Fluid dispenser for recovering material from a surface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11752509-B2
Application number	US-202117304271-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 17, 2021
Priority date	Jun 17, 2021
Publication date	Sep 12, 2023
Grant date	Sep 12, 2023

Abstract

An assembly for delivering a fluid includes a fluid dispenser connected to a fluid supply conduit. The fluid dispenser includes a fluid outlet positioned along a length of the fluid dispenser. The fluid outlet is configured to deliver the fluid from the fluid supply conduit at a flow rate that varies along the length of the fluid dispenser.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for forming a cell-based comestible meat product, comprising:
a bioreactor enclosure;
a plurality of cylindrical substrates disposed within the bioreactor enclosure, the plurality of cylindrical substrates comprising surfaces spaced apart from one another and extending in a direction from a bottom of the bioreactor enclosure towards a top of the bioreactor enclosure;
a fluid supply conduit configured to supply a fluid to the plurality of cylindrical substrates; and
a fluid dispenser disposed within the bioreactor enclosure and connected to the fluid supply conduit, the fluid dispenser comprising:
an arm rotatable relative to the fluid supply conduit; and
a plurality of fluid outlets positioned on the arm of the fluid dispenser within the bioreactor enclosure, wherein the plurality of cylindrical substrates are concentric about an axis of rotation of the fluid dispenser and each fluid outlet of the plurality of fluid outlets is radially positioned on the arm of the fluid dispenser and oriented relative to a respective pair of substrates of the plurality of cylindrical substrates to dispense a fluid jet into a spacing between and adjacent to opposing surfaces of the respective pair of substrates as the arm rotates within the bioreactor enclosure.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein a first flow rate of the fluid being discharged from each fluid outlet in the spacing between each respective pair of substrates of the plurality of cylindrical substrates is larger than a second flow rate of the fluid being discharged adjacent to either opposing surface of the respective pair of substrates.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid dispenser is configured to rotate within the bioreactor enclosure about at least one of a pitch axis or a yaw axis.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid dispenser is vertically movable within the bioreactor enclosure.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cylindrical substrates is rotatable relative to the fluid dispenser.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fluid outlets is selectably adjustable to deliver fluid to the plurality of cylindrical substrates at a first velocity and a second velocity, wherein the second velocity is larger than the first velocity.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of fluid outlets is further selectably adjustable to deliver fluid to the plurality of cylindrical substrates at a third velocity configured to cause removal of cells from the plurality of cylindrical substrates, wherein the third velocity is greater than the first velocity and the second velocity.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein each fluid outlet of the plurality of fluid outlets comprises an adjustable valve.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fluid outlets is configured to vary fluid flow rates along the arm of the fluid dispenser, wherein the fluid flow rates increase in a direction from the axis of rotation of the fluid dispenser towards a distal end of the fluid dispenser.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid dispenser includes a baffle positioned between the fluid supply conduit and the plurality of fluid outlets, the baffle including at least one of an obstruction or an opening configured to distribute the fluid.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein a height of the baffle decreases along the arm of the fluid dispenser.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the fluid dispenser includes a plurality of channels positioned between the baffle and the plurality of fluid outlets, the plurality of channels configured to supply fluid from the baffle to the plurality of fluid outlets.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein a number of channels per unit length increases in a direction from the axis of rotation of the fluid dispenser towards a distal end of the fluid dispenser.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein at least one channel from the plurality of channels has a central axis such that an angle between a normal direction to the plurality of fluid outlets and the central axis is substantially different from ninety degrees.

15. The system of claim 1 , comprising at least a first fluid channel and a second fluid channel configured to supply fluid to the fluid dispenser, wherein a first amount of fluid discharged from the first fluid channel is configured to rotate the fluid dispenser in a clockwise direction, and wherein a second amount of fluid discharged from the second fluid channel is configured to rotate the fluid dispenser in a counter-clockwise direction.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein one of a motor or the fluid discharged from the plurality of fluid outlets is configured to rotate the fluid dispenser.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein a pitch and a yaw angle of a fluid nozzle of each fluid outlet of the plurality of fluid outlets are adjustable to change a flow rate of the fluid exiting the fluid nozzle.

18. The system of claim 1 , wherein one or more of a fluid outlet exit area or a fluid outlet exit shape of a fluid nozzle of each fluid outlet of the plurality of fluid outlets is adjustable to change a flow pattern of the fluid exiting the fluid nozzle between a first laminar fluid flow pattern and a second laminar fluid flow pattern.

Assignees

• Upside Foods Inc

Inventors

• Liu Ryan
• Warner Michelle
• Kang Jaewon Samuel
• Leung Matthew
• Ordonez Eric
• Patel Roshan
• Muller-Auffermann Konrad

Classifications

• B05B1/20 Primary

  Perforated pipes or troughs, e.g. spray booms; Outlet elements therefor · CPC title

• B05B3/1021 Primary

  with individual passages at its periphery · CPC title

• B05B13/0421

  with rotating spray heads · CPC title

• C12M25/06

  Plates; Walls; Drawers; Multilayer plates · CPC title

• C12M23/40

  Manifolds; Distribution pieces (fluid transfer means B01L3/563) · CPC title