# US 11,027,483 B2 · Valve incorporating temporary phase change material

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- Number: US 11,027,483 B2
- Document ID: US11027483B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/757,122
- Filed: 2016-09-02
- Published: 2019-03-07
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2015-09-03
- Assignees: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
- Applicants: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.; Joshua Muse; Meghan Hughes; Carl David Crane
- Inventors: Joshua Muse; Meghan Hughes; Carl David Crane; Thomas Ettor Angelini; Kyle D. Schulze; Tapomoy Bhattacharjee; Wallace Gregory Sawyer; Curtis Taylor
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027483B2

## CPC

- B29C 64/106: using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material
- B29C 48/501: {Extruder feed section}
- B29C 64/118: using filamentary material being melted, e.g. fused deposition modelling [FDM]
- B29C 67/00: Shaping techniques not covered by groups B29C39/00 - B29C65/00, B29C70/00 or B29C73/00
- B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing
- B33Y 30/00: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor
- B29C 48/05: Filamentary, e.g. strands
- B29C 48/92: Measuring, controlling or regulating
- B29C 2948/92904: Die; Nozzle zone
- B33Y 70/00: Materials specially adapted for additive manufacturing
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING

## Abstract

Described herein are various embodiments of a valve that may be opened and closed using a thixotropic or “stress yield” material, or other material that temporarily changes phase upon application of energy to the material. More particularly, some embodiments may include a valve that is opened and closed using a granular gel that is a temporary phase change material.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of selectively blocking or opening a passage using a granular gel that is a thixotropic material, the method comprising:
blocking the passage using the granular gel, wherein the granular gel comprises a cross-linked polymer network that is solvated in a solvent and wherein the blocking comprises:
operating at least one pump to dispense the granular gel into the passage by applying a first pressure to the granular gel that is above a yield stress of the granular gel and causes a first phase change in the granular gel; and
after the granular gel is in the passage, operating the at least one pump to impose a second pressure on the passage that is below the yield stress of the granular gel and causing a second phase change in the granular gel.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
opening the passage, wherein the opening comprises operating the at least one pump to impose a third pressure on the passage above the yield stress of the granular gel to cause a third phase change in the granular gel and to push the granular gel out of the passage.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein:
the passage is a first passage;
operating the at least one pump to dispense the granular gel into the passage comprises operating a first pump to dispense the granular gel into a second passage adjacent to the first passage and operating a second pump to draw the granular gel from the second passage into the first passage; and
operating the at least one pump to impose a pressure on the passage to push the granular gel out of the passage comprises operating the second pump to push the granular gel out of the first passage and into the second passage.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein operating the at least one pump to impose the second pressure on the passage comprises operating the at least one pump to impose no pressure on the passage.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first phase change is solid to liquid.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the second phase change is liquid to solid.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the second pressure is no pressure.