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AssigneeAbbott Laboratories
InventorsJohn E. Ogden, Peter L. Bryant, Lois L. Caron
Estimating the term…
In an apparatus for testing pneumatic flow resistance of a test component, such as an air filter useful in a system for admixing parenteral solutions, a pneumatic bridge has two branches connected, via a filter, a flow restrictor, and a flowmeter, to a source of gas under regulated pressure. Each branch comprises two arms with a centerpoint. The bridge has a pressure transducer connected between the centerpoints and arranged to detect pressure imbalances in the bridge. Each arm comprises a flow restrictor, namely a needle valve, which is calibrated via a vernier head. The valves are adjustable to balance the bridge. In one arm, in which the needle valve can be fully opened, the test component is connectible to constitute a flow restrictor. The transducer produces an output displayed via a digital voltmeter, which may be calibrated.
An apparatus for testing pneumatic flow resistance of a test component, the apparatus comprising a pneumatic bridge having two branches, each branch comprising two arms with a centerpoint between the arms, each arm comprising at least one flow restrictor, the bridge having a pressure transducer connected between the centerpoints of the branches and arranged to detect pneumatic pressure imbalances in the bridge,
An apparatus for testing pneumatic flow resistance of a test component defining a flow path, the apparatus comprising a pneumatic bridge having two branches, each branch comprising two arms with a centerpoint between the arms, each arm comprising at least one flow restrictor, the bridge having a pressure transducer connected between the centerpoints of the branches and arranged to detect pneumatic pressure imbalances in the bridge, one arm comprising an adjustable valve, the valve being openable to minimize its pneumatic flow resistance and constituting one of the flow restrictors unless it is opened, the test component being connectible to the arm comprising the valve to constitute one of the flow restrictors.
A method for testing pneumatic flow resistance of a test component defining a flow path, the method employing a pneumatic bridge having two branches, each branch comprising two arms with a centerpoint between the arms, each arm comprising at least one flow restrictor, the bridge having a pressure transducer connected between the centerpoints of the branches and arranged to detect pneumatic pressure imbalances in the bridge, one arm comprising an adjustable valve constituting one of the flow restrictors, the valve being openable to minimize its pneumatic flow resistance, the method comprising the steps of equalizing pneumatic flow resistances of the flow restrictors in the arms other than the arm comprising the valve, opening the valve, and connecting the test component to the arm comprising the valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.