Balanced activation force and bistable valve system and method

Abstract

Some embodiments include a valve assembly with a metering seal including a main channel including regions with a first diameter and regions with a second diameter, where the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter. Some embodiments include a stem positioned in the metering seal extending from at least a first end of the metering seal to a second end of the metering seal. In some embodiments, the stem has a fluted section positioned between two non-fluted sections, where the diameter of stem in the fluted section is smaller than the diameter of the stem in the non-fluted sections. Some embodiments include a first and second flow channel extending across at least a partial width of the metering seal, where the first flow channel is positioned at the first end of the metering seal, and the second flow channel is positioned at the second end of the metering seal.

1 . A valve assembly comprising:
 at least one metering seal comprising a main channel, the main channel including regions with a first diameter and regions with at least a second diameter, the first diameter being smaller than the second diameter;   a stem positioned in the at least one metering seal extending from at least a first end of the at least one metering seal to a second end of the at least one metering seal, the stem comprising at least one fluted section; and   first and second flow channels extending across at least a partial width of the at least one metering seal, the first flow channel positioned at or near the first end of the at least one metering seal, and the second flow channel positioned at or near the second end of the at least one metering seal.   
     
     
         2 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first flow channel extends to and couples with the main channel. 
     
     
         3 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second flow channel extends to and couples with the main channel. 
     
     
         4 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a lower flow channel extending to and coupled to the first flow channel. 
     
     
         5 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an upper flow channel extending to and coupled to the second flow channel. 
     
     
         6 . The valve assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the lower flow channel extends from at least one of a fluid supply and an actuable valve, the actuable valve configured to at least partially open and close to control passage of fluid to the lower flow channel. 
     
     
         7 . The valve assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the upper flow channel extends from at least one of a fluid supply and an actuable valve, the actuable valve configured to at least partially open and close to control passage of fluid to the upper flow channel. 
     
     
         8 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of one or more of the non-fluted sections comprises a diameter dimensioned to couple with the at least one metering seal in the main channel in regions that comprise the second diameter. 
     
     
         9 . The valve assembly of  claim 8 , wherein at least a partial seal or fluid-tight seal is formed by the coupling of the one or more of the non-fluted sections coupling with the at least one metering seal in the main channel in regions that comprise the second diameter. 
     
     
         10 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the stem is positioned in the main channel so that at least a portion of the fluted section is coupled with or proximate a region of the main channel comprising the second diameter. 
     
     
         11 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the stem is positioned in the main channel as an arrangement with at least a portion of the fluted section being at least one of coupled with, proximate to, and fluidly coupled to the second flow channel, the arrangement configured to enable fluid flow between the main channel and the second flow channel. 
     
     
         12 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the stem is positioned in the main channel as an arrangement with at least a portion of the non-fluted section being at least one of coupled with, and proximate to the second flow channel, the arrangement configured to at least partially prevent fluid flow between the main channel and the second flow channel. 
     
     
         13 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the stem is positioned in the main channel as an arrangement with at least a portion of the fluted section being at least one of coupled with, proximate to, and fluidly coupled to the second flow channel, the arrangement configured to enable fluid flow out of the main channel adjacent the second end of the at least one metering seal. 
     
     
         14 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , comprising at least one gap between the inner surface of the at least one metering seal and the outer surface of the stem, the gap configured and arranged to enable fluid to communicate from a lower chamber of an adjacent valve to an upper chamber of an adjacent valve to bring the pressure in the upper chamber up to the pressure in the lower chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the stem comprises a bistable state held in a static position in the main channel by friction between an internal surface of the main channel comprising the first diameter, and/or a fluid force acting on generally opposite ends of the stem. 
     
     
         16 . The valve assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the position of the stem enables a fluid coupling of the first and second flow channels and the main channel. 
     
     
         17 . An assembly comprising:
 a valve assembly comprising a flow control side and a metering side, the flow control side comprising valve separating a lower chamber and an upper chamber, the valve configured and arranged to control fluid flow between the flow control side and the metering side, and   wherein the metering side comprises:
 at least one metering seal comprising a main channel, the main channel including regions with a first diameter and regions with at least a second diameter, the first diameter being smaller than the second diameter; 
 a stem positioned in the at least one metering seal extending from at least a first end of the at least one metering seal to a second end of the at least one metering seal, the stem comprising a fluted section positioned between two non-fluted sections, wherein the diameter of stem in the fluted section is smaller than the diameter of the stem in the non-fluted sections; and 
 first and second flow channels extending across at least a partial width of the at least one metering seal, the first flow channel positioned at or near the first end of the at least one metering seal, and the second flow channel positioned at or near the second end of the at least one metering seal. 
   
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 17 , further comprising a lower flow channel extending to and coupled to the first flow channel, and an upper flow channel extending to and coupled to the second flow channel; and
 wherein the first and second flow channels extend to and couple with the main channel.   
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 17 , further comprising a lower flow channel extending between the flow control side and the metering side and coupled to the first flow channel, and an upper flow channel extending between the flow control side and the metering side and coupled to the second flow channel. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 17 , further comprising at least one gap between the inner surface of the at least one metering seal and the outer surface of the stem, the gap configured and arranged to enable fluid to communicate between the lower chamber and the upper chamber via the at least one metering seal. 
     
     
         21 . A valve stem control method comprising:
 providing at least one metering seal and stem assembly, the at least one metering seal and stem assembly comprising a plurality of sealing zones; and   providing a balanced fluidic pressure to the at least one metering seal and stem assembly, the fluidic pressure being substantially balanced to substantially cancel a force acting and/or inducing momentum of at least a portion of the stem assembly.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of sealing zones comprises three sealing zones of the at least one metering seal. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of sealing zones enables at least one of an on function or position of a valve and an off function or position of a valve. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the stem comprises a bistable condition when exposed to two equal and opposite fluid forces at the on and off functions or positions, the bistable condition enabling a digital selection of the on function or position of a valve and/or the off function or position of a valve. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein for an on function or position, the plurality of sealing zones comprises a middle zone with two zones at each end, the two zones being exposed to atmospheric pressure, wherein a seal of the middle zone is closed, and an upper seal zone of the two zones is opened to depressurize. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein for an off function or position, the stem is moved so that a middle zone of the plurality of zones is open and the two zones are sealed closed. 
     
     
         27 . A fluid control method comprising;
 providing a fluted stem positioned in a metering seal, the fluted stem positioned in the metering seal to substantially cancel two equal and opposite fluid forces fluid forces acting on generally opposite ends of the metering stem by positioning and dimensioning the stem to form a fluidically sealed middle zone enabling a digital selection of the on function or position and/or the off function or position of the valve.   
     
     
         28 . A method of  claim 27 , wherein the bistable on/off condition is produced solely as a result of the two equal and opposite fluid forces.