US3771557A - Reservoir for a liquid pump, including a float valve - Google Patents

Reservoir for a liquid pump, including a float valve Download PDF

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Publication number
US3771557A
US3771557A US3771557DA US3771557A US 3771557 A US3771557 A US 3771557A US 3771557D A US3771557D A US 3771557DA US 3771557 A US3771557 A US 3771557A
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United States
Prior art keywords
chamber
fixture
reservoir
closure member
float
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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English (en)
Inventor
M Moret
P Jousson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
INSTITUT DE RECHERCHE WOOG CH
WOOG INST RECH
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WOOG INST RECH
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Application filed by WOOG INST RECH filed Critical WOOG INST RECH
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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61C—DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
    • A61C1/00—Dental machines for boring or cutting ; General features of dental machines or apparatus, e.g. hand-piece design
    • A61C1/0061—Air and water supply systems; Valves specially adapted therefor
    • A61C1/0084—Supply units, e.g. reservoir arrangements, specially adapted pumps
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T137/00—Fluid handling
    • Y10T137/8593—Systems
    • Y10T137/85978—With pump
    • Y10T137/86035—Combined with fluid receiver

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT Apparatus for supplying liquid to a pump includes a pump inlet fixture and a removable reservoir.
  • the reservoir has a chamber at the bottom thereof with an inlet from the portion of the reservoir thereabove, and an outlet.
  • a closure member closes the outlet when the reservoir. is removed from the fixture for filling, and a float in'the chamber closes the inlet in the raised position thereof.
  • the chamber outlet and the pump inlet fixture are designed so that the fixture opens the closure member and moves a substantial distance into the chamber as the reservoir is placed in position on the fixture. With liquid in the reservoir, the chamber inlet is closed by the float when the reservoir is placed in position, and a portion of the liquid in the chamber is forced into the pump inlet.
  • This invention relates to apparatus for supplying liquid to a pump including a pump inlet fitting and a removable reservoir, and is particularly applicable to pump units for supplying liquid under pressure to a body-care appliance such as a water jet or an hydraulically operated toothbrush.
  • a removable reservoir is provided with a gravity valve in the bottom thereof which is closed when the reservoir is removed for filling.
  • the pump unit includes an inlet fixture on which the reservoir is placed in sealed relationship, with the gravity valve in alignment with the inlet fixture.
  • the fixture is designed to open the valve when the reservoir is in position, thereby allowing liquid (usually water) to flow through the fixture to the pump.
  • the pump supplies liquid pressure pulses through a flexible conduit to a unitary hand appliance containing an hydraulic piston-type motor for driving a toothbrush attachment, or other attachment, and a conduit for supplying the pressure pulses to a water jet attachment.
  • a manual valve is provided which is actuable to yield either type of operation.
  • a return conduit from the hand appliance to the pump unit is advantageously employed, and the valve has a position for connecting the supply conduit to the return conduit so that the appliance may be switched off with the pump still running.
  • the pump chamber In order for the pump to supply a pressure output immediately after the pump motor is switched on, the pump chamber must contain sufficient liquid without large air pockets. Otherwise no liquid, or insufficient liquid, is pumped, and the pump system must first be bled of air in some suitable way. If, therefore, there are air pockets in the pump chamber before the pump is started, they must be forced out by the liquid flowing into the chamber after the reservoir has been fitted.
  • the hydraulic system downstream of the pump especially the connecting hose between the pump and the manual appliance, which may also include the return as well as the supply tube, is generally more or less full of liquid.
  • the pump, hose and manual appliance form a system of intercommunicating tubes, with the manual appliance often at a higher level than the pump.
  • the present invention overcomes these drawbacks by providing means for forcing a certain quantity of liquid into the pump chamber as the reservoir is placed in position on the pump inlet fixture, utilizing the weight of the reservoir and the liquid therein, supplemented by manual pressure if required.
