Temporary Elastomeric Functional Barrier Membrane and Method of Manufacture
AssigneeVernay Laboratories, Inc.
InventorRobert Ferguson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fluid check valve incorporating a temporary elastomeric functional barrier membrane, the check valve having a sealing member comprising a first elastomer and a barrier membrane comprising a second elastomer, different from the first elastomer, disposed directly upon the surface of the sealing member so as to form a continuous layer over at least a seal opening of the sealing member. The barrier membrane may include a photoinitiator and coagent which aids in the ultraviolet (UV) curing of the second elastomer after application upon the first. The barrier membrane may applied as a solution of monomers, photoinitiator, and optional coagent, the solvent evaporated, and the deposited solutes exposed to ultraviolet so as to form the barrier membrane material.
Claims20
A fluid check valve comprising:
- a sealing member comprising a first elastomer;
- and
- a barrier membrane comprising a second elastomer, different from the first elastomer, disposed directly upon the surface of the sealing member so as to form a continuous layer over at least a seal opening of the sealing member.
A method of manufacturing a temporary elastomeric functional barrier membrane upon a fluid check valve sealing member, the method comprising the steps of:
- (1) applying a solution comprising a solvent, an elastomer precursor, a photoinitiator and, optionally, a coagent directly upon the surface of the sealing member and over at least a seal opening portion of the sealing member;
- (2) evaporating the solvent from the applied solution;
- and
- (3) exposing the applied elastomer precursor, photoinitiator and coagent to an ultraviolet light source;
- wherein the exposing step links the applied elastomer and forms a temporary elastomeric functional barrier membrane across the seal opening portion of the sealing member.
The method of clam 12, wherein the applying and evaporating steps are repeated prior to the exposure step.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.