摘要:
A microactuator may be configured by activating a source of electromagnetic radiation to heat and melt a selected set of phase-change plugs embedded in a substrate of the microactuator, pressurizing a common pressure chamber adjacent to each of the plugs to deform the melted plugs, and deactivating the source of electromagnetic radiation to cool and solidify the melted plugs.
摘要:
Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems and methods for automating the operation of a solenoid valve to prevent overheating of solenoid elements. The solenoid valve controls the flow of a fluid, such as gas, and may be automatically interrupted, or shut-off, of power upon the occurrence of fluctuating currents or other events. Once the problem has been removed or repaired, the flow of fluid through the solenoid valve may resume.
摘要:
The present invention provides a drain plug assembly that prevents significant quantities of corium from entering the drain line. By protecting the drain line, essentially no high-activity fission products would be released to the reactor building or the environment during a severe accident. The ceramic drain plug assembly includes a drain plug base and a drain plug supported by a steel pedestal. The lower surface of the plug has a spherical shape such that the plug can be positioned within the base to block access to the drain opening provided in a central portion of the base. During normal operation conditions, the plug is retained above the base by the pedestal. During a severe accident, when corium comes into contact with the pedestal, it will melt rapidly and the drain plug will drop by gravity, effectively closing the sump drain opening and preventing the flow of corium into the drain line.
摘要:
A pressure discharge valve for storage tanks on land or trucks including a valve body having a through hole therein adapted to mate and communicate with a through hole in a wall of the storage tank, a first vent means comprised of a eutectic composition which automatically provides a partial release of storage tank liquid at a first predetermined temperature lower than critical combustion and/or explosive temperatures of liquid in the storage tank, to provide a visual signal and warning to firefighters of these hazardous conditions, and a second vent means comprised of a eutectic composition to automatically vent liquid in the storage tank through the hole in the valve body when the liquids therein reach a predetermined critical temperature. In addition, the pressure discharge valve preferably comprises a eutectic solder material disposed between the valve body and the second vent means, which changes phase (i.e., reaches its eutectic point) below the eutectic point of the second vent means, thereby providing a lubricant between the plug and the valve body.
摘要:
A microvalve device is provided that includes a through via located in an island structure supported on a thermally-insulating membrane supported by a frame. The through via is surrounded by a meltable sealing material. A heater element is positioned on the island structure for sealing the material over the through via by heating the sealing material.
摘要:
A safety valve for a compressed gas reservoir has an exhaust duct that is connected to the compressed gas reservoir, and a sealing element, which is arranged to move within the exhaust duct, and selectively opens the exhaust duct to the outside depending on an operating phase. The exhaust duct has a greater cross-sectional area on the side facing away from the compressed gas reservoir than on the side facing the compressed reservoir, and a constriction on the side of the sealing element facing away from the compressed reservoir.
摘要:
The invention relates to a gas filling and dispensing device that comprises a body to be positioned in the opening of a pressurized gas storage tank, a gas-tapping circuit extending between a first upstream end to be connected to the inside of the tank and a second downstream end to be connected to a gas user, wherein the tapping circuit includes a first insulation valve, the device further including a safety valve subjected to the tank pressure for blocking or selectively opening a passage for the gas from the tank towards a discharge area based on the temperature and/or pressure of the gas in the tank relative to at least one predetermined threshold, characterized in that the discharge area of the safety valve is located upstream from the first insulation valve.
摘要:
A cylinder valve for use with a cylinder containing fluid under pressure includes a valve body configured for releasable connection to the cylinder. The valve body has a flow passage extending through the valve body for fluid communication with an interior of the cylinder when the valve body is connected to the cylinder. A valve in the flow passage is movable between open and closed positions. A vent passage is in the valve body and is separate from the flow passage. A temperature relief insert is in the vent passage. The insert includes an insert body, a bore through the insert body, and a thermal relief material in the bore blocking flow through the bore until a predetermined venting temperature is reached. The valve body does not contain brass and the insert body is brass covered by a metal plating not containing brass.
摘要:
The present invention is directed generally to devices and methods for controlling fluid flow in meso-scale fluidic components in a programmable manner. Specifically, the present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for placing two microfluidic components in fluid communication at an arbitrary position and time, both of which are externally defined. The inventive apparatus uses electromagnetic radiation to perforate a material layer having selected adsorptive properties. The perforation of the material layer allows the fluid communication between microfluidic components allowing volumetric quantitation of fluids. Using the perforation of the material functionality such as metering and multiplexing are achieved on a microscale. This functionality is achieved through basic operations, like dosimeters filling, dosimeters purging, dosimeters extraction, dosimeters ventilation and channels routing. Accordingly, these operations are performed in microfluidic platforms and are characterized extensively, allowing the realization of complex assays in a miniaturized format, where dilutions of proteins and assay readout can be performed in an extremely small footprint.
摘要:
A method of producing a valve includes the steps of forming a channel in a silicon substrate, with the channel having an opening penetrating an entire thickness of the silicon substrate, and forming, by patterning, a metal layer on one surface of the silicon substrate without closing the opening of the channel. In addition, a low melting point metal member is deposited so as to cover at least a part of the metal layer and also to block the opening of the channel.