Valve with flexible sheet member

Claim 2

A valve comprising: a first body portion having a first substantially flat surface, a second body portion having a second substantially flat surface facing the first surface, a flexible sheet positioned between the first and second surfaces, a fluid receiving chamber comprising a void in the first body portion created and defined by a concave surface formed in the first substantially flat surface and a first side of the flexible sheet, at least two fluid passageways formed in the first body portion communicating at spaced locations with the void which forms the fluid receiving chamber, at least one of the fluid passageways being a channel formed in the first substantially flat surface laterally of the void and progressing to and terminating in the void, the channel being defined jointly by a portion of the first body portion which is located laterally of the concave surface and by the first surface of the flexible sheet which is engagable with the first substantially flat surface and the concave surface in the first body portion, means for flexing the sheet against and away from the concave surface formed in the first body portion, in order that when the flexible sheet is flexed against concave surface in the first body portion, the passageways are sealed from each other, and when the flexible sheet is flexed away from the concave surface in the first body portion the fluid passageways are placed in communication with each other by way of the fluid receiving chamber comprising the void.

Claim 3

A valve according to claim 1 wherein the concave surface is spherical.

Claim 4

A valve according to claim 1 wherein the void is a truncated sphere.

Claim 5

A valve according to claim 1 wherein the means for flexing is a source of variable fluid pressure connected to a control passageway in the second body portion communicating with the side of the flexible sheet that faces away from the first surface.

Claim 6

A valve according to claim 1 wherein there is a depression in the concave surface between the spaced locations where the fluid passageways intersect the concave surface.

Claim 7

A valve comprising: a first body portion having a first substantially flat surface, a second body portion having a second substantially flat surface facing the first surface, a flexible sheet secured between the first and second surfaces, a fluid receiving chamber comprising a first void in the first body portion created and defined by a first concave surface formed in the first substantially flat surface and a first side of the flexible sheet, at least two fluid passageways formed in the first body portion communicating at spaced locations with the void which forms the fluid receiving chamber, at least one of the fluid passageways being a channel formed in the first substantially flat surface laterally of the void and progressing to and terminating in the first void, the channel being defined jointly by a portion of the first body portion which is located laterally of the concave surface and by the first surface of the flexible sheet which is engagable with the first substantially flat surface and the concave surface in the first body portion, a second void in the second body portion aligned with the first void and on the opposite side of the flexible sheet, the second void being created and defined by a second concave surface formed in the second surface and the opposite side of the flexible sheet, means for flexing the sheet against and away from the concave surface formed in the first substantially flat surface, in order that when the flexible sheet is flexed against the concave surface formed in the first substantially flat surface, the fluid passageways are sealed from each other, and when the flexible sheet is flexed away from said concave surface formed in the first surface the fluid passageways are placed in communication with each other by way of the fluid receiver chamber comprising the first void.

Claim 8

A valve comprising: a first body portion having a first substantially flat surface, a second body portion having a second substantially flat surface facing the first surface, a flexible sheet secured between the first and second surfaces, a fluid receiving chamber comprising a first void in the first body portion created and defined by a first concave surface formed in the first substantially flat surface and a first side of the flexible sheet, at least two fluid passageways formed in the first body portion communicating at spaced locations with the void which forms the fluid receiving chamber, at least one of the fluid passageways being a channel formed in the first substantially flat surface laterally of the void and progressing to and terminating in the first void, the channel being defined jointly by a portion of the first body portion which is located laterally of the concave surface and by the first surface of the flexible sheet which is engagable with the first substantially flat surface and the concave surface in the first body portion, a second void in the second body portion aligned with the first void and on the opposite side of the flexible sheet, the second void being created and defined by a second concave surface formed in the second surface and the opposite side of the flexible sheet, means for flexing the sheet against and away from the concave surface formed in the first substantially flat surface, in order that when the flexible sheet is flexed against the concave surface formed in the first substantially flat surface, the fluid passageways are sealed from each other, and when the flexible sheet is flexed away from said concave surface formed in the first surface the fluid passageways are placed in communication with each other by way of the fluid receiver chamber comprising the first void.

