US2822962A - Dispenser with variable rate flow control - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 11, 1958 k I E. J. POITRAS 2,822,962

DISPENSER WITH VARIABLE RATE 110w CONTROL Filed April 1-, 1955 I l llllllll Y ma a 5 Invenba' as Edlvaa' d I 69% 2 WJw United States Patent C) DISPENSER WITH VARIABLE RATE FLOW CONTROL Edward J. Poitras, Holllston, Mass.

Application April 1, 1955, Serial No. 498,620

19 Claims. (Cl. 222-481) This application relates generally to flow controlling devices and more particularly to liquid dispensers such as supplying disinfectant, lubricant, cleansing and the like liquids at regulated rates and over determined periods. The present invention aims to provide an improved dispenser having novel provision for control and adjustment of dispensing flow rate, and also for constant head. .The further invention object is to provide a dispenser uniquely and advantageously formed and fitted for continuous and uniform liquid flow and for regulation of such flow, as correlated with supply volume, and adjusted to period length. The invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the outlet of a liquid dispenser of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view, partly in section, of the dispenser of Fig. l, and showing more particularly the constant head providing and dispensing flow regulating means of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a top view of an element of the flow regulating assembly of Figs. 1 and 2; and

Fig. 4 is a section of the same taken along the line 44 of Fig. 3.

This invention is directed particularly to apparatus for dispensing automatically, as from a concealed or unattended vessel or container, and at a constant, uniform generally slow rate. Such automatic level flow dispensing apparatus is characterized generally by a container for a liquid supply, means for equalizing the pressure or head of such supply, and means for regulating the supply dispensing flow rate. The present invention improves on the prior or conventional dispensing apparatus devices by the provision of novel self-contained means for standardizing the head of the container supply. Constant, uniform flow dispensers are further improved under the invention by novel variable length capillary passage means for regulating and adjusting the rate of dispensing flow.

In accordance with the invention the dispensing flow is regulated generally by plate means or members assembled and clamped face-to-face, and mounted further for relative shifting of their opposed faces. The plate assembly is provided in the one member with an access passage or opening and in the other with a discharge passage or opening. The shiftably clamped members are provided further and at the engaged face of one plate with a groove communicating with these openings, which groove is closed and sealed by the opposed face of the other plate and proportioned to define therewith a capillary passage. The rate of flow through the assembly is adjusted by the relative shifting of the plates, whereby the access and discharge passages are ordered for communication with varying lengths of the capillary passage.

In the present embodiment the invention flow controlling means is incorporated ina conventional dispenser indicated generally at 10, Figs. 1 and 2, and there shown to comprise more particularly a liquid vessel .orcontainersuch as commonly presenting an annular side wall 11 and fiat end or top and bottom walls 12, 13. In accordance with the invention, a discharge or dispensing outlet or opening is provided at any flat or planar container wall, herein the bottom wall 13. It will be appreciated that the flow' controlling means of the invention may be applied directly to such bottom or other wall outlet or opening. Herein, however, the container outlet will be seen to comprise further a projecting neck or sleeve 14 received through the bottom wall 13 and having a radial flange 14a overlying and welded or otherwise secured to the same. The flow regulating means of the invention is applied to the sleeve 14 through a cup-shaped metal cap 15 received over and threaded or otherwise detachably secured thereto. This outlet closing, wall-forming cap 15 has a restricted, non-central outlet opening 15a, Fig. 2.

Integrally joined to the base of the cap 15 is a strengthen- 1 ing plate 16 having a similar aligned opening 16a.

The invention flow regulating means is herein embodied in an annular plate or disc 17, which may be of rigid metal or plastic construction, and which is defined by opposite planar faces 18, 19 and a conveniently thin annular edge or periphery 20. The disc 17 is formed further and at its one or engaged side or flat face 18 with a shallow, elongated recess or groove 21. The open groove or recess 21 has such depth, width, and contour as defines it when closed, as herein by the plate 16, as a capillary passage. It may, for example, be of annular or half round section and of, say, inch depth by $4 inch width, as providing a passage proportioned for capillary flow of the liquids here concerned. The groove 21 is seen further to extend from a closed inner end 21a, Fig. 3, through an intermediate section 211) of predetermined, herein annular or part circular configuration to an outer tangential straight section 21c extending to the disc edge or periphery 20, Fig. 3.

