US2134214A - Fluid drip dispenser - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 25, 1938. F. w. STORCK FLUID DRIP DISPENSER Filed Feb. 17, 1936 Patented Oct. 25, 1938 UNITED STATES.

' 2.134.214 v FLUID DRIP DISPENSER Frederick W. Storck, Arlington, Mass, assignor to Standard Mailing Machines Company, Everett, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application February 17, 1936, Serial No. 64,214

6 Claims.

This invention relates to fluid dispensers and more particularly to a dispenser for automatically dripping the fluid at a desired rate of drip discharge or interval sequence.

. In many instances the use of such apparatus requires a measured interval of drip discharge for a specific purpose, such as that required of a lubricant to properly lubricate a bearing,and in another instance, the replenishment of a fluid. in a direct proportion to consumptiomsuch as is exemplified by the usual type of stamp afiixing and mailing machines wherein each stamp .or piece of mail matter requires the application of a predetermined amount of moisture.

To accomplish these objectives, heretofore fluid reservoirs have been provided with various types'of control valves capable of manual adjustment to regulate the discharge from. a reservoir as is well known to those skilled in the art.

To control the .drip discharge from a reservoir to a very limited number of drips. in a given interval of time requires closely restricted "apertures which, due to the characteristics of many fluids, become obstructed and clogged and thus fail to function in an intended manner. Fluid controls of the aforementioned character require frequent attention and clearing of the restricted apertures so that they may function properly.

For example, it is well known that when water is contained within or discharged through a conduit having small restricted openings, the bacteria, such as are usually found-in most waters, will adhere to the surface of the conduit and eventually build up and obstruct thefpassage. Again, many petroleum products, principally utilized as lubricating oils, have characteristics which do not readily lend themselvesto close valve adjustments or restricted apertures such as required to limit the drips to a small number in a given interval of time.

Accordingly, one of the objects of my present invention is to provide an automatic fluid drip dispenser wherein the sequence of drip interval may be controlled without the use of the usual 3 regulating valvesvor extremely small or restricted discharge openings.

Another object of my invention is to provide my fluid drip dispenser with a discharge conduit of a sufiicient size to permit the fluid to readily discharge therethrough' and whereby each drip discharged will cause a flushing action by the fluid in the conduit.' a

A further object of my invention is to provide an automatic fluid drip dispenser of a simple and efiicient construction that maybe readily adjusted to vary the interval sequence of the drips.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention comprises a novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and more specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing I have illustrateda preferredform of my invention sufficient to enable those skilled in the art to understand the construction andv operation thereof.

Referring to the'drawing: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my fluid drip dispenser and replenishment reservoir..

Fig. 2 is a plan view of my dispenser .as illustrated at Fig. 1, "but with the replenishment reservoir omitted.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4, Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5 is an end elevationof the outer end of wall b adaptedto form a supporting chamber for the dispenser base l4.

The dispenser base' Membodiesa chamber I5 having an opening l6 which is adapted to closely engage the depending discharge conduit ll of a fluid sup-ply reservoir Hi. This base I4 is provided' with a discharge conduit l'9 which is positioned adjacent the bottom of the chamber l5 and extends outwardly therefrom. My illustrated discharge conduit l9 terminates in a flange portion I9a which has a notch l9b formed in its outer face for the purpose of concentrating and directing the discharge fromthe conduit l9, although this same effect may be accomplished by providing the conduit opening with a depending pointed portion; i

Positioned above the discharge conduit l9 and" communicating with the chamber I5 is an air vent opening 20 which, in this instance, communicates with an air conduit 20a disposed in the wall of the base M. It is desirable to position the end of the air vent conduit 200, so that it is open'tothe atmosphere above the air inlet and in my preferred form I have positioned this conduit 20a at'substantiallyright angles to the conduit opening 20' which communicates with the chamber-:" IS 'I'his arrangement-prevents in the desired manner when positioned substantially in a horizontal plane above the discharge conduit l9.

In the above described device the discharge conduit opening and chamber air vent opening 2B establish a hypothetical horizontal plane and i the fluid contained in the chamber l5, below this plane, may be described assubject to atmospheric pressure, and the fluid above this plane, including the replenishment supply, may be de-' scribed as air-locked. This so-called hypothetical horizontal plane may be conveniently termed a neutral atmospheric pressure plane, as, when the discharge conduit opening and chamber'air vent 20 are'positioned relative to or in this plane, fluid discharge from the device is withheld.

