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US 6,595,208 B1Granted
Dispensing device
AssigneeBattelle Memorial Institute
InventorsRonald Alan Coffee, Alastair Bruce Pirrie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A supply pipe (33) supplies a liquid to a comminution site (40) at which the liquid is subjected to an electric field so as to produce charged comminuted material. An electrical discharge electrode (5) produces ions to at least partially electrically discharge the comminuted material. A further electrode (60) spaced from the comminution site (40) by the electrical discharge electrode (50) electrically attracts ions produced by the electrical discharge electrode (50) away from the comminution site (40) until sufficient space charge is built up to divert the ions towards the charged comminuted material to enable the ions at least partially to discharge the comminuted material.
Claims58
A dispensing device, comprising:
- comminution means for subjecting liquid to an electric field for causing comminution of the liquid to produce charged comminuted material;
- liquid supply means for supplying liquid to the comminution means;
- electrical discharge means for producing ions to at least partially electrically discharge comminuted material produced by the comminution means and ion attracting means spaced from the comminution means by the electrical discharge means for electrically attracting ions produced by the electrical discharge means away from the comminution means until comminuted material produced by the comminution means builds up sufficient space charge to divert the ions toward the charged comminuted material to enable the ions at least primarily to discharge the comminuted material.
A dispensing device comprising:
- a housing having an outlet for supplying comminuted material, the housing containing:
- a comminution means of subjecting liquid to an electric field for causing comminution of the liquid to produce cloud of charged comminuted material in a comminution chamber within the housing;
- means for supplying liquid to the comminution means;
- electrical discharge means at least partially surrounding the comminution means for producing ions to at least partially electrically discharge comminuted material produced by the comminution means;
- ion attracting means spaced from the comminution means by the electrical discharge means away from the comminution means until comminuted material produced by the comminution means builds up sufficient space charge to divert the ions towards the cloud of charged comminuted material to enable the ions to at least partially discharge the comminuted material;
- means for allowing air to enter the comminution chamber;
- and
- voltage supply means for supplying electrical discharge means and ion attracting means.
5 more elements
A dispensing device, comprising:
- a comminution apparatus arranged and configured to subject liquid to an electric field that results in comminution of the liquid to produce charged comminuted material;
- a supplier of liquid to the comminution apparatus;
- an electrical discharger that is arranged and configured to produce ions to at least partially electrically discharge comminuted material produced by the comminution apparatus;
- an ion attracter that is configured and arranged to electrically attract the ions away from the comminution apparatus until the comminuted material builds up sufficient space charge to divert the ions at least partially to discharge the comminuted material;
- wherein said electrical discharger substantially surrounds said comminution apparatus and is interposed between the comminution apparatus and the ion attracter.
2 more elements
A dispensing device, comprising:
- a housing having an outlet configured and arranged to supply comminuted material, the housing containing:
- a comminution apparatus arranged and configured to subject liquid to an electric field to result in comminution of the liquid to produce a cloud of charged comminuted material in a comminution chamber within the housing;
- a supplier of liquid to the comminution means;
- an electrical discharger at least partially surrounding the comminution apparatus to produce ions to at least partially electrically discharge the comminuted material produced by the comminution apparatus;
- an ion attracter that is spaced from the comminution apparatus by the electrical discharge means and the bounds the comminution chamber to electrically attract the ions away from the comminution apparatus until the comminuted material product by the comminution apparatus builds up sufficient space change to divert the ions towards the cloud of charged comminuted material to enable the ions to at least partially discharge the comminuted material;
- a conduit that is arranged to allow air to enter the communication chamber, and
- a voltage supply arranged and configured to supply electrical potentials to the comminution apparatus, the electrical discharger and the ion attracter.
4 more elements
A dispensing device comprising:
- a liquid supplier having a liquid outlet;
- a discharge electrode spaced from the liquid outlet in a direction perpendicular to the direction of flow of liquid to the liquid outlet;
- a further electrode spaced apart from the liquid outlet and the discharge electrode in said direction;
- and
- a voltage supplying arrangement configured to couple the further electrode to a first voltage, to couple the liquid outlet to a second voltage and to couple the discharge electrode to a third voltage wherein the first voltage lies between the second and third voltages and the second voltage causes comminution of liquid issuing from the liquid outlet.
2 more elements
A dispensing device comprising:
- a liquid supply tube having an axis and a liquid outlet;
- a discharge electrode spaced from the liquid outlet in a direction perpendicular to the axis;
- a further electrode spaced apart from the liquid outlet and the discharge electrode in said direction;
- and
- a voltage supplying arrangement configured to couple the further electrode to a first voltage, to couple the liquid outlet to a second voltage and to couple the discharge electrode to a third voltage wherein the first voltage lies between the second and third voltages and the second voltage causes comminution of liquid issuing from the liquid outlet.
2 more elements
A dispensing device comprising:
- an elongate liquid supply tube extending in a first direction and having a liquid outlet;
- a discharge electrode spaced from the liquid outlet in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;
- a further electrode spaced apart from a comminution site in said second direction and extending substantially parallel to the elongate liquid supply tube;
- and
- a voltage supplying arrangement configured to subject the further electrode to a first voltage, the liquid outlet to a second voltage and the discharge electrode to a third voltage wherein the first voltage lies between the second and third voltages and the second voltage causes comminution of liquid issuing from the liquid outlet.
2 more elements
A dispensing device comprising:
- a liquid supply tube having an axis and a liquid outlet;
- a discharge electrode spaced from the liquid outlet in a direction perpendicular to the axis and angled towards the liquid outlet;
- a further electrode separate from the discharge electrode and spaced apart from the liquid outlet in said direction;
- and
- a voltage supplying arrangement configured to couple the further electrode to a first voltage, to couple the liquid outlet to a second voltage and to couple the discharge electrode to a third voltage wherein the first voltage lies between the second and third voltages and the second voltage causes comminution of liquid issuing from the liquid outlet.
2 more elements
An inhaler for dispensing a medicament to a user, the inhaler comprising:
- a housing;
- a liquid reservoir within the housing;
- a liquid supply pipe configured to supply liquid from the reservoir to a comminution site;
- a discharge electrode spaced from the comminution site;
- a further electrode spaced from the comminution site;
- a voltage supplying arrangement configured to subject the further electrode to a first voltage, the liquid outlet to a second voltage and the discharge electrode to a third voltage wherein the first voltage lies between the second and third voltages and the second voltage causes comminution of liquid issuing from the liquid outlet to produce comminuted matter;
- wherein the housing has an outlet for supplying comminuted matter to a user upon inhalation by the user and wherein the housing, comminution site, discharge electrode and further electrode are configured such that the comminution site, discharge electrode and further electrode are spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to a general direction of flow of comminuted matter to the outlet.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.