In accordance with 'the invention, the plate 17 is mounted with the grooved face 18 normally clamped against the outlet wall 16, and with the predeterminately annular groove part 21b over the outlet opening 15a, 16a. The dispensing flow passage thus comprises the outlet openings 15a, 16a and continuous therewith the capillary passage 21, 16 shown in dotted line in Figs. 1 and 2, and which may be characterized generally as spiralingoutward to the plate and disc periphery.

The flow controlling means of the invention comprises further the shiftable mounting of the disc 17 at outlet wall 16 for adjusting the length of the capillary passage 21, 16,

and thereby varying the rate of dispensing flow. Herein the grooved plate 17 is mounted for relative rotation whereby the outlet opening 150, 16a communicates at varying points of and with varying lengths of circular groove part 21b. Such shiftable or movable mounting or positioning of the disc 17 may be variously accomplished, as by a fastening screw or pin 23 received through a central annular opening in the plate 17 and threaded in or otherwise secured to plate 16. It will be seen that the disc mounting may, as herein, be such as to constitute the flow regulating assembly as a valve device, with the disc rotatable to a position of non-communication of the groove 21 with the outlet opening 15a, 16a.

Further in accordance with the invention, the flow control plate elements 16, 17 are clamped together under spring tension, whereby to maintain fluid tight the partible passage 21, 16 defined therebetween. The desired non-leak passage sealing tensioning of the parts may be accomplished by forming an integral rib 22 on disc 17 opposite and paralleling the groove 21, and by clamping a dished washer 24 between the head of the fastener 23 and said rib 22.

The container outlet may be variously fitted as desired or, expedient for screening or filtering the container 0ut-- Patented Feb. 11, 1958 like material capable of...

and filter paper" 26 m'ay beqpositionedvbetween rthe cap...

and a sealinggasket 27 also clamped betweerrzthe'. cap

and the rim of the outlet14.

Further'in accordance with the invention: novehmeans;

are provided for effecting at the containenoutleta cone stant unchanging liquid pressureor hea'd asrequired'tor the uniform, ev'en, levelflowherein-contemplated. The prior constant head devices will be understood to havc comprised generally an open vessel: over which the container is inverted and from which the liquid is ultimately dispensed.-- The fluid level-and hence flow controlling head is maintained constant in the -op'envessel because such level supports an equilibrium-condition in the container. When the liquid level in thevessel drops, air bubbles into and decreases the vacuum in the bottle', releasing liquid' to thevessel until the' original head is restored.

The separate and open vessel just described as-heretofore providing uniform head is not required with the invention apparatus. Considering now more particularly Fig. 2, an air inlet or" vent tube 28 is mounted entirely within the container and arranged to extend from a point or level'adjacent or proximate the container bottom wall 13 through the container top 12. The air inlet or vent'tube 28 may be supported-on or from the container side or top by conventional means, not shown. It is fitted with a ball or the like check valve 29, Fig.2, preventing liquid loss or escape therethrough, as when the container is inverted for filling.

It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the described construction provides a constant, uniform liquid head. Such head is seen to be equal to the difference in height of the dispensing outlet and the container vent, or bottom of the tube 2%, which maybe, say, one inch above container bottom 13. While the container liquid column abovethe level of the tubebottom is variable, it is counterbalanced always by a like varying vacuum in the container air column above said liquid column.

