# US 2004/0232172 A1 · EM-actuated liquid dispenser

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- Number: US 2004/0232172 A1
- Document ID: US20040232172A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 10/442,382
- Filed: 2003-05-21
- Published: 2004-11-25
- Earliest claimed: 2003-05-21
- Assignees: TechElan, LLC
- Inventors: Ilya Feygin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20040232172A1

## CPC

- B67D 7/62: power operated
- B01L 3/0268: {using pulse dispensing or spraying, eg. inkjet type, piezo actuated ejection of droplets from capillaries}
- F04B 43/043: {Micropumps}
- F04B 43/09: Pumps having electric drive
- G01F 11/088: {using a deformable conduit-like element}
- B01L 2300/0838: Capillaries
- B01L 2400/0481: squeezing of channels or chambers
- B01L 2400/0605: check valves
- B67D: DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes B08B9/02; emptying or filling of bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels, or similar containers, not otherwise provided for B67C; water supply E03; pipe systems F17D; domestic hot-water supply systems F24D; measuring volume, volume flow, mass flow or liquid level, metering by volume G01F; coin-freed or like apparatus G07F)
- B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- F04B: POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS (machines for liquids, or pumps, of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston type F04C; non-positive-displacement pumps F04D; pumping of fluid by direct contact of another fluid or by using inertia of fluid to be pumped F04F)
- G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME

## Abstract

A liquid dispenser that dispenses liquid via the action of a collapsing tube. The illustrative dispenser includes a liquid-carrying tube, a wire, and a magnet. The magnet is shaped to receive the tube and the wire between an elongated North pole and an elongated South pole. A pulse of current of controlled amperage and duration is sent through the wire, which causes it to deflect. This causes the tube to collapse with the result that a portion of the liquid that is contained in the tube is ejected.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus comprising:
a capillary tube;
a wire disposed along said capillary tube; and
a magnet, wherein said magnet is shaped to receive said capillary tube and said wire between a north pole and a south pole.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a current source that is connected to said wire.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a liquid reservoir, wherein said liquid reservoir is coupled to said capillary tube.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a dynamic valve that is disposed between said capillary tube and said liquid reservoir, wherein said dynamic valve includes a region that is tapered such that a first end of said region has a larger area for flow than a second end of said region, and further wherein said first end of said region is proximal to said liquid reservoir.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising an open-celled sponge that is between said capillary tube and said liquid reservoir.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said magnet has a “C” shape.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein a gap between said north pole and said south pole of said magnet is in a range of about 3 millimeters to about 5 millimeters.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said capillary tube has an internal diameter that is less than about 1 millimeter.