Rigid Membraneless Fluidic Valve for Stable Conformal Sealing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fluidic valves rely on resilient and compliant components, which can degrade over time, leading to instability and device failure, and require complex fabrication processes.
Innovation Solution
The development of membraneless fluidic valves using rigid materials with conformal surfaces that form an excellent seal without the need for non-rigid components, allowing for improved stability and simplified fabrication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If resilient and compliant components are used in fluidic valves, then effective sealing and fluid control are achieved, but device stability deteriorates over time due to material degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes resilient and compliant components entirely from the fluidic valve system, replacing them with rigid components. This extraction eliminates the source of material degradation while maintaining sealing functionality through alternative mechanisms such as precision-machined surfaces and rigid seals.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameters from elastic/resilient materials to rigid materials. This parameter change fundamentally alters the degradation characteristics, as rigid materials do not exhibit the same time-dependent material degradation as elastomeric components, thereby improving long-term stability.
2Reliability
If resilient and compliant components are used in fluidic valves, then effective sealing is achieved, but device complexity increases due to additional components and assembly steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the complex resilient and compliant components from the valve assembly. This simplification reduces the number of parts, assembly steps, and potential failure points while maintaining sealing performance through rigid component interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the sealing function into the rigid component structure itself, rather than requiring separate resilient sealing elements. This integration eliminates additional components and simplifies the overall device architecture while achieving effective sealing through precision-engineered rigid surfaces.
3Ease of operation
If resilient and compliant components are used in fluidic valves, then effective fluid control is achieved, but manufacturing cost and fabrication difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes resilient and compliant components that require specialized fabrication processes and material handling. This extraction simplifies manufacturing by using only rigid materials that can be processed through standard machining and fabrication techniques, reducing both cost and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameter from elastic to rigid, which fundamentally simplifies the fabrication process. Rigid materials are generally easier to machine, assemble, and quality-assurance test compared to elastomeric materials, thereby improving ease of manufacture while maintaining fluid control effectiveness.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides enhanced stability, reliability, and extended lifetime of fluidic devices by eliminating the use of elastic materials and simplifying the fabrication process, while maintaining effective fluid control through rigid surface interactions.
Implementation Method 1
a position of the gate transmission element is controllable between a first position and a second position using a gate pressure received through the fluidic gate
Implementation Method 2
the closure surface and the portion of the internal surface may be conformal, and in some examples, both may be planar
Data Source
AI summary
Example devices include a fluidic device, such as a fluidic valve, including a body formed from a rigid body material including a fluidic source, a fluidic drain, and a fluidic gate, each of which may have a fluid connection with a chamber, or a portion thereof. The device may further include a gate transmission element, located within the chamber, that is controllable between at least a first position and a second position using a gate pressure received through the fluidic drain. Adjustment of the position of the gate transmission element may allow control of fluid flow through the device. Other devices, methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.