GB1308123A - Fluid proportioning system - Google Patents

Abstract

1308123 Dispensing measured quantities of liquids D TANNER 19 April 1971 [24 Feb 1970] 21806/71 Heading B8N [Also in Division B1] Apparatus for simultaneously dispensing measured quantities of a plurality of liquids into a common outlet line comprises a plurality of cylinders 11-14 mounted on a base 30. Each cylinder includes an inlet 37, and an outlet 38 and contains a valve 40 rotatable about the axis of valve rod 41, and a piston 54 reciprocable between end positions defined by a spacer 52 and a shoulder of an adjustable stop member 46. A magnet 56 carried by the piston closes an upper switch and a lower switch when the piston is at its upper and lower positions respectively. The valves are movable simultaneously by means of a crank arrangement (Fig. 3) actuated by a pneumatic ram 86. The upper switches 57, 61, 63, 65 when all closed, actuate a solenoid 95, and the lower switches 58, 62, 64, 66 when all closed actuate a solenoid 96. The solenoids when actuated each effect movement of a valve 97 so as to switch supply of compressed air from one end of the ram cylinder to the other. In operation with the valves 40 each in the position illustrated in Fig. 2 liquids pass via inlets 37 and peripheral notches (43) (Fig. 5, not shown) into the cylinders below the pistons. The pistons are moved upwardly and liquids above the pistons pass to the outlets via tubes 50. When all the pistons attain their upper positions the solenoid 95 is actuated, and the valves are rotated so that liquids now pass via the inlets, bores 42 and tubes 50 to the spaces above the pistons and liquids below the pistons pass via the notches (43) to the outlets until the pistons all reach their lower positions and the lower switches are all closed. A pump 25 provides a suitable pressure difference between the inlets and outlets, although the pressure difference could be provided by alternative means. Different size spacers 52 may be used for different quantities of liquids.