  • the present invention employs a pump inlet fixture for supplying liquid to the pump, and a removable reservoir for supplying liquid to the pump inlet fixture when placed in position thereon.
  • the reservoir has a chamber at the bottom thereof with an inlet from the portion of the reservoir thereabove, and an outlet.
  • a float in the chamber is adapted to close the chamber inlet in the raised position thereof, and a closure member is provided to close the chamber outlet when the reservoir is removed for filling.
  • water enters the chamber and causes the float to rise to close the chamber inlet.
  • the pump inlet fixture is designed so that when the reservoir is placed in position thereon, it enters the chamber a substantial distance, and sealing means provides a seal between the chamber outlet and the pump inlet fixture during entry of the fixture into the chamber. Means are also provided for moving the closure member away from its closed position as the reservoir is placed on the fixture. During this operation, with water in the reservoir, the float seals the inlet to the chamber. Consequently, as the pump inlet fixture enters the chamber, a portion of the liquid in the chamber is forced into the fixture and thence to the pump chamber.
  • the size of the inlet fixture and the distance it enters the reservoir chamber are selected so that the volume of liquid forced into the pump chamber is sufficient to fill the pump chamber and drive out air pockets therein sufficiently to cause the pump to operate effectively as soon as it is switched on.
  • the pump As the pump operates, it withdraws liquid from the chamber at the bottom of the reservoir. Consequently the float in the reservoir chamber moves downwards, thereby opening the chamber inlet and allowing liquid to flow into the chamber from the portion of the reservoir thereabove. Thus liquid flows through the chamber to the pump as required for proper pump operation.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a pump unit connected to a toothbrush hand appliance
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a water jet attachment for the hand appliance of FIG. 1
  • FIG. 3 is a partial cross-section of a reservoir in accordance with the invention, shown in removed relationship with respect to a pump inlet fixture;
  • FIG. 4 illustrates the reservoir and fixture of FIG. 3
  • FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, with the reservoir empty;
  • FIG. 6 is a cross-section of a modified arrangement of the reservoir chamber and inlet pump fixture in assembled relationship
  • FIG. 7 is a cross-section of a further modification of the reservoir chamber and inlet pump fixture in assembled relationship.
  • FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the closure member of FIG. 7.
  • a pump unit generally designated as 10 is connected to a toothbrush hand appliance 11 by a flexible dual tube 12.
  • the pump unit includes a water reservoir 13 supplying water to a pump 14 through conduit 15, the pump being driven by an electric motor (not shown).
  • Liquid pressure pulses are supplied through tube 12 to hand appliance 11, and the other tube 12" allows water to be returned from the hand appliance to the reservoir 13 of the pump unit.
  • the hand appliance 11 may be designed in accordance with the aforesaid U.S. Pat. No. 3,536,065 or application Ser. No. 117,466 filed Feb. 22, 1971 by Moret and Jousson for Hydraulically Operated Hand Appliance for Personal Hygiene," now abandoned, as a unitary device capable of both toothbrush and water jet operation by simply interchanging the appliance heads.
  • FIG. 1 shows a toothbrush head 16 in place
  • FIG. 2 shows a water jet attachment 17 which may be substituted for the toothbrush head 16.
  • the hand appliance 11 contains a reciprocating hydraulic piston motor (not shown) driven in one direction by pressure pulses from tube 12 and returned in the opposite direction by a compression spring.
  • the pressure pulses are supplied through an internal conduit in appliance 11 to head 17.
  • Valve means in 11 provides for applying the pressure pulses to either the hydraulic motor or internal conduit, under control of a slidable member 18.
  • Member 18 also has a rear position in which the supply tube 12' is connected to the return tube 12" so as to return the water to the pump unit without operating the hydraulic motor or water jet.
  • the lower portion of reservoir 13 is shown, with a valve chamber 21 at the bottom thereof.
  • the wall 22 of the chamber has a cylindrical inner surface and is mounted in the bottom of reservoir 13 in sealed relationship therewith by a flange 23 and a cap 24.
  • Cap 24 has an opening 25 therein forming an inlet to chamber 21 from the portion of the reservoir thereabove.
  • At the bottom of the chamber is an outlet 26 and an outlet valve closure member 27.
  • the disc-shaped closure member 27 seats onan annular flange 28 at the bottom of the chamber and closes the chamber outlet 26.
