US 12,560,950 B2 · Flow control device

Abstract

A device for controlling flow of a fluid, comprising: a first valve comprising: a selectively openable inlet; an opening; a selectively openable outlet, arranged such that fluid may enter the first valve through the inlet, exit the first valve through the opening, enter the first valve through the opening and exit the first valve through the outlet; a first sensor for detecting a fluid; a second sensor for detecting a fluid, the first sensor and second sensor in fluid communication with the first valve via the opening; a controller for receiving signals from the first sensor and second sensor and for controlling opening and closing of the inlet and outlet in response to receiving said signals, arranged to allow, in use, a fluid to flow through the device by flowing: —into the first valve through the inlet of the first valve; —out of the first valve through the opening of the first valve; —past the first sensor for detecting a fluid; —to the second sensor for detecting a fluid; —into the first valve through the opening of the first valve; —out of the first valve through the outlet of the first valve.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A device for controlling flow of a fluid, comprising:

a first valve, the first valve comprising:
a selectively openable inlet;
an opening;
a selectively openable outlet;
and
a fluid channel attached to the opening,
wherein fluid may enter the first valve through the inlet, exit the first valve through the opening, enter the first valve through the opening and exit the first valve through the outlet;
a first sensor for detecting a level of the fluid in the fluid channel;
a second sensor for detecting the level of the fluid in the fluid channel;
and
a controller for receiving signals from the first sensor and the second sensor and for controlling opening and closing of the inlet and outlet in response to receiving said signals to thereby provide a dose of the fluid having a controlled volume equal to a volume held by the fluid channel between the first sensor and the second sensor,
wherein the fluid channel is connected only to the opening.

9 more elements

A method of controlling flow of a fluid, comprising:

opening an inlet of a valve to allow a fluid to enter the valve;
passing the fluid into a fluid channel through an opening of the valve;
detecting a level of the fluid in the fluid channel by a second sensor;
in response to detecting the fluid by the second sensor, closing the inlet of the valve to prevent fluid entering the valve;
after closing the inlet of the valve, opening an outlet of the valve to allow fluid to exit the fluid channel through the valve;
detecting the level of the fluid in the fluid channel by a first sensor;
and,
in response to detecting a fluid by the first sensor, closing the outlet of the valve to prevent fluid exiting the valve,
wherein a greater volume of fluid is required to enter the valve for detection by the second sensor than for detection by the first sensor to thereby provide a dose of the fluid having a controlled volume equal to the volume held by the fluid channel between the first sensor and the second sensor, and
wherein the fluid channel is connected only to the opening of the valve.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Flow control device

Life of this patent

Flow control device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20