US 5,964,403 A · Automated electronically controlled microsprayer

Abstract

An electronically controlled micro-dispensing apparatus (10 or 210) is described. The apparatus includes a liquid storage container (12), a propellant container (16), a control circuit (34 or 42) and an ejector (28). In a second embodiment, the liquid and propellant are in the same container (212). The control circuits control the length of pulse and the time duration between each pulse. By controlling these factors, the apparatus dispenses a precise amount of liquid over a set time period. The ejector allows for controlled dispensing and allows the liquid to be sprayed a greater distance. In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus are used to dispense a pheromone in an outdoor setting, such as an orchard, to control insects.

Claims39

Dependent claims

A dispenser apparatus for controlled dispensing of a chemical in a liquid form periodically which comprises:

(a) a sealed container means having an inlet and an outlet and which is configured to hold a pressurized gas and the chemical in the liquid form;
(b) adaptor means mounted on the inlet which allows the pressurized gas to be provided in the container means;
(c) a fuel injector nozzle connected to the outlet of the container means capable of periodically dispensing less than 1 .mu.L of the chemical in the liquid form by the pressurized gas from the container means, wherein the fuel injector nozzle comprises:
(1) a body with a passage therethrough;
(2) a valve needle moveable in the passage of the body to open and close the passage;
(3) a solenoid coil with electrical leads to the coil mounted on the body, so that the coil provides a continuous circuit surrounding the valve needle which is moved upon application of a current through the coil;
and
(4) a bias means mounted in the body which holds the valve needle in a closed position when the current is not applied through the coil;
and
(d) a control means which supplies current to the coil means to move the valve needle against the bias means to open the passage in the body of the fuel injector nozzle and allows the chemical in the liquid form to be dispensed periodically from the container means through the passage in the body of the fuel injector nozzle.

7 more elements

A dispenser apparatus for controlled dispensing of a chemical in a liquid form periodically which comprises:

(a) a sealed container means having an inlet and an outlet and which is configured to hold a pressurized gas and the chemical in the liquid form;
(b) adaptor means mounted on the inlet which allows the pressurized gas to be provided in the container means;
(c) a nozzle connected to the outlet of the container means, wherein the nozzle comprises:
(1) a body with a passage therethrough;
(2) a valve needle moveable in the passage of the body to open and close the passage;
(3) a solenoid coil with electrical leads to the coil mounted on the body, so that the coil provides a continuous circuit surrounding the valve needle which is moved upon application of a current through the coil;
and
(4) a bias means mounted in the body which holds the valve needle in a closed position when the current is not applied through the coil;
(d) a self-contained circuit mounted on the container means which supplies current periodically to the coil means on a pre-programmed schedule to move the valve needle against the bias means to open the passage in the body of the nozzle and allows the chemical in the liquid form to be dispensed periodically from the container means through the passage in the body of the nozzle;
wherein the circuit has an actuated mode which supplies current to the coil and an inactivated mode where no current is provided by the circuit;
and wherein the inactivated mode is controlled by a capacitor electrically connected to separate transistor gates, wherein the loss of a charge on the capacitor opens the gate of one of the transistors and allows current to flow from a battery to the coil;
and
(e) a gas supply means connected by a conduit to the container means at the inlet means, wherein a control valve means is provided between the gas supply means and the container means which allows connection between the gas supply means and the container means without loss of the gas wherein the control valve is closed while the connection is made;
wherein the control means is a self-contained circuit which is mounted on the container means and supplies the current periodically to the coil means on a pre-programmed schedule.

11 more elements

A system for periodically dispensing a chemical in a liquid form over an area which comprises:

(a) multiple dispenser apparatus containing the chemical in the liquid form, each dispenser apparatus comprising a sealed container means and having an inlet and an outlet which can hold a pressurized gas and the chemical in the liquid form;
adaptor means mounted on the inlet which allows the pressurized gas to be provided in the container;
a fuel injector nozzle connected to the outlet of the container means capable of periodically dispensing less than 1 .mu.L of the chemical in the liquid form by the pressurized gas, wherein the fuel injector nozzle comprises:
(1) a body with a passage therethrough;
(2) a valve needle moveable in the passage of the body to open and close the passage;
(3) a solenoid coil with electrical leads to the coil mounted on the body so that the coil provides a continuous circuit surrounding the valve needle so that the needle is moved upon application of a current through the coil;
and
(4) bias means mounted in the body which holds the valve needle in a closed position when the current is not flowing through the coil;
control means which supplies current to the coil means to move the valve needle against the bias means to open the passage in the fuel injector nozzle and allow the chemical in the liquid form and the gas to be dispensed periodically from the container means through the passage in the body of the fuel injector nozzle;
and
(b) a central processing unit as part of the control means which controls each of the multiple dispenser apparatus so that each dispenser apparatus periodically dispenses the chemical in the liquid form from the fuel injector nozzle.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Automated electronically controlled microsprayer

Life of this patent

Automated electronically controlled microsprayer

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims39