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Valve structures include a combination of spool valving and poppet valving. A spool function of the structure regulates the flow of a liquid, such as the flow of fuel to a diesel engine. A poppet function provides a low leakage in the valve in a closed or cut-off state. With this combination in a va

Valve structures include a combination of spool valving and poppet valving. A spool function of the structure regulates the flow of a liquid, such as the flow of fuel to a diesel engine. A poppet function provides a low leakage in the valve in a closed or cut-off state. With this combination in a valve, spool clearance can be increased reducing the cost and precision machining/assembly of the components, because the poppet to seat closure provides the sealing function at cut-off. Included are an air-gap flux adjustment to adjust responsiveness to control current, and a force pre-load adjustment.

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1. A liquid flow metering valve system, comprising:an inlet opening for allowing an incoming flow of liquid; a valve sleeve having a central axial bore for receiving the incoming flow of liquid, a poppet valve seat, and an outlet opening extending outward from the central axial bore to the exterior

1. A liquid flow metering valve system, comprising:an inlet opening for allowing an incoming flow of liquid; a valve sleeve having a central axial bore for receiving the incoming flow of liquid, a poppet valve seat, and an outlet opening extending outward from the central axial bore to the exterior of the valve sleeve; a moveable valve member comprising a spool configured for sliding axial movement within the central axial bore of the valve sleeve, and a poppet valve face formed in a distal end of the moveable valve member for closing off flow of liquid to the outlet opening of the valve sleeve when the moveable valve member is positioned so that the poppet valve face engages the poppet valve seat; wherein, when the moveable valve member is positioned so that the poppet valve face is withdrawn from engagement with the poppet valve seat so as to enable flow of liquid to the outlet opening, movement of the moveable valve member within the central axial bore of the valve sleeve changes the position of the spool relative to the outlet opening of the valve sleeve so as to regulate liquid output; and a solenoid comprising an armature and a winding, wherein the solenoid is coupled to a proximal end of the moveable valve member to axially move the moveable valve member within the central axial bore in response to a control current applied to the solenoid. 2. The valve system as in claim 1, wherein the inlet opening for allowing an incoming flow of liquid comprises at least one port through a sidewall of the sleeve.3. The valve system as in claim 1, further comprising an adjustable flux member interposed between the winding and the armature, wherein adjustment of positioning of the adjustable flux member between the winding and the armature adjusts the flux coupling between the winding and the armature for setting responsiveness of the valve system to an electronic signal applied to the solenoid.4. The valve system as in claim 1, further comprising:an adjustable end plug mounted across an open end of the central axial bore of the sleeve opposite the distal end of the moveable valve member, and a spring extending between the end plug and the distal end of the moveable valve member, for exerting a force on the moveable valve member opposing movement of the moveable valve member toward the position in which the poppet valve face engages the poppet valve seat; wherein the position of the end plug is set in position relative to the sleeve such that the spring provides a set pre-load force on the moveable valve member when the solenoid is not energized. 5. The valve system as in claim 4, wherein the inlet opening for allowing an incoming flow of liquid comprises at least one port through the end plug in fluidic communication with an otherwise open end of the sleeve.6. The valve system as in claim 1, wherein the armature is moveable with the moveable valve member of the valve.7. The valve system as in claim 6, further comprising:a pushpin between a distal face of the armature and a proximal face of the moveable valve member; and an outer valve housing attached to the sleeve, the outer valve housing having a bore coaxial with the central axial bore of the sleeve and surrounding and guiding axial movement of the pushpin. 8. The valve system as in claim 6, further comprising means for directly coupling the armature to the moveable valve member.9. The valve system as in claim 8, wherein said means comprises a bore in a distal end of the armature and a pin extending from the proximal end of the moveable valve member into the bore in the distal end of the armature.10. The valve system as in claim 1, wherein:the spool comprises a lateral bore extending outward from an interior of the spool exposed to the inlet flow of liquid, and variable overlap of the lateral bore with the valve outlet opening of the sleeve, as the spool moves, varies percentage of opening of the valve outlet opening. 