Method and apparatus for precision pumping, ratioing, and dispensing of work fluid(s)
First Claim
1. The method of precision dispensing a degassed liquid onto a workpiece comprising:
- a) delivering a non-degassed first work liquid to a first chamber maintained at below atmospheric pressure where said first work liquid is agitated to cause substantially all gases therwithin to be removed therefrom and from said first chamber,b) removing the substantially degassed first work liquid from said first chamber by a means which creates and maintains a positive hydraulic pressure which is above atmospheric pressure on said first work liquid for moving same through substantially sealed passageways to a dispensing outlet after routing through positive displacement precision programmable dispensing pump means in said substantially sealed passageways;
c) actuating the programmable precision pump means to cause a measured amount of said first work liquid to continue to move under a positive hydraulic pressure above atmospheric pressure for delivery of the said first work liquid through said dispensing outlet onto a workpiece;
whereby the maintaining of the first work liquid at a hydraulic pressure above atmospheric pressure intermediate the first vacuum chamber and said dispensing outlet prevents entrainment of deleterious gases in the said first work liquid as it moves therebetween while affording precision dispensing.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
For conveying and for dispensing of degassed work liquid(s), an apparatus and a method for precision conveying and/or ratioing and/or mixing and/or dispensing of work liquids are presented using a pump of a positive displacement, high precision, piston/cylinder constant flush type with piston smaller than the chamber. The piston is programmably advanced along a stroke with tiny repeatable adjustable steps. Infinitely adjustable precision ratioing and/or programmable mixing of degassed materials may be provided downstream of the pump outlets when degassed liquids are presented to the inlets of two such pumps. The mixing occurs in a mixing chamber, the output of which is then used. The vacuum degassed work liquids may be dispensed in a system which features the creation and maintenance of a positive absolute pressure on the work liquids throughout, from the point of exiting a first degassing chamber to an end use at a dispensing outlet. This occurs whether the degassed liquid is moved along the flow path through the precision dispensing pumps or other types of pumps and prevents unwanted entrainment of gases. Available software and adjustable programmable precision hardware are used in the system, and features use of widely available personal computers. Precision relative location and/or movement of workpieces and dispensing outlet(s) are provided. Further degassing of the work liquid(s) may be provided by dispensing in a vacuum chamber.
-
Citations
32 Claims
-
1. The method of precision dispensing a degassed liquid onto a workpiece comprising:
-
a) delivering a non-degassed first work liquid to a first chamber maintained at below atmospheric pressure where said first work liquid is agitated to cause substantially all gases therwithin to be removed therefrom and from said first chamber, b) removing the substantially degassed first work liquid from said first chamber by a means which creates and maintains a positive hydraulic pressure which is above atmospheric pressure on said first work liquid for moving same through substantially sealed passageways to a dispensing outlet after routing through positive displacement precision programmable dispensing pump means in said substantially sealed passageways; c) actuating the programmable precision pump means to cause a measured amount of said first work liquid to continue to move under a positive hydraulic pressure above atmospheric pressure for delivery of the said first work liquid through said dispensing outlet onto a workpiece; whereby the maintaining of the first work liquid at a hydraulic pressure above atmospheric pressure intermediate the first vacuum chamber and said dispensing outlet prevents entrainment of deleterious gases in the said first work liquid as it moves therebetween while affording precision dispensing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
- 9. Apparatus for precision dispensing a degassed first work liquid onto a workpiece comprising in combination, first chamber means having chamber outlet means, means for delivering a first non degassed work liquid to said first chamber means, means for maintaining said first chamber means at below atmospheric pressure, first means for agitating said first work liquid located in said first chamber means and operable to cause substantially all gasses therewithin to be dissociated from said first work liquid, first positive removal means for removing the substantially degassed first work liquid from said first chamber means said first positive removal means being operable to create and maintain a positive hydraulic pressure which is above atmospheric pressure on said first work liquid at said chamber outlet means, substantially sealed passageways connected to said chamber outlet means and terminating in a dispensing outlet means, first programmable dispensing pump means located within said substantially sealed passageways intermediate to said chamber outlet means and said dispensing outlet means, means for actuating said first programmable dispensing pump means operable to cause programmed amounts of said first work liquid to continue to move under a positive hydraulic pressure above atmospheric pressure for delivery of the said first work liquid through said dispensing outlet means onto a workpiece, whereby the maintaining of the said first work liquid at a hydraulic pressure above atmospheric pressure intermediate the chamber outlet means and said dispensing outlet means by said first positive removal means prevents entrainment of deleterious gases in the first work liquid as it moves therebetween in said substantially sealed passageways.
Specification