FLUID CONTROL SYSTEMS EMPLOYING COMPLIANT ELECTROACTIVE MATERIALS

1 . A fluid control device comprising:

a valve seat;

a poppet; and

at least one electroactive polymer actuator for selectively controlling the distance between an end of the poppet and the valve seat.

2 . The fluid control device of claim 1 , further comprising:

an inlet fluid chamber;

an outlet fluid chamber;

an overflow chamber; and

a venting passageway between the inlet fluid chamber and the overflow chamber, wherein the passage of fluid from the inlet fluid chamber and the overflow chamber affects the fluid pressure within the device.

3 . The fluid control device of claim 2 , wherein the inlet fluid chamber and the overflow chamber have substantial similar volumes.

4 . The fluid control device of claim 2 , wherein tile volume of the overflow chamber is greater than that of the inlet fluid chamber.

5 . The fluid control device of claim 3 , wherein the fluid control device functions as a regulator.

6 . The fluid control device of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is provided in a non-wetted environment.

7 . The fluid control device of claim 6 , further comprising a first barrier diaphragm between the inlet fluid chamber and the actuator and a second barrier diaphragm between the actuator and the overflow chamber.

8 . The fluid control device of claim 1 , further comprising a spring mechanism for biasing the poppet against the valve seat when the actuator is inactive.

9 . The fluid control device of claim 1 , wherein the poppet and actuator are magnetically coupled.

10 . A fluid control device of claim 1 , comprising:

first and second inlet chambers,

first and second outlet chambers;

a first valve mechanism positioned between the first inlet chamber and the first outlet chamber, the first valve mechanism having a first valve seat;

a second valve mechanism positioned between the second inlet chamber and the second outlet chamber, the second valve mechanism having a second valve seat;

a poppet extending between the first and second valve seats; and

at least one electroactive polymer actuator for selectively controlling movement of the poppet between the first and second valve seats.

11 . The fluid control device of claim 10 , wherein the at least one actuator is provided in a non-wetted environment.

12 . The fluid control device of claim 11 , further comprising a first barrier diaphragm between the inlet fluid chamber and the actuator and a second barrier diaphragm between the actuator and the overflow chamber.

13 . A fluid control system comprising:

a fluid manifold block having at least two pairs of inlet and outlet ports; and

at least two fluid control devices of claim 1 , each device having a pair of inlet and outlet ports, wherein a device inlet port is in fluid communication with a manifold block inlet port and a device outlet port is in fluid communication with a manifold block outlet port.

14 . The fluid control system of claim 13 , further comprising an electrical interconnect block in electrical communication with the electroactive polymer actuators of the fluid control devices.

15 . The fluid control system of claim 14 , wherein the electrical interconnect block comprises a plurality of electrical connection slots configured for receiving an electrical connection tab extending from each of the fluid control devices.

16 . The fluid control system of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the fluid control devices functions as a valve.

17 . The fluid control system of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the fluid control devices functions as a regulator.

18 . A fuel injector comprising a fluid control device of claim 1 .

19 . The fuel injector of claim 18 , further comprising a pump mechanism comprising an electroactive polymer actuator for controlling fluid flow to a fluid inlet end of the fluid control device.