SGER: NanoGate - A New Micromechanical Mechanism for Valves and Relays

这个探索性研究（SGER）项目将探索NanoGate的设计概念和制造策略，考虑力学，摩擦学和驱动，并将建造用于继电器和流体阀的NanoGates原型。 尝试是创建一个新的微机械元件，将在从流体阀到电力继电器的设备中应用。 NanoGate的基本前提是，将力施加到其尖端并抵靠位于尖端和基座之间的砧座弯曲的连续梁可以在梁中创建所需的形状，而与梁厚度无关。 这使得光束能够作为传输：当尖端在砧座和基座之间偏转10微米时，光束可以偏转10埃。 类似地，可以在梁和砧座之间产生间隙（打开）或高力（关闭）。 这一原理在流体系统中的应用将使研究人员能够创造纳米间隙，并在基本的新尺度上研究流体的行为。 研究应能够完全识别与该新器械相关的问题。 NanoGate元件可以有许多系统应用。 例如，NanoGate可用于确定纳米颗粒的大小。 作为一种流体阀，NanoGate可以使用弹性板的抛光顶面来打开和关闭腔室以闸门流动。

This Small Grant for Exploratory Research (SGER) project will explore design concepts and manufacturing strategies for the NanoGate considering mechanics, tribology, and actuation, and will build prototype NanoGates used to act as relays and as fluid valves. The attempt is to create a new micro mechanical element that will have application in devices from fluid valves to electric power relays. The fundamental premise of the NanoGate is that a contilevered beam with a force applied to its tip and bent against an anvil located between the tip and the base can create a desired shape in the beam, independent of the beam thickness. This enables the beam to act as a transmission: when the tip is deflected 10 microns between the anvil and the base, the beam may deflect 10 angstroms. Similarly, a gap (open) or high force (closed) can be created between the beam and the anvil. Applications of this principle in fluid systems would enable researchers to create nanometer gaps and study the behavior of fluids at fundamental new scales. The research should enable complete indentification of the issues associated with this new device. There may be many system applications for the NanoGate element. For example, the NanoGate could be used to size nano particles. As a fluid valve, the NanoGate could use the polished top surface of a resilient plate to open and close off chambers to gate flow.