Oscillatory dual flap valve system

• US 5,967,187 A
• Filed: 12/19/1997
• Issued: 10/19/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Horne, Kenneth N., Yim, Mark H.
• Primary Examiner(s): FOX, JOHN C
• Application Number:
  US08/995,110
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 137/875, 137/625.44, 251/129.01
• US Class Current: 137/875
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/052 with pivoted closure members, e.g. butterfly valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/563 for rotating or pivoting valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87812 Pivoted valve or deflector

Abstract

A valve includes a valve chamber and at least two flaps capable of opening to provide an outlet for fluid or closure to block fluid flow. In or immediately adjacent to the valve chamber are catch mechanisms for controllably latching flap elements in an open or a closed position. In normal operation, the flaps open and close at a certain oscillation frequency in response to oscillatory fluid pressure differentials. Since the flap elements move, oscillations eventually bring the flap elements into catchment range of catch mechanisms capable of holding the flaps open or closed.

Claims

1. A fluid valve comprising

a valve chamber supporting fluid flow, the valve chamber having an inlet and an outlet,

a flap element positionable in the valve chamber to periodically block the outlet in response to periodic induced pressure differentials exerted against the flap in response to fluid flow, and

a catch mechanism for controllably latching the flap element in one of an open position allowing fluid flow and a blocked position stopping fluid flow.

2. The fluid valve claim 1, wherein the catch mechanism further comprises a first electrostatic plate separated from the flap element by a first dielectric, and an electric charging unit connected to at least one of the flap element and the first electrostatic plate to apply a voltage differential for electrostatically attracting and holding the flap element in one of an open position and a blocked position.

3. The fluid valve of claim 2, wherein the electrostatic flap is positioned in the valve chamber to attract the flap element.

4. The fluid valve of claim 1, wherein the catch mechanism further comprises an electromagnet attached to one of the valve chamber and the flap element to electromagnetically hold the flap element in one of an open position and a blocked position.

5. The fluid valve of claim 4, wherein the electromagnet is defined in the valve chamber.

6. The fluid valve of claim 1, further comprising a matching flap positioned to periodically contact the flap element.

7. The fluid valve of claim 6, wherein the flap element and the matching flap are positioned to oscillate within the valve chamber, with the outlet defined between the flap outlet and the matching flap.

8. The fluid valve of claim 6, wherein the catch mechanism further comprises first and a second catch mechanisms for controllably latching the flap element and the matching flap, with the first and second catch mechanisms having a disabled state for releasing the flap element and the matching flap to oscillate between and open position and a blocked position and an activated state holding the flap element and the matching flap in one of an open position allowing fluid flow and a blocked position stopping fluid flow.

9. The fluid valve of claim 5, wherein the electrostatic flap is positioned in the flap element.

10. The fluid valve of claim 8, wherein the electromagnet is defined in the flap element.

11. The fluid valve of claim 1, wherein fluid ejected from the valve is directed against an object to control position of the object.

12. The fluid valve of claim 1, wherein the object is paper.

13. The fluid valve array system of claim 11, wherein fluid directed against the object is air.

14. The fluid valve of claim 1, further comprising a marking reservoir having marking agents, and wherein fluid directed against objects contains marking agents.

15. The fluid valve array system of claim 14, wherein the marking agents are liquid droplets.

16. The fluid valve array system of claim 14, wherein the marking agents are solid particles.

17. A fluid valve comprising

a valve chamber supporting fluid flow, the valve chamber having an inlet and an outlet,

an flap element and a matching flap positionable in the valve chamber to periodically block the outlet in response to periodic induced pressure differentials exerted against the flap element and the matching flap in response to fluid flow between the flap element and the matching flap, and

a catch mechanism for controllably latching the flap element in one of an open position allowing fluid flow and a blocked position stopping fluid flow.

18. The fluid valve of claim 17, wherein the catch mechanism further comprises an electrostatic plate.

19. The fluid valve of claim 17, wherein the catch mechanism further comprises an electromagnet.