SELF-HEALING MICROVALVE

• US 20200132223A1
• Filed: 10/24/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Prokhorov, Danil V., Gandhi, Umesh N., Rowe, Michael Paul, Tsuruta, Ryohei
• Granted Patent: US 11,067,200 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/10 Valves; Arrangement of valves
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 7/0076 the members being actuated by electro-magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 7/02 the valving being fluid-actuated
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 7/12 with flat, dished, or bowl-shaped diaphragm
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0011 Gate valves or sliding valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0015 Diaphragm or membrane valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0049 using an electroactive polymer [EAP]
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0051 using electrostatic means

Abstract

Self-healing microvalves are described herein. The self-healing microvalve can move from a first position to a second position using an electrical input and use a soft hydraulic assembly to return from the second position to the first position. The electrical input can create an electrostatic attraction, causing the compression of the soft hydraulic assembly and movement of the valve gate to seal the microvalve. The elasticity of the soft hydraulic assembly can then return the self-healing microvalve to the original state, once the electrical input is removed.

Claims

1. A self-healing microvalve comprising:

a valve barrier;

a soft hydraulic subassembly, the soft hydraulic subassembly having a fluid-impermeable subassembly membrane, the fluid-impermeable subassembly membrane comprising;

a subassembly insulating portion defining an interior surface; and

a subassembly compartment defined by the subassembly insulating portion, the subassembly compartment comprising a dielectric fluid;

a rigid support having a recess, the recess housing a recess conducting surface and the soft hydraulic subassembly; and

a valve gate comprising a gate conducting surface, the valve gate being positioned in connection with the valve barrier and the soft hydraulic subassembly, wherein the gate conducting surface is separated from the recess conducting surface by the subassembly compartment.

2. The self-healing microvalve of claim 1, wherein the valve gate further comprises an elastomer, and wherein the valve gate is connected to the recess.

3. The self-healing microvalve of claim 1, wherein the valve gate is configured to form a seal with the valve barrier in the absence of an electric input and to separate from the valve barrier when receiving the electric input.

4. The self-healing microvalve of claim 1, wherein the valve barrier is in connection with a fluid transport path, the valve barrier partially occluding the fluid transport path.

5. The self-healing microvalve of claim 4, wherein the valve barrier is formed into the fluid transport path.

6. The self-healing microvalve of claim 1, wherein the subassembly insulating portion comprises an elastomer.

7. The self-healing microvalve of claim 1, wherein the gate conducting surface or the recess conducting surface comprise a conductively-doped elastomer.

8. The self-healing microvalve of claim 1, wherein the recess conducting surface is connected with the fluid-impermeable subassembly membrane.

9. A self-healing microvalve comprising:

a valve barrier;

a soft hydraulic subassembly, the soft hydraulic subassembly having a fluid-impermeable subassembly membrane, the fluid-impermeable subassembly membrane comprising;

a subassembly insulating portion defining an interior surface; and

a subassembly compartment defined by the subassembly insulating portion, the subassembly compartment comprising a dielectric fluid;

a rigid support having a recess, the recess housing a recess conducting surface and the soft hydraulic subassembly; and

a valve gate assembly comprising;

a valve gate;

an elastic portion connecting the valve gate to the rigid support;

a gate conducting surface configured to create an electrostatic attraction to the recess conducting surface in the presence of an electrical input; and

a receiving element being positioned to receive the rigid support.

10. The self-healing microvalve of claim 9, wherein the valve gate further comprises an elastomer, and wherein the valve gate is connected to the recess.

11. The self-healing microvalve of claim 9, wherein the valve gate is configured to form a seal with the valve barrier in the absence of an electric input and to separate from the valve barrier when receiving the electric input.

12. The self-healing microvalve of claim 9, wherein the valve barrier is in connection with a fluid transport path, the valve barrier partially occluding the fluid transport path.

13. The self-healing microvalve of claim 12, wherein the valve barrier is formed into the fluid transport path.

14. The self-healing microvalve of claim 9, wherein the subassembly insulating portion comprises an elastomer.

15. The self-healing microvalve of claim 9, wherein the gate conducting surface or the recess conducting surface comprise a conductively-doped elastomer.

16. The self-healing microvalve of claim 9, wherein the recess conducting surface is connected with the fluid-impermeable subassembly membrane.

17. A self-healing microvalve comprising:

a valve barrier positioned in fluid connection with a fluid transport path;

a valve gate assembly configured to form a seal with the valve barrier in the absence of an electric input and to separate from the valve barrier when receiving an electric input, the valve gate assembly comprising;

a soft hydraulic subassembly, the soft hydraulic subassembly having a fluid-impermeable subassembly membrane, the fluid-impermeable subassembly membrane comprising;

a subassembly insulating portion defining an interior surface; and

a subassembly compartment defined by the subassembly insulating portion, the subassembly compartment comprising a dielectric fluid;

a rigid support having a recess, the recess housing a recess conducting surface and the soft hydraulic subassembly; and

a valve gate comprising an elastomer and a gate conducting surface, the valve gate being positioned over the recess and in connection with the soft hydraulic subassembly, wherein the gate conducting surface is separated from the recess conducting surface by the subassembly compartment.

18. The self-healing microvalve of claim 17, wherein the gate conducting surface or the recess conducting surface comprise a conductively-doped elastomer.

19. The self-healing microvalve of claim 17, wherein the recess conducting surface is connected with the fluid-impermeable subassembly membrane.

20. The self-healing microvalve of claim 17, wherein the valve barrier is fluidly attached to the valve gate.