A thruster assembly, including a switch connected to a power source, a thruster, a propellant tank for storing and pressurising a propellant, and a propellant channel for guiding the propellant to the thruster. The thruster includes a space for receiving the propellant from the propellant channel, an electrically controlled heating element, a thruster body having a first thermal expansion coefficient, a valve component having a second thermal expansion coefficient, which is different than the first thermal expansion coefficient, inside the thruster body, and a nozzle, wherein the valve component includes a sealing surface closing the nozzle in a first temperature, and the electrically controlled heating element in response to actuation of the switch heats said thruster to a second temperature where the thermal expansion of the thruster opens the nozzle.

The present invention relates to a stop valve for installation in a pipeline, in particular in a pipeline of a nuclear facility, such as a nuclear power plant, or in a conventional chemical reactor and in a conventional power plant, to stop a fluid flow through the pipeline in the event of an operational failure. The valve comprises a valve housing including a flow channel passing through the valve housing, and a closure member arranged at least partially in the flow channel and reversibly transferable between an open position and a closed position such as to open or close the flow channel through the valve housing. The valve further comprises a non-electrically driven actuator mechanism operatively coupled to the closure member for transferring the closure member at least from the open position in the closed position. The actuator mechanism is configured to be activated by a fluid flow through the flow channel reaching or exceeding a switching temperature and/or switching flow rate during operation. In addition, the valve comprises at least one position indicator to indicate whether the closure member is in the open position or in the closed position. The position indicator comprises at least one indicator member movably arranged in or at the valve housing between a first position and a second position, wherein the indicator member is magnetically coupled to the closure member such that the indicator member is magnetically transferred into the first position when the closure member is transferred into the open position, and into the second position when the closure member is transferred into the closed position.

A fluid-dynamic device with integrated sensor element includes a first chamber suitable for the containment and/or the passage of a fluid, provided with an inlet opening operatively connectable to a fluid-dynamic circuit and configured to allow a fluid to enter the first chamber, and with a separate outlet opening, operatively connectable to a fluid-dynamic circuit and configured to expel said fluid from the first chamber. The first chamber includes at least one portion elastically deformable due to the action of the fluid contained therein and/or passing through the first chamber, to which a sensor element is associated which is sensitive to the deformation of the elastically deformable portion of the first chamber.

Disclosed herein is a temperature actuated valve, including a stationary member and a movable member, wherein the stationary member is configured to receive the movable member. A first flow path is defined between an outer surface of the stationary member and an inner surface of a housing and a second flow path defined by and within the movable member. The temperature actuated valve further includes at least one temperature actuated member having a first end seated against a base of the stationary member and a second end seated against a base of the movable member. The temperature actuated valve further includes a bias member having a first end connected to the base of the stationary member and a second end connected to the base of the movable member, the at least one temperature actuated member configured to compress at a first temperature and expand at a second temperature.

A dual latching microvalve is capable of a metastable state, wherein a one or more complete flow paths are open, before switching to another state that allows only an inlet or outlet valve to be open at any time on any fluid path. One valve mechanism uses a cam to alternately open and close two valves, with an external force applying pressure to move one valve arm onto a resting position on the cam, thereby opening the closed valve and provided an uninterrupted flow path through the dual latching microvalve. The metastable state provides, for example, a means to prime the pump before operation, such as pumping of insulin into a patient. When released from the metastable state, the dual latching microvalve operates in a fashion whereby opening of both valves simultaneously is prevented, thereby protecting the patient from injury.

An actuator includes a sliding body moveable along a guide between a rest position and a retracted position, a spring resting on a support body and acting to exert a bias force urging the sliding body to the rest position, and a SMA wire having opposite ends being mechanically and electrically connected to a respective one of two stationary contacts and forming a loop between the opposite ends which is connected to the sliding body, wherein the SMA wire is arranged to, when activated by electric energy supply, pull the sliding body away from the rest position to the retracted position, wherein the guide is fixed to a first end portion, the support body is fixed to an intermediate portion, and a contact holding body, in which the two contacts are incorporated, is fixed to a second end portion of a mounting bar.

Fluid flow control valve comprising a tubular body extending in a longitudinal direction with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet situated respectively at the two longitudinal ends of the body, the valve comprising a nozzle and a piston connected to the body, the piston being housed in the body, the nozzle being made up of a part provided with a fluid passage having a calibrated dimension, the passage emerging at one end of the nozzle and forming a seat, said seat being situated against a terminal end of the piston forming a shutter preventing the flow of fluid in the closed position of the valve, the piston comprising a body defining a passage for the fluid in the body for the flow of the fluid between the inlet and the outlet, the body of the valve consisting of a material having a different expansion coefficient from the piston or the nozzle, the valve comprising a heating member which, depending on the heating power delivered, makes it possible to separate the end of the nozzle and the piston by differential expansion, to allow the flow of fluid between the inlet and the outlet in an open position of the valve, characterized in that the terminal end of the piston comprises a ball that is crimped into the body of the piston.

A valve includes a substrate, a shape-memory wire, a conductive polymer, and a current source. The substrate defines an opening therethrough and includes at least one flap selectively extendable across the opening. The shape-memory wire is coupled to the at least one flap. The conductive polymer is coupled to the at least one flap. The current source is coupled to the shape-memory wire and the conductive polymer, such that electrical current from the current source selectively energizes the shape-memory wire and the conductive polymer thereby moving the at least one flap between a closed position and an open position.

The present disclosure provides an aerosol delivery device and a cartridge for an aerosol delivery device. In various implementations, the cartridge may comprise a housing defining a liquid reservoir, an atomizer configured to produce an aerosol, the atomizer comprising a first liquid transport element, a second liquid transport element, and a microvalve located between the liquid reservoir and the second liquid transport element. The microvalve may comprise a base member including at least one channel, and an actuating member at least a portion of which comprises a shape-memory material, and which is configured to move between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the actuating member substantially blocks fluid flow from the liquid reservoir through the channel, and in the second position, the actuating member allows fluid flow from the liquid reservoir through the channel and to the second liquid transport element.

An acoustic device may include a housing; an acoustic channel for passing sound through the housing; a valve seat arranged in the acoustic channel; a valve member configured to control the passing of sound through the channel depending on a configuration of the valve member with respect to the valve seat; an actuator comprising a first SMA wire section and a second SMA wire section configured to actuate the valve member and to change a configuration of the valve member with respect to the valve seat from an open configuration to a closed configuration and vice versa, respectively, when activated; and a retention mechanism which is configured to provide a retention force for retaining the valve member in the closed configuration, wherein the retention force is configured to be overcome by the actuator such that the valve member is released from the closed configuration upon activation of the actuator.