Precise fluid-dividing apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for dividing flowing fluid with precision into a number of portions of selected relative volumes, said apparatus comprising A. an input conduit for fluid to be divided, B. a plurality of output conduits for receiving said portions of said fluid, C. means forming a chamber 1. having an outer wall of circular cross section oriented with the center along a vertical axis, 2. having said input conduit feeding thereinto along said vertical axis, 3. having said output conduits feeding out from said outer wall at a common level along said axis, and 4. providing symmetrical fluid passages therethrough from said input conduit to said output conduits, and D. a conical member disposed in said chamber with the cone axis coincident with said vertical axis, with the apex of said conical member pointed toward said input conduit, and with the conical surface thereof forming at least a portion of the chamber surface spanning said outer wall opposite said input conduit and being located along said axis at the level at which said output conduits feed out from said outer wall.

Claim 3

having said input conduit feeding thereinto along said vertical axis,

Claim 4

having said input conduit feeding thereinto along said vertical axis,

Claim 5

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said conical member has a height along said axis coextensive with the projection along said axis of the junctures of said output conduits with said chamber.

Claim 6

Apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which said conical member has a diameter at the base thereof substantially equal to the diameter of said chamber outer surface.

Claim 7

having said output conduits feeding out from said outer wall at a common level along said axis, and

Claim 8

having said output conduits feeding out from said outer wall at a common level along said axis, and

Claim 9

providing symmetrical fluid passages therethrough from said input conduit to said output conduits, and D. a conical member disposed in said chamber with the cone axis coincident with said vertical axis, with the apex of said conical member pointed toward said input conduit, and with the conical surface thereof forming at least a portion of the chamber surface spanning said outer wall opposite said input conduit and being located along said axis at the level at which said output conduits feed out from said outer wall.

Claim 10

providing symmetrical fluid passages therethrough from said input conduit to said output conduits, and D. a conical member disposed in said chamber with the cone axis coincident with said vertical axis, with the apex of said conical member pointed toward said input conduit, and with the conical surface thereof forming at least a portion of the chamber surface spanning said outer wall opposite said input conduit and being located along said axis at the level at which said output conduits feed out from said outer wall.

Claim 11

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said conical member has a height along said axis thereof substantially equal to the projection along said cone axis of the opening of at least one output conduit into said chamber.

Claim 12

A clinical instrument component for dividing flowing fluid with precision into a number of portions of selected relative volumes, said component having i. a housing having a fluid-dividing chamber therein, ii. a single input conduit feeding into said chamber, and iii. a plurality of output conduits feeding out from said chamber, and further having the improvement comprising A. a chamber outer side wall of circular cross section in any horizontal plane passing therethrough with the centers of said circular cross sections being concentric along a common vertical axis, B. a separate junction along said side wall for each said output conduit, with said output conduit junctions being centered on a common horizontal plane, and C. a conical member bounding said chamber side wall opposite said input conduit with the apex of said conical member being directed along said vertical axis and toward said input conduit, and with the conical surface thereof being disposed along said vertical axis horizontally opposite said junctions of said output conduits with said side wall.

Claim 13

A clinical instrument component for dividing flowing fluid with precision into a number of portions of selected relative volumes, said component having i. a housing having a fluid-dividing chamber therein, ii. a single input conduit feeding into said chamber, and iii. a plurality of output conduits feeding out from said chamber, and further having the improvement comprising A. a chamber outer side wall of circular cross section in any horizontal plane passing therethrough with the centers of said circular cross sections being concentric along a common vertical axis, B. a separate junction along said side wall for each said output conduit, with said output conduit junctions being centered on a common horizontal plane, and C. a conical member bounding said chamber side wall opposite said input conduit with the apex of said conical member being directed along said vertical axis and toward said input conduit, and with the conical surface thereof being disposed along said vertical axis horizontally opposite said junctions of said output conduits with said side wall.

Claim 14

Apparatus for dividing flowing fluid with precision into a number of portions of selected relative volumes, said apparatus having i. a housing having a fluid-dividing chamber therein, ii. a single input conduit feeding into said chamber, and iii. a plurality of output conduits feeding out from said chamber, and further having the improvement comprising A. a chamber outer wall of circular cross section in any horizontal plane passing therethrough with the centers of said circular cross sections being concentric along a common vertical axis, B. a separate junction along said outer wall for each said output conduit, with said output conduit junctions being centered on a common horizontal plane, and C. a conical member i. bounding said chamber wall opposite said input conduit with the apex of said conical member being directed along said vertical axis and toward said input conduit, and ii. having the conical surface thereof disposed along said vertical axis at the location of said junctions of said output conduits with said outer wall and intersecting said chamber outer wall to form the entirety of said chamber surface spanning said outer wall opposite said input conduit.

