NZ213398A

NZ213398A - Apparatus for dispensing metered amounts of bloat oil into livestock watering tank

Info

Publication number: NZ213398A
Application number: NZ213398A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: K Bloomfield
Original assignee: K Bloomfield
Priority date: 1984-10-23
Filing date: 1985-09-09
Publication date: 1987-06-30
Also published as: AU4652585A; AU569411B2

Description

Priority Date(s): nfO. r.^.4"- .^.78^....

Complete Specification Filed: Class: .qpafiji.^. « ■ 1 1 t t 1^1 JiQQ Publication Date: - P.O. Journal, No: .

NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT, J 953 No.: Dtte: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION "IMPROVEMENTS IN DISPENSING EQUIPMENT" KEITH BLOOMFIELD, an Australian citizen, of "Bukkulla Station", Inverell, New South Wales, 2360, Australia, hereby declare the invention for which I /XKNfc pray that a patent may be granted to me&ttt, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- 1 - ; : V- : ^ ^ 51^3 g>lT THIS INVENTION relates to improvements in dispensing equipment.

There is a need by farmers and others for equipment which will dispense liquids at a controlled 5 rate but where the equipment does not require an outside power source.

Possible applications for such equipment include the dispensing of anti-bloat oil and/or vitamin supplements into the water supplies for 10 livestock.

Australian Patent Application No. 75972/81 (Schafer) discloses dispensing equipment for solids or particulates. However, this equipment is not suitable for liquids and is unnecessarily complex. 15 It is an object of the present invention to provide dispensing equipment for liquids which can dispense controlled amounts of liquid as required.

It is a preferred object to provide such equipment which does not require an external power 20 source.

It is a further preferred object to provide such equipment which is substantially maintenance free.

Other preferred objects of the present 25 invention will become apparent from the following description. 213398 In one aspect the present invention resides in dispensing equipment including: a liquid receptacle pivotally mounted on a frame adapted to be tipped or tilted to dispense a first liquid when filled to a selected level; a supply tank for a second liquid, and means connecting the supply tank to the liquid receptacle incorporating valve means operable to dispense a preselected measure of the second liquid upon each, tipping or tilting of the liquid receptacle.

Preferably the supply tank is mounted on the frame above the liquid receptacle to enable gravity feed of the second liquid to be dispensed to the liquid receptacle.

Preferably the liquid receptacle includes an open topped tank, preferably of inverted triangular shape in end view, which is pivotally mounted off-axis to cause the tank to tip when filled to the selected level.

The first liquid filling the tank may be controlled by a ball-cock or other suitable tap or valve to control the tipping of the tank.

The valve means may include a plunger slidably \ V , •. • : * : V ;, . ' ■. > / ^ '• ' ' . V __• ____' ;213398 ;mounted in a cylinder and having a valve member operable to enable the plunger to dispense a preselected volume of the "second liquid into the tank (or the water dispensed by the tank) during, or when, the tank is 5 tipped. ;Alternatively the valve means may include a chamber with a float, the float being operably connected to a valve member to enable the valve member to admit a preselected volume of the second liquid to the 10 chamber to be dispensed into the tank (or the water dispensed by the tank) during, or when, the tank is tipped. The rotatable cap may be provided on the chamber with an outlet hole, the rotation of the chamber increasing, or decreasing, the volume of the 15 liquid which may be dispensed from the chamber. The valve member may be adjustably connected to the plunger or float to enable the volume of the liquid dispensed to be varied. ;To enable the invention to be fully understood, 20 a number of preferred embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: ;Fig. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of the dispensing equipment fitted to a livestock trough; ;Fig. 2 is a side view of the eequipment, parts 25 being shown broken away for clarity; ;.-..-—rA-—.. ;Q> ;o ;Z133Q* Fig. 3 is a side view corresponding to Fig. 2 where the tank is in its tipped position; Fig. 4 is a sectional side view of the metering valve; Fig. 5 is a side view of a second embodiment of the dispensing equipment; Fig. 6 is a sectional side view of the metering valve of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a top view of the metering valve 10 taken on line 7-7 on Fig. 6; and Fig. 8 is a sectional side view of the metering valve when the tank is in its tipped position.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, the dispensing equipment 10 has a rectangular frame 11 with uprights 15 12 which support the equipment over a livestock trough 13. The water level 14 in the trough is controlled by a ball-cock 15.

