US2935073A - Pipette washer - Google Patents

Description

May 3, 1960 2,935,073

J. R. MYcoCK PIPETTE WASHER Filed Jan. 8, 1959 FIG.1

ATTOR N E Y v" [lnited States Patent Pirnrrn WASHER John R. Mycock, Trenton, NJ., assignor to Clay-Adams, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York 'Application January s, 1959, serial No. 785,585 7 claims. (cl. 134-171) 4device for washing a plurality of tubular, open ended elements such as pipettes or the like, wherein a washing medium is passed through the elements by means of vvacuum or air under pressure, together with valve means for controlling said vacuum or air under pressure in accordance with the number of elements being washed.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved washing device of the character described, comprisinga combination supporting and manifold head for mounting varying numbers of tubular elements for washing, the head being provided with openings for receiving the tubular elements, and improved valve means for closing off any unused openings in the head.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a washinghead having a plurality of openings therein for mounting tubular elements to be washed, together with a simplified ap type valve means for all the openings which allows for easy manipulation to mount the elements in said openings and to leave said device operative when the number of elements so mounted is less than the total number of openings in the head.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

In the drawing,

Fig. l is a top plan view of a washer head embodying the invention, with portions cut away;

Fig. 2. is an elevational view in section of the head mounted on a container; and

Fig. 3 isa bottom plan View of the head, with portions cut away.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 10 designates a washing device embodying the invention and particularly adapted for the washing of tubular members open at the opposite ends thereof, such as pipettes or the like. The same comprises a container for holding a suitable washing solution, and a head generally indicated at H. The head H is removably mounted on the rim of container C and is adapted to hold tubular members T for immersion in the washing solution, to wash the same.

Head H comprises a cylindrical shaped body A' formed of a somewhat resilient material such as natural or synthetic rubber. The top surface 11 of body A is formed with an annular channel 12 located adjacent edge 13. The body A is further formed with a plurality of spaced through openings 114 extending transversely from bottom surface 15 to the bottom wall 16 of channel 12. Thus, openings 14 are arranged in a circle and are interconnected at their upper ends by the annular channel 12.

A metal conduit plate 17 lies in contact with top surface 11 of body A, thereby enclosing channel 12. A

conduit connector member 18 is mounted in upstanding relation on plate 17, said member 18 being located so Ias to communicate at its lower end with channel 12.

Valve means is provided for independently closing each of the openings 14 at the lower ends thereof. To this end, there is provided a thin, flexible valve sheet 19 in circular form which is die cut or otherwise formed to provide at its periphery a plurality of radially extending, independent flapper valve portions 20. Valve sheet 19 is clamped against the lower surface of body A by a clamp plate 21 having an annular flange 22.

The underside of body A is formed with a circular boss 23 projecting from the central portion thereof. Sheet 19 is seated on boss 23 and held in place by clamp plate 21 whose flange 22 engages the -base portions of valve portions 20 to clamp the same against the edge of boss 23. A pair of diametral projections 24 extending from boss 23 pass through registering openings in valve sheet 19 and clamp plate 21, to properly locate the valve portions 20 over the respective openings 14 to close the same.

The plates 17, 21 are held in place on the body A by means of a thumbscrew 25 passing through a central opening 26 in plate 17, a registering central opening 27 in body A and is screwed at its lower end in a tapped central portion 28 in clamp plate 21.

In using'device 10, a differential of pressure is established Awithin container C when body A is mounted thereon, the marginal projecting portion of plate 17 abutting the rim of container C; as by connecting member 18 to a source of vacuum. Under these conditions, valve portions 20 are operative to close off the openings 14, being securely held in place against the lower ends of said openings.

Any given number of tubular members T such as pipettes or the like, not exceeding the total number of openings 14, may be previously mounted on body VA, for washing. The valve portions 20 are deected to expose the openings 114 and the upper end portions of the members T are inserted therein. Upon so positioning members T on body A, said head is mounted on container C with members T immersed in the cleaning solution in said container.

Upon applying vacuum to member 18, the cleaning solution is sucked up through each of the members T, passing by way of channel 12 and member 18 outwardly of container C for suitable disposition, thereby washing and cleaning the bore of said members T.

When the total number of members T amount to less than the openings 14 on body A, the unused openings remain in an in operative condition by reason of the valve portions 20 which effectively close off the same. It will be apparent, that valve portions 20 may be easily and quickly deilected from selected openings 14 to permit the mounting of tubular ymembers T therein while the unused openings are closed off at all times, the valve portions being sealed in place by the vacuum.

It is understood that openings 14 in body A may have other spacing patterns, with a corresponding modication of the channel 12 to provide manifold means for establishing communication between each of the openings and conduit connector 18.

Valve sheet 19 may be formed from thin natural or synthetic rubber sheeting which is stamped or die cut to form the radial notches which leave the marginal portion thereof in the form of the independent, radially extending apper valve portions 20.

As various changes might be made in the embodiment of the invention herein shown without departing from the l Patented May 3,1960

Having thus disclosed my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent:

1. In a device for washing tubular members open at the opposite ends thereof comprising a container for holding washing solution and a head on said container for suspending said tubular members in depending relation thereto for immersion in the washing solution, said head comprising a member formed with a plurality of spaced, transversely extending through openings for receiving in the lower ends thereof the upper ends of said tubular members, conduit means on said head, manifold means for connecting said conduit means with the upper ends of said through openings, and apper valve means on the underside of said head for closing said through openings, said valve means comprising independent Valve portions overlying the lower ends of each of said through openings, selected valve portions being movable to an inoperative position to allow the insertion of the upper end Yof s aid tubular members in the openings associated with said selected valve portions.

2,. A device as in claim l wherein said valve portions comprise thin, flexible sheet portions,

3. A pipette washer comprising a cylindrical body formed with a plurality of spaced through openings, a manifold channel formed on one surface of said body for interconnecting said openings at one end thereof, a member on said one surface of the body for enclosing said channel, conduit means on said member in communication with said channel, a valve member on the other surface of said body, said valve member including a central portion and separate valve portions extending outwardly from said central portion for respectively closing said openings at the other end thereof, each of said valve portions being independently movable to a position substantially at right angles to said central portion to expose the corresponding opening, and means for clamping the central portion of said valve member against the other surface of said body.

4. A washer as in claim 3 wherein said body is formed of resilient material.

5, A pipette washer comprising a body, said body being formed with a plurality of spaced through openings for receiving inserted pipettes, means on said body for interconnecting said openings at one end thereof, conduit means communicating with said interconnecting means, valve means on said body, said valve means comprising a plurality of independent valve portions respectively covering said openings at the other end thereof, a selected valve portion being independently movable to a position allowingthe insertion of a pipette in the opening associated therewith, the remaining valve portions covering the respective openings associated therewith.

6. A'washer as in'claim 5 lwherein saidvalve means comprises a central'portion and said valve portions comprise laterally spaced, thin flexible portions extending outwardly of said central portion, said flexible portions being freely movable away from and into the plane of saidv central portion.

7. A washer head comprising a body formed with a plurality of spaced openings for receiving end portions of tubular members, said openings extending to at least one surface portion of said body, valve means on said one surface portion of the body, said valve means comprising a plurality of independent valve portions respectively associated withv said openings for closing said openings, selected valve portions being movable to positions allowing the insertion of said tubular members in the yopenings associated therewith while other openings are closed by the valve portions associated therewith, and conduit means on said body in communicating relation with said openings.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS .1,634,949 Levalley July 5, 1927 2,211,212 Langdon Aug. 13, 1940 2,233,852 Schmitt Mar. 4, 1941

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