  • a float 31 is placed in the container above the closure member, and is freely movable up and down therein depending on the liquid level. The float has a specific gravity less than the liquid to be introduced in the reservoir, and
  • float 31 In its raised position, float 31 bears against the annular flange 29 of cap 24 and closes inlet 25, thereby forming an inlet valve for the chamber 21.
  • a series of narrow ribs 32 or similar projections are provided on the under side of the float so that, when it contacts the upper surface of closure member 27 in the absence of water in the chamber, the float will not tend to stick or adhere to the closure member, thereby facilitating upward and downward movement of the float as required.
  • At the lower end of outlet 26 an O-ring is provided for establishing a seal to the pump inlet fixture as the reservoir is inserted thereon.
  • the float 31 and closure member 27 have a diameter smaller than the inside diameter of chamber 21 so as to allow liquid to pass thereby in the open positions thereof.
  • the pump inlet fixture has a centrally positioned cylindrical stub 34 adapted to fit into the outlet 26 of the reservoir chamber, the O-ring 33 providing a seal between the chamber outlet and the stub 34 as the reservoir is placed in position thereon.
  • a pipe 35 is centrally located in the top of stub 34 and is connected to the pump by a flexible tube 15 (FIG. 1) in the embodiment shown. If the pump inlet fixture is directly on top of the pump housing, pipe 35 may lead directly to the inlet chamber thereof.
  • Narrow crossed ribs 36 are formed on the top of stub 34, and act as spacers to maintain a separation between the top of the stub and the closure member 27 when the reservoir is in its operating position.
  • the pump inlet fixture 34 is mounted in asuitable fitting 37 which may be attached to the pump unit, and has an upper annular region 38 which engages the bottom of reservoir 13 and limits the downward movement of the reservoir onto the fixture 34.
  • closure member 27 will prevent flow of liquid out of the reservoir and, as the chamber 21 becomes filled with liquid, float 31 rises to close the chamber inlet 25.
  • the reservoir 13 is shown in position on the pump inlet fixture.
  • the reservoir moves downward due to the weight of the reservoir and the water therein, assisted if necessary by manually pressing the reservoir downward.
  • O-ring 33 establishes a seal therebetween.
  • the top of stub 34 engages the closure member 27 and raises it from its seat on the annular flange 28.
  • Ribs 36 maintain a slight separation between the closure member and the top of the stub. Accordingly water can flow from the chamber 21 through the space between the closure member and the stub and through pipe 35 to the pump inlet chamber, as indicated by the arrows.
  • the float 31 closes the inlet 25, so that no water can flow back to the portion of the reservoir thereabove. Accordingly a portion of the water in the chamber 21 is forced into the outlet tube 35 and thence to the pump, thereby insuring a positive charge of liquid to the pump and forcing out any air in the pump inlet passage.
  • the size of stub 34 and the distance it projects into chamber 21 is advantageously selected so that the amount of liquid forced through tube 35 as the reservoir is placed in position is sufficient to approximately fill the inlet chamber of the pump so that, upon turning on thepump, a pressure stream of water will immediately be produced.
  • the volume need not be very great, amounting, for example, to only a few cubic centimeters.
  • the volume of any connecting line, such as 15 in FIG. 1, will of course be taken into account in determining the overall volume required.
  • FIG. 6 an alternative arrangement of the float and closure member is shown.
  • the float 41 is formed with a central recess 42 in the underside thereof, and closure member 43 has a central upward projection 44 which cooperates with the recess 42 to maintain approximate alignment of the float and closure member in chamber 21.
  • the float and closure member are provided with outwardly extending fins 45 and 46, respectively, so as to maintain the members centered in the chamber while allowing the water to flow thereby during operation.
  • the underside of the closure member 43 is provided with ribs 47 which space the closure member from the top of stub 34 in operation.
  • the tip of member 44 is designed to maintain the bottom of the float out of contact with the closure member when the reservoir is empty, so that ribs 32 (FIG. 3) are unnecessary.
  • the upper portion of float 41 is frusto-conical and extends through the inlet opening 25.
  • the vertical dimensions of the float 41 and closure member 43 are selected so that, when the closure member rests of flange 28 as the reservoir is removed for filling, the top of the float extends somewhat above opening 25. This prevents possible jamming of the members by excessive tilting while the reservoir is being handled.
  • FIG. 7 the embodiment is similar to FIG. 6 but differs in detail.
  • a frusto-conical member 51 with apertures 52 is placed over the inlet 25 to the chamber 21.
  • Apertures 52 may be spaced around the periphery of a member 51 or may be arcuate with supporting sections therebetween (not shown).
  • An elastic sealing ring 53 is positioned around the inlet 25 so that, when float 41 rises thereagainst a good liquid-tight seal will be provided.
  • the closure member 43 is provided with a thin periphery 54 to facilitate obtaining a tight seal when it rests on annular ledge 28 as indicated in FIG. 3.
  • the sealing ring 33' is shaped to engage the periphery of stub 34 as or just before the top of the stub raises the closure member off ledge 28 as the reservoir is inserted in position.
  • the central upward projection 44 of the closure member and the central recess 42 in the float are of cylindrical configuration with side clearance therebetween, and the projection 44' has a flat top which maintains a slight separation between the float and the closure member when the reservoir is empty, thereby preventing sticking therebetween when the reservoir is once more filled.
  • Means are provided for limiting the downward movement of the reservoir in a manner similar to that shown in previous figures, but are omitted here for simplicity.
  • FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the closure member 43' showing small rib-like spacers 56 which maintain a separation between the closure member and the top of stub 34 of the inlet fixture when the reservoir is in its operating position.
  • the overall height of the closure member and float is less than the height of the chamber 21.
  • their construction, together with member 51, guards against jamming while the reservoir is being handled off the pump inlet fixture.
  • Apparatus for supplying liquid to a pump whic comprises a. a pump inlet fixture for supplying liquid to said b. a removable reservoir for supplying liquid to said pump inlet fixture when placed in position thereon,
  • said reservoir including a chamber at the bottom thereof having an inlet from the portion of the reservoir thereabove and an outlet,
  • a float in said chamber constructed and adapted to close said inlet to the chamber in the raised position of the float
  • a closure member in said chamber constructed and adapted to close said outlet of the chamber when the reservoir is removed from said fixture for fillf.
  • said outlet and said pump inlet fixture being designed and adapted for substantial movement of the fixture into said chamber as the reservoir is placed in position on the fixture,
  • sealing means for maintaining a water-tight relationship between said outlet and pump inlet fixture as the reservoir is placed in position on the fixture
  • Apparatus for supplying liquid to a pump which comprises a. an upwardly extending pump inlet fixture for supplying liquid to said pump,
  • said reservoir including a chamber at the bottom thereof having an inlet from the portion of the reservoir thereabove and an outlet beneath the inlet,
  • a closure member in said chamber designed and adapted to close said outlet when the reservoir is removed from said fixture for filling
  • said outlet being constructed and adapted to fit over said pump inlet fixture for a substantial movement of the fixture into said chamber as the reservoir is placed in position on the fixture,
  • sealing means for maintaining a water-tight relationship between said outlet and pump inlet fixture as the reservoir is placed in position on the fixture
  • said pump inlet fixture being constructed and adapted to raise said closure member from its closed position at said outlet of the chamber as the reservoir is placed in position on the fixture and allow liquid flow from said chamber into the pump inlet fixture,
  • Apparatus according to claim 2 including limiting means for establishing a lowermost position of said reservoir on said pump inlet fixture, sealing means on the inner wall of said chamber at or beneath the outlet of the chamber closed by said closure member for engaging the outer wall of said fixture in sealed relationship therewith during the downward movement of said reservoir to said lowermost position, said fixture having an opening into said chamber above said sealing means as the reservoir is placed in position thereon.
  • Apparatus according to claim 2 including means for establishing a clearance between the major portions of the adjacent surfaces of said float and closure memher.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
  • Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (AREA)
  • Dentistry (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
  • Details Of Reciprocating Pumps (AREA)
US3771557D 1971-03-19 1972-02-16 Reservoir for a liquid pump, including a float valve Expired - Lifetime US3771557A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH410671A CH537523A (de) 1971-03-19 1971-03-19 Aus einem Flüssigkeitsbehälter und einer Flüssigkeitspumpe bestehende Vorrichtung, insbesondere zur Speisung eines Handgeräts zur Körperpflege

