Abstract: A valve chip may include a substrate having first and second faces and openings between the first and second faces, and a plurality of flexible valve flaps on one of the faces of the substrate with each flexible valve flap being associated with at least one of the openings. The valve chip may be packaged by forming a frame having an opening therein, and securing the valve chip in the opening of the frame. More particularly, the valve chip may be secured in the opening so that central portions of the first and second faces of the substrate are exposed through the opening in the frame and so that a fluid seal is provided between the frame and edges of the substrate. Related valves, valve assemblies, and methods are also discussed.

Abstract: A valve chip may include a substrate having first and second faces and openings between the first and second faces, and a plurality of flexible valve flaps on one of the faces of the substrate with each flexible valve flap being associated with at least one of the openings. The valve chip may be packaged by forming a frame having an opening therein, and securing the valve chip in the opening of the frame. More particularly, the valve chip may be secured in the opening so that central portions of the first and second faces of the substrate are exposed through the opening in the frame and so that a fluid seal is provided between the frame and edges of the substrate. Related valves, valve assemblies, and methods are also discussed.

Abstract: A valve assembly may include a main housing and first and second electro-statically actuated valves. The main housing may define at least three chambers, with a first chamber configured to be coupled to a high pressure supply port, a second chamber configured to be coupled to an output port, and a third chamber configured to be coupled to a low pressure exhaust port. The first electro-statically actuated valve may be provided between the first and second chambers, and the first electro-statically actuated valve may allow or substantially block fluid communication between the first chamber and the second chamber responsive to a first electrical signal. The second electro-statically actuated valve may be provided between the second and third chambers, and the second electro-statically actuated valve may allow or substantially block fluid communication between the second chamber and the third chamber responsive to a second electrical signal. Related methods are also discussed.

Abstract: A valve assembly may include a main housing and first and second electro-statically actuated valves. The main housing may define at least three chambers, with a first chamber configured to be coupled to a high pressure supply port, a second chamber configured to be coupled to an output port, and a third chamber configured to be coupled to a low pressure exhaust port. The first electro-statically actuated valve may be provided between the first and second chambers, and the first electro-statically actuated valve may allow or substantially block fluid communication between the first chamber and the second chamber responsive to a first electrical signal. The second electro-statically actuated valve may be provided between the second and third chambers, and the second electro-statically actuated valve may allow or substantially block fluid communication between the second chamber and the third chamber responsive to a second electrical signal. Related methods are also discussed.

Abstract: A valve chip may include a substrate having first and second faces and openings between the first and second faces, and a plurality of flexible valve flaps on one of the faces of the substrate with each flexible valve flap being associated with at least one of the openings. The valve chip may be packaged by forming a frame having an opening therein, and securing the valve chip in the opening of the frame. More particularly, the valve chip may be secured in the opening so that central portions of the first and second faces of the substrate are exposed through the opening in the frame and so that a fluid seal is provided between the frame and edges of the substrate. Related valves, valve assemblies, and methods are also discussed.

Abstract: A valve chip may include a substrate having first and second faces and openings between the first and second faces, and a plurality of flexible valve flaps on one of the faces of the substrate with each flexible valve flap being associated with at least one of the openings. The valve chip may be packaged by forming a frame having an opening therein, and securing the valve chip in the opening of the frame. More particularly, the valve chip may be secured in the opening so that central portions of the first and second faces of the substrate are exposed through the opening in the frame and so that a fluid seal is provided between the frame and edges of the substrate. Related valves, valve assemblies, and methods are also discussed.

Abstract: A method of preparing a substrate coated with a proteinaceous foaming composition wherein the substrate is coated with the foamed composition and the foamed composition is mechanically disintegrated to form a continuous surface coating upon the substrate. The foamed composition is prepared by ingesting gas into an aqueous medium containing a proteinaceous foaming composition consisting essentially of at least one proteinaceous foaming component selected from the group consisting of vegetable protein hydrolyzate having at least two different chelating sites, egg albumen, and casein hydrolyzate; alkaline earth metal ions, and zinc ions.

Abstract: It has been discovered that the combination of certain polyvalent metal ions with certain proteinaceous foaming agents will significantly enhance the efficacy of proteinaceous foaming compositions. The present invention affords the means for achieving significantly improved protein foam from vegetable protein hydrolyzates which normally fail to possess the foaming efficacy of conventional proteinaceous foam agents such as egg albumen and caseinates. The improved foamed products may be obtained by employing a combination of polyvalent ions such as calcium and zinc with enzymatically hydrolyzed soy protein whipping agents which are characterized as being soluble throughout the pH 4 to 7 range. The proteinaceous foaming composition may be utilized for a variety of industrial and food applications. The present foaming compositions are particularly useful in providing coated paper products.

Abstract: The 7S and 11S proteins of vegetable proteins may be effectively fractionated and isolated by selectively extracting 7S proteins from an isoelectrically precipitated mixture of 7S and 11S protein in the presence of water-soluble salts. The initial 7S extraction is typically conducted at a pH 5.0-5.6. An enriched 11S fraction is recovered by separating the water-insoluble 11S protein from the water-soluble enriched 7S extract.