917results about "Volume measurement and fluid delivery" patented technology

An apparatus for consecutively dispensing an equal volume of a liquid from a storage tank. The system includes a hermetically sealed metering chamber at least partially submerged beneath a standing level of liquid contained in a storage tank. The metering chamber has an inlet port communicating with the interior of the tank. A one-way valve accommodates an inflow of liquid into the metering chamber from the tank via the inlet port, and blocks an outflow of liquid from the chamber to the tank. A discharge conduit protrudes into the interior of the chamber. A pump pneumatically pressurizes the metering chamber to exhaust a predetermined volume of liquid via the discharge conduit.

A device for dispensing a viscous material and a method for controlling the dispensing pressure. The device has a manually actuated control valve, that, when depressed, releases high pressure gas from the source, such as a CO₂ cartridge, into a gas enclosure. An indicator signals a pre-determined pressure in the gas enclosure sufficient to forcefully dispense a viscous material from a product cartridge.

The present invention is directed to a radio-acoustic sounding system for providing wind measurements at altitudes of 100 meters or less. Wind measurements are obtained by transmitting a pulse of audio frequency energy through one or more volumes corresponding to the coverage area of one or more radio frequency transceivers. The frequency of the audio pulse is selected to have a wavelength that is one-half the wavelength of the electromagnetic energy transmitted by the antenna or antennas. By monitoring a return radio frequency signal at selected times following the transmission of the audio pulse, wind data is obtained at selected altitudes. Wind speed and direction can be obtained by observing the Doppler frequency shift of return radio frequency signals, or by observing the amplitude of the return radio frequency signals. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, precipitation measurements may be made by transmitting a radio frequency signal at the same radio frequency as is used in connection with wind measurements, and observing return radio frequency signals.

A fluid delivery system capable of delivering a precise amount of fluid and monitor certain properties of the fluid so that the correct fluid is safely delivered to its intended destination. The system makes use of a flow sensor comprising a freestanding tube portion vibrated at a resonant frequency, wherein the resonant frequency corresponds to the density of the fluid flowing through the tube portion and the tube portion exhibits a degree of twist that varies with the mass flow rate of the fluid flowing therethrough. Movement of the tube portion is then sensed to produce a first output signal corresponding to the fluid density and a second output signal corresponding to the mass flow rate. The system is also equipped to measure elapsed time and to stop fluid flow in response to either of the first and second output signals.

A flow meter includes a first image sensor, a background pattern, and at least one processor. The first image sensor has a first field of view and is positioned to view a drip chamber within the first field of view. The background pattern is positioned within the field of view of the first image sensor, and the background pattern includes first and second portions. The processor is operatively coupled to the first image sensor and configured to: receive a first image from the first image sensor, and estimate at least one parameter of liquid within the drip chamber in accordance with a distortion of the background pattern caused by the liquid as indicated by the first image.

A method and apparatus for draining a component of a beverage forming system such as a coffee brewer. A tank used for holding and/or heating a beverage precursor liquid may be automatically drained. A beverage forming machine including a drain system may be self-contained in that the liquid drained from the tank is held by another tank that is part of the beverage forming machine. The tank into which the drained liquid is deposited may be removable from the beverage forming machine.

A volume adjustable manual pipette having a hand-holdable housing supporting (i) an electronic digital display and associated position sensing and control circuitry, (ii) a plunger unit and (iii) a quick set volume adjustment mechanism for simultaneously controlling the volume setting of the pipette and the electronic display, the quick set volume adjustment mechanism comprising a pipette volume setting member for limiting upward movement of the plunger unit within the housing to define the volume setting for the pipette and the volume setting member being supported for axial movement on the plunger unit and releasably secured relative to the housing by a pipette user operable locking mechanism. When released from the housing, the volume setting member is axially moveable on and with the plunger unit to quickly set the volume for the pipette. When secured to the housing, the plunger unit is axially moveable relative to the volume setting unit to aspirate and dispense the selected volume of liquid into and from a pipette tip extending from a lower end of the housing. The volume setting of the pipette is monitored by the sensing and control circuitry to provide a real time display of the volume setting of the pipette.

PCT No. PCT/EP97/06574 Sec. 371 Date Jun. 6, 1999 Sec. 102(e) Date Jun. 6, 1999 PCT Filed Nov. 25, 1997 PCT Pub. No. WO98/24496 PCT Pub. Date Jun. 11, 1998A medicament dosing system comprises a replaceable unit and a permanent unit. The replaceable unit comprises a fluid reservoir for receiving therein a pressurizable liquid medicament, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of said liquid medicament, a fluid channel which is provided with a flow resistor and which is in flow communication with the fluid reservoir, and a hose means which is connected to the fluid channel. The permanent unit comprises a squeezing valve means for squeezing the hose means together, and a control means which is coupled to the temperature sensor and the squeezing valve means so as to control a flow rate of the liquid medicament by clocked actuation of said squeezing valve means depending on the temperature detected. Alternatively, the temperatur sensor can be arranged in the permanent unit.

A material dispensing pump includes a drip prevention system and method so as to avoid undesired dripping of the dispensed fluid. In one example, the fluid path is sealed. Positive pressure is applied to the fluid during a dispensing operation to present the fluid to the auger-style pump at a desired rate. Between dispensing operations, or when dispensing is completed, the fluid is placed in suspension, for example by applying a negative pressure, thereby preventing the fluid from being inadvertently released at the dispense tip. In addition, following a dispensing operation, the pump dispensing controller can be programmed to reverse the rotation of the feed screw, in order to draw the material in a reverse direction and to further suspend the fluid.

A filling apparatus and method including a carrier for transporting containers and having a plurality of valves, each of the valves being opened for an individual, specific period of time to control a flow of liquid into the respective containers, while the containers are transported by the carrier. An exit feed path transports the containers after the containers have been filled, and a sensor, such as a camera, detects a level of liquid in the respective containers, while the containers are on the exit feed path. The sensor produces a signal that is stored as data representing the level of liquid for the individual containers. The data is then tracked and used for valve optimization. A period of time that each individual valve is opened for subsequent fillings is adjusted based on the signal and the historical performance of each valve.

A discharge container includes a cylindrical container body with a bottom which includes a support extending upward from a bottom wall along a center axis, and a fixed partitioning plate extending from a region from a peripheral wall to a bottom wall as a base end to partition the inside of the container body in a radial direction; a rotor which includes a cylindrical shaft piece rotatably engaging with the outer surface of the support, and a rotatable partitioning plate extending from the cylindrical shaft piece as a base end to be arranged in a radial direction along with the fixed partitioning plate; and a cylindrical lid with a top which has a top wall having a saucer-shaped upper surface, and a downwardly extending shaft extending downwardly from the lower surface of the top wall and engaging with the cylindrical shaft piece from above such that the downwardly extending shaft cannot rotate therein, the lid covering the cylindrical opening as a lid and rotatably engaging with the cylindrical opening, wherein the edge of the fixed partitioning plate is brought into sliding contact with the cylindrical shaft piece; the edge of the rotatable partitioning plate is formed by a spatula-shaped sliding member made of soft material and is brought into sliding and linear contact with an area from the peripheral wall to the bottom wall of the container body; the lower surface of the top wall is brought into sliding contact with the upper end surfaces of the cylindrical opening and the fixed partitioning plate and brought into contact with the upper end surface of the rotatable partitioning plate; and contents are pressed by relative rotation between the container body and the lid and are discharged through a discharge opening provided on the top wall.

A method and device for indicating whether a dispensable product will require refilling prior to the next scheduled service interval includes tracking the amount of use over a first interval, and calculating a frequency based from the use over the first interval. The quantity remaining is compared with the required amount, which is the product of the number of weeks in the service interval and the calculated frequency. Thus, when the quantity remaining is less that the required amount, a warning will be provided to indicate that the dispensing product should be replaced, as it will be empty before the next service interval.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a pouring device for a container for the dosing of liquid. The pouring device has various features intended to ease use, including an improved removal and attachment system and a system to identify and visually illustrate selected pour sizes. In a specific embodiment, the pouring device has a colored light or LED indicator system that allows the user to quickly and easily confirm the selected pour size. Embodiments may also include one or more features that ease attachment and removal of the pouring device to a liquid container, such as a replaceable cork system.

