Spill-resistant fluid delivery device

• US 10,399,102 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2017
• Issued: 09/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microlin LLC
• Original Assignee: Microlin LLC
• Inventors: Joshi, Ashok V., Gordon, John H
• Primary Examiner(s): Valvis, Alexander M
• Application Number:
  US15/485,206
• Publication Number:
  US 20170274399A1
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 222108, 222318, 239 17, 239 20, 239 23, 239 54, 239124-127
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/134 Distributing means, e.g. baffles, valves, manifolds, nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/122 comprising a fan
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/127 comprising a wick
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14204 with gas-producing electrochemical cell
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/19 Constructional features of carpules, syringes or blisters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8218 Gas operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14593 the diaphragm being actuated by fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1483 using flexible bags externally pressurised by fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/155 pressurised by gas introduced into the reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2046 Media being expelled from injector by gas generation, e.g. explosive charge
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0059 allowing operation in any orientation, e.g. for discharge in inverted position
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/02 Membranes or pistons acting on the contents inside the container, e.g. follower pistons
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/026 Membranes separating the content remaining in the container from the atmospheric air to compensate underpressure inside the container
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/046 the gas or vapour flow coming from a source where the gas or vapour is not in contact with the liquid or other fluent material to be sprayed, e.g. from a compressive bulb, an air pump or an enclosure surrounding the container
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1028 Pumps having a pumping chamber with a deformable wall B05B11/1087 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/047 supply being effected by follower in container, e.g. membrane or floating piston , or by deformation of container B05B9/0838 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/04 by electrolysis of water
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 5/00 Electrogenerative processes, i.e. processes for producing compounds in which electricity is generated simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 9/00 Cells or assemblies of cells; Constructional parts of cells; Assemblies of constructional parts, e.g. electrode-diaphragm assemblies; Process-related cell features
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 9/05 Pressure cells
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 9/17 : Cells comprising dimensionally-stable non-movable electrodes; Assemblies of constructional parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 : Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis

Abstract

An orientation independent delivery device. The delivery device includes a gas chamber, a delivery chamber, a gas cell, and a delivery aperture. The gas chamber includes a gas-side rigid portion and a gas-side flexible barrier. The gas-side flexible barrier is sealed to the gas-side rigid portion. The delivery chamber includes a delivery-side rigid portion and a delivery-side flexible barrier. The delivery-side flexible barrier is sealed to the delivery-side rigid portion and is oriented adjacent to the gas-side flexible barrier. The gas cell is coupled to the gas-side rigid portion of the gas chamber. The gas cell increases a gas pressure within the gas chamber to expand the gas-side flexible barrier. Expansion of the gas-side flexible barrier applies a compressive force to the delivery-side flexible barrier allowing a delivery material to escape from the delivery chamber.

Claims

1. An orientation independent delivery device comprising:

a gas chamber comprising a gas-side rigid portion and a gas-side flexible barrier element, wherein the gas-side flexible barrier element is permanently sealed, around a first perimeter of the gas chamber, to the gas-side rigid portion such that gas introduced to the gas chamber is confined between the gas-side flexible barrier element and the gas-side rigid portion;

a delivery chamber comprising a delivery-side rigid portion and a delivery-side flexible barrier element, wherein the delivery-side flexible barrier element is permanently sealed, around a second perimeter of the delivery chamber, to the delivery-side rigid portion such that delivery material introduced to the delivery chamber is confined between the delivery-side flexible barrier element and the delivery-side rigid portion, the delivery-side flexible barrier element being oriented adjacent to, and a distinct element from, the gas-side flexible barrier element;

an absorbent element disposed in the delivery chamber to avoid presence of air bubbles and facilitate completely filling the delivery chamber with delivery material during manufacture of said delivery device;

a gas cell coupled to the gas-side rigid portion of the gas chamber, the gas cell to increase a gas pressure within the gas chamber to expand the gas-side flexible barrier element, wherein expansion of the gas-side flexible barrier element applies a compressive force to the delivery-side flexible barrier element;

a delivery aperture to allow a delivery material to escape from the delivery chamber in response to deflection of the delivery-side flexible barrier element in a direction toward the delivery-side rigid portion to reduce a volume defined inside the delivery chamber; and

a capture element coupled to the delivery device and disposed downstream of the delivery aperture to resist spill of unintentionally discharged delivery material from the delivery chamber to the environment as a result of an undesired reduction in the volume or due to a temperature change-induced increase in pressure inside the delivery chamber, the capture element permitting release into the local atmosphere of delivery material in vapor form and resisting discharge of delivery material in liquid form, wherein;

the gas-side flexible barrier element has an outer surface that is in continuous direct contact with the delivery-side flexible barrier element without separation.

