Singulation of valves

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9377130-B2
Application number	US-201414150364-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 8, 2014
Priority date	Feb 3, 2010
Publication date	Jun 28, 2016
Grant date	Jun 28, 2016

Abstract

A method and apparatus for the singulation of valve plates and/or assembled valves from a lead-frame are described. The method and apparatus utilizes an electric current to fuse tabs which join the valve plate and/or the assembled valve to the lead-frame. The valve comprises a first and second valve plate with offsetting apertures and a flap disposed and movable between the first and second plates.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method for fabricating a valve having at least two valve plates, comprising:
forming a first lead-frame having an opening with at least two tabs extending inwardly within the opening to a neck portion for supporting a first valve plate within the opening;
chemically etching a groove into the neck portion of the at least two tabs; and
applying an electrical current to the first lead-frame and the first valve plate to fuse the neck portion of the at least two tabs, the fusing facilitated by the groove and causing singulation of the first valve plate.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the neck portions includes recessing the neck portions within the outer diameter of the first valve plate.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
forming a second lead-frame having an opening with at least two second tabs extending inwardly within the opening to a second neck portion for supporting a second valve plate within the opening; and
stacking the first lead-frame on top of the second lead-frame in electrical contact with the second lead-frame whereby the electrical current fuses the second neck portions of the at least two second tabs supporting the second valve plate.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein forming the second neck portions includes recessing the second neck portions within the outer diameter of the first valve plate.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the valve further comprises a valve flap of insulating material between the at least two valve plates, the method further comprising:
applying an electrical current to both the first lead-frame and the first valve plate, and the second lead-frame and the second valve plate.

6. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
forming a second groove in the second neck portions of the second tabs to facilitate fusing the second neck portions.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the second groove is formed by chemical etching.

Assignees

• Kci Licensing Inc

Inventors

• Jaeb Jonathan Paul
• Hatfield Stuart

Classifications

• Y10T137/784

  Integral resilient member forms plural valves · CPC title

• Y10T29/49409

  Valve seat forming · CPC title

• Y10T29/49416

  with material shaping or cutting · CPC title

• F16K99/0057

  the fluid being the circulating fluid itself, e.g. check valves · CPC title

• Y10T29/49405

  Valve or choke making · CPC title