Fluid regulating microvalve assembly for fluid consuming cells

An electrochemical cell, comprising a housing comprising one or more fluid inlet apertures, a negative electrode, a fluid consuming positive electrode, and a microvalve assembly operatively connected to the one or more fluid inlet apertures for controlling passage of fluid to the fluid consuming positive electrode, wherein said microvalve assembly comprises;

• (a) a body comprising an aperture located between a first surface and a second surface;
• (b) a first movable actuator being capable of moving between a first closed position where fluid cannot pass through said aperture of said body and a second, open position which allows fluid to pass through said aperture of said body;
• and
• (c) a second movable microactuator having a multi-layer actuator having at least two deposited layers for holding said first microactuator in said open position without consumption of power by said second microactuator while said first microactuator is in said open position, said second microactuator undergoing a change in shape in response to application of a potential across said second microactuator and thereafter holding said designated first microactuator in said open position continuing to admit fluid until said microvalve assembly is controlled by a control unit, whereafter said designated first microactuator returns to said first position precluding admission of fluid.

An electrical appliance in which an electrochemical cell is installed and a microvalve assembly disposed outside said cell is mounted, said electrochemical cell comprising one or more fluid inlet apertures, a negative electrode, a fluid consuming positive electrode, and a microvalve assembly operatively connected to said one or more fluid inlet apertures for controlling passage of fluid to said fluid consuming positive electrode, said microvalve assembly comprising:

• (a) a stationary microvalve body comprising an aperture located between a first surface and a second surface;
• (b) a first movable microactuator being capable of moving between a first position where fluid cannot pass through said aperture of said microvalve body and a second position which allows fluid to pass through said aperture of said microvalve body;
• (c) a second movable microactuator having a multi-layer actuator having at least two deposited layers cooperating with a projection on said first microactuator;
• (d) at least one of said microactuators being connected to said microvalve body;
• and
• (e) said second microactuator alternately functioning by changing shape upon application of an electrical potential to said second microactuator thereby moving said first microactuator from said first position to said second position, and said second microactuator cooperating with said projection on said first movable microactuator so that after such application of said electrical potential ceases to said microvalve assembly, said first movable microactuator remains in said second position continuing to admit fluid until said microvalve assembly is controlled by a control unit, whereafter said first movable microactuator returns to said first position precluding admission of fluid.

An electrochemical cell, comprising a housing comprising one or more fluid inlet apertures, a negative electrode, a fluid consuming positive electrode, and a microvalve assembly operatively connected to said one or more fluid inlet apertures for controlling passage of fluid to said fluid consuming positive electrode, said microvalve assembly comprising:

• (a) a stationary microvalve body comprising an aperture located between a first surface and a second surface;
• (b) a first movable microactuator having a multi-layer actuator having at least two deposited layers, and said first microactuator being capable of moving between a first position where fluid cannot pass through said aperture of said microvalve body and a second position which allows fluid to pass through said aperture of said microvalve body;
• (c) a second movable microactuator having a projection cooperating with said multi-layer actuator;
• (d) at least one of said microactuators being connected to said microvalve body;
• and
• (e) said first microactuator alternately functioning by changing shape upon application of an electrical potential to said first microactuator thereby moving said first microactuator from said first position to said second position, and said multi-layer actuator cooperating with a projection on said second movable microactuator so that after such application of said electrical potential ceases to said microvalve assembly, said first movable microactuator remains in said second position continuing to admit fluid until said microvalve assembly is controlled by a control unit, whereafter said first movable microactuator returns to said first position precluding admission of fluid.

An electrochemical cell, comprising a housing comprising one or more fluid inlet apertures, a negative electrode, a fluid consuming positive electrode, and a microvalve assembly operatively connected to said one or more fluid inlet apertures for controlling passage of fluid to said fluid consuming positive electrode, wherein said microvalve assembly comprises:

• (a) a body comprising an aperture located between a first surface and a second surface;
• (b) a first movable microactuator having a multi-layer actuator having at least two deposited layers and said first microactuator being capable of moving between a first closed position where fluid cannot pass through said aperture of said microvalve body and a second, open position which allows fluid to pass through said aperture of said microvalve body;
• (c) a second movable microactuator;
• and
• (d) said first movable microactuator cooperating with said second movable microactuator to hold said second microactuator in said open position without consumption of power by said second microactuator while said first microactuator is in said open position, said second microactuator undergoing a change in shape in response to the application of a potential across said second microactuator and thereafter holding said first microactuator in said open position continuing to admit fluid until said microvalve assembly is controlled by a control unit, whereafter said first microactuator returns to said first position precluding admission of fluid.

An electrical appliance in which an electrochemical cell is installed and a microvalve assembly disposed outside said cell is mounted, said electrochemical cell comprising one or more fluid inlet apertures, a negative electrode, a fluid consuming positive electrode, and a microvalve assembly operatively connected to said one or more fluid inlet apertures for controlling passage of fluid to said fluid consuming positive electrode, said microvalve assembly comprising:

• (a) a stationary microvalve body comprising an aperture located between a first surface and a second surface;
• (b) a first movable microactuator having a multi-layer actuator having at least two deposited layers, and said first microactuator being capable of moving between a first position where fluid cannot pass through said aperture of said microvalve body and a second position which allows fluid to pass through said aperture of said microvalve body;
• (c) a second movable microactuator having a projection cooperating with said multi-layer actuator;
• (d) at least one of said microactuators being connected to said microvalve body;
• and
• (e) said first microactuator alternately functioning by changing shape upon application of an electrical potential to said first microactuator thereby moving said first microactuator from said first position to said second position, and said multi-layer actuator cooperating with said projection on said second movable microactuator so that after such application of said electrical potential ceases to said microvalve assembly, said first movable microactuator remains in said second position continuing to admit fluid until said microvalve assembly is controlled by a control unit, whereafter said first movable microactuator returns to said first position precluding admission of fluid.