Wrap spring clutch syringe ram and frit mixer

• US 7,080,936 B1
• Filed: 07/08/2003
• Issued: 07/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Frank B. Simpson
• Original Assignee: Frank B. Simpson
• Inventors: Simpson, Frank B.
• Primary Examiner(s): SOOHOO, TONY GLEN
• Application Number:
  US10/615,072
• Time in Patent Office: 1,113 Days
• Field of Search: 366/162.3, 366/268, 604/416, 604/208, 604/128, 604/151, 604/152, 128/DIG.1, 222325-327, 222/390, 222/333, 222/282, 192/84.81
• US Class Current: 366/162.3
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/23 Mixing of laboratory samples e.g. in preparation of analysing or testing properties of materials
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/8821 involving controlling
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/8822 using measuring chambers of the piston or plunger type B01F35/8823 takes precedence

Abstract

A wrap spring clutch syringe ram pushes at least one syringe with virtually instantaneous starting and stopping, and with constant motion at a defined velocity during the intervening push. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram includes an electric motor, a computer, a flywheel, a wrap spring clutch, a precision lead screw, a slide platform, and syringe reservoirs, a mixing chamber, and a reaction incubation tube. The electric motor drives a flywheel and the wrap spring clutch couples the precision lead screw to the flywheel when a computer enables a solenoid of the wrap spring clutch. The precision lead screw drives a precision slide which causes syringes to supply a portion of solution into the mixing chamber and the incubation tube. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram is designed to enable the quantitative study of solution phase chemical and biochemical reactions, particularly those reactions that occur on the subsecond time scale.

Claims

1. A wrap spring clutch syringe ram comprising:

a motor;

a flywheel being driven by said motor;

a slide platform being driven linearly by rotation of a lead screw;

at least one syringe, a plunger of each said at least one syringe being pushed by said slide platform; and

a wrap spring clutch engaging and thereby coupling the rotation of said flywheel with said lead screw to drive said slide platform, said wrap spring clutch being actuated by a solenoid, said flywheel having a substantial mass, said substantial mass providing rotational stability when said lead screw is coupled to said motor, said wrap spring clutch disengaging and thereby decoupling said flywheel from said lead screw, said wrap spring clutch initiating rotation of said lead screw.

2. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram of claim 1, further comprising:

an electric power source supplying electrical power to said solenoid.

3. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram of claim 2, further comprising:

a switch being disposed between said electric power source and said solenoid, said switch controlling the actuation of said solenoid.

4. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram of claim 3, further comprising:

a computer controlling the actuation of said switch.

5. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram of claim 4, further comprising:

a potentiometer having a moveable tang which changes the resistance thereof, said potentiometer being mounted adjacent to said slide platform, said slide platform moving said moveable tang as said slide platform is moving forward, said potentiometer being connected to said computer through an A/D converter, the electrical output of said potentiometer indicating the position of said slide platform.

6. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram of claim 2, further comprising:

a movable safety limit switch mounted adjacent to said slide platform, to disconnect said electrical power of said electric power source from said solenoid, when said slide platform advances forward sufficiently to trip said safety limit switch.

7. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram of claim 1, further comprising:

a mixer receiving the an output of said at least one syringe.

8. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram of claim 7, further comprising:

said mixer being a frit mixer, a porous frit being inserted into said frit mixer.

9. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram of claim 8, further comprising:

an entrance to said porous frit of said frit mixer being flared to provide improved flow from said at least one syringe; and

an exit from said porous frit of said frit mixer being flared to provide improved flow from said frit mixer.

10. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram of claim 7, further comprising:

a reactor to receive an output of said mixer.

11. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram of claim 1, further comprising:

a speed control to enable adjustment of the rotational velocity of said motor.

12. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram of claim 11, further comprising:

a feedback control to enable maintenance of the rotational velocity of said motor.

13. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram of claim 1, further comprising:

a moving block being slidably attached to said slide platform;

a nut being structured to threadably receive said lead screw, said nut being rotatably attached to said moving block, a block hole being formed through a top of said moving block and a nut hole being formed through at least one wall of said nut; and

a pin being inserted through said block and nut holes to move said slide platform in a forward direction, said pin being removed to move said slide platform backward.

14. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram of claim 1 further comprising:

a reactor to receive an output of said at least one syringe.

15. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram of claim 1, further comprising:

a tachometer being used to monitor the velocity of rotation of said flywheel, said motor, or said lead screw.

20. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram of claim 1, further comprising:

a support for restraining a barrel of each of said at least one syringe from movement.

21. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram of claim 1, further comprising:

a means for decoupling said wrap spring clutch from said lead screw to rotate said lead screw.

22. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram of claim 1, further comprising:

a means for decoupling said lead screw from said slide platform to move said slide platform.

23. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram of claim 1, further comprising:

a means to coordinate engagement, disengagement and braking of said wrap spring clutch.

16. A wrap spring clutch syringe ram comprising:

a motor;

a camshaft having at least one cam lobe;

at least one cam follower being in contact with said at least one cam lobe;

a flywheel being driven by said motor;

at least one syringe, a plunger of each said at least one syringe being driven linearly by said at least one cam follower; and

a wrap spring clutch engaging and thereby coupling the rotation of said flywheel with said cam shaft, said wrap spring clutch being actuated by a solenoid, said flywheel having a substantial mass, said substantial mass providing rotational stability when said cam shaft is coupled to said motor, said wrap spring clutch disengaging and thereby decoupling said flywheel from said cam shaft, said wrap spring clutch initiating rotation from said cam shaft.

17. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram of claim 16, further comprising:

a support for restraining a barrel of each of said at least one syringe from movement.

18. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram of claim 16, further comprising:

a means for decoupling said wrap spring clutch from said cam shaft to rotate said cam shaft.

19. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram of claim 16, further comprising:

a means to coordinate engagement, disengagement and braking of said wrap spring clutch.

24. A wrap spring clutch syringe ram comprising:

a motor;

a camshaft having at least one cam lobe;

at least one cam follower being in contact with said at least one cam lobe;

a slide platform being driven linearly by said at least one cam follower;

a flywheel being driven by said motor;

at least one syringe, a plunger of each said at least one syringe being pushed by said slide platform; and

a wrap spring clutch engaging and thereby coupling the rotation of said flywheel with said cam shaft, said wrap spring clutch being actuated by a solenoid, said flywheel having a substantial mass, said substantial mass providing rotational stability when said cam shaft is coupled to said motor, said wrap spring clutch disengaging and thereby decoupling said flywheel from said cam shaft, said wrap spring clutch initiating rotation of said cam shaft.

25. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram of claim 24, further comprising:

an electric power source supplying electrical power to said solenoid.

26. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram of claim 25, further comprising:

a switch being disposed between said electric power source and said solenoid, said switch controlling the actuation of said solenoid.

27. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram of claim 26, further comprising:

a computer controlling the actuation of said switch.

28. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram of claim 27, further comprising:

a potentiometer having a moveable tang which changes the resistance thereof, said potentiometer being mounted adjacent to said slide platform, said slide platform moving said moveable tang as said slide platform is moving forward, said potentiometer being connected to said computer through an A/D converter, the electrical output of said potentiometer indicating the position of said slide platform.

29. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram of claim 24, further comprising:

a mixer receiving an output of said at least one syringe.

30. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram of claim 29, further comprising:

said mixer being a frit mixer, a porous frit being inserted into said frit mixer.

31. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram of claim 30, further comprising:

an entrance to said porous frit of said frit mixer being flared to provide improved flow from said at least one syringe; and

an exit from said porous frit of said frit mixer being flared to provide improved flow from said frit mixer.

32. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram of claim 29, further comprising:

a reactor to receive an output of said mixer.

33. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram of claim 24, further comprising:

a speed control to enable adjustment of the rotational velocity of said motor.

34. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram of claim 33, further comprising:

a feedback control to enable maintenance of the rotational velocity of said motor.

35. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram of claim 24 further comprising:

a reactor to receive an output of said at least one syringe.

36. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram of claim 24, further comprising:

a tachometer being used to monitor the velocity of rotation of said flywheel, said motor, or said cam shaft.

37. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram of claim 24, further comprising:

a support for restraining a barrel of each of said at least one syringe from movement.

38. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram of claim 24, further comprising:

a means for decoupling said wrap spring clutch from said cam shaft to rotate said cam shaft.

39. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram of claim 24, further comprising:

a means to coordinate engagement, disengagement and braking of said wrap spring clutch.