Patents Assigned to Sandia Naitonal Laboratories
  • Patent number: 7051956
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for increasing entrainment and mixing in an air/fuel zone of a direct fuel injection system. The device comprises an ejector nozzle in the form of an inverted funnel whose central axis is aligned along the central axis of a fuel injector jet and whose narrow end is placed just above the jet outlet. It is found that effective ejector performance is achieved when the ejector geometry is adjusted such that it comprises a funnel whose interior surface diverges about 7° to about 9° away from the funnel central axis, wherein the funnel inlet diameter is about 2 to about 3 times the diameter of the injected fuel plume as the fuel plume reaches the ejector inlet, and wherein the funnel length equal to about 1 to about 4 times the ejector inlet diameter. Moreover, the ejector is most effectively disposed at a separation distance away from the fuel jet equal to about 1 to about 2 time the ejector inlet diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Sandia Naitonal Laboratories
    Inventor: Ansis Upatnieks
  • Patent number: 6960285
    Abstract: An electrokinetic pump capable of producing high pressure is combined with a nozzle having a submicron orifice to provide a high pressure spray device. Because of its small size, the device can be contained within medical devices such as an endoscope for delivering biological materials such as DNA, chemo therapeutic agents, or vaccines to tissues and cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Sandia Naitonal Laboratories
    Inventors: Joseph S. Schoeniger, Phillip H. Paul, Luke Schoeniger
  • Patent number: 6865939
    Abstract: A method for surface modification of microchannels and capillaries. The method produces a chemically inert surface having a lowered surface free energy and improved frictional properties by attaching a fluorinated alkane group to the surface. The coating is produced by hydrolysis of a silane agent that is functionalized with either alkoxy or chloro ligands and an uncharged C3-C10 fluorinated alkane chain. It has been found that the extent of surface coverage can be controlled by controlling the contact time from a minimum of about 2 minutes to a maximum of 120 minutes for complete surface coverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Sandia Naitonal Laboratories
    Inventors: Brian J. Kirby, Timothy Jon Shepodd