US 6,182,904 B2Granted

Automated electronically controlled microsprayer

AssigneeBoard of Trustees operating Michigan State University

InventorsMichael J. Ulczynski, Brian L. Wright, James Ray Miller

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Abstract

An electronically controlled micro-dispensing apparatus (10) is described. The apparatus includes a container (12), an adaptor (18), a nozzle (28) and a control circuit (34 or 42). The container is filled with the chemical (104) and propellant (102). The adaptor, nozzle and control circuit are removable from the container and are reusable. The control circuits controls 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 (100), to control insects.

Claims43

Dependent claims

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

(a) a disposable sealed container having an orifice and containing a pressurized gas and the chemical in the liquid form;
(b) adaptor means configured to be sealingly connected to the orifice;
(c) a fuel injector nozzle sealingly connected to the adaptor means of the container capable of periodically dispensing the chemical in the liquid form by the pressurized gas from the container, wherein the fuel injector nozzle comprises:
(i) a body with a passage therethrough;
(ii) a valve needle moveable in the passage of the body to open and close the passage;
(iii) 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
(iv) 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 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 through the passage in the body of the fuel injector nozzle, wherein the sealed container is used without refilling and is replaced when empty with a replacement sealed container.

7 more elements

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

(a) a disposable sealed container having an orifice which allows a pressurized gas to be provided in the container, the container being configured to hold the pressurized gas and the chemical in the liquid form;
(b) adaptor means configured to be sealingly connected to the orifice;
(c) a nozzle sealingly connected to the adaptor means for the dispensing, wherein the nozzle comprises:
(i) a body with a passage therethrough;
(ii) a valve needle moveable in the passage of the body to open and close the passage;
(iii) 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
(iv) 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 for supplying current to the coil 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 through the passage in the body of the nozzle, wherein the control means is a self-contained circuit which is releasably connected to the nozzle and supplies the current periodically to the coil on a pre-programmed schedule, wherein the sealed container is used without refilling and is replaced when empty with a replacement sealed container.

7 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 disposable sealed container having an orifice and containing a pressurized gas and the chemical in the liquid form;
adaptor means configured to be sealingly connected to the orifice;
a fuel injector nozzle sealingly connected to the adaptor to the orifice of the container and capable of periodically dispensing less than 10 μL of the chemical in the liquid form by the pressurized gas, wherein the fuel injector nozzle comprises:
(i) a body with a passage therethrough;
(ii) a valve needle moveable in the passage of the body to open and close the passage;
(iii) 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
(iv) bias means mounted in the body which holds the valve needle in a closed position when the current is not flowing through the coil;
(b) control means which supplies current to the coil to move the valve needle against the bias means to open the passage in the fuel injector nozzle and allows the chemical in the liquid form and the gas to be dispensed periodically from the container through the passage in the body of the fuel injector nozzle;
and
(c) 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, wherein the sealed container is used without refilling and is replaced when empty with a replacement sealed container.

8 more elements

A method for dispensing a chemical in a liquid form which comprises the steps of:

(a) providing a dispenser apparatus comprising a disposable sealed container having an orifice which allows a pressurized gas to be provided in the container means and which can hold the pressurized gas and the chemical in the liquid form;
adaptor means configured to be connected to the orifice;
a fuel injector nozzle connected to the adaptor means of the container capable of periodically dispensing less than 10 μL of the chemical in the liquid form by the pressurized gas, wherein the fuel injector nozzle comprises:
(i) a body with a passage therethrough;
(ii) a valve needle moveable in the passage of the body to open and close the passage;
(iii) 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
(iv) bias means mounted in the body which holds the valve needle in a closed position when the current is not flowing through the coil;
and
control means for controlling the fuel injector nozzle;
and
(b) activating the apparatus such that the control means supplies current to the coil to move the valve needle against the bias means to open the passage in the fuel injector nozzle so that the chemical in the liquid form and the pressurized gas are dispensed periodically from the container through the passage in the body of the fuel injector nozzle, wherein the sealed container is used without refilling and is replaced when empty with a replacement sealed container.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/415,509Filed 8 Oct 1999 · continuation in part
Priority: 22 Apr 1997
Granted: 6 Feb 2001
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

B05B 1/3053
The valve element, e.g. a needle, co-operating with a valve seat located downstream of the valve element and its actuating means, generally in…
A01M 1/2016
Poisoning insects using bait stations: for flying insects
B05B 12/02
Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area: for controlling time, or sequence, of delivery
B05B 12/12
Responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged, of ambient medium or of target ; responsive to condition of spray…:…