Patent · US Expired

Thermal micropump with values formed from silicon plates

US5375979A · kind A · utility

240Cited by
2References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJun 16, 1993
Grant dateDec 27, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 16, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF04B19/24
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

In a micropump having a working chamber (1), an intake valve (2), and a discharge valve (3), the valves (2,3) are etched out of silicon wafers (4,5). The gas in the working chamber (1) is heated by a heating element (6), so that an overpressure is produced in the working chamber. A partial vacuum is created by cooling the gas in the working chamber (1). The pump action of the micropump is achieved through the succession of overpressure and partial-vacuum cycles.

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