Operating At Timed Intervals (e.g., To Produce Pulses) Patents (Class 137/830)
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Patent number: 11867574Abstract: A fluidic tactile sensor includes a core having an outer core portion, an inner core portion, and a first channel having a first opening at a first surface portion of the outer core portion. An elastic skin is disposed over the first surface portion. A cell is formed between the first surface portion and the elastic skin and fluidly is fluidly connected to the first channel. The cell contains a fluid. A contact force applied to the elastic skin produces a measurable change in fluid pressure inside the cell.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2023Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Sanctuary Cognitive Systems CorporationInventors: Jeremy Fishel, William Cortez, Jacob Grout
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Patent number: 8776830Abstract: An invention for transporting material is described. The material, which may be or include a liquid or particles, be transported floats on and flows on a more dense fluid. Standing waves may be induced in the more dense fluid, and devices are provided to either force the transported fluid in a direction, or to prevent the transported fluid from flowing in a direction counter to the flow direction. The inventive apparatus and method have the ability to transport fluids long distances with much less frictional losses than convention technology.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2011Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Inventors: Walter Chen, C. K. Hari Dharan
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Patent number: 8505583Abstract: An apparatus for generating high-speed pulsed fluid jets. A valve assembly has a valve body with an inlet and an outlet. A valve shuttle is slidably or movably mounted with respect to the valve body. The valve shuttle is positioned within a cavity of the valve body and divides the cavity into an upper or inlet cavity and a lower or outlet cavity. The valve shuttle has a passage in communication with the upper cavity and the lower cavity. In an open condition of the valve assembly, fluid communication is formed between the inlet, the inlet cavity, the passage, the outlet cavity and the outlet.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2010Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Inventor: Gene G. Yie
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Patent number: 8101921Abstract: A method for inducing a controllable jet in a transparent liquid is disclosed. The method comprises providing a gas-liquid interface, providing a laser source and generating a beam comprising a sequence of laser pulses, and focusing the beam to a target location within the liquid at a predetermined distance from the gas-liquid interface and creating a plurality of cavitation bubbles, yielding a jet directed away from the gas-liquid interface. Other methods and apparatus are also described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2008Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMS LtdInventors: Sergey Oshemkov, Vladimir Dmitriev, Lev Dvorkin
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Publication number: 20090000665Abstract: A method for inducing a controllable jet in a transparent liquid is disclosed. The method comprises providing a gas-liquid interface, providing a laser source and generating a beam comprising a sequence of laser pulses, and focusing the beam to a target location within the liquid at a predetermined distance from the gas-liquid interface and creating a plurality of cavitation bubbles, yielding a jet directed away from the gas-liquid interface. Other methods and apparatus are also described and claimed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2008Publication date: January 1, 2009Inventors: Sergey OSHEMKOV, Vladimir Dmitriev, Lev Dvorkin
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Patent number: 6877528Abstract: A microfluidic system includes a bubble valve for regulating fluid flow through a microchannel. The bubble valve includes a fluid meniscus interfacing the microchannel interior and an actuator for deflecting the membrane into the microchannel interior to regulate fluid flow. The actuator generates a gas bubble in a liquid in the microchannel when a sufficient pressure is generated on the membrane.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2002Date of Patent: April 12, 2005Assignee: Cytonome, Inc.Inventors: John Richard Gilbert, Sebastian Böhm, Manish Deshpande
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Patent number: 5117794Abstract: A bistable fluidic switch is switched from its stable state by a pin inserted in the power nozzle of the bistable fluidic switch, the pin being controlled by an electromagnetic actuator which is controlled from an electronic computer. The fluidic switch element has a cross-over type interaction region and a common outlet leading to a pair of output passageways, one of which returns fuel to the supply tank, and the other of which leads to the air intake manifold of the engine. Air is introduced into the output passageway leading to the engine so as to air atomize the fuel before injection of same into the air intake manifold.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 1989Date of Patent: June 2, 1992Assignee: Bowles Fluidics CorporationInventors: Michael D. Leshner, Ernest W. Chesnutis, Jr., Christian Williams, Ronald Stouffer