Apparatus (15) for dispensing drinks formed from a number of drink components (12). A valve (16A) includes a housing having a number of inlets for coupling to respective drink component sources (12) and a number of outlets, each outlet being coupled to a respective inlet via a respective flow path (17). A number of flow controllers (30, 31) are provided, each flow controller (30, 31) being provided in a respective flow path (17) for controlling the supply of the respective drink component (12). In another embodiment a connector for coupling a keg to a line, the connector being adapted to couple to a cleaning solution supply is disclosed. In a further embodiment a method presenting content and apparatus for presenting content involving a processing system is disclosed.

A disposable real-time closed catheter urine output monitoring system. The monitoring system of the invention can measure urine outputs at both high and low urine flow in real time, using a pressure chamber in the form of a hollow body having an input port for coupling to a tube connected to a catheter for collection of urine from a patient, an exit port coupled to a collection container and a vent port, such that air may flow through the vent, but urine is blocked by the vent. A sensor measures flow from the exit port of the pressure chamber into the collection container, and a pressure sensor may be included to measure pressure in the pressure chamber. The invention also provides a method of using the apparatus in a real-time monitoring system.

A buoyant platform apparatus, such as a buoy, is described that comprises a laser radar (lidar) wind speed measurement device. The lidar is arranged to make wind velocity measurements at one or more remote probe volumes of known position relative to said platform. The wind speed measurement apparatus may further comprise motion sensing means that, in use, monitor motion of the platform allowing wind speed at an absolute position in space to be measured. Wind velocity data may also be compensated for platform movement.

An acoustic monitoring system that is able to verify the success or failure of the positional adjustment of a valve without the need for additional energy during non-invasive reprogramming is provided. The acoustic monitoring system includes a programmer for generating a sequence of commands to adjust the valve mechanism, and for receiving acoustic signals for analysis, a transmitter to implement the command and adjust the valve, and a sensor for detecting an acoustic signal generated from the valve during execution of the commands. A method for using the acoustic monitoring system is also provided.

A feed system and related process are configured to continuously feed measured doses of source material to a vapor deposition apparatus wherein the source material is sublimated and deposited as a thin film on a substrate. The system includes a bulk material hopper, and an upper dose cup disposed to receive source material from the hopper. A lower dose cup is disposed in a vacuum lock chamber to receive a measured dose of source material from the upper dose cup. A transfer mechanism is disposed below the vacuum lock chamber to receive the measured dose of source material from the lower dose cup and to transfer the source material to a downstream deposition head while isolating the deposition conditions and sublimated source material within the deposition head.

A mixed liquid manufacturing apparatus comprises: an information input unit, in which information of an object, to which a mixed liquid is offered, is input; a material storage system that stores a plurality of materials for a mixed liquid; a product information system that selects kinds and quantities of the stored materials on the basis of the input information of the object, to which a mixed liquid is offered; a liquid transfer unit, by which the selected materials are taken out from the material storage system; a mixing unit, in which the materials supplied from the liquid transfer unit are mixed; an injection unit, by which the mixed liquid is injected into a mixed liquid container; an input unit, by which matters being declared on a label of the mixed liquid container are input; and a label formation unit, in which the input matters are printed on the label and the label is stuck on the mixed liquid container, and wherein the label formation unit begins printing before the injection unit completes injection of the mixed liquid into the container.

A three-dimensional object-forming apparatus is disclosed, which includes an in-batches powder-rationing tank system, a construction tank system, a printing powder-applying system, a rapid drying heating system, a printing maintenance device, a dust-proof device, a successive liquid-supplying device, a powder auto-filtrating and recycling device, and a print quality detection device.