VALVE DEVICE

• US 20100078584A1
• Filed: 06/26/2006
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: De Gier, Ronald Cornelis, Van Den Bijgaart, Adrianus Wilhelmus Dionisius Maria
• Granted Patent: US 9,416,883 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 251/331
• CPC Class Codes: F15C 3/04 using diaphragms using loose plates or foils F15C3/005; connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00
• CPC Class Codes: F15C 5/00 Manufacture of fluid circuit elements; Manufacture of assemblages of such elements integrated circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/144 the closure elements being fixed along all or a part of their periphery
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2099/0084 Chemistry or biology, e.g. "lab-on-a-chip" technology
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 7/126 the seat being formed on a rib perpendicular to the fluid line
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 7/16 the diaphragm being mechanically actuated, e.g. by screw-spindle or cam
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0001 Microvalves microdevices B81B1/00; manufacture or treatment of devices or systems in or on a substrate B81C1/00; microfluidic structures B01L3/5027; micropumps F04B19/006
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0015 Diaphragm or membrane valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0034 Operating means specially adapted for microvalves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0057 the fluid being the circulating fluid itself, e.g. check valves

Abstract

The present invention relates to a valve device (10) comprising a substrate (12) and an elastic membrane (13), the membrane being joined at least around a valve area to the substrate. The substrate comprises a first channel (16) and a second channel (17), both ending in the valve area, the first channel having in the valve area a first channel end surface (19) and the second channel having in the valve area a second channel end surface (21), wherein the area of the first channel end surface is substantially larger than the area of the second channel end surface.

Claims

1. Valve device comprising a substrate and an elastic membrane, the membrane being joined at least around a valve area to the substrate, the substrate comprising a first channel and a second channel, both ending in the valve area, the first channel having in the valve area a first channel end surface and the second channel having in the valve area a second channel end surface, wherein the area of the first channel end surface is substantially larger than the area of the second channel end surface.

2. Valve device according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of a longitudinal wall of the first channel and/or the second channel is formed by the membrane.

3. Valve device according to claim 1, wherein the valve device is a passive valve device.

4. Valve device according to claim 1, wherein the valve device is an overflow valve.

5. Valve device according to claim 1, wherein the valve device further comprises a plunger which can be pressed against the membrane in at least a part of the valve area on a side opposite the substrate.

6. Valve device according to claim 5, wherein the valve device comprises a pressure device configured to press the plunger against the membrane.

7. Valve device according to claim 6, wherein a force with which the pressure device can press the plunger against the membrane is adjustable.

8. Valve device according to claim 6, wherein the pressure device is actuable to adjust the force.

9. Valve device according to claim 6, wherein the pressure device comprises a spring, preferably a leaf spring.

10. Valve device according to claim 5, wherein the plunger comprises a rim configured to be pressed against the membrane, wherein the rim is designed to divide the valve area in a first part and a second part, wherein the first channel end surface is located in the first part and the second channel end surface is located in the second part.

11. Valve device according to claim 10, wherein the rim is continuous and is designed to surround one of the first and second channel end surfaces.

12. Membrane based fluid system comprising one or more valve devices according to claim 1.