AU669526B2

AU669526B2 - Liquid drip regulator

Info

Publication number: AU669526B2
Application number: AU41275/93A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Bruce Roland Victor Garrick
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-06-17
Filing date: 1993-06-17
Publication date: 1996-06-13
Anticipated expiration: 2013-06-17
Also published as: AU4127593A

Description

P/00/01 1 mo~/t AUSTALLARogulatlon 3.2 Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: D The following statement is a full description of this invention, Including the best :::method of performing It known to me:- I. P1'

A

1 LIQUID DRIP REGULATOR This invention relates to improvements in devises for regulating the flow of liquids at a drip rate.

There hve been many proposals for liquid drip regulators Sbut the majority have flow rates which fluctuate greatly with changes in the pressure or level of the liquid supply, and/or suffer from blockages caused by solid matter in the liquid supply. Others use relatively expensive and complex systems to overcome these problems to provide a reliable, 1Owell regulated but easily adjusted flow rate.

These problems are overcome by the present invention which provides a simple, inexpensive liquid drip regulator comprising an isolation chamber in which a relatively constant liquid level is maintained. Liquid is raised by cappillary I action from the isolation chamber by a wick tube which passes downward through the chambers air entry tube where the wick S tube acts as the liquid outlet.

The isolation chamber liquid level is maintained/replenished by gravity food from a sealed liquid supply connected via an air/liquid exchange port in the isolation chamber. The location of this port determines the chambers liquid level and therefore the liquid uplift required of the wick, the greater the uplift the slower the flow rate. The provision of multiple ports and plugging of unused ports allows the S2flow rate range to be set to suit the application.

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2 Operator adjustment and fine control of the flow rate is provided by raising or lowering the wick tube outlet thereby altering the uplift of the wick and the flow rate.

In one form the invention may be used as a liquid dispenser, for example, as a plant waterer, or as a saline drip for medical use.

In another form the invention may be used to provide a motive force, by combining the regulator with a mechanical movement such as a counterweight, pivot, waterwheel etc.

10OThe liquid drip regulator may be made of any suitable material such as moulded plastic etc., except the wick which must be i made of suitable absorbent material.

V To assist with understanding the invention reforonce will be now made to the accompanying drawings which show one example l of the invention.

In the drawings: as FIG, I Shows a cross sectional view of one example of a liquid drip regulatur according to this invention.

FIG. 2 Shows the application of such a liquid drip regulator S0 as a plant waterer.

j ;1 3 Referring to FIG. 1 it can be seen that the liquid drip regulator according to this invention comprises an isolation chamber 1 fitted with air/liquid exchange ports 2 (fast flow) and 3 (slow flow) the positioning of which determines the Tchambers liquid level 4, the unused port 3 being plugged to pre-set the flow rate range. Also fitted to the chamber is an air inlet tube 5 extending above the liquid level and passing through the sealing cap 6. A wick 7 enclosed in a bent tube 8 extracts liquid upwards from the chamber and pass- /Oes down the air inlet tube to form the liquid outlet.

S The liquid drip regulator is secured to a sealed liquid supply 10, such as a tank drum or bottle etc. After the liquid supply container 10 is filled with liquid and the liquid drip regulator is fitted to it, the container is inverted.

allows air to enter through tube 5 into chambez 1 then through port 2 into container 10, this allows liquid to flow S from container 10 through port 2 into chamber 1. This action continues until the rising liquid level 4 prevents any furthor air/liquid exchange through port 2. As wick y extracts 2 .0 liquid upwards from chamber 1 by capillary action and then downwards through the outlet tube 8 where it is discharged A at a drip rate, the liquid level 4 is lowered, allowing the air/liquid exchange action through port 2 to continually restore liquid level 4.

FIG. 2 shows the liquid drip regulator when used as a plant waterer, the liquid used would be water, an inverted drum 1 I II-( or bottle 11 may be used as a liquid supply to which a liquid drip regulator is fitted, these are used with accessories such as a hanging strap 12 or spike 13 to suit the application.

By the use of this liquid drip regulator and selection of .suitable wick material, the flow rate of the device may be pre-determined, well regulated and adjustable from about millilitres a day to about 1000 millilitres a day.

It will be realised that the liquid drip regulator according to this invention is not restricted to the form, size, shape or application shown in the examples but may be used, adapted S and or combined with other devices to suit specific applications.

1. A liquid drip regulator comprising an isolation c mbor within which the liquid level is maintained ral vely constant through an air/liquid exchange port onnected to a sealed liquid supply, the liquid fro -he chamber is removed by the capillary action of a k tube which is adjustable to set flow rates, 2. The liquid rip regulator of Claim 1 wher6in bhe bila.ton chamber I several air/liquid exchange ports, the chamber li level and thorefore the flow rate being determined

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Claims

1. A liquid drip regulator comprising an isolation chamber within which the liquid level is maintained relatively constant though an air/liquid exchange port connected to a sealed liquid supply, the liquid from the chamber is removed (uplifted) by the capillary action of a wick partly enclosed in a bent supporting tube, the short leg of the wick extending down into the chambers liquid, the longer leg of the wick tube extends down through the air inlet tube and acts as a liquid outlet, the vertical adjustment (operator control) of the wick tube varies the wicks liquid uplift thereby varying the drip rate/output,

2. A liquid drip regulator as claimed in claim substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. BAV. Garrick 8th April 1996 J 0^ L_ ABSTRACT A device for regulating the flow of liquid at a drip rate is disclosed. The device consists of an isolation chamber which maintains a relatively constant liquid level via an air/liquid exchange port connected to a scaled liquid supply A wick partly enclosed in a bent wick tube uplifts liquid from the chamber and passes down the air inlet tube providing a liquid outlet. The wick tube is adjustable vertically thereby varying the wicks uplift and thus the drip rate of liquid output. A I jio1 .i-