outer magnetic element comprises an axially rotatable outer magnetic element and said axially rotatable inner magnetic element is magnetically responsive to said axially rotatable outer magnetic element.

3. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said internal flowpath comprises a venturi flowpath.

4. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 3 wherein said venturi flowpath comprises an offset venturi flowpath.

5. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said movable outer magnetic element comprises an outer magnetic ring element.

6. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said axially rotatable permanent inner magnetic element comprises an inner magnetic ring element.

7. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 5 wherein said axially rotatable permanent inner magnetic element comprises an inner magnetic ring element.

8. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 1, 4, or 5 wherein said movable permanent outer magnetic element comprises a plurality of individual permanent outer magnetic elements.

5

9. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said individual outer magnetic element comprise at least one bar magnet.

10. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 9 wherein said individual 10 outer magnetic element comprise a plurality of permanent magnets.

11. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 8 wherein said individual outer magnetic elements comprise alternating polarity individual outer magnetic elements.

15

12 A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 10 wherein said individual outer magnetic elements comprise alternating polarity individual outer magnetic elements.

20 13. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 1, 3, 4, or 10 wherein said axially rotatable inner magnetic element comprises a plurality of individual permanent inner magnetic elements.

14. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 1, 3, 4, or 10 wherein said 25 axially rotatable permanent inner magnetic element comprises at least one bar magnet.

15. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 1, 3, 4, or 10 wherein said axially rotatable permanent inner magnetic element comprises a plurality of bar

30 magnets.

16. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 8 wherein said axially rotatable permanent inner magnetic element comprises a plurality of bar magnets.

17. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 10 wherein said axially rotatable permanent inner magnetic element comprises a plurality of bar magnets.

18. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 13 wherein said individual permanent inner magnetic elements comprise alternating polarity individual inner magnetic elements.

19. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 16 wherein said individual permanent inner magnetic elements comprise alternating polarity individual inner magnetic elements.

20. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 11 wherein said individual permanent inner magnetic elements comprise alternating polarity individual inner magnetic elements oppositely corresponding to said alternating polarity individual outer magnetic elements.

21. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 18 wherein said individual permanent inner magnetic elements comprise alternating polarity individual inner magnetic elements oppositely corresponding to alternating polarity individual outer magnetic elements.

22. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 19 wherein said individual permanent inner magnetic elements comprise alternating polarity individual inner magnetic elements oppositely corresponding to alternating polarity individual outer magnetic elements.

23. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 20 wherein said individual permanent inner magnetic elements comprise alternating polarity individual inner magnetic elements oppositely coπesponding to said alternating polarity individual outer magnetic elements.

24. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 1 or 4 wherein said conduit section comprises a non-magnetizable and magnetically permeable flow containment element established internally of said movable permanent outer magnetic element.

25. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 10 wherein said conduit section comprises a non-magnetizable and magnetically permeable flow containment element established internally of said movable permanent outer magnetic element.

26. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 16 wherein said conduit section comprises a non-magnetizable and magnetically permeable flow containment element established internally of said movable permanent outer magnetic element.

27. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 20 wherein said conduit section comprises a non-magnetizable and magnetically permeable flow containment element established internally of said movable permanent outer magnetic element.

28. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein an overall outer magnetic element has a length that establishes at least a design torque.

29. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 24 wherein a ratio of distance between each said individual outer magnetic element and perimeterally adjacent said individual outer magnetic elements to a radial thickness of said non- magnetizable and magnetically permeable flow containment element is approximately 2:1.

30. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 27 wherein a ratio of distance between each said individual inner magnetic element and perimeterally adjacent said inner magnetic elements to a radial thickness of said non-magnetizable and magnetically permeable flow containment element is approximately 2:1.

31. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 24 wherein said axially rotatable inner magnetic element is curved to correspond to an externally radially adjacent surface of said non-magnetizable and magnetically permeable flow containment element.

32. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 27 wherein said movable 5 outer magnetic element is curved to coπespond to an internally radially adjacent inner surface of said non-magnetizable and magnetically permeable flow containment element.

33. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said axially 10 rotatable inner magnetic element and said movable outer magnetic element each comprise at least one NdFeB rare-earth magnet.

34. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 17 wherein said axially rotatable inner magnetic element comprises at least one NdFeB rare-earth magnet.

15

35. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 1 and further comprising an actuator operation facilitator element to which said movable outer magnetic element is responsive.

20 36. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 24 and further comprising an actuator operation facilitator element to which said axially rotatable outer magnetic element is responsive.

37. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 27 and further comprising 25 an actuator operation facilitator element to which said electromagnetic outer magnetic element is responsive.

38. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 35 wherein said actuator operation facilitator element is of a type selected from the group consisting of:

30 electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic and manual.

39. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 38 wherein said actuator operation facilitator element comprises a handle.

40. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 38 wherein said actuator operation facilitator element comprises a grippy surface.

41. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 13 wherein said movable 5 outer magnetic element and said axially rotatable inner magnetic element each comprise individual magnetic elements in a number selected from the group consisting of 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26.

42. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 1, 3, 4, or 10 wherein said 10 conduit section having an internal flowpath and an inner surface comprises a hermetically sealed conduit section.

43. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 16 wherein said conduit section having an internal flowpath and an inner surface comprises a hermetically

15 sealed conduit section.

44. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 1, 3, 4, or 10 wherein said conduit section having an internal flowpath and an inner surface comprises a non- moving hermetically sealed conduit section.

20

45. A valve magnetic actuator apparatus as described in claim 16 wherein said conduit section having an internal flowpath and an inner surface comprises a non-moving hermetically sealed conduit section.

25 46. A method of magnetically actuating a movable valve comprising the steps of: providing a flow having a directional flowpath; establishing an axially rotatable valve element rotatable parallel to said directional flowpath; establishing an outer permanent magnetic element externally of said axially 30 rotatable valve element; magnetically coupling said outer magnetic element and said axially rotatable valve element; and axially rotating said axially rotatable valve element by moving said outer magnetic element.

47. A method of magnetically actuating a movable valve as described in claim 46 wherein said step of moving said outer magnetic element comprises the step of rotating said outer magnetic element.

5

48. A method of magnetically actuating a movable valve as described in claim 47 wherein said step of providing a flow having a directional flowpath comprises the step of providing a venturi flowpath.

10 49. A method of magnetically actuating a movable valve as described in claim 48 wherein said step of providing a flow having a directional flowpath comprises the step of providing an offset venturi flowpath.

50. A method of magnetically actuating a movable valve as described in claim 46 15 wherein said step of establishing an outer magnetic element comprises the step of establishing a plurality of individual outer magnetic elements.

51. A method of magnetically actuating a movable valve as described in claim 50 wherein said step of establishing a plurality of individual outer magnetic elements

20 comprises the step of establishing at least one electromagnetic element.

52. A method of magnetically actuating a movable valve as described in claim 50 wherein said step of establishing an outer magnetic element comprises the step of alternating the polarity of said individual outer magnetic elements.

25

53. A method of magnetically actuating a movable valve as described in claim 51 wherein said step of establishing a plurality of individual outer magnetic elements comprises the step of establishing at least one permanent magnet.

30 54. A method of magnetically actuating a movable valve as described in claim 46 wherein said step of magnetically c oupling s aid outer m agnetic e lement and said axially rotatable valve element comprises the step of establishing an inner magnetic element.

55. A method of magnetically actuating a movable valve as described in claim 54 wherein said step of establishing an inner magnetic element comprises the step of establishing a plurality of individual inner magnetic elements.

56. A method of magnetically actuating a movable valve as described in claim 55 and further comprising the step of alternating the polarity of perimeterally adjacent said individual inner magnetic elements.

57. A method of magnetically actuating a movable valve as described in claim 46 and further comprising t he s tep o f d etermining an axial length o f s aid o uter m agnetic element according to a design torque.

58. A method of magnetically actuating a movable valve as described in claim 50 and further comprising the step of establishing a substantially equal adjacent outer magnetic element gap between perimeterally adjacent individual outer magnetic elements.

59. A method of magnetically actuating a movable valve as described in claim 58 and further comprising the step of determining a non-magnetizable and magnetically permeable flow containment element radial thickness according to said substantially equal adjacent outer magnetic element gap.

