Patent ID: 8900763

Claim:
A valve mechanism, comprising: a layered structure comprised of layers of material; a communication channel ( 810 ) located within the layered structure, the communication channel having an inlet and an outlet; an electrochemically operable actuator, comprising a support structure ( 81 , 82 , 84 , 85 ), a flexible membrane ( 87 ) sealed against said support structure to form a compartment, electrochemical means ( 83 ) that i) generates a gas comprising of one of hydrogen and oxygen gas and ii) delivers the generated gas to an inside of said compartment such that a gas pressure is provide within said compartment, the electrochemical means comprising an ion conducting membrane having an electrode on opposing sides thereof, and terminal means for connecting a voltage source to apply a potential across the electrodes; and a channel ( 86 ) provided in at least one layer of the support structure and in fluid communication with one side of the electrochemically operable actuator for receiving the generated gas evolving from the electrochemically operable actuator during operation, wherein said flexible membrane forms at least part of one of the layers of the support structure, and wherein the membrane in operation seals the outlet of said communication channel to form said compartment as a closed compartment and the gas pressure being exerted on the membrane bulging the membrane to form the closed compartment.