<html><head></head><body><div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;font-size:16px"><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1466679037180_2838"> James,</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1466679037180_2837" dir="ltr">I have attached a solenoid valve design based on Vance's pneumatically</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1466679037180_2853" dir="ltr">operated top hat ballast valve. It was done quickly & is open comment & being evolved.</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1466679037180_2854" dir="ltr"> A solenoid is just a coil of wire with an iron core plunger. As long as the solenoid</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1466679037180_2880" dir="ltr">& plunger are coated with epoxy or similar this simple design should work.</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1466679037180_3043" dir="ltr">The solenoid is clamped in place by the two circular plates & the retaining bolts.</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1466679037180_3037" dir="ltr">(didn't put thread on the bolts) The neoprene gasket seals on it's seat by the springs</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1466679037180_2999" dir="ltr">pressure & air pressure in the ballast tanks. when power is on the solenoid it</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1466679037180_2972" dir="ltr">draws the plunger in to it, which pulls the gasket seal open.</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1466679037180_2971" dir="ltr">A solenoid is easy to make but it may take some experimentation to get the </div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1466679037180_2957" dir="ltr">right gauge of wire & number of windings, so that it opens the valve but doesn't</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1466679037180_3005" dir="ltr">heat up excessively.</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1466679037180_2987" dir="ltr">The other neoprene gaskets shown are for sealing to the hull.</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1466679037180_3030" dir="ltr">Some sought of gauze needs placing round it to stop foreign matter getting</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1466679037180_3036" dir="ltr">in the valve seat. </div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1466679037180_3006" dir="ltr">Alan</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1466679037180_2988" dir="ltr"><br></div></div></body></html>