Fluid injection device

• US 20080086077A1
• Filed: 09/25/2007
• Published: 04/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group), Tohoku University National Universities Corporation
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group), Tohoku University National Universities Corporation
• Inventors: Takayama, Kazuyoshi, Kawasumi, Kazuo, Seto, Takeshi, Hosseini, Seyed
• Granted Patent: US 7,901,374 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/02 Instruments for taking cell samples or for biopsy A61B10/0038 and A61B10/0045 take precedence; needle locating or guiding means A61B17/3403; samplers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/26; sampling or preparing biological specimens G01N33/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3203 Fluid jet cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00154 pulsed
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/086 with a resiliently deformable element, e.g. sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/0653 Details
• CPC Class Codes: B26F 3/004 by means of a fluid jet methods for use of abrasive blasting for cutting B24C1/045; guns for abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; perforating by non-mechanical means, e.g. by fluid jet B26F1/26
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17596 Ink pumps, ink valves
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/19 for removing air bubbles
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/00 Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents dispensing means incorporated in removable or non-permanently secured container closures B65D47/00; for shops, stores, offices, bars, or the like A47F1/04; showcases or show cabinets with dispensing arrangements A47F3/02; magazines for screws or nuts in combination with spanners, wrenches or screwdrivers B25B23/06; for use in connection with the handling of sheets, webs, or filamentary material B65H

Abstract

A fluid injection device includes: a pulse generation section that includes a fluid chamber whose volume is changeable, and an inlet flow passage and an outlet flow passage that are connected to the fluid chamber; a first connection flow passage connected to the outlet flow passage, having an end portion; a second connection flow passage connected to the inlet flow passage; a fluid injection opening formed at the end portion of the first connection flow passage, having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the outlet flow passage; a connection flow passage tube including the first connection flow passage and having rigidity adequate to transmit pules of fluid flowing from the fluid chamber to the fluid injection opening; and a pressure generation section that supplies fluid to the inlet flow passage.

Claims

1. A fluid injection device comprising:

a pulse generation section that includes a fluid chamber whose volume is changeable, and an inlet flow passage and an outlet flow passage that are connected to the fluid chamber;

a first connection flow passage connected to the outlet flow passage, having an end portion;

a second connection flow passage connected to the inlet flow passage;

a fluid injection opening formed at the end portion of the first connection flow passage, having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the outlet flow passage;

a connection flow passage tube including the first connection flow passage and having rigidity adequate to bandit pulses of fluid flowing from the fluid chamber to the fluid injection opening; and

a pressure generation section that supplies fluid to the inlet flow passage.

2. The fluid injection device according to claim 1, wherein

the inertance of the inlet flow passage is set greater than the inertance of the outlet flow passage.

3. The fluid injection device according to claim 1, wherein

the pulse generation section includes a volume varying section for varying the volume of the fluid chamber, the volume varying section includes a piezoelectric element that expands or compresses the fluid chamber, and a diaphragm.

4. The fluid injection device according to claim 1, further comprising

a swirl flow generation section generating swirl flow of fluid around an axis of the fluid chamber, wherein

the fluid chamber has a substantial rotating body shape, and includes an inner peripheral wall having a first end and a second end, a sealing surface sealing the first end of the inner peripheral wall, and a diaphragm sealing the second end of the inner peripheral wall, and wherein

the outlet flow passage is formed at a portion which is closer to the axis of the substantial rotating body shape.

5. The fluid injection device according to claim 4, wherein

the swirl flow generation section is formed by the inlet flow passage that connects the inner peripheral wall of the fluid chamber in a substantially tangential direction.

6. The fluid injection device according to claim 4, wherein

the inlet flow passage is formed on the peripheral edge of the fluid chamber.

7. The fluid injection device according to claim 4, wherein

the swirl flow generation section is formed by a swirl flow generation plate that includes the inlet flow passage and the inner peripheral wall of the fluid chamber.

8. The fluid injection device according to claim 7, wherein

the swirl flow generation plate and the diaphragm are stacked and attached in intimate contact as an integral body.

9. The fluid injection device according to claim 4, further comprising:

a reinforcing plate that has an opening whose diameter is substantially equal to the diameter of the fluid chamber, and that is formed between the sealing surface on which the inlet flow passage is formed or the swirl flow generation plate, and the diaphragm.

10. The fluid injection device according to claim 7, wherein

the swirl flow generation plate and the reinforcing plate are stacked and attached in intimate contact with each other as an integral body.

11. The fluid injection device according to claim 9, wherein

the diaphragm and the reinforcing plate are stacked and attached in intimate contact with each other as an integral body.

12. The fluid injection device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a fluid basin that is formed at the connection between the second connection flow passage on the inlet side supplying fluid to the inlet flow passage from the pressure generation section and the inlet flow passage, that collects fluid.

13. The fluid injection device according to claim 1, wherein

the inlet flow passage is formed by a tubular member that passes through the fluid chamber and an exterior of the pulse generation section.

14. The fluid injection device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a ring-shaped packing separately disposed at a position in the circumferential direction of the diaphragm.