Controlling a fluid flow with a magnetic field
AssigneeToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America (TEMA)
InventorsSHAILESH N. JOSHI, JAEWOOK LEE
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device, system and method for controlling the fluid flow of a process fluid in a tube with a magnetic field. A ferrogel can be included in the tube with the process fluid. A membrane can encapsulate the ferrogel. A mounting support can secure the membrane within the tube, and a magnetic field generator can generate the magnetic field to deform the membrane and the ferrogel from a natural position to a deformed position.
Claims26
A device, comprising:
- a tube including a process fluid;
- a membrane encapsulating a ferrogel;
- a mounting support to secure the membrane within the tube;
- and
- a magnetic field generator to generate a magnetic field to deform the membrane and the ferrogel from a natural position to a deformed position.
A method for controlling fluid flow in a tube, comprising:
- producing a magnetic field within the tube;
- deforming a ferrogel within the tube with the produced magnetic field from a natural position to a deformed position to control the fluid flow in the tube based on the deformed position of the ferrogel within the tube.
A device for controlling fluid flow in a tube, comprising:
- means for producing a magnetic field within the tube to deform a membrane encapsulating a ferrogel within the tube from a natural position to a deformed position;
- and
- means for controlling the fluid flow in the tube based on the deformed position of the membrane encapsulating the ferrogel within the tube.
A device, comprising:
- a tube including a process fluid;
- a ferrogel;
- a mounting support to secure the membrane within the tube;
- a magnetic field generator to generate a magnetic field to deform the ferrogel from a natural position to a deformed position,
- wherein the ferrogel has a natural position in the shape of a foil, and
- wherein the magnetic field generator is configured to generate the magnetic field so as to adjust a surface of the foil shaped ferrogel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.