Fluid dispenser with stabilized fluid flow
First Claim
1. A fluid dispensing device comprising:
- a housing having an internal fluid reservoir divided by a movable fluid-tight partition into first and second chambers on opposite sides of said partition;
electrically operated gas generation/extraction module for moving a gas into or out of said first chamber, said gas therein exerting or reducing pressure on said partition;
controllable source of electric current for operation of said module, said source connected to a controller for controlling said source to vary the amount or polarity or both of said electrical current to said module and thereby operate said module to change its rate of gas generation or extraction, said controller being responsive to a measurable parameter associated with said device;
fluid outlet from said second chamber for dispensing of fluid contained in said second chamber exteriorly of said device in response to said pressure on said partition; and
sensor means for detection and measurement of said parameter over time and generation of a signal to said controller indicating quantity and direction of any change in said parameter, said controller in response to said signal indicating said change in said parameter varying said electric current to said module to effect said change in rate of gas generation or extraction;
whereby said change in said rate of gas generation or extraction effects a change in gas pressure in said first chamber and resultant change in said pressure on said partition, said pressure change being in a direction and amount sufficient to keep said fluid flow from said second chamber at any time from exceeding predetermined minimum and maximum values of said parameter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fluid dispensing device and its method of operation are disclosed. The device includes a feedback system which allows the device to respond in a timely and measured manner to changes in the dispensing flow rate of fluid from the device. The feedback system operates effectively even under conditions where the cause of increase or decrease in flow rate is not unequivocally known or reasonably capable of direct measurement. The device has a fluid reservoir which has an outlet which optionally may have a flow or pressure resistance unit incorporated, into the outlet, and an electric (preferably electrochemical) gas generation module or reversible pump which provides gas pressure to dispense the fluid from the reservoir. A sensor is provided for detection and measurement of an internal or external operating parameter which is indicative of flow rate of the fluid being dispensed. Feedback from the sensor (and associated signal processing unit) is used by a controller to control electric current to the gas generation module, with the current being adjusted by the controller to adjust the amount of gas produced in a manner which will prevent the flow rate of the dispensed fluid from exceeding desired maximum or minimum limits.
141 Citations
57 Claims
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1. A fluid dispensing device comprising:
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a housing having an internal fluid reservoir divided by a movable fluid-tight partition into first and second chambers on opposite sides of said partition;
electrically operated gas generation/extraction module for moving a gas into or out of said first chamber, said gas therein exerting or reducing pressure on said partition;
controllable source of electric current for operation of said module, said source connected to a controller for controlling said source to vary the amount or polarity or both of said electrical current to said module and thereby operate said module to change its rate of gas generation or extraction, said controller being responsive to a measurable parameter associated with said device;
fluid outlet from said second chamber for dispensing of fluid contained in said second chamber exteriorly of said device in response to said pressure on said partition; and
sensor means for detection and measurement of said parameter over time and generation of a signal to said controller indicating quantity and direction of any change in said parameter, said controller in response to said signal indicating said change in said parameter varying said electric current to said module to effect said change in rate of gas generation or extraction;
whereby said change in said rate of gas generation or extraction effects a change in gas pressure in said first chamber and resultant change in said pressure on said partition, said pressure change being in a direction and amount sufficient to keep said fluid flow from said second chamber at any time from exceeding predetermined minimum and maximum values of said parameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A fluid dispensing device comprising:
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a housing having an internal fluid chamber comprising a gas chamber and a fluid chamber separated by a moveable pressure responsive partition, said fluid chamber having a fluid conduit providing fluid communication between said fluid liquid chamber and an outlet end of said conduit, said outlet end opening to an exterior of said housing;
pumping means comprising an electrochemical cell in gas communication with said gas chamber, for pumping gas into or out of said gas chamber, said gas when in said chamber exerting pressure against said pressure responsive partition causing responsive movement thereof of fluid in said liquid chamber, said responsive movement comprising said fluid moving toward and through said fluid conduit to said exterior of said housing or being withdrawn from said conduit into said liquid chamber;