11. The valve system as in claim 1, wherein movement of the distal end of the moveable valve member in relation to the valve outlet opening of the sleeve varies percentage of opening of the valve outlet opening.12. An inlet metering valve system, for metering the flow of liquid fuel in a fuel system for a diesel engine, the inlet metering valve system comprising:an inlet opening for coupling to a fuel supply, allowing an incoming flow of the fuel; a valve sleeve having a central axial bore for receiving the incoming flow of fuel, and an outlet opening extending outward from the central axial bore; a valve seat at a fixed axial location relative to the central axial bore of the sleeve; a moveable valve member comprising a spool configured for sliding axial movement within the central axial bore of the valve sleeve, and a poppet valve face formed in a distal end of the moveable valve member for closing off flow of the fuel to the outlet opening of the valve sleeve when the moveable valve member is positioned so that the poppet valve face engages the poppet valve seat; wherein movement of the moveable valve member within the central axial bore of the valve sleeve changes the position of the spool relative to the outlet opening of the valve sleeve so as to regulate fuel output, when the moveable valve member is positioned so that the poppet valve fa is out of engagement with the poppet valve seat; a solenoid comprising an armature and a winding, wherein the solenoid is coupled to a proximal end of the moveable valve member to axially move the moveable valve member in response to a control current applied to the solenoid; flux adjustment means, for adjustably setting flow of magnetic flux during operation of the solenoid; and a pre-load adjustment means, for adjustably setting a loading force applied to the moveable valve member when the solenoid is not energized. 13. The valve system as in claim 12, wherein the flux adjustment means comprises an adjustable flux member interposed between the winding and the armature, wherein adjustment of positioning of the adjustable flux member between the winding and the armature sets the flux coupling between the winding and the armature so as to set responsiveness of the valve system to an electronic signal applied to the solenoid.14. The valve system as in claim 12, wherein the payload adjustment means comprises:an end plug opposite an open end of the sleeve; and a spring extending between the end plug and the distal end of the moveable valve member, for exerting a force on the moveable valve member opposing movement of the moveable valve member toward the position in which the poppet valve face engages the poppet valve seat; wherein the position of the end plug is set in position relative to the sleeve such that the spring provides a set pre-load force on the moveable valve member when the solenoid is not energized. 15. The valve system as in claim 12, wherein:the winding comprises a stator winding; the armature is mounted for axial movement within the stator winding; and a distal end of the armature is coupled to the proximal end of the moveable valve member. 16. The valve system as in claim 15, wherein the distal end of the armature is conical.17. The valve system as in claim 15, wherein:the distal end of the armature comprises an end face opposite the proximal end of the moveable valve member; and the end face of the armature comprise a flat portion perpendicular to an axis of movement of the armature. 18. A liquid flow metering valve system, comprising:an inlet opening for allowing an incoming flow of liquid; a valve sleeve having a central axial bore for receiving the incoming flow of liquid, a poppet valve seat, and an outlet opening extending outward from the central axial bore to the exterior of the valve sleeve; a moveable valve member comprising a spool configured for sliding axial movement within the central axial bore of the valve sleeve, and a poppet valve face formed in a distal end of the moveable valve member, the poppet valve face engaging the poppet valve seat to close off flow of liquid to the outlet opening of the valve sleeve; the spool having a lateral bore extending outward from an interior of the spool; wherein, when the moveable valve member is positioned so that the poppet valve face is withdrawn from engagement with the poppet valve seat, the lateral bore is aligned with the outlet opening so as to enable flow of liquid to the outlet opening, movement of the moveable valve member within the central axial bore of the valve sleeve changes the position of the spool relative to the outlet opening of the valve sleeve so as to regulate liquid output; and a solenoid comprising an armature and a winding, wherein the solenoid is coupled to a proximal end of the moveable valve member to axially move the moveable valve member within the central axial bore in response to a control current applied to the solenoid. 19. The valve system of claim 1, wherein the spool has a lateral bore extending outward from an interior of the spool, wherein the lateral bore is configured such that it overlaps at least a portion of the outlet opening when the moveable valve member is positioned such that the poppet valve face is withdrawn from engagement with the poppet valve seat.20. The valve system of claim 1, wherein the moveable valve member has a central bore for receiving the incoming flow of a liquid, and a lateral bore extending outward from the central bore; wherein the central bore and lateral bore are configured such that when the moveable valve member is moved away from the poppet valve seat, liquid flows into the central axial bore of the valve sleeve, through the central bore and lateral bore of the moveable valve member, and out the outlet opening in the valve sleeve.