The advantageous operation of the invention apparatus will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art. The container is first filled from or through the neck 14 with a determined quantity of the desired liquid. The liquid charge or supply may 'be such as calculated, in respect of the rate of flow through the container out let, to be expended in a desired length or period of time. In the case, for example,'of a disinfectant drip device the container 14) may be such as conveniently stores and supplies, say, one quart of the disinfectant, and the drip rate may be such as expends or uses up such one quart liquid supply in, say, a one month or thirty-day period. The regulation of the flow or drip rate, or in other words of the length of the capillary passage 21 has been shown to require a particular positioning of the plate 17. The manipulation of the plate 17 may be facilitated by the provision thereon' of a lateral or edge extensive tab Zita, Fig. 3, and by marking or otherwise mounting on the container an index or scale 30, Fig. l, with respect to which the index tab 28. 2 may be positioned. While the dispensing flow is desirably efiectively initiated by the head or weight of the entire fluid volume, such flow inducing liquid head will be understood to be substantially instantaneously reduced to the described control level by reason of the arrangement already described, and whereby a negative pressure or vacuum is created in the container air volume.

It will be understood that numerous other and equivalent flow controlling assembly constructions may be provided without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, the container bottom may be provided as herein with an access opening and also at its. outer. or. under; face with a part circular. groove communicatingwith.theopening. In this case the disc rotata-.

bly clamped against said container bottom face would be provided either with a discharge opening at the radius of the groove which groove would desirably extend not quite full circle, or with a radial discharge groove extending from said radius to the disc periphery and communicable like the opening with varying lengths of the circular groove. 7

From the foregoing it will be-appreciated that this 'invention provides new and improved flow controlling and dispensing means, wherein a -fluid supply is'maintained under constant or unifor mr-fiow inducingv or controlling pressure orhead by a self-contained air or vent tube, and without the use of open vessels ortother auxiliary devices. The invention apparatus has been shown further to provide novelly a variable length capillary passage for regulating flow rate. This passage is seen as embodied in aunique assembly readily shiftable for i'low adjustment. and readily demountable for passage'cleaning, but normally clamped Iandatensioned for desired non-leak sealingzof the parts. i

It will. be=understood .thatmyinvention is not limited to the exemplaryv embodimentsherein. illustrated or described,:and.I set forth'its scope in my following claims:

I claim:

l. .A flow'controbassembly-comprising a pair of plates assembled..face-toafacezonexsaid plate having a passage for access and thetothera passage for discharge of fluid supplied to said assembly, a capillary groove formed at and between'the opposed faces of said plates, and means for. releasably clamping saidiplates under spring tension whereby said groove is fluid sealed and whereby the plates areshiftable :-for communication of said passages with varying lengths of said groove.

2-. ,Flow regulating'means comprising a plate engageable at oneiface'ag-ainstia container outlet andformedat said .faceiwitha capillary groove adapted to be closed and sealed by said outlet and extending at one end only to theplateliperiphery,.said. groove arranged upon shift ing of said plate relativesto said container for varying length communication with 'the outlet opening.

3. Flow regulating means comprising a'plate having an opening therethrough, a disc .formed atone face with acapil'larycgroove extending from a closed inner end to the disc edge, and means for shiftably mounting said disc with saidvgrooveisealed againstsaid plate and in adjustable length communication with said opening.

4. .Fluid dispensing apparatus comprising means detachably sealingta containertoutlensaid means formed at a fiat wallwith' a restricted. opening; a discformed at one face with: a groove extending from a closed inner end through a circular inner part to the disc edge, and means forrotatablyrmounting said disc with said face sealed against said .wall. and .said circular groove part aligned withv said opening-whereby said groove and wall define a 'variable length capillary passage for fluid dispensed through said outlet.:

5; A flow controllingdispenser comprising a container having an outlet and thereat .a restricted opening, a disc formed=at oneface with a groove extending at one end to the .disc edge, and means for shiftably supporting and clamping saiddisc atand against said outlet and with said groove aligned with said opening, whereby the groove and. :outletdefine an adjustable length capillary flow passage'for: said dispenser.

6. A. variable rate flow control dispenser comprising a disc formed atone face with a groove extending from a closed inner end'to. the disc edge, fastener means received through and for shiftably mounting said disc at the dispenser outlet and with said groove communicating through .theoutlet opening, and spring means associated with; said fasten'crmeans and yieldably clamping said face against said outlet whereby the groove and outlet define Y a fluid sealed, variable length capillary flow passage for said dispenser.