controllable source of electric current for operation of said pumping means, said source connected to a controller for controlling said source to vary the amount and polarity of said electrical current to said pumping means and thereby operate said pumping means to change its rate or direction of pumping of said gas, said controller being responsive to a measurable parameter associated with said device; and
sensor means for detection and measurement of said parameter overtime and generation of a signal to said controller indicating quantity and direction of any change in said parameter, said controller in response to said signal indicating said change in said parameter varying said electric current to said module to effect said change in rate of gas generation;
whereby upon said change in said measured parameter, said controller regulates said amount and polarity of said electrical current to said pumping means to increase or decease rate of pumping of said gas or change direction of pumping of said gas, such that fluid flow to or from said fluid chamber rate maintains a cumulative total of said fluid discharged from said fluid chamber to a target environment over a selected period of time to be within a predetermined range. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for dispensing fluid from a fluid-containing device comprising:
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providing a fluid dispensing device comprising;
a housing having an internal fluid reservoir divided by a movable fluid-tight partition into first and second chambers on opposite sides of said partition;
electrically operated gas generation module for generating gas and moving said gas into said first chamber, said gas therein exerting pressure on said partition;
controllable source of electric current for operation of said module, said source connected to a controller for controlling said source to vary the amount of said electrical current to said module and thereby operate said module to change its rate of gas generation, said controller being responsive to a measurable parameter associated with said device;
fluid outlet from said second chamber for dispensing of fluid contained in said second chamber exteriorly of said device in response to said pressure on said partition; and
sensor means for detection and measurement of said parameter over time and generation of a signal to said controller indicating quantity and direction of any change in said parameter, said controller in response to said signal indicating said change in said parameter varying said electric current to said module to effect said change in rate of gas generation;
operating said sensor such that said sensor detects a change in said parameter over a period of time and generates said signal to said controller;
operating said controller such that said controller decreases or increases said amount of current or changes polarity of said current, said decrease, increase or change in polarity effecting a change in gas pressure in said first chamber and resultant change in said pressure on said partition, such that fluid flow rate from said second chamber at any time is maintained within predetermined minimum and maximum values. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method for dispensing fluid from a fluid-containing device comprising:
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providing a fluid dispensing device comprising;
a housing having an internal fluid chamber comprising a gas chamber and a fluid chamber separated by a moveable pressure responsive partition, said fluid chamber having a fluid conduit providing fluid communication between said fluid liquid chamber and an outlet end of said conduit, said outlet end opening to an exterior of said housing;
pumping means comprising an electrochemical cell in gas communication with said gas chamber, for pumping gas into or out of said gas chamber, said gas when in said chamber exerting pressure against said pressure responsive partition causing responsive movement thereof of fluid in said liquid chamber, said responsive movement comprising said fluid moving toward and through said fluid conduit to said exterior of said housing or being withdrawn from said conduit into said liquid chamber;
controllable source of electric current for operation of said pumping means, said source connected to a controller for controlling said source to vary the amount and polarity of said electrical current to said pumping means and thereby operate said pumping means to change its rate or direction of pumping of said gas, said controller being responsive to a measurable parameter associated with said device; and
sensor means for detection and measurement of said parameter over time and generation of a signal to said controller indicating quantity and direction of any change in said parameter, said controller in response to said signal indicating said change in said parameter varying said electric current to said module to effect said change in rate of gas generation;
operating said sensor to detect and measure said change in said parameter and send a signal thereof to said controller;
operating said controller upon receipt of said signal to regulate said amount and polarity of said electrical current to said pumping means to increase or decease rate of pumping of said gas or change direction of pumping of said gas, such that fluid flow to or from said fluid chamber rate maintains a cumulative total of said fluid discharged from said fluid chamber to a target environment over a selected period of time to be within a predetermined range. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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Specification