The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Aug. 11, 2020

Filed:

Aug. 29, 2018
Applicant:

International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);

Inventors:

Kevin O'Connell, Rochester, MN (US);

Alex Matos, Rochester, MN (US);

William J. Anderl, Rochester, MN (US);

Karl Stathakis, Owatonna, MN (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
F16K 17/00 (2006.01); F16K 99/00 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
F16K 17/003 (2013.01); F16K 99/0036 (2013.01); F16K 99/0019 (2013.01); F16K 99/0034 (2013.01); F16K 99/0061 (2013.01);
Abstract

A microfluidic control apparatus, such as a relief valve, includes a pressure containing housing to contain a fluid within an interior of the pressure containing housing, and a nanotube in fluid communication between the interior of the pressure containing housing and an exterior of the pressure containing housing. The nanotube is used to contain water therein such that, below a predetermined temperature, the water within the nanotube prevents pressure relief through the nanotube from the interior to the exterior of the pressure containing housing, and above the predetermined temperature, the water within the nanotube enables pressure relief through the nanotube from the interior to the exterior of the pressure containing housing.


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