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.
Claims37
A capsule comprising:
- a flexible outer shell capable of transforming into an asymmetric shape;
- 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 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 method for providing a valve system in a flow channel, comprising:
- positioning at the entry to a flow channel 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;
- moving the capsule to a desired location in the flow channel;
- and
- then locking the capsule in the desired location in the flow channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.