Valve device

• US 9,551,427 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2016
• Issued: 01/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Van Den Bijgaart, Adrianus Wilhelmus Dionisius Maria, De Gier, Ronald Cornelis
• Primary Examiner(s): MCCALISTER, WILLIAM M
• Application Number:
  US15/157,468
• Publication Number:
  US 20160258543A1
• Time in Patent Office: 251 Days
• Field of Search: 137/510, 137/859, 251/331
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: F16K 15/144 the closure elements being fixed along all or a part of their periphery
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2099/0084 Chemistry or biology, e.g. "lab-on-a-chip" technology
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 7/126 the seat being formed on a rib perpendicular to the fluid line
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 7/16 the diaphragm being mechanically actuated, e.g. by screw-spindle or cam
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0001 Microvalves microdevices B81B1/00; manufacture or treatment of devices or systems in or on a substrate B81C1/00; microfluidic structures B01L3/5027; micropumps F04B19/006
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0015 Diaphragm or membrane valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0034 Operating means specially adapted for microvalves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0057 the fluid being the circulating fluid itself, e.g. check valves

Abstract

A valve device including a substrate with first and second surfaces positioned on opposing sides, a first groove extending along the first surface with a horseshoe shaped end in a valve area formed on the first surface, a second groove extending along the second surface, a channel fluidically coupled to the second groove and extending from the second surface to the first surface ending at an end in the valve area; a first membrane providing a fluid tight connection with the first surface of the substrate except at the valve area and forming a first channel at the first groove, an area of the end of the first groove is larger than an area of the end of the channel; and a second membrane providing a fluid tight connection with the second surface of the substrate forming a second channel at the second groove.

Claims

1. A valve device comprising:

a substrate comprising first and second surfaces positioned on opposing sides of the substrate, a first groove extending along the first surface into and ending at an end in a valve area formed on the first surface, a second groove extending along the second surface, a channel fluidically coupled to the second groove and extending from the second surface to the first surface into and ending at an end in the valve area;

a first membrane providing a fluid tight connection with the first surface of the substrate except at the valve area thereby forming a valve at the valve area and forming a first channel at the first groove, an area of the end of the first groove is substantially larger than an area of the end of the channel and the end of the first groove is horseshoe shaped;

a second membrane providing a fluid tight connection with the second surface of the substrate forming a second channel at the second groove;

a plunger provided in the valve area for selectively pressing against the first membrane in at least a part of the valve area on a side opposite the first surface; and

a pressure device configured to press the plunger against the first membrane.

2. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein the first membrane forms at least a part of a longitudinal wall of the first channel and the second membrane forms at least a part of a longitudinal wall of the second channel.

3. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein the valve device is configured as a passive valve device.

4. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein the valve device is configured as an overflow valve.

5. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure device presses the plunger against the first membrane with an adjustable force.

6. The valve device according to claim 5, wherein the pressure device is actuable to adjust the force.

7. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure device comprises a spring.

8. The valve device according to claim 7, wherein the spring, comprises one of a leaf spring, a mechanical spring, a pneumatic spring, an electric spring and a magnetic spring.

9. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein the plunger comprises a rim configured to be pressed against the first membrane, the rim dividing the valve area in a first part and a second part, the end of the first groove is located in the first part and the end of the channel is located in the second part.

10. The valve device according to claim 9, wherein the rim is continuous and surrounds the end of the channel.

11. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein at least one valve device is configured in a membrane based fluid system.

12. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein the horseshoe shaped end of the first groove is configured with branches forming an opening having a larger diameter than a diameter of the end of the channel.

13. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein the end of the channel extends up to the first membrane.

14. The valve device according to claim 13, wherein the pressure device presses the plunger against the first membrane with an adjustable force.

15. The valve device according to claim 14, wherein the pressure device is actuable to adjust the force.

16. The valve device according to claim 13, wherein the pressure device comprises a spring.

17. The valve device according to claim 16, wherein the spring, comprises one of a leaf spring, a mechanical spring, a pneumatic spring, an electric spring and a magnetic spring.

18. The valve device according to claim 13, wherein the plunger comprises a rim configured to be pressed against the first membrane, the rim dividing the valve area in a first part and a second part, the end of the first groove is located in the first part and the end of the channel is located in the second part.

19. The valve device according to claim 18, wherein the rim is continuous and surrounds the end of the channel.

20. The valve device according to claim 13, wherein the horseshoe shaped end of the first groove is configured with branches forming an opening having a larger diameter than a diameter of the end of the channel.