Patent ID: 9678050
Date: 2017-06-13
CPC Classifications: G01N

Claim:
1. A fluid valve assembly module comprising: a housing structure including a plurality of ports and a plurality of fluid passageways interconnecting the ports; and a plurality of piezo-actuated valves in fluid communication with the fluid passageways, each valve including a piezo element that controls flow along a passageway; wherein the passageways and valves are arranged within the housing structure so as to define a fluid control module comprising: a flow swapping component having first and second inlets and first and second output ports wherein the flow swapping component is configured to receive a first fluid flow at the first inlet and a second fluid flow at the second inlet and in a first operational mode to direct the first fluid flow to the first output port and the second fluid flow to the second output port, and in a second operational mode to direct the first fluid flow to the second output port and the second fluid flow to the first output port; a flow splitting component having an input port, a third output port and a first outlet wherein the flow splitting component is configured to receive an input fluid flow at the input port and to control an amount of the input fluid flow provided to the third output port and to the first outlet in a continuously adjustable manner, wherein the first outlet is fluidly connected to the first inlet of the flow swapping component and the third output port is adapted to be fluidly coupled with an external reservoir; and a flow pressurization component having an entry port in fluid communication with a second outlet, wherein the flow pressurization component is configured to receive a third fluid flow at the entry port and to control the pressure of the third fluid flow at the second outlet, wherein the second outlet is fluidly connected to the second inlet of the flow swapping component and the entry port is adapted to be fluidly coupled with the external reservoir.