A liquid supply tank 16 (e.g. a 20 litre plastic container ) is mounted in the frame 11 and is 20 filled with anti-bloat oil or a liquid vitamin supplement. A faucet 17 provides an "on-off" control for the flow of the liquid from the tank 16 via a hose 18.

A pair of cross bars 19 are fixed between 25 adjacent pairs of uprights 12 and a tipping tank 20 V- :>' 7 O A 1 3 3 ? 8 is pivotally mounted on axles 21 fitted to the cross bars.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the tipping tank ' 20 is of inverted triangular shape in end view and the axles 21 are offset to one side so that the tank © will tip when the liquid in the tank reaches a select ed level (e.g. when the tank is nearly full).

A metering valve 22 is fixed in the tank 20 and has a cylinder 23 closed at its lower end by a base 10 cap 24. A liquid inlet hose 25 in the cylinder is connected to the hose 18.

A top cap 26 is fitted to the cylinder and has a central bore 27 selectively closed by a sealing washer 28 adjustably fitted to the piston rod 29 of 15 a plunger 30 fitted in the cylinder 23- The outer end of the piston rod 29 is adjustably connected to a cross bar 31 (via a nut 32), the cross bar being carried between a pair of counterweight arms 33 pivot-ally mounted in the tank 20.

A hose 34 connects the tank 20 to the outlet of the ball-cock 15.

The operation of the equipment will now be described. (2) The supply tank 16 is filled up with anti-bloat oil which is fed to the metering valve 22 via the hose V". ■ ~ - - ■— 2153 18. The oil enters the cylinder 23 and fills the cylinder due to the clearance between the plunger 30 and the cylinder'wall. The washer 28 seated on the top cap 26 closes the cylinder.

As the livestock drink the water in the trough, the water level 14 falls, causing the ball-cock 15 to open and the incoming water is directed to the tipping tank 20 by the hose 34.

When the water in the tipping tank 20 reaches 10 the selected level, the tank tips (as shown in Fig. 3) and the counterweight arms 33 cause the plunger 30 to eject a measured volume of the anti-bloat oil from the cylinder 23 (the washer 28 being unseated from the top cap 26).

When the tank 20 is empty, it automatically returns to its initial position (see Fig. 2) and the cylinder 23 of the metering valve 22 is refilled ready for the next dispensing cycle.

The volume of liquid dispensed is set by 20 adjustment of the piston rod 29 relative to the cross bar 31 as this sets the stroke of the plunger 30 when the tank 20 is tipped.

In a modified embodiment (not shown) the plunger 30 may be provided with a sealing ring in 25 contact with the cylinder wall, a one-way valve being X , . . _ ^ • 213398 D provided in the plunger to enable the liquid to enter the upper portion of the cylinder 23.

The above embodiments are generally suitable ||| where the ratio of liquid to be dispensed (e.g. anti- bloat oil) to water is fairly constant. However, in I summer, cattle may consume 20-50 litres of water per ^ day but may only consume 0.5-1 litre per day in winter, while still requiring a daily dose of e.g;. 30-40mls. of anti-bloat oil. This means that the ratio of anti-10 bloat oil to water may be nearly 40-100 times higher in winter than summer and it is difficult to obtain this variation in the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4. >i The embodiment shown in Figs. 5 to 8 has a metering valve 40 mounted on a support bracket 41 15 within the tank 20 (and above the axles 21). The metering valve 40 has a chamber 42 provided with an inlet fitting 43 connected to the hose 18. A float 44 in the chamber 42 is adjustably mounted on a threaded shaft 45 by a pair of nuts 46. A frusto-conical valve 20 47 on the other end of the shaft 45 co-operates with a conical valve seat 48 to control the flow of the anti-bloat oil from the hose 18 to the chamber 42 (and thereby the maximum volume of oil which can be dispensed from the chamber each time the tank is 25 tipped). ® 2133 The chamber 42 is closed by a rotatable top cap 49 which has a slot or hole 50. As shown in Fig. 7, the slot or hole may be of triangular or any other suitable shape so that by rotating the 5 cap, the cross-sectional area of the slot or hole through which the anti-bloat oil may be dispensed when the tank 20 is tipped may be varied (see Fig. 8). This enables coarse adjustment of the dispensing rate of the anti-bloat oil, the adjustment of 10 the float 44 providing the fine adjustment.

The operation of the equipment will now be described.