60. A method of magnetically actuating a movable valve as described in claim 46 wherein said step of providing a flow having a directional flowpath comprises the step of hermetically sealing said flowpath.

61. A method of magnetically actuating a movable valve as described in claim 60 wherein said step of hermetically sealing said flowpath comprises the step of establishing a non-moving hermetically sealed conduit.

62. A valve apparatus comprising: a conduit section to deliver a fluid flow along an entry and an exit flowpath; an axially rotatable valve element established along at least one of said flowpaths; at least one oblique axially rotatable valve element mating surface rotatable with said axially rotatable valve element; a stationary valve element established along at least one of said flowpaths; at 1 east o ne o blique s tationary valve e lement m ating surface r esponsive t o said stationary valve element and that interfaces with said at least one oblique axially rotatable valve element mating surface; and an oblique seal formed by at least a portion of said interface of said at least one oblique stationary valve element mating surface and said at least one oblique axially rotatable valve element mating surface. ^■

10

63. A valve apparatus comprising: a conduit section to deliver a venturi flow along an entry and an exit flowpath; a movable valve element established along at least one of said flowpaths; 15 at least one oblique movable valve element mating surface movable with said movable valve element; a stationary valve element established along at least one of said flowpaths; at least one oblique stationary valve e lement m ating surface r esponsive to said stationary valve element and that interfaces with said at least one 20 oblique movable valve element mating surface; and an oblique seal formed by at least a portion of said interface of said at least one oblique stationary valve element mating surface and said at least one oblique movable valve element mating surface.

25 64. A valve apparatus as described in claim 62 or 63 and further comprising an actuator element to which said axially rotatable valve element is responsive.

65. A valve apparatus as described in claim 62 wherein said at least one oblique axially rotatable valve element mating surface comprises at least one nonplanar axially

30 rotatable valve element m ating s urface, said at 1 east o ne o blique s tationary valve element mating surface comprises at least one nonplanar stationary valve element mating surface and said oblique seal comprises a nonplanar seal.

66. A valve apparatus as described in claim 63 wherein said at least one oblique movable valve e lement mating surface comprises at least one nonplanar m ovable valve element mating surface and said at least one oblique stationary valve element mating surface comprises at least one nonplanar stationary valve element mating

5 surface and said oblique seal comprises a nonplanar seal.

67. A valve apparatus as described in claim 62 wherein said entry and exit flowpaths comprise an offset venturi flowpath.

10 68. A valve apparatus a s described in claim 63 wherein said movable valve element comprises an axially rotatable valve element and said at least one oblique movable valve element mating surface movable with said movable valve element comprises at least one oblique axially rotatable valve element mating surface axially rotatable with said axially rotatable valve element.

15

69. A valve apparatus as described in claim 62 wherein said axially rotatable valve element is located upflow of said stationary valve element.

70. A valve apparatus as described in claim 63 wherein said movable valve element is 20 located upflow of said stationary valve element.

71. A valve apparatus as described in claim 62 wherein said at least one oblique axially rotatable valve element mating surface comprises at least one nonplanar axially rotatable valve element mating surface.

25

72. A valve apparatus as described in claim 63 wherein said at least one oblique movable v alve e lement mating surface comprises at least one nonplanar m ovable valve element mating surface.

30 73. A valve apparatus as described in claim 65 or 71 wherein said at least one nonplanar axially rotatable valve element mating surface is established in a flow environment.

74. A valve apparatus as described in claim 66 or 72 wherein said at least one nonplanar movable valve element mating surface is established in a flow environment.

75. A valve apparatus as described in claim 62 wherein said at least one oblique axially rotatable valve element mating surface is established in a flow environment.

5 76. A valve apparatus as described in claim 63 wherein said at least one oblique movable valve element mating surface is established in a flow environment.

77. A valve apparatus as described in claim 62 wherein said axially rotatable valve element and said at least one oblique axially rotatable valve element mating surface

10 each rotate about a conduit centerline axis.

78. A valve apparatus as described in claim 68 wherein said axially rotatable valve element and said at least one oblique axially rotatable valve element mating surface each rotate about a conduit centerline axis.

15

79. A valve apparatus as described in claim 62 or 68 wherein said axially rotatable valve element and said at least one oblique axially rotatable valve element mating surface are each constantly axially rotatable.

