Liquid flow control
Inventors
Reis, Nuno Alexandre Esteves • Tenreiro, Tania Moura Pires De Andrade • Barreiros, Miguel Joao Marques
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11458472-B2
Publication Date
2022-10-04
Expiration Date
Abstract
A liquid handling device having an axis of rotation about which the device can be rotated to drive liquid flow. The device includes a vented upstream chamber having an outlet port and an unvented chamber including an inlet port to receive liquid from the outlet port of the upstream chamber and an outlet port radially outward the inlet port. The device further includes a vented downstream chamber having an inlet port to receive liquid from the outlet port of the unvented chamber. A downstream conduit connects the outlet port of the unvented chamber to the inlet port of the downstream chamber and includes a bend radially inward of the outlet port of the unvented chamber. An upstream conduit connects the outlet port of the upstream chamber to the inlet port of the unvented chamber.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a method of handling liquids with a device that is rotatable about an axis of rotation to drive liquid flow in the device. The device includes a vented upstream chamber with an outlet port, and an unvented chamber with an inlet port that receives liquid from the outlet port of the upstream chamber. The unvented chamber further includes an outlet port radially outward from the inlet port.
The device also includes an upstream conduit connecting the outlet port of the upstream chamber to the inlet port of the unvented chamber. In addition, the device includes a vented downstream chamber with an inlet port that receives liquid from the outlet port of the unvented chamber, and a downstream conduit connecting the outlet port of the unvented chamber to the inlet port of the downstream chamber. The downstream conduit includes a bend radially inward of the outlet port of the unvented chamber.
The method comprises rotating the device at a first speed to fill the unvented chamber with liquid from the upstream chamber, while compressing gas trapped in the unvented chamber and maintaining a level of liquid in the unvented chamber radially outward of the inlet of the unvented chamber. The method further comprises causing liquid to move past the bend of the downstream conduit by stopping the device or rotating the device at a second speed different from the first speed. The method continues rotating to cause liquid to flow from the upstream to the downstream chamber.
Claims Coverage
Independent claim clm-00001 provides an overall method claim with four inventive features, including vented and unvented chambers, conduit connections with a radially inward bend, and a rotation sequence that compresses trapped gas and moves liquid past the bend.
Rotational liquid handling with vented upstream and unvented chamber gas compression
A device rotatable about an axis of rotation includes a vented upstream chamber with an outlet port and an unvented chamber with an inlet port and an outlet port radially outward the inlet port, and an upstream conduit connecting the outlet port of the upstream chamber to the inlet port of the unvented chamber.
Downstream vented chamber with radially inward conduit bend
A vented downstream chamber includes an inlet port to receive liquid from the outlet port of the unvented chamber, and a downstream conduit connects the outlet port of the unvented chamber to the inlet port of the downstream chamber and comprises a bend radially inward of the outlet port of the unvented chamber.
First-speed filling and trapped gas compression with radially defined liquid level
Rotating the device at a first speed fills the unvented chamber with liquid from the upstream chamber and compresses gas trapped in the unvented chamber while maintaining a level of liquid in the unvented chamber radially outward the inlet of the unvented chamber.
Stop or second-speed change to move liquid past the bend and continue flow
Causing liquid to move past the bend of the downstream conduit by stopping the device or rotating the device at a second speed different from the first speed; and continuing to rotate the device to cause liquid to flow from the upstream to the downstream chamber.
The independent claim is centered on a rotational method that uses vented upstream and downstream chambers and an unvented chamber to trap and compress gas, with a downstream conduit that has a bend radially inward of the unvented chamber outlet, and a rotation sequence that uses first-speed filling followed by stopping or switching to a second speed to move liquid past the bend and continue flow.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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