Apparatus for continuously aspirating a fluid from a fluid source

• US 20060144440A1
• Filed: 12/31/2004
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MD Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: MD Technologies Inc.
• Inventors: Merkle, William L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,357,142 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/205
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/782 using valves with freely moving parts, e.g. float valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3382 Upper level detectors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2534 Liquid level response
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3109 Liquid filling by evacuating container
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/469 Sequentially filled and emptied [e.g., holding type]

Abstract

An apparatus for continuously aspirating a fluid from a fluid source. A vacuum source is operatively connected to a first container forming a first chamber and a second container forming a second chamber. A fluid collection tube provides communication between the fluid source and each of the first chamber and the second chamber. A first level sensor is positioned within the first chamber and a second level sensor is positioned within the second chamber. Upon receiving a signal generated by one of the first level sensor and the second level sensor, a relay responsively exposes a vacuum within one of the first chamber and the second chamber to continuously aspirate at least a portion of the fluid from the fluid source. A shut-off valve is preferably positioned within each of the first chamber and the second chamber to prevent communication between the vacuum source and the corresponding chamber with a fluid level within the chamber at a fluid level setpoint.

Claims

1. An apparatus for continuously aspirating a fluid from a fluid source comprising:

a first container forming a chamber;

a vacuum source operatively connected to the first container and including a first vacuum tube in communication with the chamber;

a first level sensor sensing a level of the fluid within the chamber;

a first fluid collection tube having a first end portion in communication with the chamber and a second end portion operatively connectable to an aspirator device, the first fluid collection tube providing communication between the fluid source and the chamber;

a first solenoid valve connecting the first container to the vacuum source, the first solenoid valve activatable to provide communication between the vacuum source and the chamber; and

a first shut-off valve positioned within the chamber and preventing communication between the vacuum source and the chamber with a fluid level within the chamber at a fluid level setpoint.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a relay in electrical communication with the first solenoid valve and activating the first solenoid valve to expose a vacuum within the chamber to aspirate at least a portion of the fluid from the fluid source to within the chamber.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:

a second container forming a second chamber and operatively connected to the vacuum source, the vacuum source including a second vacuum tube in communication with the second chamber;

a second level sensor sensing a second level of the fluid within the second chamber;

a second fluid collection tube having a first end portion in communication with the second chamber and a second end portion operatively connectable to the aspirator device, the second fluid collection tube providing communication between the fluid source and the second chamber;

a second solenoid valve connecting the second container to the vacuum source, the second solenoid valve activatable to provide communication between the vacuum source and the second chamber; and

a second shut-off valve positioned within the second chamber and preventing communication between the vacuum source and the second chamber with a fluid level within the second chamber at a fluid level setpoint.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the second solenoid valve is in electrical communication with the relay, the relay activating the second solenoid valve to expose a vacuum within the second chamber to aspirate at least a portion of the fluid from the fluid source to within the second chamber.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first level sensor transmits a stop signal to the relay with the fluid level within the chamber approaching the fluid level setpoint.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein, upon receiving the stop signal transmitted from the first level sensor, the relay responsively transmits a signal to a first solenoid to close the first solenoid valve and prevent communication between the vacuum source and the chamber of the first container.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the relay transmits a second signal to a second solenoid to open the second solenoid valve and expose a vacuum within the second chamber to aspirate at least a portion of the fluid from the fluid source to within the second chamber.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein, with the first solenoid valve closed, the fluid within the chamber is drained from the first container.

9. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising:

a counter connected to each of the first level sensor and the second level sensor, the counter activated when one of the first level sensor and the second level sensor transmits a stop signal to the relay.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first shut-off valve comprises a check valve.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first shut-off valve comprises a float ball freely positioned within a retainer, the float ball responsively positionable over a seat formed at an end portion of the first vacuum tube with the fluid level within the chamber at the fluid level setpoint.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a first drain valve positioned within an opening formed in the first container and providing communication between the chamber and a drain pipe connected to the first drain valve.

13. An apparatus for continuously aspirating a fluid from a fluid source comprising:

a vacuum source;

a first container forming a first chamber and operatively connected to the vacuum source, a first level sensor sensing a level of the fluid within the first chamber;

a second container forming a second chamber and operatively connected to the vacuum source, a second level sensor sensing a level of the fluid within the second chamber;

a fluid collection tube providing communication between the fluid source and each of the first chamber and the second chamber; and

a relay receiving at least one signal from at least one of the first level sensor and the second level sensor, and responsively exposing a vacuum within one of the first chamber and the second chamber to continuously aspirate at least a portion of the fluid from the fluid source.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

a first solenoid valve connecting the first container to the vacuum source and activatable to provide communication between the vacuum source and the first chamber; and

a second solenoid valve connecting the second container to the vacuum source, and activatable to provide communication between the vacuum source and the second chamber,

the relay in electrical communication with each of the first solenoid valve and the second solenoid valve, the relay receiving the at least one signal and responsively opening one of the first solenoid valve and the second solenoid valve and closing the other of the first solenoid valve and the second solenoid valve.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

a first shut-off valve positioned within the first chamber and preventing communication between the vacuum source and the first chamber with a first fluid level within the first chamber at a first fluid level setpoint; and

a second shut-off valve positioned within the second chamber and preventing communication between the vacuum source and the second chamber with a second fluid level within the second chamber at a second fluid level setpoint.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein, with the first shut-off valve preventing communication between the vacuum source and the first chamber, at least a portion of the fluid contained within the first container is drained through a drainage assembly connected to the first container.

17. A method for continuously aspirating a fluid from a fluid source comprising:

aspirating at least a portion of the fluid from the fluid source and into a first chamber formed by a first container, the first chamber in communication with a vacuum source;

collecting the aspirated fluid within the first container until a first fluid level within the first chamber approaches a first fluid level setpoint;

closing a first solenoid valve to prevent communication between the vacuum source and the first chamber;

opening a second solenoid valve to provide communication between the vacuum source and a second chamber formed by a second container, the second chamber in communication with the vacuum source; and

aspirating at least a portion of the fluid from the fluid source and into the second chamber as the aspirated fluid collected in the first container is drained into a drain pipe.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

collecting the aspirated fluid within the second container until a second fluid level within the second chamber approaches a second fluid level setpoint;

closing the second solenoid valve to prevent communication between the vacuum source and the second chamber; and

opening the first solenoid valve to provide communication between the vacuum source and the first chamber.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein, upon sensing the first fluid level approaching the first fluid level setpoint, a first level sensor transmits a signal to a relay to close the first solenoid valve.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein, with the first solenoid valve closed, the relay opens the second solenoid valve to provide communication between the vacuum source and the second chamber.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein, upon sensing the second fluid level is approaching the second fluid level setpoint, a second level sensor transmits a signal to a relay to close the second solenoid valve, and with the second solenoid valve closed, the relay opens the first solenoid valve to provide communication between the vacuum source and the first chamber.

22. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of counting when each of the first solenoid valve and the second solenoid valve is activated to close.