Microvalve

Patent Number: 6,918,573
Issued: 7/19/2005
Official Filing: View the Complete Patent
Abstract: A high pressure microvalve for connecting a first fluid-bearing conduit to a second fluid-bearing conduit is provided. The microvalve includes (a) a first body having a first interior surface and at least one port outlet at the first interior surface that is in fluid communication with at least one first channel wherein each port outlet is surrounded by a first seal with an upper surface that is at a level above that of the first interior surface (b) a second body having a second interior surface and at least one port inlet at the second interior surface that is in fluid communication with at least one second channel, and wherein each port inlet is surrounded by a second seal with an upper surface that is at a level above that of the second interior surface, wherein the first interior surface is substantially planar and is slidably secured to the second interior surface which is also substantially planar, and (c) means for aligning a port outlet in the first body to a port inlet in the second body to permit fluid flow and/or control from a first channel into a second channel.
Filed: 1/27/2003
Application Number: 10/351,714
Government Interests: STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention.