Patent ID: 8646471

Claim:
A method of controlling the flow of a main fluid through a plurality of conduits utilizing a plurality of microvalves, each conduit of the plurality of conduits including at least two walls separated by a gap, each microvalve of the plurality of microvalves including a mesh layer defining a plurality of openings and a flexible membrane portion disposed between the mesh layer and an associated conduit of the plurality of conduits, each flexible membrane portion including a first side contacting the mesh layer, a second side of the flexible membrane facing the associated conduit and extending between the two walls such that the second side forms a portion of the associated conduit, wherein the method comprises: causing the main fluid to flow in the plurality of conduits; and adjusting an electric field and changing a control fluid pressure to control a flow of an electrorheological (ER) fluid through the mesh layers of at least one of said plurality of microvalves, wherein adjusting the electric field comprises applying a first electric field strength to a first ER fluid portion adjacent a first microvalve such that the first ER fluid portion enters a low viscosity state, whereby said changed control fluid pressure causes the first ER fluid portion to flow through first openings defined in said mesh layer of said first microvalve such that the first ER fluid portion presses against the flexible membrane portion of said first microvalve and causes the flexible membrane portion to stretch into the gap of a first said associated conduit, thereby impeding the flow of the main fluid in the first associated conduit, and wherein adjusting the electric field further comprises, while applying said first electric field strength, applying a second electric field strength to a second ER fluid portion adjacent a second microvalve such that the second ER fluid portion enters a high viscosity state, whereby said second ER fluid portion plugs second openings defined in said mesh layer of said second microvalve such that the flexible membrane portion of said second microvalve remains disposed outside a second said associated conduit, thereby allowing said main fluid to flow in the second associated conduit.