Mold for Making a Membrane for Use with a Flow Control System for a Micropump

• US 20110309229A1
• Filed: 06/30/2011
• Published: 12/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PicoLife Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: PicoLife Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Amirouche, Farid, Cantwell, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 8,764,425 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 249/155
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/2453 not being fixed to the valve body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0244 Micromachined materials, e.g. made from silicon wafers, microelectromechanical systems [MEMS] or comprising nanotechnology
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/24 Check- or non-return valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1422 with double acting or multiple pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14224 Diaphragm type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16804 Flow controllers
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/043 Micropumps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7879 Resilient material valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86002 Fluid pressure responsive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86019 Direct response valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49996 Successive distinct removal operations

Abstract

A mold for making a membrane having a reinforcement annulus configured to be received within a flow control system for use with a micropump is disclosed. The mold has a female body portion, a male body portion and a body support member. The female body portion has a cylindrical elongate lower portion extending along an axis and having a diameter D, and a centered, concave upper face having substantially the same diameter D and having a radius of curvature R. The upper face is oriented substantially perpendicularly to the axis of the elongate lower portion and extends therefrom. The male body portion has a cylindrical elongate upper portion having a lower terminus and extending along an axis. The upper portion thereof has a diameter substantially equal to D. The male body portion further has a central cylindrical portion having a height H and extending from the lower terminus along the axis of the upper portion. The central portion has a diameter of D-G, wherein G is the annular thickness of a spacing gap extending radially outward from the central portion. The male body portion further has a centered, convex lower face having a diameter substantially equal to D-G, a radius of curvature substantially equal to R and being oriented substantially perpendicularly to the axis of the elongate upper portion. The body portion support member has a generally elongated, tubular configuration and further has an inner diameter just slightly greater than D. The body portion support member is thereby configured to receive at least a portion of the female body portion and at least a portion of the male body portion, so that the female and male body portions can be maintained along the same axis. In this fashion, the convex face and concave face are positioned cooperatively to effect manufacture of the membrane having a reinforcement annulus configured to be received within a flow control system for use with a micropump.

Claims

1. A mold for making a membrane having a reinforcement annulus configured to be received within a flow control system for use with a micropump, the mold comprising:

a female body portion having

(a) a cylindrical elongate lower portion extending along an axis and having a diameter D, and

(b) a centered, concave upper face having substantially the same diameter D and having a radius of curvature R, the upper face being oriented substantially perpendicularly to the axis of the elongate lower portion and extending therefrom;

a male body portion having

(a) a cylindrical elongate upper portion having a lower terminus and extending along an axis, the upper portion having a diameter substantially equal to D,

(b) a central cylindrical portion having a height H and extending from the lower terminus along the axis of the upper portion, the central portion having a diameter of D-G, wherein G is the annular thickness of a spacing gap extending radially outward from the central portion;

(c) a centered, convex lower face having a diameter substantially equal to D-G, a radius of curvature substantially equal to R and being oriented substantially perpendicularly to the axis of the elongate upper portion; and

a body portion support member having a generally elongated, tubular configuration and further having an inner diameter just slightly greater than D, the body portion support member configured to receive at least a portion of the female body portion and at least a portion of the male body portion, so that the female and male body portions can be maintained along the same axis, whereby the convex face and concave face are positioned cooperatively to effect manufacture of the a membrane having a reinforcement annulus configured to be received within a flow control system for use with a micropump.

2. The mold for making a membrane of claim 1, wherein D is about 0.25 inches and G is about 0.025 inches.

3. The mold for making a membrane of claim 1, wherein D is about 0.1875 inches and G is about 0.020 inches.

4. The mold for making a membrane of claim 1, wherein R is about 0.1563 inches.

5. The mold for making a membrane of claim 2, wherein R is about 0.1563 inches.

6. The mold for making a membrane of claim 2, wherein R is about 0.1250 inches.

7. The mold for making a membrane of claim 3, wherein R is about 0.1250 inches.

8. A mold for making a membrane having a reinforcement annulus configured to be received within a flow control system for use with a micropump, the mold comprising:

a female body portion having

(a) a cylindrical elongate lower portion extending along an axis and having a diameter D equal to about 0.1875 inches, and

(b) a centered, concave upper face having substantially the same diameter D and having a radius of curvature R, the upper face being oriented substantially perpendicularly to the axis of the elongate lower portion and extending therefrom;

a male body portion having

(a) a cylindrical elongate upper portion having a lower terminus and extending along an axis, the upper portion having a diameter substantially equal to D,

(b) a central cylindrical portion having a height H and extending from the lower terminus along the axis of the upper portion, the central portion having a diameter of D-G, wherein G is the annular thickness of a spacing gap extending radially outward from the central portion and is equal to about 0.020 inches;

(c) a centered, convex lower face having a diameter substantially equal to D-G, a radius of curvature substantially equal to R and being oriented substantially perpendicularly to the axis of the elongate upper portion; and

a body portion support member having a generally elongated, tubular configuration and further having an inner diameter just slightly greater than D, the body portion support member configured to receive at least a portion of the female body portion and at least a portion of the male body portion, so that the female and male body portions can be maintained along the same axis, whereby the convex face and concave face are positioned cooperatively to effect manufacture of the a membrane having a reinforcement annulus configured to be received within a flow control system for use with a micropump.

9. A method of making a mold for making a membrane having a reinforcement annulus configured to be received within a flow control system for use with a micropump, the method comprising:

fabricating an upper portion of the mold using a section of round stock, the fabricating comprising machining a diameter of curvature 2R crown on a first end of the round stock, carving a notch having depth G along the edge where the crown and the round stock join and polishing all surfaces to a mirror finish;

fabricating a lower portion of the mold using a section of round stock, the fabricating comprising machining a diameter of curvature 2R convex dish on a first end of the round stock and polishing all surfaces to a mirror finish;

fabricating a mold sleeve portion of the mold using an aluminum round, the fabricating comprising machining the aluminum round to provide an inner diameter 2R using a reamer of slightly greater diameter than 2R and polishing all surfaces to a mirror finish.

10. The method of making a mold for making a membrane having a reinforcement annulus configured to be received within a flow control system for use with a micropump of claim 9, wherein D is about 0.25 inches and G is about 0.025 inches.

11. The method of making a mold for making a membrane having a reinforcement annulus configured to be received within a flow control system for use with a micropump of claim 9, wherein D is about 0.1875 inches and G is about 0.020 inches.

12. The method of making a mold for making a membrane having a reinforcement annulus configured to be received within a flow control system for use with a micropump of claim 9, wherein R is about 0.1563 inches.

13. The method of making a mold for making a membrane having a reinforcement annulus configured to be received within a flow control system for use with a micropump of claim 10, wherein R is about 0.1563 inches.

14. The method of making a mold for making a membrane having a reinforcement annulus configured to be received within a flow control system for use with a micropump of claim 10, wherein R is about 0.1250 inches.

15. The method of making a mold for making a membrane having a reinforcement annulus configured to be received within a flow control system for use with a micropump of claim 11, wherein R is about 0.1250 inches.