Patents by Inventor Richard L. Bathurst

Richard L. Bathurst has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5641006
    Abstract: A liquid supply module includes one or more sets of bulk liquid containers each supplying a respective reservoir via a liquid supply line. The bulk liquid containers and reservoirs are vented above the highest liquid level in the system. A pump periodically removes a known volume of liquid from a reservoir which is replenished from a bulk liquid container. A sensor detects a liquid/air transition in the liquid supply line to the reservoir indicative of the exhaustion of liquid resupply from the bulk liquid container. Art air vent solenoid valve in communication with the reservoir is closed when an empty bulk liquid container is replaced. Normal pump operation siphons liquid out of the bulk container after container replacement. A control system tracks pump iterations and calculates a number of executable iterations remaining before the reservoir runs dry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: Chiron Diagnostics Corporation
    Inventors: Robert C. Autrey, Steven E. Wilder, Richard L. Bathurst, Dinh Nguyen