US3176885A

US3176885A - Material operated liquid metering device

Info

Publication number: US3176885A
Application number: US369659A
Authority: US
Inventors: Maurice G Bundy
Original assignee: Industrial Fumigant Co
Current assignee: Industrial Fumigant Co
Priority date: 1964-05-25
Filing date: 1964-05-25
Publication date: 1965-04-06
Anticipated expiration: 1982-04-06

Description

April 6, 1965 M. G. BUNDY MATERIAL OPERATED LIQUID METERING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 25, 1964 u 2 M w i M i? i w w mm, M f/ H w M M/w m m m... W5 f 1 t I I III nl' I 4 2 MW fl uldlal il I. 1H. 1 ill. all with. a W m 7 m 1 TOW w w W 1 WW m w l x M m J v a M Q M m I m w w o z m w 3 w m m y Mw 111 1 H1 w w w .l 2 2 f M M A ril 6, 1965 M. ca. BUNDY MATERIAL OPERATED LIQUID METERING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 25, 1964 mvsmoa Maurice 6. Bandy United States Patent 0 3,l7d,lii5 li-lA'll'ERlAL QPERATED LlQlUllD PJEETERKNG DEWCE Maurice G. Bandy, Kansas Qity, Karts, ssignor to The Industrial Fumigant Co, Kansas City, Me a corpora= tion of lllinnis Filed May 25, race, der. No. 369,659 16 Qlaims. (Ql. 222-309) This invention relates to apparatus for dispensing fluids under pressure and has as its primary object the provision of an actuatable fluid dispenser which receives a predetermined volume of a liquid under pressure from a source of such liquid whereby, upon actuation, the device dispenses the predetermined volume of the liquid therewitbin and delivers the same to a point of use.

Another irnportant object of the instant invention is the provision of a dispenser of the aforesaid character which is automatically recharged with the liquid under pressure following the dispensing therefrom of each predetermined volume of liquid whereby the dispenser is ready for use once again and a series of successive discharges of the liquid at the measured volume may occur upon successively actuating the dispenser, all of which may be accomplished in a minimum of time.

Yet another obiect of the present invention is the provision of a dispenser of the type described which has a liquid-receiving chamber which canbe adjusted in volume, whereby the volume of the liquid under pressure dispensed therefrom can be varied, depending upon the requirements at the point of use of the liquid.

Still another obiect of this invention is the provision of a dispenser for fluids under pressure which utilizes a shiftable piston movable under the influence of the fluid pressure in the fluid source coupled with the dispenser, whereby the dispensing of fluid from the dispenser by virtue of the shifting of the piston is accomplished by the pressure of the fluid in the source so as to obviate any mechanical, force-supplying structure with the dispenser itself.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational View of the liquid metering or dispensing device made pursuant to the concepts of the present invention;

PEG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and illustrating the positions of the various parts thereof when the device is in a charged condition ready to dispense a predetermined volume of liquid therefrom;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating the positions of the parts following the dispensing of the predetermined volume of liquid therefrom;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a crosssectional View taken along line d6 of FIG. 2.

The present invention relates to a dispenser for dispensan outlet opening spaced fronrtlie inlet opening com municates with the other chamber and provides the discharge route for a predetermined volume of the liquid from the body. A tube intercommunicates the chambers and a spring urges the piston toward the inlet opening so that, when the spring and fluid pressurein the chamber corresponding to the outlet opening combine to move the piston toward the inlet opening against the fluid pressure in the chamber corresponding to the inlet opening, the dispenser becomes charged with the liquid at a predetermined volume and is ready for dispensing the predetermined volume upon opening of a valve blocking the outlet opening. After the valve is opened to actuate the dispenser, the predetermined volume of the liquid passes out of the body via the outlet opening. Upon closing of the valve the dispenser automatically becomes recharged inasmuch as it is coupled with the source of liquid under pressure and the dispensing operation is again repeated when it is desired to discharge a predetermined volume of the liquid at the same or different point of use.

Liquid metering and dispensing device 10 includes a hollow, tubular body 5.2, a barrel 14 for coupling the interior of body 12 with a source of liquid under pressure, and an actuator 16 for eliecting the discharge of a predetermined volume of liquid under pressure from the interior of body 12 through a nozz.e 18 coupled therewith.

Body 12 includes an outer tube Zil having a pair of open ends and a pair of

closures

22 and 24 mounted on tube 29 and disposed for closing the open ends thereof as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Closure 22 is provided with an Q-ring seal 26 for sealing the junction bet-ween closure 22 and the inner surface of tube 2t An annular projection 2% engages the end face of tube 2i), and a collar 30 is threadably mounted on tube 2% to retain projection 28 in place.

Closure 22 is provided with an opening 32 therethrough defining an inlet for tube 20. Barrel 14 is integral with closure 22 and has a bore 34 aligned with inlet $2. Barrel 1 has an internally threaded outer end 36 for threadably receiving a coupling 38 which is adapted to be connected to a source of liquid under pressure. An O-ring seal dtl bears against the outer end face of barrel 14 and seals the junction between the latter and coupling 38. A filter 42 having a tube 4 provided with ports 46 is maintained in bore 34 by coupling 38. Filter iz also includes a filter member 48 of foraminous material in surrounding relationship to tube 44. Liquid entering tube 44 from the source connected to coupling 38 passes through ports 46 and filter member 43 into bore 34 and inlet 32.

She side of barrel 14- is provided with a plurality of notches Sit therein. Notches 5d are aligned longitudinally of barrel 14. As shown in FIG. 4, barrel l t is trans versely circular and notches 5d are arcuate in configuration.

A disc 52, carried on one end of a shaft 5%, has a recessed portion 5!: in the periphery thereof. Shaft 54- extends through closure 22 and is rotatable with respect thereto by virtue of a bearing 58 threadably mounted on closure 2?. as shown in FIG. 2. A seal 6h is provided between bearing 58 and closure 22. The inner end of shaft 54 provides a limit or stop for dividing means 62 within tube Ed in a manner hereinafter described. In this respect, the position of shaft 54 is adjustable inasmuch as disc 52, which forms a projection with respect to barrel to, is receivable within any one of the notches 5@ after portion as has been aligned with a corresponding notch and shaft 5 is rotated until the periphery of the disc 52 extends into notch in the manner shown in FIG. 4. To remove disc 52 from a notch 5d, shaft 54 is again rotated until portion se is adjacent to the notch 5d; whereupon I shaft 54 may be shifted axially while portion 56 moves along the outer surface of barrel l4 inasmuch as the surface forming portion 56 is complemental to the outer surface of barrel 14. i

Dividing means 62 includes a piston 64 having a pairof sections as and as secured togetherin any suitable nianncr, suchas by screws or the like. Each of the sections 66 and d8 is provided with a central opening 76 for re ceiving-a tube 3-2in the manner-shown in M63. 2 and 3. A sealing element 74 is disposed between

sections

66 and 68 and has an inner annular flange 76 disposed be tween tube 72 and section 66 to provide a seal there between, while at the same time permitting movement of tube 72 with respect to sections 66 and d3. Element 70 also has an outer annular flange 78 between sections 66 and the inner surface of tube 20 to seal the junction therebetween, while at the same time permitting movement of piston 64 with respect to tube 29.

Section 68 is provided with a continuous flange 81) extending from the outer face 82 thereof. Flange 80 is provided with an annular bead 84 of approximately the same diameter as piston 64, flange 8i) and head 84 being provided to guide piston 64 as the same moves within tube 20. Flange 80 is also provided to house a portion of a coil spring 86 normally under compression and bearing against face 82 of section 68, and face 88 of closure 24. Thus, piston 64 is biased toward closure 22 at all times.

Tube 72 includes a first member received at one end thereof within a recess 92 extending into face 9 1 of closure 22. The opposite end of member 90 is telescoped within a second member 96 also forming a part of tube 72. An O-ring seal 98 extends between members 90 and x 96 to seal the junction therebetween. A coil spring 1% extends through member 90 and bears against the portion of closure 22 defining the inner end of recess 92, and also bears against one end of a valve 192 within member 96. Member 90 is provided with opening 104 in communication with the interior of tube 20, it being clear that piston 64 divides tube 20 into a pair of chambers 1116 and 108,

4 each of which alternately increase and decrease in volume as piston 64 shifts through tube 21 Member 96 is provided with a number of first ports 111) therein in spaced relationship to the proximal end of member 99 and a number of second ports 112 in longitudinally spaced relationship to ports 110, it being noted "that ports 114 as well as ports 112, are circumferentially disposed with respect to member 96.

Member 96 includes an extension 114 which extends into a bore 116 formed in face 88 of closure 24, extension 114 being threadably mounted at 118 to closure 24 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. A continuous seal 1219 closes the junction between extension 114 and closure 24. Extension 114 is provided with a port 122 aligned with a transversely extending bore 124 communicating with bore 116. Nozzle 18 is threadably coupled with closure 24 and in fluid communication with bore 124. Extension 114 thus provides an outlet opening for tube 24 so that liquid under pressure flowing out of chamber 103 through ports 112 will pass through port 122, bore 116, bore 124 and into nozzle 18.

Valve 102 includes a first portion 126 and a second portion 128,

portions

126 and 128 being interconnected and coupled with a plunger 130 having an enlarged neck 132 of approximately the same diameter as the inner diameter of extension 114.

Portions

126 and 128 engage V the inner surface of member 96 and are movable axially thereof. a

Member 96 is provided with a beveled, continuous sur- 1 face 134 which provides a valve seat for the beveled outer face 136 of portion 128. When face 136 engages surface 134, liquid under pressure is prevented from passing into extension 114 from chamber 198, but portion 126 is positioned so that liquid under pressure may flow from chamber 106, through opening 104', member 90, and

ports 110 into chamber 108.

Plunger 131 projects outwardly of closure 24 and when the same is moved inwardly thereof, face 136 moves out of engagement with surface134 and neck132 moves past surface 134 into the major portion of member 96.

When this occurs, ports 110 are closed by portion 126, but ports 112 are placed in fluid communication with T extension 114 so that liquidrunder pressure maybe di-.

. recte'd out of chamber 108 and into nozzle 18.

Actuator 16 includes a transversely U-shaped member 133 rockably mounted on closure 24 by a pin 1%. A handle 142 extends laterally from one side of member 138 and when the latter is rotated in a clockwise sense when viewing FIGS. 2 and 3, plunger 13% is forced into tube 219 to shift valve 102 axially of member 96.

A seal 144 surrounds plunger 13%) and prevents liquid under pressure from passing out of extension 114 along plunger 1319. Thus, all ofthe liquid flowing into extension 114 will pass out of the latter through port 122.

In operation, coupling 38 is connected to a sourceof liquid under pressure and valve 1132 is in the full-line position of FIGS. 2 and 3 with face 136 in engagement with surface 134. Piston 64 is in the full-line position shown in FIG. 2 inasmuch as the restoring force of spring 36 urges the same toward closure 22. Shaft 54 is initially positioned to provide one limit for the path of travel of piston 64, this being accomplished by disposing disc52 in the proper notch 50.

When liquid under pressure passes into chamber 106 through inlet 32, the liquid also passes into chamber 198 through opening 1114, member 9%, member 9 5, and ports 110. There will be no movement of piston 64 toward closure 24 during the time when liquid under pressure fills chambers 166 and 168 inasmuch as there is no ap preciable build-up of fluid pressure within chamber 1% so long as ports 1119 are open. As soon as chambers 166 and 1118 are filled with the liquid, device 10 is then charged and ready for use for dispensing a predetermined volume of liquid therefrom through nozzle 18.

When it is desired to dispense liquid from device 11), handle 14-2 is deflected so that member 138 urges plunger 134) inwardly of tube 211 against the bias force of spring 1110. This action causes

portions

126 and 128 to move I to the pistons thereof shown in FIG. 3 wherein ports 11% are closed with respect to member 90, and ports 112 are opened with respect to extension 114. Liquid under pressure will then be forced through ports 112, member 96, past surface 134, through extension 114, port 122, bore 116,.bore 124, and into nozzle 11 to the point of intended use. The liquid is forced out by virtue of the fact that fluid pressure is released in chamber 108 and fluid pressure in chamber 1116 is suflicient to shift piston 64 toward closure 24. In this respect, it is to be noted that spring 86 has a restoring force which is at all times less than the fluid pressure within chamber 106 and thereby, the

' fluid pressure of the source connected to coupling 38.

Piston 64 will, upon movement through tube 21 toward I closure 24, provide the driving force for the liquid as the same is dispensed through nozzle 13. This driving action will continue until bead 84 engages face 88 of closure 24, as shown in FIG. 3. As piston 64 moves to the position of FIG. 3, liquid is simultaneously being 7 forced into chamber 106 from the source so that as the volume of chamber 1116 increases as the volume of chamber 198 decreases, liquid fills chamber 106 with a volume equal to the volume of the liquid dispensed from chamber res.

Upon release of handle 142, plunger 131i moves por- 1

tions

126 and 128 to their positions of FIG. Z'under the influence of spring 1%; Once again, ports 110 are opened to member 90 and liquid under pressure flows out of 1 22 until the same engages the inner, end of shaft 54 as shown in FIG. 2. It is noted that liquid is merely transferred from chamber. 1% to chamber 108 during this recharging process so that no liquid is forced back into the source as piston 64 moves toward closure 22.

The device 10 is again ready for actuation and, follow-1 ing the dispensing of'thepredetermined volume of liquid therefrom, the recharging cycle automatically progresses. The volume of liquid dispensed from deviceltl' each time 2) the same is actuated is measured by the volume of the liquid between bead S4 and face 88 when piston 6 is in the position of FIG. 2. To change this volume, the position of shaft 54 is altered so that piston 64 will assume a different charged location, i.e., the distance between bead 84 and face 88 will be changed. To decrease the volume, disc 52 is disposed in the notch t nearest closure 22; to increase the volume, disc 52 is disposed in the notch 543 remote from closure 22.

Device 19 is of a size to be hand-held and handle 142 is conveniently positioned so as to be actuated by the thumb of the user.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Fluid dispensing apparatus comprising:

an outer tube;

a pair of closures mounted on respective ends or" the outer tube for closing the same, each of said closures having an opening therethrough, said openings de fining a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet for the outer tube;

a piston within and axially movable between a pair of spaced limits relative to the outer tube, said piston eing disposed for dividing the interior of the outer tube into a pair of chambers with one of the chambers being in fluid communication with said inlet and the other chamber being in fluid communication with the outlet, said piston having a central opening therethrough;

an inner tube extending through the opening in the piston and having an opening at one end thereof in fluid commuication with said one chamber and a pair of axially spaced ports at the opposite end thereof in fluid communication with the other chamber to thereby place the chambers in fluid communication with each other;

a coil spring within said other chamber and disposed for biasing said piston toward said inlet;

a valve within said tube and movable from a first position closing said outlet and maintaining one of the ports open to the interior of the inner tube to a second position closing said one port and placing the other port in fluid communication with said outlet;

means biasing said valve toward said first position;

an actuator coupled with said outer tube and engageable with the valve for moving the same toward said second position; and

a nozzle coupled with the closure corresponding to said outlet and disposed in fluid communication with the latter to deliver a predetermined volume of a fluid under pressure from said other chamber when said value is in said second position and after the chambers have been filled with the fluid by a fluid source coupled with said inlet.

2. Fluid dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein is provided a shaft shiftably and rotatably mounted on the closure corresponding to said inlet and movable into said one chamber and within the path of travel of the piston, a lateral projection on the outer end of the shaft and provided with a recess in the outer periphery thereof, a barrel rigid to and extending outwardly from the last-mentioned closure, said barrel having a number of longitudinally spaced, projection-receiving notches therein, said shaft being rotatable to align the recess of said projection with said barrel, whereby the projection may be shifted longitudinally of the barrel into alignment with any one of said notches.

3. Fluid dispensing apparatus comprising:

a hollow, enclosed body having a pair of spaced openings therethrough presenting a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet therefor:

means dividing the interior of said body into a pair of chambers and being movable between a pair of spaced limits to alternately increase and decrease the volume of each of said chambers, said inlet being adjacent to one of the limits and in fluid communication with one of the chambers, said outlet being adjacent to the other limit and in fluid communication with the other chamber;

means placing said chambers in fluid communication with each other to permit said dividing means to be subjected to fluid pressure on opposed sides thereof;

means coupled with said dividing means for applying a pressure thereto less than said fluid pressure and in a direction to bias said dividing means toward said one limit;

an actuatable valve normally closing the outlet and disposed for opening the latter when the valve is actuated;

means coupled with said valve for actuating the same, whereby the fluid pressure in said one chamber will move said dividing means from one limit to the other limit and thereby force a predetermined volume of said fluid out of said body through said outlet, there being structure shiftably carried by said body and defining said one limit; and

means releasably maintaining said structure in any one of a number of fixed positions to permit variations in the distance between the limits and thereby the volume ofthe fluid forced out of said body.

4. Fluid dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 3,

wherein said structure includes a shaft normally extending into said one chamber and provided with a projection thereon exteriorly of said one chamber, said body having a number of spaced recesses, said projection being received within any one of said recesses to dispose said shaft in any one of said positions.

5. Fluid dispensing apparatus comprising:

means dividing the interior of said body into a pair of chambers and being movable between a pair of spaced limits to alternately increase and decrease the volume or" each of said chambers, said inlet being adjacent to one of the limits and in fluid communication with one of the chambers, said outlet being adjacent to the other limit and in fluid communication with the other chamber;

a coil spring in said other chamber and normally under compression to exert a pressure on said dividing means less than said fluid pressure for all locations of the dividing means within the body and in a direction to bias said dividing means toward said one limit, said dividing means being provided with a continuous flange thereon extending into said other chamber, said coil spring being disposed within said flange;

an actuatable valve normally closing the outlet and disposed for opening the latter when the valve is actuated; and

means coupled with said valve for actuating the same, whereby the fluid pressure in said one chamber will move said dividing means from said one limit to the other limit and thereby force a predetermined volume of said fluid out of said body through said outlet.

6. Fluid dispensing apparatus comprising:

means dividing the interior of said body into a pair of chambers and being movable between a pair of spaced limits to alternately increase and decrease the volume of each of said chambers, said inlet being adjacent to one of the limits and in fluid communication with one of the chambers, said outlet being ad- 7 jacent to the other limit and in fluid communication with the other chamber;

a tube within said body and extending through said dividing means, said tube being in fluid communication at the ends thereof with respective chambers to thereby place said chambers in fluid communication with each other and permit said dividing means to be subjected to fluid pressure on opposed sides thereof;

7. Fluid dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said valve is movable to a location closing the opening of said tube in fluid communicationwith said other chamber when said valve is actuated and said outlet is opened.

8. Fluid dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein is provided a resilient device extending through said tube and biasing the valve in a direction to close the outlet.

9. Fluid dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein one end of said tube surrounds said outlet, said tube being provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced openings therein adjacent said one end thereof, said openings being in fluid communication with said other chamber, said valve being disposed within said one end of the tube, normally closing said tube between said outlet and the-proximal opening of the tube and being normally spaced from the other opening of the tube, said valve being movable to a position closing said other opening and opening said proximal opening to the outlet.

10. Fluid dispensing apparatus comprising:

a tube extending through said dividing means and placing saidchambers in fluid communication with each other to' permit said dividing means to be subjected to fluid pressure on opposed sides thereof;

means sealing the junction between the periphery of the tube and the dividing means;

an actuatable valve normally closing the outlet and disposed for opening the latter when the valve is actuated; and I means coupled with said valve for actuating the same, whereby the fluid pressure in said one chamber will move said dividing means from said one limit to the other limit and thereby force a predetermined volume of said fluid out of said body through said outlet.

LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

Claims

3. FLUID DISPENSING APPARATUS COMPRISING: A HOLLOW, ENCLOSED BODY HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED OPENINGS THERETHROUGH PRESENTING A FLUID INLET AND A FLUID OUTLET THEREFOR; MEANS DIVIDING THE INTERIOR OF SAID BODY INTO A PAIR OF CHAMBERS AND BEING MOVABLE BETWEEN A PAIR OF SPACED LIMITS TO ALTERNATELY INCREASE AND DECREASE THE VOLUME OF EACH OF SAID CHAMBERS, SAID INELT BEING ADJACENT TO ONE OF THE LIMITS AND IN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH ONE OF THE CHAMBERS, SAID OUTLET BEING ADJACENT TO THE OTHER LIMIT AND IN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH THE OTHER CHAMBER; MEANS PLACING SAID CHAMBERS IN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH EACH OTHER TO PERMIT SAID DIVIDING MEANS TO BE SUBJECTED TO FLUID PRESSURE ON OPPOSED SIDES THEREOF; MEANS COUPLED WITH SAID DIVIDING MEANS FOR APPLYING A PRESSURE THERETO LESS THAN SAID FLUID PRESSURE AND IN A DIRECTION TO BIAS SAID DIVIDING MEANS TOWARD SAID ONE LIMIT; AN ACTUATABLE VALVE NORMALLY CLOSING THE OUTLET AND DISPOSED FOR OPENING THE LATTER WHEN THE VALVE IS ACTUATED; MEANS COUPLED WITH SAID VALVE FOR ACTUATING THE SAME, WHEREBY THE FLUID PRESSURE IN SAID ONE CHAMBER WILL MOVE SAID DIVIDING MEANS FROM ONE LIMIT TO THE OTHER LIMIT AND THEREBY FORCE A PREDETERMINED VOLUME OF SAID FLUID OUT OF SAID BODY THROUGH SAID OUTLET, THERE BEING STRUCTURE SHIFTABLY CARRIED BY SAID BODY AND DEFINING SAID ONE LIMIT; AND MEANS RELEASABLY MAINTAINING SAID STRUCTURE IN ANY ONE OF A NUMBER OF FIXED POSITIONS TO PERMIT VARIATIONS IN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE LIMITS AND THEREBY THE VOLUME OF THE FLUID FORCED OUT OF SAID BODY.