Capsule, in-line magnetic valve system and method
AssigneeRochester Institute of Technology
InventorsAhmed Alfadhel, Meng-Chun Hsu, David A. Borkholder
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Abstract
A capsule is disclosed which includes a flexible outer shell capable of transforming into an asymmetric shape; an internal medium encapsulated by the outer shell, the medium including a plurality of magnetic particles, wherein the magnetic particles can move in response to an applied magnetic field. A valve system includes an in-line valve sized to fit within a flow channel including a capsule having a flexible outer shell containing an internal medium encapsulated by the outer shell, the medium including a plurality of magnetic particles; and a magnetic field source disposed about the exterior wall of the channel.
Claims25
A capsule comprising:
- a flexible outer shell comprising an inlet side and an outlet side capable of transforming into an asymmetric shape where the asymmetry is from the inlet side to the outlet side, wherein the flexible outer shell inlet side is free to move in response to a fluid flow;
- and
- an internal medium encapsulated by the outer shell, the medium comprising a plurality of magnetic particles, wherein the plurality of magnetic particles are capable of moving in an applied external magnetic field to transform the outer shell.
A valve system comprising:
- an in-line valve, sized to fit within a flow channel, and comprising a flexible capsule comprising an inlet side which is free to move in response to a fluid flow through the fluid channel and capable of transforming into an asymmetric shape having a flexible outer shell containing an internal medium encapsulated by the outer shell, the medium comprising a plurality of magnetic particles;
- and
- a magnetic field source disposed about an exterior wall of the flow channel.
A valve system comprising:
- an in-line valve, sized to fit within a flow channel, and comprising a flexible capsule capable of transforming into an asymmetric shape having a flexible outer shell containing an internal medium encapsulated by the outer shell, the medium comprising a plurality of magnetic particles, wherein the magnetic particles are free to migrate within the capsule medium, and are concentrated at the outlet end of the valve;
- and a magnetic field source disposed about an exterior wall of the flow channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.