Digital fluid flow control apparatus

Digital fluid flow control apparatus comprising:

• a valve body having separate first and second parts with respective first and second flat abutting faces;
• a cavity formed in the first part and surrounded by at least a portion of the first flat face to form with the second flat face a first manifold;
• a second manifold formed in the second part;
• an inlet to the valve body in communication with one manifold;
• an outlet from the valve body in communication with the other manifold;
• means for releasably securing the parts with the flat faces in abutment;
• means for sealing the valve body to prevent fluid leakage from the first manifold between the flat faces;
• and
• a plurality of digital bistable valve elements connecting the first and second manifolds.

Digital fluid flow control apparatus comprising:

• a valve body lying on an axis;
• an inlet port to the valve body having an axis;
• an outlet port from the valve body having an axis;
• a first manifold disposed in the valve body in laterally displaced relationship with at least one of the ports;
• a second manifold disposed in the valve body in laterally spaced relationship with the first manifold, the first manifold lying between the second manifold and the one port and surrounding a portion of the valve body;
• a passage extending through the valve body from the inlet port to one of the manifolds;
• a passage extending through the valve body from the outlet port to the other manifold, the passage to the second manifold passing through the portion of the valve body surrounded by the first manifold;
• and
• a plurality of digital bistable valve elements connecting the first and second manifolds.

Digital fluid flow control apparatus comprising:

• a valve body having a valve body axis;
• an inlet port to the valve body with an inlet axis transverse to the valve body axis;
• an outlet port from the valve body with an outlet axis transverse to the valve body axis;
• a first manifold disposed in the valve body in laterally displaced relationship with both ports, the first manifold having cylindrical side walls extending around a cylindrical axis aligned with the valve body axis;
• a second manifold disposed in the valve body in laterally spaced relationship with the first manifold, the first manifold lying between the second manifold and both ports and having cylindrical side walls extending around a cylindrical axis aligned with the valve body axis;
• a passage extending through the valve body from the inlet port to one of the manifolds;
• a passage extending through the valve body from the outlet port to the other manifold;
• and
• a plurality of digital bistable valve elements connecting the first and second manifolds.

Digital fluid flow control apparatus comprising:

• a valve body having separate first and second parts with respective first and second flat abutting faces;
• a cavity formed in one part and surrounded by at least a portion of the corresponding flat face to form with the other flat face a first manifold;
• a second manifold formed in the other part;
• an inlet to the valve body formed in the first part in communication with one manifold;
• an outlet from the valve body formed in the first part in communication with the other manifold;
• means for releasably securing the parts with the flat faces in abutment;
• means for sealing the valve body to prevent the fluid leakage from the first manifold between the flat faces;
• and
• a plurality of digital bistable valve elements connecting the first and second manifolds.