20 80. A valve apparatus as described in claim 62 wherein said fluid flow is laminar flow.

81 A valve apparatus as described in claim 62 wherein said at least one oblique axially rotatable valve element mating surface is made from a material that is more wear resistant than said at least one oblique stationary valve element mating surface.

25

82 A valve apparatus as described in claim 62 wherein said at least one oblique movable valve element mating surface is made from a material that is more wear resistant than said at least one oblique stationary valve element mating surface.

30 83. A valve apparatus as described in claim 63 wherein said venturi flow is laminar flow.

84. A valve apparatus as described in claim 62 wherein said at least one oblique axially rotatable valve element mating surface comprises at least one convex axially rotatable valve element mating surface.

5 85 A valve apparatus as described in claim 84 wherein said stationary valve element mating surface comprises a ribbed and ringed stationary valve element mating surface.

86. A valve apparatus as described in claim 63 wherein said at least one oblique 10 movable valve element mating surface comprises at least one convex movable valve element mating surface.

87. A valve apparatus as described in claim 86 wherein said stationary valve element mating surface comprises a ribbed and ringed stationary valve element mating

15 surface.

88. A valve apparatus as described in claim 62 or 84 wherein said at least one oblique axially rotatable valve element mating surface is of a shape selected from the group consisting of: conical, spherical, parabolloidic, and polar section.

20

89. A valve apparatus as described in claim 63 or 86 wherein said at least one oblique movable valve element mating surface is of a shape selected from the group consisting of: conical, spherical, parabolloidic and polar section.

25 90. A valve apparatus as described in claim 62 or 68 and further comprising an axial bias element to which said axially rotatable valve element is responsive.

91. A valve apparatus as described in claim 63 and further comprising an bias element to which said movable valve element is responsive.

30

92. A valve apparatus as described in claim 62 or 63 and further comprising a rotary position sensor.

93. A valve apparatus as described in claim 92 wherein said rotary position sensor comprises a binary rotary position sensor.

94. A valve apparatus as described in claim 62 wherein said axially rotatable valve 5 element further comprises a raised edge at an intersection of said axially rotatable valve element, said stationary valve element and said fluid.

95. A valve apparatus as described in claim 62 wherein said axially rotatable valve element 10 further comprises a raised edge at an intersection of said stationary valve element, said stationary valve element and said fluid.

96. A valve apparatus a s described in claim 63 wherein said movable valve element further comprises a raised edge at an intersection of said movable valve element,

15 said stationary valve element and said venturi flow.

97. A valve apparatus as described in claim 63 wherein said movable valve element further comprises a raised edge at an intersection of said stationary valve element, said 20 stationary valve element and said venturi flow.

98. A valve apparatus as described in claim 62 wherein said axially rotatable valve element comprises a vertex positioned within the exterior confines of said stationary valve element.

25

99. A valve apparatus a s described in claim 63 wherein said movable valve element comprises a vertex positioned within the exterior confines of said stationary valve element.

30 100. A valve apparatus as described in claim 98 or 99 and further comprising a spatial void between said vertex and said stationary valve element.

101. A valve apparatus as described in claim 63 wherein said venturi flow comprises an offset venturi flow.

102. A valve apparatus as described in claim 62 wherein said axially rotatable valve element and said stationary valve element together form a flat venturi flow section which is in contact with said fluid flow during valve open position and which

5 substantially matches an axial length of a seal section.

103. A valve apparatus as described in claim 63 wherein said movable valve element and said stationary valve element together form a flat venturi flow section which is in contact with said venturi fluid flow during valve open position and which

10 substantially matches an axial length of a seal section.

104. A valve apparatus as described in claim 62 or 63 wherein said entry and exit flowpaths are substantially in the same direction.

15 105. A valve apparatus as described in claim 62 or 63 wherein said stationary valve element comprises a stationary valve cartridge.

106. A valve apparatus as described in claim 105 wherein said stationary valve cartridge is established within said conduit section.

20

107. A valve apparatus as described in claim 105 wherein said stationary valve cartridge has a non-circular outer cross-sectional shape.

