Patent ID: 7837306

Claim:
A valve unit for opening and closing a flow passage, the valve unit comprising: a laminate body including a plurality of plate members laminated together and forming the flow passage; a valve portion arranged in the laminate body operable to open and close the flow passage; a drive portion that generates drive force for driving the valve portion, with the valve portion opening the flow passage based on the drive force of the drive portion; and a transmission portion arranged between the valve portion and the drive portion for transmitting the drive force of the drive portion to the valve portion; wherein the plurality of plate members includes: a first plate member including the drive portion; a second plate member including a hole functioning as part of the flow passage, with the valve portion being moved between a closing position for closing the hole and an opening position for opening the hole based on the drive force of the drive portion transmitted by the transmission portion; and a third plate member arranged above the second plate member and including a through hole into which the valve portion is insertable and a plate spring projecting in parallel with the third plate member from a circumferential surface defining the through hole so as to urge the valve portion to the closing position, wherein the valve portion includes a first position for receiving the drive force from the drive portion and a second position being in contact with the plate spring; and the valve portion pivots and inclines about the second position based on the drive force received at the first position.