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.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 08, 2000
Filed:
Dec. 19, 1997
Mark H Yim, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Warren B Jackson, San Francisco, CA (US);
James G Chase, Palo Alto, CA (US);
David K Biegelsen, Portola Valley, CA (US);
Patrick C Cheung, Castro Valley, CA (US);
Andrew A Berlin, San Jose, CA (US);
Xerox Corporation, Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
A valve for redirecting fluid flow has a valve chamber supporting fluid flow, with the valve chamber having an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet. The valve chamber can be closed or partially open. The flap element is movable to alternatively block the first outlet and the second outlet. In or immediately adjacent to the valve chamber are opposing first and a second catch mechanisms for controllably latching the flap element to block respectively the first outlet and the second outlet. The first and second catch mechanisms have a disabled state and an activated state for holding and allowing release of the flap element. Once the first or second catch mechanism is disabled, the flap element is free to move to another position, provided it can overcome the mechanical fluid flow forces that tend to hold it in position. To counter and utilize such forces for moving the flap element, an impulse mechanism kicks the flap element into the valve chamber, away from one of the first and second catch mechanisms, after one of the first and second catch mechanisms is controllably brought into the disabled state. Since the flap element is unstable, oscillations of the flap element in the fluid flow will eventually bring the flap element into catchment range of one of the first and second catch mechanisms in an activated state.