Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Microelectronic thermal valve
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Application No.: US15370633Application Date: 2016-12-06
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Publication No.: US10995879B2Publication Date: 2021-05-04
- Inventor: Alina Alexeenko , Anthony George Cofer , Stephen Douglas Heister
- Applicant: Purdue Research Foundation
- Applicant Address: US IN West Lafayette
- Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
- Current Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
- Current Assignee Address: US IN West Lafayette
- Agency: Dentons Bingham Greenebaum LLP
- Agent John V. Daniluck
- Main IPC: F16K99/00
- IPC: F16K99/00 ; B64G1/40 ; B64G1/10 ; B64G1/50

Abstract:
A microfabricated valve with no moving parts. In one embodiment, the valve includes a reservoir of a liquid that is in fluid communication with an outlet channel having a throat that is less than 100 microns wide. Preferably, the channel is an elongated slit. The configuration of channel is adapted and configured such that surface tension of the liquid prevents flow out of the channel. A heater increases the temperature of the meniscus of the fluid, until a portion of the fluid is ejected from the channel. The ejection of the fluid creates both a thrusting effect and a cooling effect.
Public/Granted literature
- US20170159847A1 MICROELECTRONIC THERMAL VALVE Public/Granted day:2017-06-08
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