Claim 9

A valve according to claim 6 wherein the voids are of unequal diameters.

Claim 10

A valve according to claim 6 wherein the area defined by the second concave surface is greater than that defined by the first concave surface.

Claim 11

A valve according to claim 6 wherein the concave surfaces are spherical.

Claim 12

A valve according to claim 6 wherein the voids are truncated spheres.

Claim 13

A valve according to claim 6 wherein the means for flexing is a source of variable fluid pressure connected to a control passageway in the second body portion communicating with the side of the flexible sheet that faces away from the first surface.

Claim 14

A valve according to claim 6 wherein there is a depression in the first concave surface between the spaced locations where the fluid passageways intersect the first concave surface.

Claim 15

A valve comprising: a first body portion having a first substantially flat surface, a second body portion having a second substantially flat surface facing the first surface, a flexible sheet secured between the first and second surfaces, a fluid receiving chamber comprising a first void in the first body portion created and defined by a first concave surface formed in the first substantially flat surface and a first side of the flexible sheet, at least two fluid passageways formed in the first body portion communicating at spaced locations with the void which forms the fluid receiving chamber, at least one of the fluid passageways being a channel formed in the first substantially flat surface laterally of the void and progressing to and terminating in the void, the channel being defined jointly by a portion of the first body portion which is located laterally of the concave surface and by the first surface of the flexible sheet which is engagable with the first substantially flat surface and the concave surface in the first body portion, a second void in the second body portion aligned with the first void and on the opposite side of the flexible sheet, the second void being created and defined by a second concave surface formed in the second surface and the opposite side of the flexible sheet, means for flexing the sheet against and away from the concave surface formed in the first substantially flat surface, in order that when the flexible sheet is flexd against the first concave surface, the fluid passageways are sealed from each other, and when the flexible sheet is flexed away from said concave surface formed in the first surface the fluid passageways are placed in communication with each other by way of the fluid receiving chamber comprising the first void, the second concave surface and hence, the void in the second body portion, having a larger diameter than the first concave surface and hence the void in the first body portion, so that equal pressure in both voids will create a greater force on the surface of the sheet which faces the larger void.

Claim 16

A valve comprising: a first body portion having a first substantially flat surface, a second body portion having a second substantially flat surface facing the first surface, a flexible sheet secured between the first and second surfaces, a fluid receiving chamber comprising a first void in the first body portion created and defined by a first concave surface formed in the first substantially flat surface and a first side of the flexible sheet, at least two fluid passageways formed in the first body portion communicating at spaced locations with the void which forms the fluid receiving chamber, at least one of the fluid passageways being a channel formed in the first substantially flat surface laterally of the void and progressing to and terminating in the void, the channel being defined jointly by a portion of the first body portion which is located laterally of the concave surface and by the first surface of the flexible sheet which is engagable with the first substantially flat surface and the concave surface in the first body portion, a second void in the second body portion aligned with the first void and on the opposite side of the flexible sheet, the second void being created and defined by a second concave surface formed in the second surface and the opposite side of the flexible sheet, means for flexing the sheet against and away from the concave surface formed in the first substantially flat surface, in order that when the flexible sheet is flexd against the first concave surface, the fluid passageways are sealed from each other, and when the flexible sheet is flexed away from said concave surface formed in the first surface the fluid passageways are placed in communication with each other by way of the fluid receiving chamber comprising the first void, the second concave surface and hence, the void in the second body portion, having a larger diameter than the first concave surface and hence the void in the first body portion, so that equal pressure in both voids will create a greater force on the surface of the sheet which faces the larger void.

Claim 17

A valve according to claim 13 wherein at least one of the fluid passageways is a channel formed in the first surface.

Claim 18

A valve according to claim 13 wherein the concave surfaces are spherical.

Claim 19

A valve according to claim 13 wherein the voids are truncated spheres.

Claim 20

A valve according to claim 13 wherein the means for flexing is a source of positive and negative fluid pressure connected to a control passageway in the second body portion communicating with the side of the flexible sheet that faces away from the first surface.