US Patent 9421545 Spring-less multi-position micro-fluidic valve assembly

A springless rotary shear that produces compression forces by utilizing the stiffness properties of polymer seals. The valve is designed to produce an effective spring load, with inherent sealing force, by deflecting polymer elements whose response depends on stiffness that is governed by each component's elastic modulus and geometry. A stator seal protrudes thousandths of an inch beyond a stator seal housing. When a stator is fastened down to the stator seal housing the clamping forces are transmitted to the stator seal, rotor seal, shaft adapter, bearings and housings, and the assembly is deflected to a flush position, resulting in a sealing force between the rotor and stator seal. The transmitted sealing force is as a function of the stiffness of each component and the protrusion distance of the stator seal above the mating surface prior to fastening the stator.