Fluid-handling systems and components comprising a bladder pump, a methods therefor

• US 6,733,252 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2002
• Issued: 05/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HTE North America
• Original Assignee: Fqubed Inc. (Searchlight Pharma, Inc.)
• Inventors: Newsam, John M., Feygin, Ilya
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Justine R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Solak, Timothy P.
• Application Number:
  US10/143,403
• Publication Number:
  US 20030210985A1
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 417/394, 417/46, 417/43, 417/383, 417/385, 417/389, 417/478, 417/53, 222/145.5, 222/145.6, 222/459, 222/95, 222/386.5, 141/9, 141/100, 141/105, 141/106, 141/107, 141/18, 141/25, 141/26, 141/21, 366/190
• US Class Current: 417/394
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/00 Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes general disposition of plant in stations for supplying fuel to vehicles B60S5/02; for filling or emptying locomotive water tanks, e.g. water columns, B61K11/00; for refuelling aircraft during flight B64D39/00; liquid- handling ground installations specially adapted for fuelling stationary aircraft B64F1/28
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/62 power operated
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/741 mechanically operated
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/10 Pumps having fluid drive

Abstract

A fluid-handling system capable, in various embodiments, of storing, mixing, and dispensing fluids, and also regulating the flow of fluids. The system includes a cartridge having a non-expandable housing, and a bladder within the housing. In some variations, a drive-liquid is introduced into a region between the housing and the bladder, which causes fluid contained within the bladder to dispense. In some other variations, the drive-liquid is introduced into the bladder, which causes the bladder to expand and expel fluid that is contained with the housing.

Claims

1. An article comprising:

a first cartridge, wherein said first cartridge comprises;

a first housing, wherein said first housing has;

a side-wall;

a first opening passing through said side-wall;

a first end;

a second opening disposed at said first end; and

a second end, wherein said second end is sealed;

a first bladder, wherein said first bladder;

is disposed within said first housing; and

has an interior volume, an exterior surface and an opening;

wherein;

said interior volume of said first bladder is coupled to said second opening in said first housing through said opening in said first bladder; and

said first bladder expels a first fluid contained in its interior volume in response to a pressure applied to said exterior surface by a drive-liquid that is introduced through said first opening;

a first tube, wherein said first tube extends a first distance into said interior volume of said first bladder; and

a second tube that extends a second distance into said interior volume of said first bladder.

2. The article of claim 1 further comprising a mixing device, wherein said mixing device is coupled to said second opening of first housing.

3. The article of claim 1 wherein said second distance is different than said first distance.

4. The article of claim 1 wherein said second distance is equal to said first distance.

5. The article of claim 4 wherein:

said first tube delivers a first fluid ingredient into said interior volume of said first bladder;

said second tube delivers a second fluid ingredient to said interior volume of said first bladder; and

said first fluid ingredient and said second fluid ingredient compose said first fluid.

6. The article of claim 1 further comprising a control system, wherein:

said control system controls a flow parameter of said drive liquid;

said flow parameter of said drive liquid is selected from the group consisting of rate, pressure and amount;

said control system controls said flow parameter of said drive liquid as a function of a flow parameter of said first fluid;

said flow parameter of said first fluid is selected from the group consisting of rate and pressure at which said first fluid is expelled.

7. The article of claim 6 wherein said control system comprises:

a sensor, wherein said sensor senses said flow parameter of said first fluid and generates a signal indicative thereof; and

a controller, wherein said controller receives said signal from said sensor, compares it to a set point, generates a control signal based on the comparison, and outputs said control signal to said drive-liquid delivery device.

8. The article of claim 1 further comprising at least one storage element that is disposed within said first bladder, wherein said storage element contains a first ingredient, and wherein said first fluid comprises said first ingredient.

9. The article of claim 8 wherein said storage element comprises a collapsible tube.

10. The article of claim 9 wherein said collapsible tube has two notches extending the length thereof, wherein said notches are disposed at diametrically-opposed locations on said collapsible tube.

11. The article of claim 1 further comprising a second cartridge, id second cartridge is coupled to said second opening of said first housing.

12. The article of claim 11 wherein said second cartridge comprises:

a second housing, wherein said second housing has a first opening and a second opening, and wherein said second opening of said second housing is coupled to said second opening of first housing; and

a second bladder, wherein;

said second bladder is disposed within said second housing;

said second bladder has an interior volume and an exterior surface; and

said interior volume of said second bladder is coupled to said second opening of said second housing.

13. The article of claim 12 further comprising:

a first tube that extends a first distance into said interior volume of said first bladder; and

a second tube that extends a second distance into said interior volume of said second bladder.

14. A method comprising:

adding a first fluid ingredient and a second fluid ingredient to a bladder that is disposed within a non-expandable, confined space;

completely filling said confined spaced by adding a drive-liquid thereto, but outside of said bladder;

expelling said first fluid ingredient and said second fluid ingredient together from said bladder by adding an incremental volume of said drive liquid to said confined space, wherein said first fluid ingredient and said second fluid ingredient are expelled in an amount that is collectively equal to said incremental volume.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein;

adding said first fluid ingredient further comprises adding said first fluid ingredient to said bladder via a first tube; and

adding said second fluid ingredient further comprises adding said

second fluid ingredient to said bladder via a second tube.