Methods and devices for determination of flow reservoir volume
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A flow metering system, comprising:
- a cavity;
an actuation shaft disposed in the cavity and movable between a first position within the cavity and a second position within the cavity;
an input conduit fluidly connectable to a flow material reservoir, the input conduit in fluid communication with a proximal flow space defined by the cavity when the actuation shaft is in both the first position and the second position;
a flow metering device chamber in fluid communication with the input conduit through the proximal flow space when the actuation shaft is in the first position for filling the flow metering device chamber with flow material from the flow material reservoir and not in fluid communication with the input conduit when the actuation shaft is in the second position;
an output conduit adapted to dispense flow material from the flow metering device chamber when the actuation shaft is in the second position; and
a sensor adapted to obtain data for determining a backstroke volume of flow material from the proximal flow space into the flow material reservoir when the actuation shaft is moved from the first position that fills the flow metering device chamber with flow material to the second position that dispenses the flow material from the flow metering device chamber through the output conduit.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A novel enhanced flow metering device is adapted for disposing into a flow material reservoir a known volume of flow material whereby software used in conjunction with a pressure sensor may be calibrated. Additionally, by measuring the known amount of flow material returning to the flow material reservoir, checks are quickly made to ensure the pressure sensor is behaving as expected.
492 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A flow metering system, comprising:
-
a cavity; an actuation shaft disposed in the cavity and movable between a first position within the cavity and a second position within the cavity; an input conduit fluidly connectable to a flow material reservoir, the input conduit in fluid communication with a proximal flow space defined by the cavity when the actuation shaft is in both the first position and the second position; a flow metering device chamber in fluid communication with the input conduit through the proximal flow space when the actuation shaft is in the first position for filling the flow metering device chamber with flow material from the flow material reservoir and not in fluid communication with the input conduit when the actuation shaft is in the second position; an output conduit adapted to dispense flow material from the flow metering device chamber when the actuation shaft is in the second position; and a sensor adapted to obtain data for determining a backstroke volume of flow material from the proximal flow space into the flow material reservoir when the actuation shaft is moved from the first position that fills the flow metering device chamber with flow material to the second position that dispenses the flow material from the flow metering device chamber through the output conduit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A flow metering system, comprising:
-
a cavity defining a proximal flow space; an actuation shaft disposed in the cavity; a flow metering device chamber; a sensor; and a computer processor, the computer processor adapted to; position the actuation shaft in a first position in the cavity such that the flow metering device chamber is in fluid communication with the cavity; cause an aliquot of flow material to flow into the flow metering device chamber from a flow material reservoir through an input conduit and the proximal flow space; position the actuation shaft in a second position in the cavity to dispense the flow material from the flow metering device chamber out an output conduit with the flow material reservoir in fluid communication with the proximal flow space such that positioning of the actuation shaft to the second position causes a backstroke volume of flow material to flow from the proximal flow space into the flow material reservoir; observe a change in volume of the flow material in the flow material reservoir after the actuation shaft is moved to the second position with data gathered from the sensor; and determine the backstroke volume from the data. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification