What is claimed is:
1. A control device for a make break switch comprising:
a first breaking lever, supported by a supporting structural member so as to be rotatable and connected to a make break contact;
a prestressing means for opening a circuit, which urges the first breaking lever so as to rotate in a predetermined direction;
a linkage having a first link, connected to the first breaking lever, a second link, and a connecting portion for connecting the first linkage with the second linkage so as to be collapsible;
a second breaking lever, supported by the supporting structural member so as to be rotatable and connected to the second link;
a making lever, supported by the supporting structural member so as to be rotatable and in contact with or separated from the second breaking lever;
a prestressing means for closing the circuit, which urges the making lever so as to rotate in a direction adverse to the predetermined direction;
a making latch for securing the making lever;
a guide having a guiding surface for guiding the connecting portion while being in contact with the connecting portion and supported by the supporting structural member so as to be movable;
a first releasing latch for securing the guide; and
a second releasing latch for securing the second breaking lever in association with movement of the guide, wherein by releasing the engagement between the first releasing latch and the guide, the guide is pushed and moved by the connecting portion, the engagement between the second releasing latch, moving in association with the guide, and the second breaking lever is released, and the first breaking lever is rotated in the predetermined direction when the prestressing means for opening the circuit is released to open the make break contact,
by rotating the first breaking lever in the predetermined direction by a predetermined angle, the guide is engaged again with the first releasing latch,
by releasing the engagement of the making lever by the making latch, the prestressing means for closing the circuit is released, the second breaking lever is rotated through the making lever in a direction adverse to the predetermined direction, and the first breaking lever is rotated in a direction adverse to the predetermined direction through the linkage while the connecting portion is guided by the guiding surface of the guide, which is engaged with the first releasing latch, to close the make break contact and to prestress the prestressing means for opening the circuit, and
by engaging the second breaking lever with the second releasing latch, a prestressing state of the prestressing means for opening the circuit and a closed state of the make break contact are maintained.
2. The control device for the make break switch according to claim 1, further comprising:
a member of preventing an operation of opening the circuit, which prevents an operation of the first releasing latch during an operation that the make break contact is in an operation of closing the circuit in association with a rotation of the making lever or of the first breaking lever.
3. The control device for the make break switch according to claim 2,
wherein the releasing trigger is located in the supporting structural member so as to be rotatable, the engagement of the guide by the first releasing latch is released by rotating the releasing trigger, and the member of preventing the operation of opening the circuit moves in association with a rotation of the making lever or of the first breaking lever to stop a rotation of the releasing trigger during the make break contact is in the operation of closing the circuit.
4. The control device for the make break switch according to claim 1, further comprising:
a member of preventing an operation of closing the circuit, which stops an operation of the making latch in a state that the make break contact is closed in association with a rotation of the first breaking lever.
5. The control device for the make break switch according to claim 4,
wherein the making trigger is located in the supporting structural member so as to be rotatable, the engagement of the making lever with the making latch is released by rotating the making trigger, and
the member of preventing the operation of closing the circuit prevents a rotation of the making trigger in the state that the make break contact is in the state of closing the circuit by moving in association with a rotation of the first breaking lever.
6. The control device for the make break switch according to claim 1, further comprising:
a member of preventing an operation of opening the circuit, which prevents an operation of the first releasing latch during an operation that the make break contact is opened in association with a rotation of the making lever or of the first breaking lever, and
a member of preventing an operation of closing the circuit, which prevents an operation of the making latch in a state that the make break contact is closed in association with a rotation of the first breaking lever.
7. The control device for the make break switch according to claim 6,
wherein the releasing trigger and the making trigger are located in the supporting structural member so as to be rotatable, the engagement of the guide with the first releasing latch is released by rotating the releasing trigger, the engagement of the making lever with the making latch is released by rotating the making trigger, and
the member of preventing the operation of opening the circuit moves to stop a rotation of the releasing trigger during the make break contact is in the operation of closing the circuit in association with the rotation of the making lever or of the first breaking lever.
8. The control device for the make break switch according to any one of claims 2 through 7, further comprising:
a stopper for receiving a releasing force of the prestressing means for closing the circuit when the prestressing means for closing the circuit is in course of the release or is released, and the guide is disengaged from the first releasing latch.
9. The control device for the make break switch according to claim 1,
wherein the prestressing means for opening the circuit and the prestressing means for closing the circuit are torsion bars.
10. The control device for the make break switch according to claim 1,
wherein the prestressing means for opening the circuit and the prestressing means for closing the circuit are coil springs.
11. The control device for the make break switch according to claim 1,
wherein the first breaking lever and the second breaking lever are commonly supported by a supporting shaft, located in the supporting structural member so as to be rotatable.
12. The control device for the make break switch according to claim 1,
wherein the second breaking lever and the making lever are commonly supported by a supporting shaft, located in the supporting structural member so as to be rotatable.
13. The control device for the make break switch according to claim 1,
wherein the first breaking lever, the second breaking lever, and the making lever are commonly supported by a supporting shaft, located in the supporting structural member so as to be rotatable.
14. The control device for the make break switch according to claim 1,
wherein the guide and the second releasing latch are commonly supported by a supporting shaft, located in the supporting structural member so as to be rotatable.
15. The control device for the make break switch according to claim 1,
wherein the first breaking lever and the second breaking lever are commonly supported by a supporting shaft, located in the supporting structural member so as to be rotatable, and
the guiding surface of the guide is an arch surface, of which center of a circle is positioned in a center of the supporting shaft when the guide is engaged with the first releasing latch.
16. The control device for the make break switch according to claim 1,
wherein the first breaking lever and the second breaking lever are commonly supported by a supporting shaft, located in the supporting structural member, so as to be rotatable, and
the guiding surface of the guide is a plane.
17. The control device for the make break switch according to claim 15 or 16,
wherein the connecting portion of the linkage has a rotor, being in contact with the guiding surface of the guide and guided by rotating.
18. The control device for the make break switch according to claim 1,
the prestressing means for closing the circuit is prestressed by a prestressing device, which drives the making lever by a cam driven by a motor.
19. The control device for the make break switch according to claim 18,
wherein the prestressing device has a breaking member, which slides on the cam and is elastically deformed to break the cam.
20. The control device for the make break switch according to claim 18, further comprising:
a making latch, located around a shaft for the cam so as to be rotatable,
wherein by engaging the making lever with the making latch, the prestressing means for closing the circuit is retained in a prestressing state, and
by releasing the engagement between the making latch and the making lever, the prestressing means for closing the circuit is released.
21. The control device for the make break switch according to claim 1,
wherein the make break switch is a breaker.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. Apparatus for delivering a medicament to a user, comprising:
a storage chamber arranged to store a quantity of a selected liquid comprising at least one medicament;
an ejection chamber arranged to hold a portion of the selected liquid;
an inlet valve arranged to selectively open to allow liquid from said storage chamber into said ejection chamber; and
an exit valve arranged to selectively open to eject medicament from said ejection chamber through the exit valve and then through a neck region when a parameter associated with said ejection chamber satisfies a predetermined condition, the neck region being narrower in cross-sectional diameter than the ejection chamber; wherein
liquid vapor andor liquid is ejected from the ejection chamber to thereby deliver medicament, and said exit valve is arranged to open when a temperature of liquid in the ejection chamber is substantially equal to or greater than a saturation temperature associated with the liquid at a pressure equal to a pressure at a location downstream of said exit valve.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
a heater member disposed in said ejection chamber or proximate to said ejection chamber for raising a temperature of liquid in said ejection chamber.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
a pump member disposed in said ejection chamber or proximate to said ejection chamber for raising a pressure of liquid in said ejection chamber.
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
a pressure sensor for determining when an ejection chamber pressure reaches a predetermined threshold value indicating satisfaction of said predetermined condition, said ejection chamber pressure comprising said parameter.
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
a passageway connecting said exit valve to a mouthpiece usable by a user to inhale ejected liquid andor liquid vapor.
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said passageway and mouthpiece have a combined length selected to deliver medicament to a user at a desired temperature.
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said selected liquid comprises a carrier liquid and at least one medicament component.
8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said selected liquid comprises at least one liquid medicament component.
9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises a hand held nebulizer further comprising:
a nebulizer body portion that is arranged to fit in a user’s hand and comprises a mouthpiece via which a user can inhale ejected liquid andor liquid vapor.
10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:
a user button carried by said body portion and usable to initiate delivery of medicament.
11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:
control circuitry arranged to control ejection of medicament to a user, subsequent to delivery being initiated, until a predetermined quantity of medicament has been delivered.
12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said storage chamber comprises a spring loaded piston to provide a positive pressure to stored liquid.
13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said storage chamber comprises a pressurized canister to provide a positive pressure to stored liquid.
14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:
a return valve arranged to selectively open to allow medicament not ejected from said ejection chamber to return to said storage chamber.
