Patent ID: 7923140

Claim:
An electrochemical cell, comprising a housing comprising one or more fluid inlet apertures, a negative electrode, a fluid consuming positive electrode, and a microvalve assembly operatively connected to the one or more fluid inlet apertures for controlling passage of fluid to the fluid consuming positive electrode, wherein said microvalve assembly comprises; (a) a stationary microvalve body comprising an aperture located between a first surface and a second surface; (b) a first movable microactuator being capable of moving between a first position where fluid cannot pass through the microvalve body aperture and a second position which allows fluid to pass through said aperture of said microvalve body; (c) a second movable microactuator having a multi-layer actuator having at least two deposited layers cooperating with a projection on said first microactuator; (d) at least one of said microactuators being connected to said microvalve body; and (e) said second microactuator alternately functioning by changing shape upon application of a potential to said second microactuator thereby moving said first microactuator from said first position to said second position, and said second microactuator cooperating with a projection on said first movable microactuator so that after such application of said electrical potential ceases to said microvalve assembly, said first movable microactuator remains in said second position continuing to admit fluid until said microvalve assembly is controlled by a control unit, whereafter said first movable microactuator returns to said first position precluding admission of fluid.