concepts · updated 2026-07-19
Joe Minella
confidence: low volatility: cold
Coined the term 'boogie valve' for the floating plastic check valves used in Zomeworks' di-thermal wall prototypes — named because the plastic balls could be seen boogieing through clear pipe. The boogie valve, evolving from Shawn Buckley's oil-on-water check valve concept, was the di-thermal wall mechanism before Baer switched to ceiling tanks in August 1999.
Named the “boogie valve” — floating plastic check valves used in Zomeworks’ di-thermal wall prototypes, so called because the plastic balls could be seen boogieing through clear pipe.
The boogie valve evolved from Shawn Buckley‘s earlier idea of a fluidic check valve made from a layer of oil floating on water; Buckley himself suggested that floating plastic check valves would be easier to build. The boogie valve became the mechanism for Zomeworks’ di-thermal wall experiments before Steve Baer switched to overhead ceiling tanks (suggested by Bill Mingenbach) in August 1999. See Cool Cell architectural climate-control.
Unknown
Full biography and role/tenure at Zomeworks are not documented in the archive beyond this naming credit.