15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said nebulizer is arranged to automatically repeat ejection of medicament until the occurrence of a predetermined event.
16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises a desktop nebulizer further comprising:
a nebulizer main body portion arranged to contain the storage chamber; and
a flexible connecting tube connecting said storage chamber to a further body portion arranged to contain said ejection chamber.
17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16, further comprising:
a pump arranged to pump the selected liquid from said storage chamber to said ejection chamber.
18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16 or claim 17, further comprising:
a heater arranged to heat liquid stored in said storage chamber.
19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16, further comprising:
a refill port arranged to receive new liquid when liquid in said storage chamber is depleted.
20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said main body portion comprises a power source and control unit and said connecting tube further comprises a connection for connecting power andor control signals to said further body portion.
21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein:
said further body portion is arranged to fit a user’s hand.
22. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16, further comprising:
a user button operable to initiate delivery of medicament.
23. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16, further comprising:
control circuitry arranged to control ejection of medicament to a user, subsequent to delivery being initiated, until a predetermined quantity of medicament is delivered.
24. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein:
said nebulizer is arranged to automatically repeat ejection of medicament until the occurrence of a predetermined event.
25. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises a metered dose inhaler comprising:
an inhaler body portion that is arranged to fit in a user’s hand and comprises a mouthpiece via which a user can inhale ejected liquid andor liquid vapor.
26. The apparatus as claimed in claim 25 further comprising a user button operable to initiate delivery of medicament.
27. The apparatus as claimed in claim 25, further comprising:
control circuitry arranged to control ejection of medicament to a user, subsequent to delivery being initiated, until a predetermined quantity of medicament has been delivered.
28. The apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein:
said storage chamber comprises a pressurized canister to provide a positive pressure to store liquid.
29. The apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein:
said storage chamber comprises a spring loaded piston to provide a positive pressure to stored liquid.
30. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises a needleless injector.
31. A method of delivering a medicament to a user, comprising the steps of:
storing a quantity of a selected liquid comprising at least one medicament in a storage chamber;
selectively opening an inlet valve to thereby transfer a portion of liquid from said storage chamber to an ejection chamber;
selectively opening an exit valve of the ejection chamber when a parameter associated with the ejection chamber satisfies a predetermined condition; and
delivering medicament to a user by ejecting liquid vapor andor liquid from said ejection chamber via said exit valve and then through a neck region, the neck region being narrower in cross-sectional diameter than the ejection chamber, wherein said exit valve is opened when a temperature of liquid in the ejection chamber is substantially equal to or greater than a saturation temperature associated with the liquid at a pressure equal to a pressure at a location downstream of said exit valve.
32. The method as claimed in claim 31, further comprising the steps of:
subsequent to ejection of liquid andor liquid vapor from said ejection chamber, selectively closing said exit valve.
33. The method as claimed in claim 31, further comprising the steps of:
subsequent to selectively opening said inlet valve, closing said inlet valve prior to opening said exit valve.
34. The method as claimed in claim 31, further comprising the steps of:
subsequent to opening said exit valve, closing said exit valve and opening a return valve thereby returning unspent liquid to said storage chamber.
35. The method as claimed in claim 31, further comprising the steps of:
locating a mouthpiece connected via a transfer passage to a downstream side of said exit valve in a mouth of said user.
36. The method as claimed in claim 31, wherein said method comprises delivering the medicament via a hand held nebulizer, said method further comprising the steps of:
a user holding a body portion of said nebulizer, operating a user button to initiate drug delivery and automatically ejecting medicament to said user a plurality of times.
37. The method as claimed in claim 31, wherein said method comprises delivering the medicament via a desktop nebulizer, said method further comprising the steps of:
a user operating a user button on a body portion of the nebulizer;
pumping liquid from the storage chamber in a main body portion of the nebulizer to the inlet valve located in a further body portion of the nebulizer; and
delivering medicament via a mouthpiece of said further body portion.
38. The method as claimed in claim 37, further comprising the steps of:
heating liquid in said storage chamber prior to pumping said liquid to said ejection chamber.
39. The method as claimed in claim 37, further comprising the steps of:
refilling said storage chamber with said liquid via a refill port at a desired time.
40. The method as claimed in claim 31, wherein said method comprises delivering the medicament via a metered dose inhaler, said method further comprising the steps of:
a user operating a user button of said inhaler; and delivering a fixed dose of medicament to a mouthpiece of said inhaler.
41. The method as claimed in claim 31, further comprising injecting medicament into a user via a needleless process.