A valve provides multiple channels that allow alternating, or in some cases, simultaneous, fluid flow functions to a port of an instrument, without the requirement of manual manipulation of the valve by the user. A floating member such as a ball having magnetic affinity for a portion of the valve is
A valve provides multiple channels that allow alternating, or in some cases, simultaneous, fluid flow functions to a port of an instrument, without the requirement of manual manipulation of the valve by the user. A floating member such as a ball having magnetic affinity for a portion of the valve is positioned in a home, or normal, position by a magnetic field, where it remains until acted on by fluid pressure. The ball in the home position opens other channels of the device. Under fluid pressure in the channel in which the ball's home position is located, the ball is displaced, obstructing at least one of the other channels, while opening the channel to permit a fluid flow through the channel. When the fluid pressure in the channel is terminated, the ball returns to the home position, and other ports are opened.
대표청구항▼
1. A valve, comprising: a first fluid channel having an inlet port and communicating with an outlet port;a second fluid channel having an inlet port and communicating with the outlet port;a floating member having a magnetic affinity for a portion of the second fluid channel, the floating member bein
1. A valve, comprising: a first fluid channel having an inlet port and communicating with an outlet port;a second fluid channel having an inlet port and communicating with the outlet port;a floating member having a magnetic affinity for a portion of the second fluid channel, the floating member being constructed and arranged to traverse a portion of the first fluid channel and a portion of the second fluid channel;wherein, in use, the floating member is normally positioned within the portion of the second fluid channel for which the floating member has the magnetic affinity, and wherein, when fluid pressure is introduced into the second fluid channel, the fluid pressure moves the floating member away from the second fluid channel and to a position that closes fluid flow in the first fluid channel, and wherein when fluid pressure is reduced in the second fluid channel, the floating member returns to the portion of the second fluid channel for which the floating member has the magnetic affinity. 2. The valve as described in claim 1, wherein the floating member is spherical in shape, and wherein a cross section of a portion of a lumen of the first fluid channel and a cross section of a portion of a lumen of the second fluid channel traversed by the floating member are generally circular. 3. The valve as described in claim 1, wherein the floating member is spherical in shape, and wherein a cross section of a portion of a lumen of the first fluid channel and a cross section of a portion of a lumen of the second fluid channel traversed by the floating member are generally circular, and a cross section of a second portion of the first fluid channel and a cross section of a second portion of the second fluid channel traversed by the floating member each have generally frusto conically shaped lumens. 4. The valve as described in claim 1, further comprising a third channel that communicates with the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel at a lower end of the valve near the outlet port. 5. The valve as described in claim 1, further comprising a third channel, the third channel comprising a lumen, an inlet and an outlet that are in a substantially straight alignment with each other. 6. The valve as described in claim 1, wherein the portion of the valve in which the floating member traverses is substantially transparent. 7. The valve as described in claim 1, wherein the first fluid channel is normally open and unobstructed from the inlet port to the outlet port. 8. The valve as described in claim 1, wherein an inside diameter of the first fluid channel in which the floating member is received when the fluid pressure moves the floating member to a position that obstructs fluid flow in the first fluid channel is larger than an adjacent inside diameter of the first fluid channel. 9. The valve as described in claim 1, wherein an inside diameter of the portion of the second fluid channel that has the magnetic affinity for the floating member is larger than an adjacent inside diameter of the second fluid channel. 10. The valve as described in claim 1, further comprising a third channel. 11. The valve as described in claim 1, wherein the floating member comprises a magnetic component. 12. The valve as described in claim 1, wherein the portion of the second fluid channel for which the floating member has a magnetic affinity comprises a magnetic component.
연구과제 타임라인
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (8)
Credle ; Jr. William S. (Stone Mountain GA), Automatic change-over system for liquid dispensing system.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.