The oil enters the chamber 42 via the inlet fitting 43 until the float 44 rises in the chamber 15 to cause the conical valve 47 to engage the valve seat 48. When the tank 20 tips, the oil flows out of the chamber through the slot or hole 50, the bottom edge (or lowest point) of the slot or hole establishing a datum line 51. Assuming that the cap 20 is rotated so the datum line 51 is as shown in Fig. \ 8, then any oil the cavity 52, formed by the wall of the chamber 42 and the top cap 49, will remain trapped in the chamber and will not be dispensed. However, if the cap is rotated so that the bottom 25 edge (or lowest point) of the slot or hole 50 estab- 2 133 lishes a lower datum line 51a, then the volume of oil trapped will be less and so more oil is dispensed into the water, thereby increasing the oil to water ratio. As hereinbefore described, the maximum volume of oil which can be dispensed from the chamber is adjusted by adjustment of the float 44 relative to the shaft 45 (and valve 47).

To assist adjustment of the metering valve, the dispensing rate of the slot or hole 50 in the cap can be marked with calibrations to set delivery at e.g. "40ml/x litres".

By different clearances between the float 44 and the wall of the chamber 42, liquids of different viscosity may be dispensed, the liquids of higher viscosity requiring a greater clearance.

To ensure that the preset volume of liquid is fully dispensed each time the tank is tipped, the tank can have a top provided with a discharge outlet dimensioned to control the flow of water from the tank so that the tank will only be emptied after the liquid has been dispensed. Alternatively, the water flow from the ball-cock 15 can be split so that e.g. only 10% of the water is directed to the tank 20 via hose 34, the balance being directed to the trough. In this arrangement, the anti-bloat oil or other liquid is 2 133 dispensed into the tank at a much higher oil (liquid): water ratio so that the overall oil (liquid) : water ratio is maintained.

As will be appreciated by the skilled addressee the equipment can be used in a wide range of applications where one liquid must be added to, or dispensed with a second liquid and no external power source is required.

Various changes and modifications may be made to the embodiment described without departing from the scope of the present invention defined in the appended claims.

Claims

213398 WHAT l/y§L CLAIM IS:

1. Dispensing equipment including: a liquid receptacle, pivotally mounted on a frame, adapted to be tipped or tilted to dispense a first liquid when filled to a selected level; a supply tank for a second liquid; and means ccwnQctipng the supply tank to the liquid receptacle incorporating valve means operable to dispense a preselected measure of the second liquid upon each tipping or tilting of the liquid receptacle.

2. Dispensing equipment as claimed in Claim 1 wherein: the liquid supply tank is mounted on the frame above the liquid receptacle to enable gravity feed of the second liquid to the liquid receptacle.

3. Dispensing equipment as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein: the liquid receptacle includes an open topped tank which is pivotally mounted off-axis to cause the tank to tip when filled to the selected level-

4. Dispensing equipment as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein: the liquid receptacle includes a clossaf tank; ■ - . ^--|\ '.'. . ,:' 1 y ptpZ P'V !13398 which is pivotally mounted off-axis to cause the tank to tip when filled to the selected level, the tank having a top with a discharge outlet dimensioned to enable the tank to be emptied only after a preselected measure of the second liquid has been supplied to the tank.

5. Dispensing equipment as claimed in Claim 3 or \ © Claim 4 wherein: the tank is of inverted triangular shape in end view; and ^6 the first liquid to fill the tank, into which is the second liquid from the supply tank is to be disDensed,-as- QW -Yvm controlledby a ball-cock or valve to control the tipping of the tank.

6. Dispensing equipment as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 5 wherein: the valve means includes a plunger slidably mounted in a cylinder and having a valve member operable to enable the plunger to dispense the preselected volume of the second liquid into the tank, or into the first liquid dispensed by the tank, during or when the tank is tipped.

7. Dispensing equipment as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 5 wherein: the valve means includes a chamber with a float, the float being operably connected to a valve member to > enable the valve member to admit a preselected volume of -13- ' O 213393 the second liquid to the chamber, the chamber having a rotat-able cap with a slot or hole which enables the liquid in the chamber to be dispensed into the tank, or into the first liquid dispensed by the tank, during or when the tank is tipped.

8. Dispensing equipment as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7 wherein: the valve member is adjustably connected to the plunger or float to enable the volume of the liquid dispensed to be varied.

9. Dispensing equipment as claimed in Claim 7 wherein: the slot or hole is arranged in the rotary cap so that rotation of the rotary cap varies the volume of the liquid dispensed.

10. Dispensing equipment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4, or Figs. 1 to 3 as modified by Figs. 5 to 8 of the accompanying drawings. By his/M»*.-