Patent · US Expired

Control valve utilizing mechanical beam buckling

US5050838A · kind A · utility

44Cited by
6References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 31, 1990
Grant dateSep 24, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 31, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF16K2099/0074
  • WIPO fieldMechanical elements
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A valve apparatus for controlling fluid flow comprising a substrate having a first aperture extending therethrough for defining a first fluid flow path; a beam having first and second terminal end portions mounted in fixed relationship with the substrate and having a bucklingly displaceable intermediate portion positioned in overlying relationship with the aperture for covering and uncovering the aperture for preventing or enabling fluid flow through the aperture; and a temperature control assembly for selectively controlling the temperature of the beam for selectively bucklingly displacing the intermediate portion of the beam for controlling fluid flow through the aperture.

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