Patent · US Expired

Method of purging trapped gas from a system fluid contained in an actuation valve

US7169616B2 · kind B2 · utility

7Cited by
50References
42Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 27, 2003
Grant dateJan 30, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 18, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T436/2575
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An apparatus and method for delivering repetitive, precision, low volume liquid dispensing from a dispensing orifice of a non-contact liquid dispensing apparatus. An elongated communication passageway of the dispensing apparatus is defined by interior walls having one end in fluid communication with a system fluid reservoir and an opposite end terminating at the dispensing orifice. A system fluid is placed in the communication passageway extending substantially continuously from the system fluid reservoir to the dispensing orifice. A relatively small volume of gaseous fluid is aspirated through the dispensing orifice, and into the communication passageway in a manner such that the gaseous fluid extends substantially continuously across the transverse cross-sectional dimension of the communication passageway. Subsequently, a dispensing liquid is aspirated through the dispensing orifice and into the communication passageway in a manner such that the relatively small volume of aspirated gaseous fluid forms a minute, unitary air gap fully enclosed between the interior walls of the communication passageway and a liquid interface between the system fluid and the dispensing liquid contain…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.