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US 10,330,219 B2Granted
Micro-valve
AssigneeRedd & Whyte Limited
InventorRoger Poole
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A micro-valve comprises a floating armature, wherein the floating armature is within a fluid flow path through the valve and comprises three or more channels extending along the armature in the direction of fluid flow.
Claims18
A micro-valve configured to dispense amounts of fluid in the range of 1 nl to 1 μl comprising:
- a floating armature;
- wherein the floating armature is within a fluid flow path through the micro-valve and comprises a fluted section defining three or more channels extending along the floating armature in a direction of fluid flow;
- a fixed armature within the flow path of a fluid, which comprises three or more channels corresponding to the channels on the floating armature;
- a spring arranged between the floating armature and the fixed armature, radially inwards of the channels on the floating and fixed armatures, at least a portion of the spring being received around a spindle portion of the floating armature, the spindle portion being of a diameter small enough to permit the spring to be at least partially radially recessed relative to the radially-smallest portion of the fluted section of the floating armature;
- a housing carrying the floating armature, fixed armature and spring and comprising a head section removably connected to a body section;
- and
- a valve outlet provided in the head section of the housing, wherein the outlet has a diameter of 1.2 mm or less;
- wherein the floating armature is configured to move up to 0.5 mm when actuated.
5 more elements
A method of dispensing amounts of fluid in the range of 1 nl to 1 μl using a micro-valve, the method comprising:
- compressing a spring, arranged between a floating armature and a fixed armature of the micro-valve within a housing, wherein:
- the floating armature is within a fluid flow path through the micro-valve and comprises a fluted section defining three or more channels extending along the floating armature in a direction of fluid flow, and
- at least a portion of the spring is received around a spindle portion of the floating armature, the spindle portion being of a diameter small enough to permit the spring to be at least partially radially recessed relative to the radially-smallest portion of the fluted section of the floating armature;
- and
- releasing the spring, such that it moves the floating armature, which dispenses fluid through a valve outlet provided in a removable head section of the housing.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.