Embedded control valve using homopolar motor
AssigneeHarris Corporation
InventorPaul B. Koeneman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for controlling fluid flow. A fluid (560) can be communicated to a first fluid flow port (105) disposed adjacent to a first surface (196) of a rotatable disk (115) of a homopolar motor. The fluid can flow through at least one orifice (130) in the rotatable disk to a second fluid flow port (110). The rotation of the disk can be selectively controlled to vary a fluid flow rate. Further, the disk can be rotated to align a selected one of the orifices with at least one of the first and second fluid flow ports. In another arrangement, the shape of the orifice can have a radial width that increases in a circumferential direction.
Claims15
A method for controlling fluid flow comprising:
- communicating a fluid to a first fluid flow port disposed adjacent to a first surface of a rotatable disk forming a portion of a homopolar motor;
- flowing the fluid through at least one orifice in the rotatable disk to a second fluid flow port;
- and
- causing a rotation of said rotatable disk by flowing an electric current along at least a portion of a radial path defined between a center of said rotatable disk and a peripheral edge of said rotatable disk.
A method for controlling fluid flow comprising:
- communicating a fluid to a first fluid flow port disposed adjacent to a first surface of a rotatable disk forming a portion of a homopolar motor;
- flowing the fluid through at least one orifice in the rotatable disk to a second fluid flow port;
- and
- rotating the rotatable disk by flowing an electric current through the disk in the presence of a magnetic field aligned with an axis of rotation of the rotatable disk.
A fluid flow valve comprising:
- a homopolar motor comprised of a rotatable disk disposed within a magnetic field aligned with an axis of rotation of said rotatable disk;
- at least one electrical contact forming an electrical connection with a portion of said rotatable disk;
- a first fluid flow port disposed adjacent to a first surface of the rotatable disk;
- a second fluid flow port disposed adjacent to a second surface of the rotatable disk;
- and
- at least one orifice in the rotatable disk connecting the first and second fluid flow ports.
A fluid flow valve comprising:
- a homopolar motor comprised of a rotatable disk, said rotatable disk disposed within a cavity defined in a substrate selected from the group consisting of a ceramic substrate, a liquid crystal polymer substrate, and a semiconductor substrate;
- a first fluid flow port disposed adjacent to a first surface of the rotatable disk;
- a second fluid flow port disposed adjacent to a second surface of the rotatable disk;
- and
- at least one orifice in the rotatable disk connecting the first and second fluid flow ports.
A fluid flow valve comprising:
- a homopolar motor comprised of a rotatable disk, said rotatable disk disposed within a cavity defined in a substrate selected from the group consisting of a ceramic substrate, a liquid crystal polymer substrate, and a semiconductor substrate;
- a first fluid flow port disposed adjacent to a first surface of the rotatable disk;
- a second fluid flow port disposed adjacent to a second surface of the rotatable disk;
- and
- at least one orifice in the rotatable disk connecting the first and second fluid flow ports;
- wherein a fluid channel fluidically coupled to said first fluid flow port is defined within said substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.