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US 5,958,344 AGranted
System for liquid distribution
AssigneeSarnoff Corporation
InventorsAaron W. Levine, Satyam Choudary Cherukuri, James Regis Matey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A liquid distribution system comprising a reaction cell, two or more feeder channels, a separate conduit for each feeder channel connecting that feeder channel to the reaction cell, and a expansion valve for each conduit, wherein the expansion valve has an expanded state that fills a cross-section of the conduit and prevents fluid flow through the conduit and an contracted state that allows fluid flow through the conduit is disclosed.
Claims12
A liquid distribution system comprising:
- a reaction cell;
- two or more feeder channels of diameter of capillary dimensions for distributing liquids;
- a separate conduit for each of two or more connected feeder channels connecting that feeder channel to the reaction cell;
- and
- a valve for at least one conduit, the valve comprising:
- an expandable chamber comprising an elastic material;
- an expandable fluid enclosed within the expandable chamber, wherein the expandable chamber has an expanded state wherein the elastic material fills a cross-section of the conduit and prevents fluid flow through the conduit and an contracted state that does not fill a cross-section of the conduit so that liquid flow through the conduit is allowed;
- and
- a heater element for heating the expandable chamber to cause the expansion that closes the valve.
6 more elements
A liquid distribution system with a solid support comprising:
- a reaction cell;
- formed within the solid support, two or more feeder channels for distributing liquids;
- formed within the solid support, a separate conduit for each feeder channel connecting that feeder channel to the reaction cell;
- and
- formed within the solid support, a valve for at least one conduit, the valve comprising:
- an expandable chamber comprising an elastic material;
- and
- an expandable fluid enclosed within the expandable chamber, wherein the expandable chamber has an expanded state created by directing energy to the expandable chamber to expand the fluid, wherein in the expanded state the elastic material fills a cross-section of the conduit and prevents fluid flow through the conduit, and an contracted state that does not fill a cross-section of the conduit so that liquid flow through the conduit is allowed.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.