Inthe operation of my device the replenishment reservoir 18 is filled with fluid and its discharge conduit inserted into and inclose engagement in the open end l6 of the chamber 15. The assembling of the reservoir l8 and base I4 is preferably accomplished with the base l4 removed and the reservoir discharge conduit I! held in an upright position. While, as stated, this is preferable, it is not necessarily essential as it is obvious-that the base I may be in a fixed position and the filler reservoir discharge conduit inserted into its position.

When the reservoir l8 andbase M are in operative position, as shown in the drawing, and the discharge conduit 19 is elevated in the direction of arrow a, Fig. 1, the discharge opening of the conduit will eventually be moved to the neutral atmospheric or complete air-locking plane with thegair vent opening and the fluid within the chamber l5 will not. discharge therefrom. As the discharge opening of the conduit is moved downwardly in the direction of arrow b, Fig. 1, relative to the air vent 20, and below the so-called neutral atmospheric pressure plane, the fluid is discharged in drip formation in a directfrelation to the angular'positioning of the conduit l9 and the lowering of the discharge opening thereof. This relative angular positioning of the conduit l9 and its discharge opening for a given interval of drip discharge is dependent upon the viscosity of the fluid used. A greater or lesser angular positioning of the discharge conduit l9 relative to the air vent is required in a direct relation to the'viscosity of the fluid being dispensed.

For example, in tests with water, I have found that, with a discharge conduit opening of .0935" andan air vent opening'of .1875" spaced approximately .343'7", center to center, above the conduit, the drip discharge will have substantially a minimum interval between drips when the conduit I9 is positioned in a substantially horizontal plane. As the conduit is elevated in the direction of arrow a, Fig. 1, above the horizontal plane, the spaceinterval between drips is increased in a direct relation to the elevated position of the conduit, and'when the discharge opening of the conduit is elevated up to substantially'the plane of. the air vent, the fluid will cease to discharge as aforesaid. Conversely, as the conduit angle is lowered in the direction of arrow b, Fig; 1,. and depends below the horizontal plane, the drip discharge is increased to What might be termed a drip stream, that is, with no interval or space between the drips.

The above proportions are given merely as illustrative and not as limiting my invention the base, although the air vent 20 will function thereto as it is obvious that these proportions and relationships may be varied for specific conditions as stated. without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A variable drip dispenser for fluids comprising a chamber, a normally air-locked fluid supply for said chamber, an air vent in said chamber, a discharge outlet from said chamber and separate from said air vent, said air vent being located at a higher level than said discharge outlet and means for varying the eifective pressure head to control the rate of discharge from the outlet,

' 2. A variable automatic drip dispenser for j fluids comprising a reservoir having a depending discharge conduit, a chamber adapted to receive ,said conduit, a second discharge conduit communicatingiwith said chamber, an air vent communicating with said chamber between said first and second discharge conduits and separate from said discharge conduits, and manually adjustable means for varying the effective pressure head whereby the interval of drip discharge from the chamber is controlled.

3. An'automatic drip dispenser for fluids comprising a fluid chamber adapted to receive a volume of fluid, an air vent for said chamber, a barometrically controlled replenishment supply for said chamber, ahorizontal discharge c0n'' duit separate from said air vent and communieating with said chamber, means for angularly disposing said discharge above the horizontal and means for varying the angularity thereof to control the drip discharge therefrom.

4. An automatic drip dispenser for fluids comprising an air-locked fluid reservoir, an air vent in the lower portion of said reservoir, said air vent being so formed that its opening to the atmosphere is disposed substantially above its communicating opening with said reservoir, a discharge conduit disposed below the communicating opening of said air' vent and communicating with the fluid in said reservoir, and means for varying the effective pressure head to control the rate of drip discharge.

5. A- drip dispenser for fluids comprising a barometric fluid supply, a chamber disposed substantially below said supply, an air vent communicating with said chamber, a substantially horizontal discharge conduit separate from said air vent and communicating with said chamber, said conduit being substantially of a size that the fluid would normally flow therethrough, with adjustable means adapted to angularly position said conduit above the horizontal and whereby the angular position of said conduit regulates the discharge from said chamber and supply.

6. A drip dispenser for fluid-comprising a pivoted horizontal bracket carrying a socket provided with a' discharge spout, a receptacle fitting within said socket and having a discharge'opening therein adjacent the bottom thereof registering with said spout and being provided with a ventcommunicating with the interior thereof at a point above said discharge opening, a supply reservoir having a neck fitting within said receptacle" and being normally airlocked, and

meansfor'adjusting the angularity of said brack-

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