Alcan International Limited

Ab Electrolux

The Technology Partnership, Plc.

Ttp Group, Plc

Adrian M Woodward

Charles Robert Sims

Anne Tregoning Miller

Victor Carey Humberstone

Andrew R Halket

William Ronald Baxter

John Maclaren Cassells

Peter W Worrall

Nicholas Lyons

Roger W Clarke

Apparatus and method for cooling of liquids

A valve comprises a valve seat member and a movable valve member (preferably a disc with at least one face coated with piezo electric material) movable towards and away from the seat to close and open the valve and a sealing element made from a resilient material and attached to one of the members. The sealing element possesses an initial deformable characteristic so that initial closure of the valve causes the seating element to substantially conform to the shape of the other member and retain the so-conformed shape. The sealing element comprises first and second springs of different resiliently formable characteristics, the second spring preferably being a ring of elastomeric material, and the first spring--after initial deformation of the sealing element--being rigidly adhesively secured to the valve seat member.

Valves

This invention relates to a piezoelectric valve for controlling fluid flow and, more particularly to such a valve which is neither solenoid or servo assisted. In this specification and claims, reference to fluid(s) includes both liquid(s) and gas(es). One particular form of piezoelectric valve for controlling fluid flow comprises a housing, a cavity within the housing, piezoelectric valve disc element and a valve seat, inlet and outlet ducts for leading fluid into and out from the cavity and disposed on opposite sides of the valve disc element and means for supporting the valve disc element at a central region of the element with the peripheral region of the disc disposed for cooperation with the valve seat so that upon actuation of the element by a voltage applied thereto, the periphery of the disc is displaceable and at least a portion of a peripheral region of the disc serves to control fluid flow between the inlet and outlet ducts.

System for controlling fluid flow

A filter of the type incorporating a porous filter membrane 1. Frequently such membranes are very fragile, and the invention describes an improved way of mounting them within the housing. Attached to a perimeter portion of the membrane 1 is a thin strip 8 of flexible material such as polypropylene. The strip 8 is attached, on the one hand, to the base 4 of the filter housing by a first joint 10 and, on the other hand, to the perimeter of the membrane by a second joint 9. Between the two joints is a region of flexure which enables the membrane to float relative to the housing, thus isolating the membrane from relative movement between the membrane and the housing.

Filter membrane with flexure

Growing community of inventors

Cambridge, United Kingdom

Adrian M Woodward