Publications (1)

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US3771557A true US3771557A (en) 1973-11-13

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US3771557D Expired - Lifetime US3771557A (en) 1971-03-19 1972-02-16 Reservoir for a liquid pump, including a float valve

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US (1) US3771557A (de)
JP (1) JPS5532374B1 (de)
CH (1) CH537523A (de)
DE (1) DE2211274C3 (de)
FR (1) FR2129728A5 (de)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3871560A (en) * 1973-08-01 1975-03-18 Prod Associes Sa Reservoir for a liquid pump including means for initially forcing liquid into the pump
US4247288A (en) * 1976-06-18 1981-01-27 Ricoh Watch Co., Ltd. Method and apparatus for root canal irrigation
US4302186A (en) * 1979-11-23 1981-11-24 Teledyne Industries, Inc. Oral hygiene appliances
EP1709927A1 (de) * 2005-04-04 2006-10-11 Sirona Dental Systems GmbH Einrichtung zum Anschließen eines Fluidbehälters an ein Dentalgerät, Dentalgerät mit einer solchen Einrichtung und Fluidbehälter zur Verwendung mit einer solchen Einrichtung
EP2110096A1 (de) * 2008-04-18 2009-10-21 Cefla Societa' Cooperativa Zahnärztlicher Arbeitsplatz

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2604404A1 (de) * 1976-02-05 1977-08-11 Moser Gmbh Kuno Geraet fuer die zahn- und mundpflege
CH607613A5 (de) * 1976-05-26 1978-09-29 Lpa Les Produits Associes
DE2734287C2 (de) * 1977-07-29 1983-02-10 Manfred 7250 Leonberg Luik Gerät zum Reinigen von Gegenständen, insbesondere Zahnprothesen
DE3937876A1 (de) * 1989-11-14 1991-05-16 Braun Ag Mundpflegegeraet

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3393673A (en) * 1964-11-23 1968-07-23 Aqua Tec Corp Oral hygiene apparatus
US3484885A (en) * 1968-01-15 1969-12-23 Aqua Tec Corp Hydraulic motor driven toothbrush
US3495587A (en) * 1967-03-28 1970-02-17 Endura Appliance Corp Liquid discharge apparatus
US3561033A (en) * 1969-05-06 1971-02-09 Aqua Tec Corp Automatic toothbrush with motion selector

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3393673A (en) * 1964-11-23 1968-07-23 Aqua Tec Corp Oral hygiene apparatus
US3495587A (en) * 1967-03-28 1970-02-17 Endura Appliance Corp Liquid discharge apparatus
US3484885A (en) * 1968-01-15 1969-12-23 Aqua Tec Corp Hydraulic motor driven toothbrush
US3561033A (en) * 1969-05-06 1971-02-09 Aqua Tec Corp Automatic toothbrush with motion selector

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3871560A (en) * 1973-08-01 1975-03-18 Prod Associes Sa Reservoir for a liquid pump including means for initially forcing liquid into the pump
US4247288A (en) * 1976-06-18 1981-01-27 Ricoh Watch Co., Ltd. Method and apparatus for root canal irrigation
US4302186A (en) * 1979-11-23 1981-11-24 Teledyne Industries, Inc. Oral hygiene appliances
EP1709927A1 (de) * 2005-04-04 2006-10-11 Sirona Dental Systems GmbH Einrichtung zum Anschließen eines Fluidbehälters an ein Dentalgerät, Dentalgerät mit einer solchen Einrichtung und Fluidbehälter zur Verwendung mit einer solchen Einrichtung
EP2110096A1 (de) * 2008-04-18 2009-10-21 Cefla Societa' Cooperativa Zahnärztlicher Arbeitsplatz

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CH537523A (de) 1973-05-31
JPS5532374B1 (de) 1980-08-25
FR2129728A5 (de) 1972-10-27
DE2211274A1 (de) 1973-01-18
DE2211274C3 (de) 1979-08-09
DE2211274B2 (de) 1978-11-30

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