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Patent number: 5067509Abstract: A gas jet actuator device is described for imparting controlled vibrations o an object to which the device is connected. The device comprises a conduit defining an inlet section which is connectible to a source of gas pressure, and a fork section downstream of the inlet section to define two or more diverging outlet sections disposed at predetermined angles. A nozzle is provided in the conduit upstream of the fork section a predetermined distance therefrom. A switching device is provided to cause a pressurized fluid jet stream from said nozzle to be directed to selected ones of the outlet sections by the Coanda effect to impart a controlled vibration force to an object to which the device is attached.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 1990Date of Patent: November 26, 1991Assignee: The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning (McGill University)Inventor: Ian W. Hunter
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Patent number: 5040560Abstract: Substantial alteration of the flow conditions in a fluid stream are effected by the application of controlled disturbances to the boundary of or within the stream by one or more piezoelectric actuators. The actuators have resonance frequencies substantially in excess of the unstable frequencies of the stream. The actuators are energized by carrier signals at the resonance frequencies of the actuators, which carrier signals have been modulated at the desired unstable frequency of the stream.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 1990Date of Patent: August 20, 1991Inventors: Ari Glezer, Kris J. Nygaard, John M. Wiltse
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Patent number: 4554941Abstract: Apparatus for generating a pressure pulse in a fluid comprising a pipe, an opening into said pipe for filling said pipe with fluid, a piston mounted in the pipe, and coupled to a vibrator output. An air bleeder is mounted through said pipe at a location to remove all the air in the pipe as it is filled with fluid and vibrator control apparatus for controlling the frequency and phase of the vibrator and any additional vibrators coupled to a common fluid path.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 1984Date of Patent: November 26, 1985Assignee: Conoco Inc.Inventors: Julian B. Coon, Eston F. Petry
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Patent number: 4418721Abstract: A high capacity fluidic valve is disclosed which is useful for creating psure pulses in a drill string for communicating diagnostic information from the bottom of a well bore to the surface during drilling. The device of the present invention comprises essentially a vortex chamber having an element therein which is capable of rapidly changing the flow through the chamber from radial to vortical. Flow throttling action in the valve is produced by the vortical flow in the chamber, thereby producing pressure pulses in the fluid stream flowing through the valve.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 1981Date of Patent: December 6, 1983Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the ArmyInventor: Allen B. Holmes
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Patent number: 4267856Abstract: A fluid oscillator is shown for producing pulsations in a flow of fluid. The oscillator has a housing which includes a fluid inlet channel for connection to a supply of fluid under pressure, a fluid outlet channel, and a valve chamber located between and communicating with said channels. A valve element is movably located in the valve chamber to alternatively block and unblock the outlet channel to produce the pulsating flow. The valve element moves to a blocking position by a reduction in fluid pressure at the valve element adjacent to the outlet channel. This reduction in pressure is partly caused by the fluid flowing past the valve element from the inlet channel to the outlet channel. The outlet channel is dimensioned so that the inertia of the fluid therein produces a further reduction in fluid pressure at the valve element adjacent to the outlet channel, which further reduction in pressure also holds the valve element firmly in the blocking position.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 1978Date of Patent: May 19, 1981Assignee: Edward V. Rippingille, Jr.Inventors: Clyde C. K. Kwok, Leszek Suchy
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Patent number: 4157161Abstract: A windshield washer comprises a nozzle in which a liquid jet is formed and repetitively transversely swept before egressing from the nozzle body. The swept jet breaks up into liquid droplets which impinge upon a wide area of a windshield. In a preferred embodiment the nozzle is an oscillator, preferably a fluidic oscillator, in which the jet is swept oscillatorily between two extreme positions. In still another form of the invention discrete slugs of liquid are alternately issued in at least two directions from a common nozzle body.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 1975Date of Patent: June 5, 1979Assignee: Bowles Fluidics CorporationInventor: Peter Bauer