2. The delivery device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a passive gas-relief valve disposed in a venting association with the gas chamber to permit discharge of passive gas from inside the gas chamber to the environment.

3. The delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the capture element comprises:

an overflow emanator chamber associated with the delivery aperture to receive and confine small quantities or even excessive drops of delivery material.

4. The delivery device according to claim 3, wherein:

the overflow emanator chamber is structured to hold a volume that is at least half the volume held in a full delivery chamber.

5. The delivery device according to claim 3, further comprising:

an absorbent element disposed inside the overflow emanator chamber to capture and confine discharged drops of delivery material while permitting emanation of volatized delivery material.

6. The delivery device according to claim 5, wherein:

the absorbent element is made from a material that can soak up delivery material, and permit emanation of desirable volatile portions thereof.

7. The delivery device according to claim 5, wherein:

the absorbent element is also an emanator, or is structured to communicate absorbed delivery material to an emanator.

8. The delivery device according to claim 1, wherein:

the gas cell is self-powered.

9. The delivery device according to claim 8, wherein:

the gas cell is a galvanic cell.

10. The delivery device according to claim 1, wherein:

the gas cell is structured to resist generation of passive gas prior to the gas cell being placed into service to generate operational levels of gas.

11. The delivery device according to claim 10, wherein:

the gas cell is structured to permit on-demand release of electrolyte from storage that is isolated from an electrode to place the cell into operational gas generating mode.

12. The delivery device according to claim 10, wherein:

the gas cell is structured to permit on-demand completion of an electrically conductive path disposed between an anode and a cathode of the gas cell to place the gas cell into operational gas generating mode.

13. The delivery device according to claim 10, wherein:

the gas cell is structured to permit on-demand coupling of discrete components to place the cell into operational gas generating mode.

14. An orientation independent delivery device comprising:

a gas chamber comprising a gas-side rigid portion and a gas-side flexible barrier element, wherein the gas-side flexible barrier element is permanently sealed, around a first perimeter of the gas chamber, to the gas-side rigid portion such that gas introduced to the gas chamber is confined between the gas-side flexible barrier element and the gas-side rigid portion;

a delivery chamber comprising a delivery-side rigid portion and a delivery-side flexible barrier element, wherein the delivery-side flexible barrier element is permanently sealed, around a second perimeter of the delivery chamber, to the delivery-side rigid portion such that delivery material introduced to the delivery chamber is confined between the delivery-side flexible barrier element and the delivery-side rigid portion, the delivery-side flexible barrier element being oriented adjacent to, and a distinct element from, the gas-side flexible barrier element;

an absorbent element disposed inside the delivery chamber upon assembly of the device to facilitate complete filling of the delivery chamber with delivery material without entrapping air bubbles in the delivery chamber

a self-powered gas cell coupled to the gas-side rigid portion of the gas chamber, the gas cell to increase a gas pressure within the gas chamber to expand the gas-side flexible barrier element, wherein expansion of the gas-side flexible barrier element applies a compressive force to the delivery-side flexible barrier element;

a delivery aperture to allow a delivery material to escape from the delivery chamber in response to deflection of the delivery-side flexible barrier element in a direction toward the delivery-side rigid portion; and

means to resist spill of unintentionally discharged liquid delivery material from the delivery device to a local environment, the means to resist spill being coupled to the delivery device and disposed downstream of the delivery aperture, wherein;

the gas-side flexible barrier element has an outer surface that is in continuous direct contact with the delivery-side flexible barrier element without separation.

15. The delivery device according to claim 14, wherein:

the self-powered gas cell is a galvanic cell.

16. The delivery device according to claim 14, wherein:

the self-powered gas cell is structured for final assembly by a user to permit placing the gas cell into operational gas generating mode at the time of placing the delivery device into service to deliver material to the environment.

17. The delivery device according to claim 14, further comprising:

a passive relief valve disposed in a venting association with the gas chamber to permit discharge of passive gas from inside the gas chamber to the environment.

18. The delivery device according to claim 14, wherein:

the means to resist spill comprises an overflow emanator storage chamber associated with the delivery aperture to receive and confine spilled drops of delivery material, the overflow emanator storage chamber comprising a volume at least half as large as the delivery chamber volume.