7. Variable rate, constant flow dispensing apparatus comprising a container having an outlet, a disc formed with a groove having an nnular inner part and an outer part extending to the disc edge, and means for rotatably mounting and yieldably clamping said plate at and against said outlet and with said inner groove part in communication with the outlet opening.

8. Flow control apparatus comp-rising a pair of plates assembled face-to-face, an access passage in one and a discharge passage in the other of said plates, a capillary passage formed at and between the opposed faces of said plates and communicating with said access and discharge passages, and means clamping said plates for fluid sealing of said capillary passage comprising a projection on one of said plates and opposite the passage, fastener means received through said one and secured to the other plate, and spring means tensioned between said fastener means and said projection.

9. Dispensing apparatus comprising a closed container having a bottom wall outlet and an air inlet defined by an internal tube extending through the container top and opening into the container proximate said outlet, and means for adjustably regulating the flow through said outlet, said means including a wall supported disc formed at its wall engaged face with a groove defining with the wall a restricted flow controlling passage, said disc positioned for communication of said passage with the outlet opening, and means for shifting said disc relative to said opening whereby to vary the flow conducting length of said passage.

10. Dispensing apparatus comprising a container having a bottom wall outlet and a vent defined by an internal tube extending through the container top and opening proximate said wall, said outlet including a plate having at one face a capillary groove extending from a closed inner end to the plate edge, and means for shiftably mounting said plate with said groove sealed against said wall and for adjustable length communication with said container. 11. Flow control means comprising a plate having an opening therethrough, a disc assembled to said plate and formed at its engaged face with a groove communicating with said opening and extending from a closed inner end to the disc edge, said groove constructed and arranged to define with said plate a restricted, flow controlling passage, and means for clamping said plate and disc under spring tension and thereby fluid sealing said passage.

12. A constant head even flow dispenser comprising a container for a fluid supply and having a restricted flow controlling outlet, said outlet including opposed members formed at their engaged faces with a fluid sealed capillary passage, and an air tube mounted within said container, said tube arranged for exposure to atmosphere at its one end above said supply and for opening into said container at its other end at a determined height above said outlet. 13. Flow control apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said members are shiftable for varying the length of said passage.

14. A level flow dispenser comprising a container for a fluid supply, a restricted flow controlling outlet on said container, said outlet including means defining a capillary passage, an unrestricted air tube mounted within said container, said tube arranged for exposure to atmosphere at its one end above said supply and for opening into said container at its other end at a determined, fluid-headdefining height above said outlet, and means for varying the length of said capillary passage.

15. A level flow dispenser comprising a container for a fluid supply, restricted variable length outlet means on said container for adjustably controlling the dispensing flow, and an unrestricted air tube mounted within said container, said tube having its one end opening to atmosphere through the external container wall above said supply and having its other end opening into said container at a determined height above said outlet means.

16. A dispenser according to claim 15 and check valve means associated with said tube and sealing the same against escape of said supply.

17. A constant head dispenser comprising a container for storing a fluid supply, restricted variable length outlet means on said container for adjustably controlling the dispensing of said supply, and an unrestricted air tube mounted within the container, said tube having its one end opening to atmosphere through the external container top wall and having its other end opening into said container at a determined height above said outlet means.

18. A level flow dispenser comprising a container for a fluid supply, a restricted flow controlling outlet on said container, said outlet having means defining a variable length capillary passage, and an unrestricted air tube mounted within said container, said tube having its one end opening to atmosphere through the external container wall above said supply and having its other end opening into said container at a determined height above said outlet.

19. A level flow dispenser comp-rising a container for fluid supply, a restricted flow controlling outlet for said supply, said outlet including a variable length capillary passage, and an unrestricted air tube mounted within the container, said tube having its one end opening to atmosphere through the external container top wall and having its other end opening into said container at a determined height above said outlet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 286,588 Chalk Oct. 16, 1883 511,780 Kaplan Jan. 2, 1894 746,854 Lichtenberg Dec. 15, 1903 2,333,310 Greening Nov. 2, 1943 2,336,313 Swan Dec. 7, 1943 2,622,258 Giraud Dec. 23, 1952

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