Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US5551845?dq=6188988
Timestamp: 2016-05-06 16:29:30
Document Index: 464548689

Matched Legal Cases: ['art.2', 'art.3', 'art.5', 'art.7', 'art.12', 'art.13', 'art.14', 'art.15']

Patent US5551845 - Medical air vacuum - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inPatentsAn apparatus is provided for supplying vacuum and compressed air utilities for dental and medical applications. The apparatus comprises a reciprocating piston air compressor for simultaneously producing vacuum pressure at an intake valve thereof and compressed air at an exhaust valve thereof, the vacuum...http://www.google.com/patents/US5551845?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US5551845 - Medical air vacuumAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS5551845 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 08/370,687Publication dateSep 3, 1996Filing dateJan 10, 1995Priority dateJan 10, 1995Fee statusLapsedPublication number08370687, 370687, US 5551845 A, US 5551845A, US-A-5551845, US5551845 A, US5551845AInventorsDavid N. MilamOriginal AssigneeMilam; David N.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (12), Non-Patent Citations (16), Referenced by (13), Classifications (25), Legal Events (3) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetMedical air vacuum
US 5551845 AAbstract
An apparatus is provided for supplying vacuum and compressed air utilities for dental and medical applications. The apparatus comprises a reciprocating piston air compressor for simultaneously producing vacuum pressure at an intake valve thereof and compressed air at an exhaust valve thereof, the vacuum being used to draw air, water vapor, and effluent such as bodily fluids and tissue through a conduit. Effluent and water vapor are separated from the air stream and discharged into a drain. The desired vacuum is maintained by a regulator carried by the compressor. A receiver is also carried by the compressor for receiving and storing the compressed air from the compressor.
1. An apparatus for supplying vacuum and compressed air utilities for dental and medical applications, comprising:a reciprocating piston device having at least two cylinders, one of the cylinders creating a vacuum in an intake line and another of the cylinders producing compressed air in an exhaust line, the vacuum being used to cause air at a pressure below atmospheric to flow through the intake line carrying with it water vapor and effluent from a patient; means carried by said device for separating the effluent and water vapor from the air in the intake line before the air reaches said device; means carried by said device for regulating the pressure level of the air in the intake line below atmospheric pressure; means communicating with said separating means for draining the effluent and water vapor separated from the air in the intake line; and means for receiving the compressed air from said device. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said device comprises three cylinders, two of said cylinders being manifolded together and connected to the intake line for producing vacuum therein and a third of said cylinders being connected to an exhaust line for producing compressed air therein.
The present invention relates to systems that supply a partial vacuum and pressurized air primarily for medical and dental facilities. In a dentist's office, for example, a partial vacuum is used to remove saliva, tissue, rinse liquids, and tooth filling particles from a patient's mouth. Pressurized air is required for pneumatic dental tools such as high speed drills, and for clearing a localized area of a patient's mouth for examination or treatment.
These and other objects and advantages are achieved, in accordance with the illustrated embodiments of the present invention, by an apparatus and method that comprise a reciprocating piston device for simultaneously drawing a vacuum in an intake line and delivering compressed air in an exhaust line thereof. The vacuum draws a stream of air, water vapor, and effluent such as bodily fluids and tissue through the intake line toward the reciprocating piston device. The effluent and water vapor are separated from the air stream upstream of the reciprocating piston device and then discharged through a drain. The desired vacuum is maintained by a regulator carried by the reciprocating piston device in the intake line. A receiver is further carried by the device to receive the compressed air delivered by the device.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3, 4, and 5, comprises oil-lubricated reciprocating piston device 10 that simultaneously produces a vacuum and compressed air. The vacuum is used to draw a stream of air, water vapor, and effluent such as bodily fluids and tissue through intake port 3 in manifold plate MP and intake line or conduit toward reciprocating piston device 10.