Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – With means to vibrate or jiggle discharge – By electric transducer
Patent
1995-11-09
1997-06-10
Weldon, Kevin
Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
With means to vibrate or jiggle discharge
By electric transducer
B05B 314
Patent
active
056367880
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to apparatus for injecting fluids and, more particularly, to apparatus for injecting micro-volumes of fluid.
2. Description of Relevant Art
Injectors for accurately delivering minute quantities of fluids are known in the art. Such injectors may include a piezoelectric valve for precisely and controllably delivering the fluid from a fluid supply to the injector outlet via an inert gas environment.
Prior art piezoelectric valves include a piezoelectric member which typically is spring-biased or loaded so as to position an orifice seal (which is carried by the piezoelectric member) against the outlet orifice of the valve. The piezoelectric member serves as the drive which operates the valve to inject the fluid. Upon the application of electrical current, the piezoelectric member and attached seal move away from the orifice which permits fluid to exit the valve outlet orifice.
A major drawback of conventional piezoelectric valves is that the operational components thereof are contained in a completely enclosed housing and, consequently, cannot easily be accessed. This creates problems because such conventional valves often require adjustment or servicing of some type. In short, prior art piezoelectric valves do not permit sufficient access to the internal components. Moreover, the piezoelectric member is disposed within the fluid pathway, i.e., the fluid directly contacts the piezoelectric member. This may have possible adverse effects on the piezoelectric member and limit the operational life thereof. In view of this, the selection of suitable piezoelectric members also may be limited.
In addition, conventional piezoelectric valves typically must be pressurized to operate and, further, have a limited range of operation, i.e., the volumes of fluid the valves are capable of injecting are limited. Further, known piezoelectric valves are somewhat bulky which limits the number of applications in which the valves may be used. Stated otherwise, such conventional valves cannot be used in injector assemblies having minimal space for disposition of the piezoelectric valve.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a piezoelectric valve that is capable of injecting micro-volumes of fluid in a very precise and controlled manner, provides easy access to the internal components of the valve for servicing, replacement, etc., can be used with a wide range of fluids, e.g., either non-caustic chemicals or caustic chemicals, and has a minimal overall size to permit use in reduced size applications.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a fluid injector for precise, highly controlled and repeatable delivery of micro-volumes (i.e., minute volumes) of fluids. The fluid injector may be used to deliver fluids to an area or surface of interest, or the injector may be combined with or incorporated into a tubing connector to control the flow of fluid through the associated tubing.
The micro-volume fluid injector includes a base member having a conically-shaped recess extending from a first upper surface thereof, and an outlet orifice adjacent a second lower surface thereof. The first and second surfaces are disposed on opposite sides of the base member, and the conically-shaped recess is in communication with the orifice such that fluid may flow through the base member and out of the orifice.
The injector includes a diaphragm member positioned above the base member which diaphragm includes a plunger that extends downward into the conically-shaped recess. The plunger preferably is conically-shaped so as to substantially mate with the recess in the base member while providing an annular clearance between the respective members for the passage of fluid to the outlet orifice.
An intermediate housing member is secured to the base member over the upper surface thereof so as to be substantially coextensive with the diaphragm. A fluid flow path passes downward through the intermediate housing member and between the latter and t
REFERENCES:
patent: 4533082 (1985-08-01), Maehara et al.
patent: 4702418 (1987-10-01), Carter et al.
patent: 4726524 (1988-02-01), Ishikawa et al.
patent: 5199641 (1993-04-01), Holm et al.
City of Hope
Weldon Kevin
LandOfFree
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