Cincinnati-based Clippard said today that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a patent for Clippard’s new Eclipse proportional valve. The patent, “Flow Control Valve Using Ceramic Valve Members,” will expire in 2040.

The patent describes the product as “a flow control valve that uses two ceramic members having conforming surfaces which are coupled together to form a fluid-tight seal, and slidable relative to each other to control fluid flow. The shape of the ceramic apertures and their interaction when the valve is opened and closed permits ultra-fine control of the flow of gas or liquid.”

The newly patented, stepper-controlled valve uses a powerful miniature linear actuator and is ideal in critical applications for liquid or gas delivery requiring ultra-fine resolution and excellent repeatability, according to the company. The design also allows for custom flow profiles. Other features include:

• Leak free (<0.05 sccm).
•  Excellent linearity (<4% of full-scale).
• Cycle life of typically >1 million.
• Repeatability <0.5% of full travel.