108. A valve apparatus as described in claim 106 wherein said stationary valve cartridge 25 has a non-circular outer cross-sectional shape.

109. A valve apparatus as described in claim 62 wherein a portion of said at least one oblique axially rotatable valve element mating surface continually interfaces with a portion of said at least one oblique stationary valve element mating surface.

30

110. A valve apparatus as described in claim 63 wherein a portion of said at least one oblique movable valve element mating surface continually interfaces with a portion of said at least one oblique stationary valve element mating surface.

111. A valve apparatus a s described in claim 63 wherein said movable valve element comprises an entry ramp made up of high wear resistance material.

112. A valve apparatus as described in claim 111 wherein said high wear resistance 5 material comprises limestone powder in a polyester resin.

113. A valve apparatus as described in claim 48 wherein said stationary valve element comprises an exit ramp having a truncated circular opening.

10 114. A valve apparatus as described in claim 62 wherein said axially rotatable valve element comprises an entry ramp made from material which is different from the material of which said at least one oblique axially rotatable valve element mating surface is made.

15 115. A valve apparatus a s described in claim 63 wherein said movable valve element comprises an entry ramp made from material which is different from the material of which said said at least one oblique movable valve element mating surface is made.

116. A method for controlling a fluid flow comprising the steps of: 20 creating a fluid flow with a flow area; axially rotating an axially rotatable valve element so as to change said flow area; and obliquely sealing said fluid flow.

25 117. A method for controlling a fluid flow comprising the steps of: creating an venturi fluid flow with a venturi flow area; moving a movable valve element so as to change said venturi flow area; and obliquely sealing said venturi fluid flow.

30 118. A method for controlling a fluid flow as described in claim 117 wherein said step of creating a venturi fluid flow comprises the step of creating an offset venturi fluid flow.

119. A method for controlling a fluid flow as described in claim 117 wherein said step of moving a movable valve element comprises the step of axially rotating an axially rotatable valve element.

5 120. A method for controlling a fluid flow as described in claim 116 wherein said step of creating fluid flow with a flow area comprises the step of creating an offset venturi fluid flow having an offset venturi flow area.

121. A method for controlling a fluid flow as described in claim 116 wherein said step of 10 obliquely sealing said fluid flow comprises the step of nonplanarly sealing said fluid flow.

122. A method for controlling a fluid flow as described in claim 121 wherein said step of nonplanarly sealing said fluid flow comprises the step of ribbed and ringed sealing.

15

123. A method for controlling a fluid flow as described in claim 117 wherein said step of obliquely sealing said venturi fluid flow comprises the step of nonplanarly sealing said venturi fluid flow.

20 124. A method for controlling a fluid flow as described in claim 123 wherein said step of nonplanarly sealing said venturi fluid flow comprises the step of ribbed and ringed sealing.

125. A method for controlling a fluid flow as described in claim 121 wherein said step of 25 nonplanarly sealing said fluid flow comprises the step of conically sealing said fluid flow.

126. A method for controlling a fluid flow as described in claim 123 wherein said step of nonplanarly sealing said venturi fluid flow comprises the step of conically sealing

30 said venturi fluid flow.

127. A method for controlling a fluid flow as described in claim 116 wherein said step of obliquely sealing said fluid flow comprises the step of self-aligned sealing said fluid flow.

128. A method for controlling a fluid flow as described in claim 117 wherein said step of obliquely sealing said venturi fluid flow comprises the step of self-aligned sealing said venturi fluid flow.

5

129. A method for controlling a fluid flow as described in claim 116 or 119 wherein said step of axially rotating an axially rotatable valve element comprises the step of constantly axially rotating said axially rotatable valve element.

10 130. A method for controlling a fluid flow as described in claim 115 and further comprising the step of interfacing a first portion of said axially rotatable valve element with a first portion of a stationary valve element.

131. A method for controlling a fluid flow as described in claim 117 and further 15 comprising the step of interfacing a first portion of said movable valve element with a first portion of a stationary valve element.

132. A method for controlling a fluid flow as described in claim 130 wherein said step of interfacing said axially rotatable valve element with a stationary valve element

20 comprises the step of continually interfacing a second portion of said axially rotatable valve element with a second portion of said stationary valve element.

