Temporary elastomeric functional barrier membrane and method of manufacture
AssigneeVernay Laboratories, Inc.
InventorRobert Ferguson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fluid check valve incorporating a temporary elastomeric functional barrier membrane, the check valve having a sealing member comprising a first elastomer and a barrier membrane comprising a second elastomer, different from the first elastomer, disposed directly upon the surface of the sealing member so as to form a continuous layer over at least a seal opening of the sealing member. The barrier membrane may include a photoinitiator and coagent which aids in the ultraviolet (UV) curing of the second elastomer after application upon the first. The barrier membrane may applied as a solution of monomers, photoinitiator, and optional coagent, the solvent evaporated, and the deposited solutes exposed to ultraviolet so as to form the barrier membrane material.
Claims20
A fluid check valve comprising:
- a sealing member comprising a first elastomer;
- and
- a barrier membrane comprising a second elastomer, different from the first elastomer, the second elastomer being disposed directly upon and self-adhered to a surface of the sealing member so as to form a continuous layer over at least a seal opening portion of the sealing member that must be ruptured for opening of the seal opening portion of the sealing member.
A method of manufacturing a temporary elastomeric functional barrier membrane upon a fluid check valve sealing member, the method comprising the steps of:
- (1) applying a solution directly upon a surface of the fluid check valve sealing member and over at least a seal opening portion of the fluid check valve sealing member, the solution comprising a solvent, an elastomer precursor, a photoinitiator, and, optionally, a coagent;
- (2) evaporating the solvent from the applied solution;
- and
- (3) exposing the applied elastomer precursor, photoinitiator and any optional coagent to an ultraviolet light source;
- wherein the exposing step links the applied elastomer precursor and forms a temporary elastomeric functional barrier membrane across the seal opening portion of the sealing member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.