Valve control

• US 5,794,641 A
• Filed: 08/08/1996
• Issued: 08/18/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Abbott Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Abbott Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Pan, Jeffrey Y., Lee, Donald Ver
• Primary Examiner(s): FOX, JOHN C
• Application Number:
  US08/694,010
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 251/61.1, 251/25, 251/26, 251/28, 251/29, 137/597, 137/907, 137/863, 137/1
• US Class Current: 137/1
• 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: Y10S 137/907 Vacuum-actuated valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87249 Multiple inlet with multiple outlet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87716 For valve having a flexible diaphragm valving member

Abstract

Embodiments described herein relate to methods and structures for controlling a valve. One embodiment provides a valve control comprising a first valve fluidly connected with a first fluid conveying conduit and a second fluid conveying conduit. The first valve is movable between a first position where fluid communicates between the first fluid conveying conduit and the second fluid conveying conduit and a second position where fluid does not communicate between the first fluid conveying conduit and the second fluid conveying conduit. A first source of relatively increased pressure and a first source of relatively reduced pressure are provided. A third conduit fluidly connects the first source of relatively increased pressure and the first source of relatively reduced pressure with the first valve. A third valve is fluidly connected with the third conduit. The third valve is movable between a first position where the first source of relatively increased pressure is fluidly connected with the third conduit and the first valve thereby moving the first valve toward its second position and a second position where the first source of relatively reduced pressure is fluidly connected with the third conduit and the first valve thereby moving the first valve toward its first position. A second valve is fluidly connected with the third conduit between the third valve and the first valve. The second valve is movable between a first position where fluid communicates between the first valve and the third valve and a second position where no fluid communicates between the first valve and the third valve.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a valve, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a number of first valves, each of the number of first valves being fluidly connected with a first fluid conveying conduit and a second fluid conveying conduit, each of the first valves being movable between a first position where fluid communicates between the first fluid conveying conduit and the second fluid conveying conduit and a second position where no fluid communicates between the first fluid conveying conduit and the second fluid conveying conduit;

(b) fluidly connecting at least one second valve with each of the number of first valves with at least one memory conduit;

(c) fluidly connecting a source of relatively increased pressure or relatively reduced pressure with the at least one second valve, the at least one second valve being movable between a first position where the source of relatively increased pressure or relatively reduced pressure is fluidly connected with the at least one memory conduit and a second position where the source of relatively increased pressure or relatively reduced pressure is not fluidly connected with the at least one memory conduit;

(d) moving the at least one second valve toward its first position to fluidly connect the at least one memory conduit and a first subset of the number of first valves with the source of relatively increased pressure or relatively reduced pressure and to move the first subset of the number of first valves toward a first predetermined one of its first position and its second position responsive to the relatively increased pressure or the relatively reduced pressure;

(e) moving the at least one second valve toward its second position thereby maintaining the first subset of the number of first valves in the first predetermined one of its first position and its second position; and

(f) fluidly connecting the source of relatively increased pressure or relatively reduced pressure with a second subset of the number of first valves to move the second subset of the number of first valves toward a second predetermined one of its first position and its second position responsive to the relatively increased pressure or the relatively reduced pressure.