Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology – Apparatus
Patent
1990-08-16
1992-12-08
Housel, James C.
Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology
Apparatus
435284, 417118, 417121, 2611191, 2611211, A01N 102
Patent
active
051697815
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Perfusion of a breeding liquid for breathing control and nutrition supply is essential for the breeding of life in processes such as cell culture, hydroponics and breeding. An apparatus for perfusing a liquid of small capacity is normally or usually such that water is moved by a water-flow pump to perfuse the liquid. For perfusion of a liquid of large capacity such as several hundred tons or several thousand tons, a super-huge water-flow pump is required in order to eliminate a stagnant area where the liquid is not perfused. Actually, a plurality of water-flow pumps are installed to cope with the stagnation, or the breeding liquid is completely replaced in order to cope with the stagnation. The present invention can cope with the automatic perfusion of the above-described liquid of small capacity only by simple aeration. It is considered that, in a principal aspect, the invention can cope with perfusion of a liquid of large capacity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is originally directed to a perfusion apparatus, but, if a one-way valve is installed, the present invention functions as a water-flow pump. First, the background of a water-flow pump will be described. Mechanical construction of the normal or usual water-flow pump utilizes a driving force of a rotor which takes various configurations. Although it is possible to create a water-flow pump from a combination of piston movement and a one-way valve, utilization of an electric motor, which is superior in efficiency, does not so much create the water-flow pump of today. However, the apparatus of the present invention resembles a piston movement. That is, the present invention perfuses liquid upwardly and downwardly by water flow which utilizes the piston movement of air, and a valve is associated with the water flow to form a water-flow pump.
Regarding the perfusion apparatus, water is moved by the existing water-flow pump for the perfusion of the liquid of small capacity, to stir the liquid thereby eliminating the stagnant area, so that the liquid is perfused. In the present invention, since the liquid is moved upwardly and downwardly so as to be perfused, the liquid is perfused without any stagnant area. Appearance of a stagnant area is inevitable for a liquid of large capacity. The present invention solves the difficulty of perfusion by a simple construction.
An important aspect of the present invention is the function of a small pipe. That is, at one time, water enters a lumen and serves as a "water plug" so that air is accumulated. Subsequently, the water in the lumen is blown out to aerate the lumen so that the accumulated air is quickly opened and is removed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an empty perfusion apparatus according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the perfusion apparatus of FIG. 1 filled with water to an artificial water level;
FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the perfusion apparatus of FIG. 2 after air has been charged thereinto;
FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a perfusion apparatus according to the present invention; and
FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of yet another embodiment of a perfusion apparatus according to the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As shown commonly in FIGS. 1 through 5, the perfusion apparatus of the present invention includes a tube 10, a U-shaped small pipe 20 and a blast pipe 30, respectively. The water surface is indicated by the shaded areas. As commonly shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, the perfusion apparatus of the present invention further includes an uppermost end 12 and a lowermost end 14 of the tube 10, an uppermost end 22 of the right leg of the U-shaped small pipe 20 on the outside of a sealed container 40, a lowermost end 24 of the U-shaped small pipe 20 on the inside of the container 40 (a
REFERENCES:
patent: 1417415 (1922-05-01), Sarlls
patent: 3116347 (1959-10-01), Allen
patent: 4304665 (1981-12-01), Hines
patent: 4450118 (1984-05-01), Tuin
patent: 4704074 (1987-11-01), McCullough
patent: 4970143 (1990-11-01), Guidoux et al.
Nojima Hisatake
Nojima Youko
Housel James C.
Wallenhorst Maureen
Yugen Kaisha Parasight
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