133. A method for controlling a fluid flow as described in claim 131 wherein said step of interfacing said movable valve element with a stationary valve element comprises

25 the step of continually interfacing a second portion of said movable valve element with a second portion of said stationary valve element.

134. A method for controlling a fluid flow as described in claim 130 wherein said step of interfacing a first portion of said axially rotatable valve element with a first portion

30 of a stationary valve element comprises the step of axially biased interfacing.

135. A method for controlling a fluid flow as described in claim 131 wherein said step of interfacing a first portion of said movable valve element with a first portion of a stationary valve element comprises the step of axially biased interfacing.

136. A hermetically contained valve comprising: a movable valve element; a stationary valve element that interfaces with at least a first portion of said 5 movable valve element; and an inflexible, non-moving hermetic enclosure element established externally of said movable valve element.

137. A hermetically contained valve as described in claim 136 wherein said inflexible, 10 non-moving hermetic enclosure element comprises a non-magnetizable and magnetically permeable flow containment element.

138. A hermetically contained valve as described in claim 136 wherein a second portion of said stationary valve element continually interfaces with a second portion of said

15 movable valve element.

139. A hermetically contained valve as described in claim 136 wherein said movable valve element comprises an axially rotatable valve element.

20 140. A hermetically contained valve as described in claim 136 wherein said movable valve element and said stationary valve element are configured to establish a reconfigurable offset venturi flowpath.

141. A hermetically contained valve as described in claim 137 and further comprising a 25 movable outer magnetic element established externally of an inner surface of said non-magnetizable and magnetically permeable flow containment element.

142. A hermetically contained valve as described in claim 141 wherein said movable outer magnetic element comprises an axially rotatable outer magnetic element.

30

143. A hermetically contained valve as described in claim 141 or 142 and further comprising an axially rotatable inner magnetic element established internally of said inner surface of said non-magnetizable and magnetically permeable flow containment element.

144. A hermetically contained valve as described in claim 141 wherein said movable outer magnetic element comprises a plurality of individual outer magnetic elements.

5 145. A hermetically contained valve as described in claim 141 wherein said plurality of individual outer magnetic elements comprises at least one individual electromagnetic element.

146. A hermetically contained valve as described in claim 141 wherein said plurality of 10 individual outer magnetic elements comprises at least one permanent magnet.

147. A hermetically contained valve as described in claim 141 wherein said movable outer magnetic element comprises an electromagnetic element. 15

148. A hermetically contained valve as described in claim 143 wherein said axially rotatable inner magnetic element comprises a plurality of individual inner magnetic elements.

20 149. A hermetically contained valve as described in claim 136 wherein said stationary valve element obliquely interfaces with said at least a first portion of said movable valve element.

150. A hermetically contained valve as described in claim 149 wherein said stationary 25 valve element non-planarly interfaces with said at least a first portion of said movable valve element.

151. A hermetically contained valve as described in claim 150 wherein said stationary valve element ribbedly and ringedly interfaces with said at least a first portion of

30 said movable valve element.

152. A hermetically contained valve as described in claim 136 wherein said inflexible, non-moving hermetic enclosure element comprises a stainless steel enclosure element.

153. A hermetically contained valve as described in claim 136 wherein said inflexible, non-moving hermetic enclosure element comprises a conduit.

5 154. A hermetically contained valve as described in claim 153 wherein said conduit comprises a substantially axially equal diameter conduit.

155. A method of hermetically enclosing a sealing valve comprising the steps of: flowing a fluid along a flowpath; 10 hermetically enclosing at least a portion of said fluid; establishing a movable valve element in said flowpath; causing motion of said movable valve element; and inflexibly maintaining a hermetic enclosure.

15 156. A method of hermetically enclosing a sealing valve as described in claim 155 wherein said step of causing motion of said movable valve element comprises the step of causing axial rotation of said movable valve element.

157. A method of hermetically enclosing a sealing valve as described in claim 155 20 wherein said step of hermetically enclosing at least a portion of said fluid comprises the step of enclosing said at least a portion of said fluid within a non-magnetizable and magnetically permeable flow containment element.

158. A method of hennetically enclosing a sealing valve as described in claim 157 25 wherein said non-magnetizable and magnetically permeable flow containment element comprises a stainless steel containment element.

