US5722467A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Filing of assemblies
Assignee: VLT Corp
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Filing: 1995-11-09
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Granted: 1998-03-03
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Expires: 2015-11-09
Abstract
Abstract Free space within a chamber is filled with a flowable material via an opening in a surface of the chamber. A delivery force is used to deliver the flowable material into the chamber via the opening. An outwardly directed force, independent of the delivery force, is applied to draw the flowable material away from the opening. The extent to which the free space within the chamber has been filled is sensed. And the delivering of the flowable material is controlled in response to the sensing. A wall of the chamber defines a longer dimension and a shorter dimension and the opening is in a portion of the wall that defines the longer dimension. The flowable material is delivered into the chamber via the opening in a manner such that, as the flowable material fills the chamber, a surface of the flowable material moves toward the opening along the longer dimension of the chamber. The approach of the surface of the flowable material toward the opening is sensed as an indication of the extent to which the free space within the chamber has been filled.
Inventors
- 👤 Patrizio Vinciarelli
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 17:15
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C39/00; B29C39/02; B29C39/04; B29C39/08; B29C39/22; B29C39/24; B29C39/44; B29C31/00; B29C31/04; B29C31/10; B29K; B29K2063/00; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/30; B29L2031/3055; B29L2031/3061
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
Apparatus for filling a free space within a chamber with a flowable material via an opening in a surface of the chamber, comprising a flowable material conduit with an outlet end for delivering along a fill axis passing through the opening the flowable material with a delivery force, a pulling mechanism for inducing an outwardly directed force acting in a direction crossing the fill axis independent of the delivery force and arranged with respect to the outlet end of the conduit so that, simultaneously, the outlet end may be positioned at the opening and the pulling mechanism may apply the outwardly directed force to draw the flowable material away from the outlet end, a sensor positioned to sense the extent to which the free space has been filled with flowing material by detecting movement of a surface of the flowable material in the chamber inwardly toward the opening in a direction crossing the fill axis and past a predetermined sensing location on a wall of the chamber, and a controller for controlling the delivering of the flowable material in response to the sensing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
183 words
Apparatus for filling a free space within a chamber with a flowable material via an opening in a surface of the chamber, comprising a flowable material conduit with an outlet end for delivering along a fill axis passing through the opening the flowable material with a delivery force, a pulling mechanism for inducing an outwardly directed force acting in a direction crossing the fill axis independent of the delivery force and arranged with respect to the outlet end of the conduit so that, simultaneously, the outlet end may be positioned at the opening and the pulling mechanism may apply the outwardly directed force to draw the flowable material away from the outlet end, a sensor positioned to sense the extent to which the free space has been filled with flowing material by detecting movement of a surface of the flowable material in the chamber inwardly toward the opening in a direction crossing the fill axis and past a predetermined sensing location on a wall of the chamber, and a controller for controlling the delivering of the flowable material in response to the sensing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mechanism for inducing the outwardly directed force comprises a rotator that imposes a centrifugal force.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pulling mechanism comprises a centrifugal mechanism having an axis of rotation passing through the opening of the chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
143 words
Apparatus for filling a free space within a chamber with a flowable material via an opening in a surface of the chamber, comprising a flowable material conduit with an outlet end for delivering the flowable material with a delivery force, a pulling mechanism for inducing an outwardly directed force independent of the delivery force and arranged with respect to the outlet end of the conduit so that, simultaneously, the outlet end may be positioned at the opening and the pulling mechanism may apply the outwardly directed force to draw the flowable material away from the outlet end, a sensor mounted to sense the extent to which the free space has been filled with flowing material, and a controller for controlling the delivering of the flowable material in response to the sensing, wherein the sensor comprises a non-invasive capacitive sensor positioned at the opening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
143 words
