Valve

Abstract

A valve includes a housing having an inlet, an outlet and a ram receiving chamber. A ram has a first end and a second end and is slidably supported in the ram receiving chamber. The ram has a central pin on the second end of the ram. An actuating element is connected to the ram. A plate is fixedly connected to the housing. The plate has a central bore. The plate and the ram selectively abut to form a valve seat. The inlet is in fluid communication with the ram receiving chamber. The ram has an outer wall. Fluid communicates between a portion of the ram receiving chamber adjacent to the first end of the ram and a portion of the ram receiving chamber adjacent to the second end of the ram. In the closed position, the ram abuts with the plate. The pin protrudes through the central bore in the plate. In the open position, the actuating element displaces the ram such that the ram is spaced from the plate.

1 . A valve comprising: 
 a housing having an inlet, an outlet and a ram receiving chamber;    a ram having a first end and a second end, the ram is slidably supported in the ram receiving chamber, the ram has a central pin on the second end of the ram;    an actuating element being connected to the ram;    a plate being fixedly connected to the housing, the plate has a central bore, the ram and the plate selectively abut to form a valve seat;    wherein the inlet is in fluid communication with the ram receiving chamber, the ram has an outer wall, a portion of the ram receiving chamber adjacent to the first end of the ram is in fluid communication with a portion of the ram receiving chamber adjacent to the second end of the ram; in the closed position the ram abuts with the plate ; the pin protrudes through the central bore in the plate, in the open position the actuating element displaces the ram such that the ram is spaced from the plate.    
   
   
       2 . The valve according to  claim 1 , wherein the actuating element is a piezoelectrical bending plate.  
   
   
       3 . The valve according to  claim 1 , wherein the ram receiving chamber is cylindrical.  
   
   
       4 . The valve according to  claim 1 , further comprising a flexible membrane connected to the housing and disposed between a free end of the pin and the actuating element.  
   
   
       5 . The valve according to  claim 4 , wherein the membrane is made of titanium.  
   
   
       6 . The valve according to  claim 4 , wherein the membrane forms a hermetic seal within the housing.  
   
   
       7 . The valve according to  claim 4 , wherein a gap is disposed between the plate and the membrane, the gap is in fluid communication with the outlet.  
   
   
       8 . The valve according to  claim 7 , wherein the gap is annular.  
   
   
       9 . The valve according to  claim 1 , further comprising a spring disposed within the ram receiving chamber, the ram is biased by the spring into the closed position.  
   
   
       10 . The valve according to  claim 9 , wherein the spring is a coil spring, the spring acts upon the first end of the ram.  
   
   
       11 . The valve according to  claim 1 , wherein the actuating element has a projection that is axially aligned with the central pin.  
   
   
       12 . The valve according to  claim 1 , wherein the ram is cylindrical in shape.  
   
   
       13 . The valve according to  claim 12 , wherein the ram is displaced axially.  
   
   
       14 . The valve according to  claim 1 , wherein the ram has a gasket on the second end of the ram.  
   
   
       15 . The valve according to  claim 14 , wherein the plate has a depending projection, the gasket and the depending projection selectively abut to form the valve seat.  
   
   
       16 . The valve according to  claim 15 , wherein the depending projection has a trapezoidal shape in cross-section.  
   
   
       17 . The valve according to  claim 14 , wherein the gasket is made of an elastically yielding plastic material.  
   
   
       18 . The valve according to  claim 1 , wherein the ram has a groove disposed in its outer wall.  
   
   
       19 . An implantable infusion pump comprising: 
 a housing having a pump inlet, a pump outlet    a valve having a housing, an inlet fluidly connected to the pump inlet, and an outlet fluidly connected to the pump outlet, the valve having a ram receiving chamber;    a ram having a first end and a second end, the ram is slidably supported in the ram receiving chamber, the ram has a central pin on the second end of the ram;    an actuating element being connected to the ram;    a plate being fixedly connected to the housing, the plate has a central bore, the ram and the plate selectively abut to form a valve seat;    wherein the inlet is in fluid communication with the ram receiving chamber, the ram has an outer wall, a portion of the ram receiving chamber adjacent to the first end of the ram is in fluid communication with a portion of the ram receiving chamber adjacent to the second end of the ram; in the closed position the ram abuts with the plate; the pin protrudes through the central bore in the plate, in the open position the actuating element displaces the ram such that the ram is spaced from the plate.