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS3734122 *Feb 14, 1972May 22, 1973Sybron CorpDental compressed air/vacuum apparatusUS3932065 *Nov 8, 1974Jan 13, 1976Coulter Electronics, Inc.Pneumatically controlled liquid transfer systemUS4022593 *May 5, 1975May 10, 1977Lerner Bernard JMist eliminationUS4160323 *Jun 20, 1977Jul 10, 1979Tracy Ronald JPortable dental cabinetUS4359085 *Nov 1, 1979Nov 16, 1982Siemens AktiengesellschaftInstallation for several sound and/or heat emitting machines capable of being installed in a workroomUS4588359 *Dec 24, 1984May 13, 1986Vilter Manufacturing CorporationCompressor capacity control apparatusUS4957491 *Apr 14, 1989Sep 18, 1990Parker Richard DCombination fluid collection and disposal apparatusUS5017135 *Oct 18, 1989May 21, 1991Ramvac CorporationTrap and separator for denial vacuum systemsUS5053120 *Feb 8, 1991Oct 1, 1991Mtu Motoren- Und Turbinen-Union Friedrichshafen GmbhArrangement for draining water collecting in the container of a water separator of an internal-combustion engineUS5205743 *Jan 21, 1992Apr 27, 1993Boliden Contech AbDental treatment methodUS5211558 *Nov 29, 1991May 18, 1993International Equipment & Supply Corp.Portable dental workstationUS5222871 *Feb 23, 1990Jun 29, 1993Durr Dental Gmbh & Co KgCompressed air and underpressure supply unit* Cited by examinerNon-Patent CitationsReference1 *Apollo Dental Products, Inc. UltraVac . . . The Only One , date unknown, but believed to be prior art.2Apollo Dental Products, Inc. UltraVac . . . The Only One, date unknown, but believed to be prior art.3 *Curtis Toledo, Inc., Challenge Air , air compressor installation and operating instruction manual, Jul. 1993, pp. 14, 15 and 18, 19.4 *Curtis Toledo, The Single State Econo Line Air Compressor , date unknown, but believed to be prior art.5Curtis-Toledo, Inc., Challenge Air, air compressor installation and operating instruction manual, Jul. 1993, pp. 14, 15 and 18, 19.6Curtis-Toledo, The Single State "Econo" Line Air Compressor, date unknown, but believed to be prior art.7 *DEN TAL EZ, INC., CustomVac Technical Sales Data Sheet, Dual Voltage Single Pump , Apr. 1993.8 *DEN TAL EZ, INC., CustomVac Technical Sales Data Sheet, Dynamic Dry Dual Vacuum System , Nov. 1993.9DEN-TAL-EZ, INC., CustomVac™ Technical Sales Data Sheet, Dual Voltage Single Pump, Apr. 1993.10DEN-TAL-EZ, INC., CustomVac™ Technical Sales Data Sheet, Dynamic Dry Dual Vacuum System, Nov. 1993.11 *Fuji Electric Corp. of America, Ring Compressors , date unknown, but believed to be prior art.12Fuji Electric Corp. of America, Ring Compressors, date unknown, but believed to be prior art.13 *GAST, Separate Drive Rotary Vane , date unknown, but believed to be prior art.14GAST, Separate Drive Rotary Vane, date unknown, but believed to be prior art.15 *The University of Texas, Health Science Center at San Antonio, Comparison Testing of Dental Liquid Ring Vacuum Pumps , Oct. 5, 1992.16The University of Texas, Health Science Center at San Antonio, Comparison Testing of Dental Liquid Ring Vacuum Pumps, Oct. 5, 1992.* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS5795371 *Jul 23, 1997Aug 18, 1998Ezio; BartocciDevice and method for the sterilization of compressed air for medical useUS6004112 *Apr 27, 1998Dec 21, 1999Ingersoll-Rand CompanyBelt driven fluid compressor with self-adjusting belt tensioning deviceUS6171072 *Apr 2, 1999Jan 9, 2001Scion Valley, Inc.Combination aspirator pump and air compressor apparatus for use in medical proceduresUS6171074 *Jan 28, 1999Jan 9, 2001Institut Francais Du PetroleSingle-shaft compression-pumping device associated with a separatorUS6419487Nov 3, 2000Jul 16, 2002Vernon R. Tunnell, Jr.Multiport antibackflow manifold for dental handpiece systemUS6604376Oct 12, 2000Aug 12, 2003Victor M. DemarcoHeat pump using treated water effluentUS6923646 *Apr 17, 2002Aug 2, 2005Air Techniques, Inc.Process and apparatus for treating an exhaust stream from a dental operatoryUS8028438 *Jun 30, 2005Oct 4, 2011Aqualizer, LlcMoisture condensation control systemUS9080645 *Jul 14, 2011Jul 14, 2015Patton's Medical, LlcCompressed air device for allowing the expeditious adjustment of drive beltsUS20070172790 *Jan 26, 2006Jul 26, 2007Midmark CorporationDental Vacuum SystemUS20110030615 *Feb 10, 2011Applied Materials, Inc.Method and apparatus for dry cleaning a cooled showerheadUS20120014817 *Jan 19, 2012Patton's Medical, LlcCompressed Air Device For Allowing The Expeditious Adjustment Of Drive BeltsWO2008044253A1 *Oct 10, 2006Apr 17, 2008Gea Niro Soavi S.P.A.Transmission apparatus in homogeniser or high pressure piston pump* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification417/290, 417/53, 55/320, 433/92, 137/265, 417/313, 417/298, 417/269, 137/209International ClassificationA61C17/12, F04B41/02, F04B39/16, A61C17/06, F04B37/14, A61C1/00Cooperative ClassificationY10T137/3127, Y10T137/4841, F04B37/14, F04B41/02, F04B39/16, A61C1/0061European ClassificationF04B39/16, A61C1/00S, F04B37/14, F04B41/02Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionMar 28, 2000REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedSep 3, 2000LAPSLapse for failure to pay maintenance feesNov 7, 2000FPExpired due to failure to pay maintenance feeEffective date: 20000903RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services