Valve with flexible sheet member

• US 4,858,883 A
• Filed: 12/08/1988
• Issued: 08/22/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eastern Plastics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Integrated Fluidics, Inc.
• Inventors: Webster, Milo E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenthal, Arnold
• Application Number:
  US07/281,544
• Time in Patent Office: 257 Days
• Field of Search: 251/331, 251/61.1, 137/884, 137/885
• US Class Current: 251/61.1
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/022 comprising a deformable member
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 7/17 the diaphragm being actuated by fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87885 Sectional block structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87893 With fluid actuator

Abstract

A valve is disclosed comprising a first body portion (2) having a first surface (16), a second body portion (4) having a second surface (51) facing the first surface, a flexible sheet (8) positioned between the first and second surfaces, a void (4) in the first body portion created and defined by a concave surface (46) formed in the first surface and one side (18) of the flexible sheet. There are at least two fluid passageways (20) (22) in the first body portion communicating with the void at spaced locations, at least one of the fluid passageways being a channel formed in the first surface and terminating at the void. A source of pressure and vacuum (50) (54) is provided for flexing the sheet against and away from the first body portion in order that when the flexible sheet is flexed against the first body portion, the passageways are sealed from each other, and when the flexible sheet is flexed away from the first body portion the fluid passageways are placed in communication with each other by way of the void.

Claims

1. A valve comprising:

a valve body member having a firm and stable surface,

a flexible valve sheet member having a surface for conforming and mating engagement with said valve body surface,

first and second fluid passageways intersecting the surface of the valve body member at spaced locations with a land portion located between the passageways,

a groove formed in the surface of the land portion, which is depressed relative to the surface of the land portion and which extends between the spaced locations where the first and second fluid passageways intersect the surface of the valve body member,

and means for flexing the said sheet member between a first position in which the valve sheet surface is in mating and sealing engagement with the valve body surface and the depressions to sealingly block flow between the first and second passageways, and a second position in which said sheet surface is spaced away from said first position to allow flow between said first and second passageways across the land portion by way of the depressed portion.

4. A valve according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the fluid passageways is a channel formed in the first surface.

9. A valve according to claim 1 wherein the means for flexing is a source of variable fluid pressure.

2. A valve comprising:

a first body portion having a first surface,

a second body portion having a second surface facing the first surface,

a flexible sheet secured between the first and second surfaces,

at least two fluid passageways in the first body portion communicating with the first surface at spaced locations with a land portion located between the passageways,

at least a portion of the surface of the land portion having a channel which is depressed relative to the land portion and which extends between the spaced locations where the two fluid passageways communicate with the first surface,

means for flexing the sheet against and away from the first surface,

in order that when the flexible sheet is flexed against the first surface, the passageways are sealed from each other, and

when the flexible sheet is flexed away from the first surface the fluid passageways are placed in communication with each other by way of the depressed portion.

5. A valve according to claim 2 wherein at least one of the fluid passageways is a channel formed in the first surface.

10. A valve according to claim 2 wherein the means for flexing is a source of variable fluid pressure.

3. A valve comprising:

a first body portion having a first surface,

a second body portion having a second surface facing the first surface,

a flexible sheet secured between the first and second surfaces,

a first void in the first body portion created and defined by a concave surface formed in the first surface and one side of the flexible sheet,

at least two fluid passageways in the first body portion communicating with the void at spaced locations,

means for flexing the sheet against and away from the first surface,

a depression in the concave surface between the spaced locations where the fluid passageways intersect the concave surface and extending between the spaced locations where the two fluid passageways communicate with the void,

in order that when the flexible sheet is flexed against the first surface, the passageways are sealed from each other, and

when the flexible sheet is flexed away from the first surface the fluid passageways are placed in communication with each other by way of the void and fluid may flow from one passageway to another through the void and by way of the depression.

6. A valve according to claim 3 wherein at least one of the fluid passageways is a channel formed in the first surface.

7. A valve according to claim 3 wherein the concave surface is spherical.

8. A valve according to claim 3 wherein the void is a truncated sphere.

11. A valve according to claim 3 wherein the means for flexing is a source of positive and negative fluid pressure connected to a control passageway in the second body portion communicating with the side of the flexible sheet that faces away from the first surface.