Froth coalescing
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsAnthony D Studer, Robert S Wickwire
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A froth coalescing unit for a fluid delivery system for a fluid ejection system, the froth coalescing unit including a coalescing chamber including a sump, an inlet to receive froth into the coalescing chamber, the froth comprising a mixture of fluid and gas, the coalescing chamber to coalesce the fluid from the froth with the coalesced fluid collecting at least in the sump, an outlet to communicate coalesced fluid from the sump, and a fluid level sensor to provide a level over a range of levels of coalesced fluid in the coalescing chamber including in the sump.
Claims15
A froth coalescing unit comprising:
- a coalescing chamber including a sump;
- an inlet to receive froth into the coalescing chamber, the froth comprising a mixture of fluid and gas, the coalescing chamber to coalesce the fluid from the froth with the coalesced fluid collecting at least in the sump;
- an outlet to communicate coalesced fluid from the sump;
- and
- a fluid level sensor to provide a level over a range of levels of coalesced fluid in the coalescing chamber including in the sump.
A coalescing system comprising:
- a pump to provide froth from a fluid ejection assembly, the froth comprising a mixture of gas and fluid;
- a froth coalescing unit including:
- a coalescing chamber including a sump;
- an inlet to receive froth into the coalescing chamber, the froth comprising a mixture of fluid and gas, the coalescing chamber to coalesce the fluid from the froth with the coalesced fluid collecting at least in the sump;
- an outlet to communicate coalesced fluid from the sump;
- and
- a fluid level sensor to provide a level over a range of levels of coalesced fluid in the coalescing chamber including in the sump;
- and
- a controller to adjust an operating speed of the pump based on the level of coalesced fluid.
A method of coalescing fluid in a fluid delivery system, the method comprising:
- pumping froth into a coalescing chamber with a pump, the froth being a mixture of fluid and gas;
- coalescing fluid from the froth in the coalescing chamber;
- measuring a level of coalesced fluid over a range of levels with a fluid level sensor disposed in the coalescing chamber and
- adjusting a speed of the pump based on the level of coalesced fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.