HOW MUCH COAL DOES THAT VALVE BURN?

摘要

Back when gasoline was 35 cents a gallon, the term "environmental technology" was not well known. Engineers did not often promote the benefits of building low-energy consumption pneumatic valves among their peers. Recycling or conservation of resources was seldom discussed with any seriousness. In reality, the conversation was more likely to have turned to the muscle cars of the day and how much horsepower they would generate. This "bigger-is-better" philosophy not only produced big block engines with three carburetors, but also pneumatic valves with large direct solenoids and bulky steel construction. Then one day some of us woke up to find out the meaning of an Arab Oil Embargo. Suddenly the thought that our energy supply was cheap, plentiful, and secure evaporated.