Tethered fluid valve apparatus

Details Tethered fluid valve apparatus Tethered fluid valve apparatus

2000-11-27

2002-01-22

Lee, Kevin (Department: 3754)

Valves and valve actuation

Electrically actuated valve

Having element dimensionally responsive to field

C251S129010, C251S331000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06340149

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to flap valve elements for modulating fluid flow and more particularly to a tethered fluid flap valve apparatus.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Flap valves are devices that are opened and closed by mechanical, electromagnetic or electrostatic systems for many applications that require the modulation of fluid flow such as chemical processing, fluid injection systems, aerosol delivery and the like.
Examples of flap valve structures and their applications are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,661 issued on Aug. 8, 2000 to Yim et al., entitled UNSTABLE FLAP VALVE FOR FLUID FLOW CONTROL and U.S. Pat. No. 6,004,395 issued on Dec. 21, 1999 to Yim et al., entitled PAPER HANDLING FLAP VALVE ARRAY SYSTEM. U.S. Pat. No. 6,032,923 issued Mar. 7, 2000 to Biegelsen et al. entitled FLUID VALVES HAVING CANTILEVERED BLOCKING FILMS, U.S. Pat. No. 6,089,534 issued Jul. 18, 2000 to Biegelsen et al. entitled FAST VARIABLE FLOW MICROELECTROMECHANICAL VALVES and U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,002 issued on Sep. 19, 2000 to Biegelsen et al. entitled FLUID VALVES HAVING CANTILEVER BLOCKING FILMS.
As can be seen in the referenced patents, in an electrostatic flap valve system, a flexible flap valve element is typically located over an inlet (or outlet) or orifice and has first and second ends with one end attached to a flap support while the second end is free. Air pressure from the orifice blows the free end up. A voltage applies an electrostatic force to close the flap valve over the orifice.
In the present invention a flap valve is provided wherein the flap element is clamped at one end, and the other end is tethered with at least one tether having a selected length. Additional functions, objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will become apparent from consideration of the following description and drawings of preferred embodiments.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5216273 (1993-06-01), Doering et al.
patent: 5325880 (1994-07-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 5647574 (1997-07-01), Mettner et al.
patent: 5897097 (1999-04-01), Biegelsen et al.
patent: 6004395 (1999-12-01), Yim et al.
patent: 6032923 (2000-03-01), Biegelsen et al.
patent: 6089534 (2000-07-01), Biegelsen et al.
patent: 6098661 (2000-08-01), Yim et al.
patent: 6120002 (2000-09-01), Biegelsen
patent: 6182941 (2001-02-01), Scheurenbrand et al.
patent: 6189858 (2001-02-01), Miyazoe et al.
patent: 6240962 (2001-06-01), Tai et al.

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