Apparatus for filling a free space within a chamber with a flowable material via an opening in a surface of the chamber, comprising a flowable material conduit with an outlet end for delivering the flowable material with a delivery force, a pulling mechanism for inducing an outwardly directed force independent of the delivery force and arranged with respect to the outlet end of the conduit so that, simultaneously, the outlet end may be positioned at the opening and the pulling mechanism may apply the outwardly directed force to draw the flowable material away from the outlet end, a sensor mounted to sense the extent to which the free space has been filled with flowing material, and a controller for controlling the delivering of the flowable material in response to the sensing, wherein the sensor comprises a non-invasive capacitive sensor positioned at the opening.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the flowable material conduit passes through a hole in the sensor to reach the opening.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
168 words
Apparatus for filling free space within a chamber with a flowable material via an opening in a surface of the chamber, comprising a flowable material conduit with an outlet end for delivering along a fill axis passing through the opening the flowable material, a centrifugal mechanism, independent of the conduit, arranged with respect to the outlet end of the conduit so that simultaneously the outlet end may be positioned at the opening and the centrifugal mechanism may apply a force acting in a direction crossing the fill axis to draw the flowable material away from the outlet end, a sensor positioned to sense the extent to which the free space has been filled with flowing material by detecting movement of a surface of the flowable material in the chamber inwardly toward the opening in a direction crossing the fill axis and past a predetermined sensing location on a wall of the chamber, and a controller for controlling the delivering of the flowable material in response to the sensing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
168 words
Apparatus for filling free space within a chamber with a flowable material via an opening in a surface of the chamber, comprising a flowable material conduit with an outlet end for delivering along a fill axis passing through the opening the flowable material, a centrifugal mechanism, independent of the conduit, arranged with respect to the outlet end of the conduit so that simultaneously the outlet end may be positioned at the opening and the centrifugal mechanism may apply a force acting in a direction crossing the fill axis to draw the flowable material away from the outlet end, a sensor positioned to sense the extent to which the free space has been filled with flowing material by detecting movement of a surface of the flowable material in the chamber inwardly toward the opening in a direction crossing the fill axis and past a predetermined sensing location on a wall of the chamber, and a controller for controlling the delivering of the flowable material in response to the sensing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the centrifugal mechanism comprises an axis of rotation passing through the opening of the chamber.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
107 words
An apparatus for filling free space within a chamber, comprising: a conduit with an outlet for delivering along a fill axis flowable material into the chamber via an opening in the chamber; a support mechanism for holding the chamber in a predetermined orientation with the opening positioned to receive flowable material from the outlet; a centrifugal mechanism having an axis of rotation passing through the chamber while in the predetermined orientation for applying a force acting in a direction crossing the fill axis; a sensor movably positioned to sense movement of a surface of the flowable material in the chamber in a direction crossing the fill axis.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
107 words
An apparatus for filling free space within a chamber, comprising: a conduit with an outlet for delivering along a fill axis flowable material into the chamber via an opening in the chamber; a support mechanism for holding the chamber in a predetermined orientation with the opening positioned to receive flowable material from the outlet; a centrifugal mechanism having an axis of rotation passing through the chamber while in the predetermined orientation for applying a force acting in a direction crossing the fill axis; a sensor movably positioned to sense movement of a surface of the flowable material in the chamber in a direction crossing the fill axis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1, 6, or 8 wherein the sensor comprises a non-invasive capacitive sensor positioned at the opening.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the flowable material conduit passes through a hole in the sensor to reach the opening.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the axis of rotation passes through the opening of the chamber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 3, 7, or 8 wherein the centrifugal mechanism is arranged to hold the chamber in a generally horizontal position with the opening facing upward toward and aligned with the outlet end such that angular rotation may be imparted to the chamber about a vertical axis generally aligned with the fill axis and the opening.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the sensor comprises a non-invasive capacitive sensor positioned at the opening.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the flowable material conduit passes through a hole in the sensor to reach the opening.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the sensor comprises a non-invasive capacitive sensor positioned horizontally offset from the outlet end.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-03-02 | 2001-09-01 | 2002-03-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-03-02 | 2005-09-01 | 2006-03-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-03-02 | 2009-09-01 | 2010-03-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |