Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for and method of controlling the opening and closing of channel for liquid

US4989626A · kind A · utility

204Cited by
10References
45Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 8, 1989
Grant dateFeb 5, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 8, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T137/6606
  • WIPO fieldMechanical elements
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling the opening and closing of a channel for a liquid is arranged such that a liquid channel is closed by causing a controller to control one heat absorbing and generating part of a cooling/heating element to execute heat absorption and cooling a heat transmitting element to solidify the liquid in the channel. The apparatus is also arrangement such that the channel is opened first by causing the controller to control the same heat absorbing and generating part to execute heat generation and heating the heat transmitting element to melt the liquid solidified in the channel. A method of controlling the opening and closing of a channel according to the invention includes the steps of: solidifying a liquid in a channel by cooling it from the outside to close the channel; and opening the channel thus closed by melting the liquid solidified in the channel by the application of heat.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.