Patent ID: 7178554
Filing Date: 2007-02-20
Classification: F02M,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An ultrasonically operated valve comprising: a valve body having an inlet, an outlet, a passage in communication with the inlet and outlet, and a valve seat proximal to the outlet; a valve sealing mechanism disposed within the passage adapted to be received by the valve seat and seal the passage from an external environment upon introduction of a pressurized liquid into the passage; a source of ultrasonic energy for excitation of the pressurized liquid; the source of energy vibrating the valve sealing mechanism away from the valve seat thereby enabling liquid to exit the passage through the outlet, the source of ultrasonic energy being at least partially contained within the passage, the source of ultrasonic energy further comprising a tip corresponding to an antinode of the source of ultrasonic energy, the tip spaced a distance from the valve sealing mechanism.