Claim 15

Apparatus for dividing flowing fluid with precision into a number of portions of selected relative volumes, said apparatus having i. a housing having a fluid-dividing chamber therein, ii. a single input conduit feeding into said chamber, and iii. a plurality of output conduits feeding out from said chamber, and further having the improvement comprising A. a chamber outer wall of circular cross section in any horizontal plane passing therethrough with the centers of said circular cross sections being concentric along a common vertical axis, B. a separate junction along said outer wall for each said output conduit, with said output conduit junctions being centered on a common horizontal plane, and C. a conical member i. bounding said chamber wall opposite said input conduit with the apex of said conical member being directed along said vertical axis and toward said input conduit, and ii. having the conical surface thereof disposed along said vertical axis at the location of said junctions of said output conduits with said outer wall and intersecting said chamber outer wall to form the entirety of said chamber surface spanning said outer wall opposite said input conduit.

Claim 16

Apparatus for dividing flowing fluid with precision into a number of portions of selected relative volumes, said apparatus having i. a housing having a fluid-dividing chamber therein, ii. a single input conduit feeding into said chamber, and iii. a plurality of output conduits feeding out from said chamber, and further having the improvement comprising A. a chamber outer wall of circular cross section in any horizontal plane passing therethrough with the centers of said circular cross sections being concentric along a common vertical axis, B. a separate junction along said outer wall for each said output conduit, with said output conduit junctions being centered on a common horizontal plane, and C. a conical member bounding said chamber wall opposite said input conduit with the apex of said conical member being directed along said vertical axis and toward said input conduit and with the conical surface thereof being disposed along said vertical axis at the location of said junctions of said output conduits with said outer wall, the length of said conical member along said vertical axis being coextensive within said chamber with the dimension along said axis of said junctions.

Claim 17

Apparatus for dividing flowing fluid with precision into a number of portions of selected relative volumes, said apparatus having i. a housing having a fluid-dividing chamber therein, ii. a single input conduit feeding into said chamber, and iii. a plurality of output conduits feeding out from said chamber, and further having the improvement comprising A. a chamber outer wall of circular cross section in any horizontal plane passing therethrough with the centers of said circular cross sections being concentric along a common vertical axis, B. a separate junction along said outer wall for each said output conduit, with said output conduit junctions being centered on a common horizontal plane, and C. a conical member bounding said chamber wall opposite said input conduit with the apex of said conical member being directed along said vertical axis and toward said input conduit and with the conical surface thereof being disposed along said vertical axis at the location of said junctions of said output conduits with said outer wall, the length of said conical member along said vertical axis being coextensive within said chamber with the dimension along said axis of said junctions.

Claim 18

Apparatus for dividing flowing fluid with precision into a number of portions of selected relative volumes, said apparatus having i. a housing having a fluid-dividing chamber therein, ii. a single input conduit feeding into said chamber, and iii. a plurality of output conduits feeding out from said chamber, and further having the improvement comprising A. a chamber outer wall of circular cross section in any horizontal plane passing therethrough with the centers of said circular cross sections being concentric along a common vertical axis, B. a separate junction along said outer wall for each said output conduit, with said output conduit junctions being centered on a common horizontal plane, and C. a conical member bounding said chamber wall opposite said input conduit with the apex of said conical member being directed along said vertical axis and toward said input conduit and with the conical surface thereof being disposed along said vertical axis at the location of said junctions of said output conduits with said outer wall, the length of said conical member along said vertical axis being equal to the dimension of said junctions along said axis.

Claim 19

Apparatus for dividing flowing fluid with precision into a number of portions of selected relative volumes, said apparatus having i. a housing having a fluid-dividing chamber therein, ii. a single input conduit feeding into said chamber, and iii. a plurality of output conduits feeding out from said chamber, and further having the improvement comprising A. a chamber outer wall of circular cross section in any horizontal plane passing therethrough with the centers of said circular cross sections being concentric along a common vertical axis, B. a separate junction along said outer wall for each said output conduit, with said output conduit junctions being centered on a common horizontal plane, and C. a conical member bounding said chamber wall opposite said input conduit with the apex of said conical member being directed along said vertical axis and toward said input conduit and with the conical surface thereof being disposed along said vertical axis at the location of said junctions of said output conduits with said outer wall, the length of said conical member along said vertical axis being equal to the dimension of said junctions along said axis.