seat 10 thereby interfering with proper closure of the valve particulate matter originating above stem 7 is deflected by collar 12 into well 13 which is in part bounded by generally vertical inner and outer walls inner wall surface 14 is shown somewhat conical having a smaller diameter at its top than at its bottom the bottom edge of inner wall surface 14 intersects a bottom wall surface 15 which connects the inner and outer walls spring 8 which upwardly biases stem 7 is shown as a conical compression spring positioned between bottom wall surface 15 and the underside of collar 12 the solenoid valve shown in the figures is of a type in which armature 4 is a separate element from valve stem 7 the lower end of the armature abutting the upper end of the stem when the solenoid is not energized a compression coil spring 16 which biases armature 4 in a downward direction is shown between the armature and core 6 the force provided by spring 16 is greater than that provided by spring 8 thereby maintaining closure member 9 against valve seat 10 when the solenoid is not energized when electric current is supplied to coil 3 magnetic force is applied to armature 4 which overcomes the force of spring 16 and permits spring 8 to lift closure member 9 from valve seat 10 to open the valve in this position closure member 9 may contact a second valve seat identified by reference numeral 17 to terminate flow through a second fluid flow passageway not shown in valve housing means 1a 1b the present invention is particularly advantageous in valves of the illustrated type in which wear.