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A fluid flow control apparatus for controlling and delivering fluid at a continuously variable flow rate to a hose. The fluid control apparatus comprises a fluid-tight housing for housing a control assembly, a rotating ball valve for allowing fluid to flow therethrough and increasing or decreasing t

A fluid flow control apparatus for controlling and delivering fluid at a continuously variable flow rate to a hose. The fluid control apparatus comprises a fluid-tight housing for housing a control assembly, a rotating ball valve for allowing fluid to flow therethrough and increasing or decreasing the amount of fluid flow, a fluid hose for supplying fluid therethrough, and a switch attached to the outflow end of the fluid hose for activating the control mechanism.

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A fluid flow control apparatus for controlling and delivering fluid at a continuously variable flow rate to a hose. The fluid control apparatus comprises a fluid-tight housing for housing a control assembly, a rotating ball valve for allowing fluid to flow therethrough and increasing or decreasing t

A fluid flow control apparatus for controlling and delivering fluid at a continuously variable flow rate to a hose. The fluid control apparatus comprises a fluid-tight housing for housing a control assembly, a rotating ball valve for allowing fluid to flow therethrough and increasing or decreasing the amount of fluid flow, a fluid hose for supplying fluid therethrough, and a switch attached to the outflow end of the fluid hose for activating the control mechanism. ond end spaced apart from the first end, and an orifice between the first and second ends, wherein the piston channel has four wall surfaces and the valve body includes a first portion having three of the wall surfaces, the valve body further including a second portion bonded to the first portion and having the fourth wall surface; a piston disposed in the piston channel and movable within the piston channel from a first position with the piston spaced apart from the orifice to a second position with the piston blocking the orifice when at least a portion of the piston engaged with surfaces of the piston channel is in a flowable state; and a piston heater positioned proximate to the piston channel to heat the at least a portion of the piston from a solid state to the flowable state. 7. A valve assembly, comprising: a valve body having a piston channel with a first end, a second end spaced apart from the first end, and an orifice between the first and second ends, wherein the piston channel has a channel wall surface with a first region and at least one second region adjacent to the first region, the first region including a noble metal and the second region including an oxide; a piston disposed in the piston channel and movable within the piston channel from a first position with the piston spaced apart from the orifice to a second position with the piston blocking the orifice when at least a portion of the piston engaged with surfaces of the piston channel is in a flowable state, wherein the piston includes a solder material having a first surface tension when the solder material is in the flowable state and adjacent to the first region of the channel, the solder material having a second surface tension greater than the first surface tension when the solder material is in the flowable state and adjacent to the second region of the channel; and a piston heater positioned proximate to the piston channel to heat the at least a portion of the piston from a solid state to the flowable state. 8. A valve assembly, comprising: a valve body having a piston channel with a first end, a second end spaced apart from the first end, and an orifice between the first and second ends; a piston disposed in the piston channel and movable within the piston channel from a first position with the piston spaced apart from the orifice to a second position with the piston blocking the orifice when at least a portion of the piston engaged with surfaces of the piston channel is in a flowable state, the piston including a solder material; and a piston heater positioned proximate to the piston channel to heat the at least a portion of the piston from a solid state to the flowable state. 9. A microvalve assembly, comprising: a silicon valve body having a piston channel with a first end, a second end spaced apart from the first end, and an orifice between the first and second ends, the piston channel having a channel surface with a first region coated with a first coating and positioned between two second regions with each second region coated with a second coating; a piston in the piston channel and movable between a first position with the piston blocking the orifice and a second position with the piston spaced apart from the orifice, the piston including a piston material having a first surface tension when the piston is in a liquid state and adjacent to the first coating of the channel, the piston material having a second surface tension greater than the first surface tension when the piston is in the liquid state and adjacent to the second coating of the channel; a first hydride gas source coupled to the piston channel toward the first end; a second hydride gas source coupled to the piston channel toward the second end; a first hydride heater thermally coupled to the first hydride gas source to release hydrogen from the first hydride gas source; a second hydride heater thermally coupled to the second hydride gas source to rele ase hydrogen from the second hydride gas source; and a piston heater positioned proximate to the piston channel to heat the piston from a solid state to the liquid state. 10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the piston includes at least one of lead, tin, bismuth, cadmium, selenium, thallium and zinc, the first coating includes at least one of platinum, rhodium, palladium and gold, and the second coating includes at least one of an oxide and a nitride. 11. A valve assembly, comprising: a valve body having a first piston channel with a first end, a second end spaced apart from the first end, and a first orifice between the first and second ends, the valve body further having a second piston channel with a second orifice; a first piston disposed in the first piston channel and movable within the first piston channel from a first position with the first piston spaced apart from the first orifice to a second position with the first piston blocking the first orifice when at least a portion of the first piston engaged with surfaces of the first piston channel is in a flowable state; a second piston disposed in the second piston channel and movable within the second piston channel from a third position with the second piston spaced apart from the second orifice to a fourth position with the second piston blocking the second orifice when at least a portion of the second piston engaged with surfaces of the second piston channel is in a flowable state, wherein the first orifice is coupled to a first fluid passageway and the second orifice is coupled to a second fluid passageway arranged in parallel with the first fluid passageway to control a flow of fluid through the passageways; and a piston heater positioned at least proximate to the first piston channel to heat the at least a portion of the first piston from a solid state to the flowable state. 12. A valve assembly, comprising: a valve body having a piston channel with a first end, a second end spaced apart from the first end, and an orifice between the first and second ends, the valve body further having a vent channel coupled to the piston channel to vent gas; a piston disposed in the piston channel and movable within the piston channel from a first position with the piston spaced apart from the orifice to a second position with the piston blocking the orifice when at least a portion of the piston engaged with surfaces of the piston channel is in a flowable state, wherein the vent channel in the valve body vents gas directed into the channel against the piston; and a piston heater positioned proximate to the piston channel to heat the at least a portion of the piston from a solid state to the flowable state. 13. An actuator assembly, comprising: an actuator body having an actuator channel with a first end and a second end spaced apart from the first end; an actuator disposed in the actuator channel and movable when in a flowable state from a first position in the actuator channel to a second position in the actuator channel, the actuator including a solder material and being operatively coupleable to an actuated device; and a heater positioned proximate to the actuator channel to heat the actuator from a solid state to the flowable state. 14. The actuator assembly of claim 13 wherein the actuator channel is defined by a channel material, and further wherein the channel material has a first melting point that is higher than a second melting point of the actuator. 15. The actuator assembly of claim 13, wherein the actuator body further includes a fluid passageway having an orifice in fluid communication with the actuator channel and wherein the fluid passageway is operatively coupleable to a source of fluid to control a flow of fluid from the source when the actuator moves from the first position to the second position.