Fluid measurement/division device and process

Abstract

The fluid measurement/division device comprises a plurality of cylinders in which a first and a second piston are slidably inserted to operate alternately as a dosing piston or as a piloting piston for the dosing piston. The first and said second piston present reduced diameter regions which, together with the surface of the cylinders, define at least three constant volume distribution chambers and two variable volume pumping chambers. The device comprises a plurality of conduits connecting said cylinders together and to the outside, to allow or prohibit hydraulic connection in relation to the position assumed by the first and by the second piston, such that when the first piston is in the dosing stage and, by translating, it dispenses fluid and passes to the piloting stage, the second piston passes from the piloting stage to the dosing stage via a neutral stage.

1 . A fluid measurement/division device comprising a plurality of cylinders in which a first and a second piston are slidably inserted to operate alternately as a fluid dosing piston or as a piloting piston for the dosing piston, wherein said first and said second piston present reduced diameter regions which, together with the surface of said cylinders, define at least three constant volume distribution chambers and two variable volume pumping chambers, said device comprising a plurality of conduits connecting said cylinders together and to the outside, to allow or prohibit hydraulic connection in relation to the position assumed by said first and by said second piston, such that when said first piston is in the dosing stage and, by translating, it dispenses fluid and passes to the piloting stage, said second piston passes from the piloting stage to the dosing stage via a neutral stage.  
   
   
       2 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said connection conduits comprise: a first conduit to connect a first distribution chamber of the first cylinder to a first distribution chamber of the second cylinder, a second conduit to connect a second distribution chamber of the first cylinder to a second distribution chamber of the second cylinder, a third conduit to connect a third distribution chamber of the first cylinder to a third distribution chamber of said second cylinder, a fourth conduit to connect a first pumping chamber of the first cylinder to a second distribution chamber or to a third distribution chamber of said second cylinder, a fifth conduit to connect the second pumping chamber of said first cylinder to the first distribution chamber or to the second distribution chamber of said second cylinder, a sixth conduit to connect a first distribution chamber or a second distribution chamber of said first cylinder to a first pumping chamber of said second cylinder, a seventh conduit to connect said second distribution chamber or said third distribution chamber of said first cylinder to said second pumping chamber of said second cylinder, an eighth conduit to connect said first distribution chamber of said first cylinder to the outside, a ninth conduit to connect said second distribution chamber of said first cylinder to the outside, and a tenth conduit to connect said third distribution chamber of said first cylinder to the outside.  
   
   
       3 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a block defining said first and second cylinder and said first, second and third connection conduit.  
   
   
       4 . A device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said block also defines said fourth, said fifth, said sixth, said seventh, said eighth, said ninth and said tenth connection conduit.  
   
   
       5 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said pistons carry magnets embedded in their ends, to cooperate with corresponding magnets of proximity sensors positioned at the ends of said cylinders.  
   
   
       6 . A device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said pistons have convex ends.  
   
   
       7 . A device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein closure elements for the ends of said cylinders present recessed ends to receive said convex ends of said pistons.  
   
   
       8 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said device defines a module provided with two cylinders.  
   
   
       9 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , further being provided with one-way valves provided at the entrance of the outlet communication conduits.  
   
   
       10 . A device as claimed in  claim 9 , further being provided with magnets to sense or count the number of runs made by the pistons, each of said magnets being placed at the end of an adjustable support.  
   
   
       11 . A device as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said pistons are asymmetric and are formed with the chambers of one piston staggered one another, in such a way that in every situation the piston acting as piloting piston opens its chambers before the other piston.  
   
   
       12 . A device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the two pistons have different length one with respect to the other.  
   
   
       13 . A fluid measurement/division process using a device comprising a pair of cylinders, in each of which a piston slides presenting three reduced diameter regions defining three distribution chambers and two variable volume pumping chambers connected together by a plurality of conduits, wherein it feeds the fluid to a piloting cylinder in which the piloting piston defines that chamber of the dosing cylinder into which the fluid is to be fed, the piloting piston translating to pass to the dosing stage, the dosing piston translating to dispense the fluid and pass to the piloting stage, in its passage from the piloting stage to the dosing stage said piloting cylinder passing through a neutral stage.