159. A method of hermetically enclosing a sealing valve as described in claim 155 wherein said step of causing motion of said movable valve element comprises the

30 step of non-penetrively causing motion.

160. A method of hermetically enclosing a sealing valve as described in claim 155 wherein said step of causing motion of said movable valve element comprises the step of moving an actuator operation facilitator element.

161. A method of hermetically enclosing a sealing valve as described in claim 160 wherein said step of moving said actuator operation facilitator element comprises the step of axially rotating said actuator operation facilitator element.

5

162. A method of hermetically enclosing a sealing valve as described in claim 155 wherein said step of establishing a movable valve element comprises the step of interfacing a movable valve element with at least a portion of a stationary valve element.

10

163. A valve apparatus comprising: a conduit section to deliver a fluid flow along an entry and an exit flowpath; a movable valve element established along at least one of said flowpaths; at least one oblique movable valve element mating surface movable with said 15 movable valve element; a stationary valve element established along at least one of said flowpaths; at least one oblique stationary valve e lement m ating surface responsive to said stationary valve element and that interfaces with said at least one oblique movable valve element mating surface; 20 an oblique seal formed by at least a portion of said interface of said at least one oblique stationary valve element mating surface and said at least one oblique axially rotatable valve element mating surface; and a magnetic actuator element to which said movable valve element is responsive. 25

164. A valve apparatus as described in claim 163 wherein said at least one oblique movable valve element mating surface comprises a convex oblique movable valve element mating surface.

30 165. A valve apparatus as described in claim 164 wherein said convex oblique movable valve element mating surface comprises a nonplanar movable valve element mating surface.

166. A valve apparatus as described in claim 165 wherein said movable valve element comprises an axially rotatable valve element.

167. A valve apparatus as described in claim 166 wherein said nonplanar movable valve 5 element mating surface comprises an axially rotatable valve element mating surface axially rotatable with said axially rotatable valve element.

168. A valve apparatus as d escribed i n claim 167 wherein said axially rotatable valve element is positioned upflow of said stationary valve element.

10

169. A valve apparatus as described in claim 168 wherein said fluid flow comprises a venturi fluid flow.

170. A valve apparatus as described in claim 169 wherein said venturi flow comprises an 15 offset venturi fluid flow.

171. A valve apparatus as described in claim 170 wherein said movable valve element comprises an axially rotatable valve element.

20 172. A valve apparatus as described in claim 171 wherein said magnetic actuator element comprises a movable outer magnetic element established externally of an inner surface of said conduit section.

173. A valve apparatus as described in claim 172 wherein said outer magnetic element 25 comprises at least one electromagnetic element.

174. A valve apparatus as described in claim 172 wherein said outer magnetic element comprises at least one permanent magnet.

30 175. A valve apparatus as described in claim 173 or 174 wherein said magnetic actuator element further comprises a non-magnetizable and magnetically permeable flow containment shell that also foπns at least a part of said conduit section.

176. A valve apparatus as described in claim 175 wherein said magnetic actuator element further comprises an axially rotatable inner magnetic element to which said axially rotatable valve element is responsive.

5 177. A valve apparatus as described in claim 176 wherein said movable outer magnetic element comprises an axially rotatable outer magnetic element.

178. A valve apparatus a s described in claim 177 wherein said axially rotatable i nner magnetic element and said axially rotatable outer magnetic element comprise

10 individual inner magnetic elements and individual outer magnetic elements, respectively.

179. A valve apparatus as described in claim 178 wherein said individual inner magnetic elements and individual outer magnetic elements each comprise individual magnetic

15 elements arranged in alternating polarity fashion.

180. A valve apparatus as described in claim 179 wherein said stationary valve element comprises a stationary valve cartridge.

20 181. A valve apparatus as d escribed i n claim 180 wherein said axially rotatable valve element mating surface comprises a conical mating surface.

182. A valve apparatus a s described in claim 181 wherein said axially rotatable i nner magnetic element and said axially rotatable outer magnetic element each comprises

25 at least one NdFeB rare-earth magnet.

183. A valve apparatus as described in claim 182 and further comprising a rotary position sensor.

30 184. A method of magnetically actuating a movable valve comprising the steps of: providing a flow having a directional flowpath and a flow area; establishing a movable valve element alongside said directional flowpath; establishing an outer magnetic element externally of said movable valve element; magnetically coupling said outer magnetic element and said movable valve element; moving said movable valve element by moving said outer magnetic element; changing said flow area; and 5 obliquely sealing said fluid flow.

185. A method of magnetically actuating a movable valve as described in claim 184 wherein said step of obliquely sealing said fluid flow comprises the step of nonplanarly sealing said fluid flow.

10

186. A method of magnetically actuating a movable valve as described in claim 185 wherein said step of nonplanarly sealing said fluid flow comprises the step of ribbed and ringed sealing.

15 187. A method of magnetically actuating a movable valve as described in claim 185 wherein said step of nonplanarly sealing said fluid flow comprises the step of self- aligned sealing said fluid flow.

188. A method of magnetically actuating a movable valve as described in claim 187 and 20 further comprising the step of interfacing a portion of said movable valve element with a stationary valve element.

189. A method of magnetically actuating a movable valve as described in claim 188 wherein said step of establishing a movable valve element comprises the step of

25 establishing an axially rotatable valve element.

190. A method of magnetically actuating a movable valve as described in claim 189 wherein said step of establishing an outer magnetic element externally of said movable valve element comprises the step of establishing a plurality of individual

30 outer magnetic elements.

191. A method of magnetically actuating a movable valve as described in claim 189 wherein said step of establishing an outer magnetic element externally of said movable valve element comprises the step of establishing an electromagnetic element.

192. A method of magnetically actuating a movable valve as described in claim 190 wherein said step of establishing an plurality of individual outer magnetic elements comprises the step of establishing a plurality of individual electromagnetic outer magnetic elements.

193. A method of magnetically actuating a movable valve as described in claim 190 wherein said step of establishing an plurality of individual outer magnetic elements comprises the step of establishing at least one individual permanent outer magnetic elements.

194. A method of magnetically actuating a movable valve as described in claim 192 or 193 wherein said step of magnetically coupling said outer magnetic element and said movable valve element comprises the step of establishing an inner magnetic element.

195. A method of magnetically actuating a movable valve as described in claim 194 wherein said step of establishing an inner magnetic element comprises the step of establishing a plurality of inner magnetic elements.

196. A method of magnetically actuating a movable valve as described in claim 195 wherein said step of moving said movable valve element by moving said outer magnetic element comprises the step of axially rotating said outer magnetic element.

197. A method of magnetically actuating a movable valve as described in claim 196 wherein said step of obliquely sealing said fluid flow comprises the step of nonplanarly sealing said fluid flow.

198. A method of magnetically actuating a movable valve as described in claim 197 wherein said step of providing a flow having a directional flowpath and a flow area comprises the step of providing a venturi flow having a directional flowpath and a venturi flow area.

199. A method of magnetically actuating a movable valve as described in claim 198 wherein said step of providing a venturi flow having a directional flowpath and a venturi flow area comprises the step of providing an offset venturi flow having a

5 directional flowpath and an offset venturi flow area.

200. A method of magnetically actuating a movable valve as described in claim 199 wherein said step of self-aligned sealing said fluid flow comprises the step of conically sealing said fluid flow.

10

201. A method of magnetically actuating a movable valve as described in claim 200 wherein said step of interfacing a portion of said movable valve element with a stationary valve element comprises the step of axially biased interfacing.

15 202. A method of magnetically actuating a movable valve as described in claim 201 wherein said step of establishing an outer magnetic element comprises the step of alternating the polarity of perimeterally adjacent said individual outer magnetic elements.

20 203. A method of magnetically actuating a movable valve as described in claim 202 wherein said step of establishing an inner magnetic element comprises the step of alternating the polarity of perimeterally adjacent said individual inner magnetic elements.

25 204. A method of magnetically actuating a movable valve as described in claim 203 wherein said step of magnetically c oupling s aid outer m agnetic e lement and said movable valve element comprises the step of determining a non-magnetizable and magnetically permeable flow c ontainment element radial thickness according to a substantially equal adjacent outer magnetic element gap.

30