# US 10,245,607 B2 · Method and apparatus for dispensing fluid > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,245,607 B2 - Document ID: US10245607B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/113,979 - Filed: 2015-03-19 - Published: 2016-12-01 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2014-03-19 - Assignees: Graco Minnesota Inc. - Applicants: Graco Minnesota Inc. - Inventors: Jonathan R. McMichael; Thomas V. Vo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245607B2 ## CPC - B05B 12/008: {integrated in or attached to a discharge apparatus, e.g. a spray gun} - B05B 1/32: in which a valve member forms part of the outlet opening {(B05B1/3033 takes precedence)} - B05B 7/24: with means, e.g. a container, for supplying liquid or other fluent material to a discharge device (B05B7/14, B05B7/16, B05B11/00 take precedence) - B05B 12/006: {Pressure or flow rate sensors} - B05B 12/087: {Flow or presssure regulators, i.e. non-electric unitary devices comprising a sensing element, e.g. a piston or a membrane, and a controlling element, e.g. a valve} - B05B 12/1436: {the controlling condition of the first liquid or other fluent material in the first supply line being its flow rate or its pressure} - F16K 1/00: Lift valves {or globe valves}, i.e. cut-off apparatus with closure members having at least a component of their opening and closing motion perpendicular to the closing faces ({in combination with sliding valves F16K3/246, F16K3/267} ; diaphragm valves F16K7/00) - G05D 7/0688: {by combined action on throttling means and flow sources (G05D7/0694 takes precedence)} - B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D) - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES ## Abstract A fluid dispensing system includes a pump, a valve, and a dispenser disposed downstream of the valve and connected to the valve with a hose. To provide a steady flow rate at the dispenser, the pump charges the fluid to or above the pressure required to achieve a desired flow rate. The valve cycles between open and closed at a fixed frequency. The valve-open time is varied within that frequency to maintain the desired flow rate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of dispensing a fluid, the method comprising: charging a fluid to a pressure with a prime mover having a motor and a pump, wherein a controller directs the prime mover to charge the fluid to the pressure; cycling a downstream valve open and closed at a fixed frequency, wherein the valve is configured to cycle between fully opened and fully closed according to a variable duty-cycle; sensing a valve-open time; varying the valve-open time, by a controller, to maintain a desired flow rate at a downstream dispenser; and altering the pressure generated by the prime mover, by the controller, based on the sensed valve-open time, such that the pressure is increased as the valve-open time approaches 100 percent of the frequency, and the pressure is decreased as the valve-open time approaches zero percent of the frequency. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, and further comprising: sensing an in-stream data at a flow meter located downstream of the valve; and communicating the in-stream data to the controller. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, and further comprising: mixing the fluid with a material downstream of the dispenser to create a plural-component material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the fluid is a catalyst in a plural component dispensing system. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, and further comprising: varying the frequency at which the valve cycles. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the valve is a ball and a seat. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the valve is selected from a group consisting of a pneumatically-actuated valve, a hydraulically-actuated valve, and an electrically-actuated valve. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid is a polysulfide material. ### Claim 9 A fluid dispensing system comprising: a prime mover for driving a fluid downstream, the prime mover comprising: a motor; and a pump; a valve configured to cycle between fully open and fully closed according to a variable duty-cycle, the valve disposed downstream of the prime mover; a dispenser disposed downstream of and fluidly connected to the valve; a controller communicating with the prime mover and the valve; and wherein the controller is configured to direct the prime mover to charge the fluid to a pressure, and to control the duty-cycle of the valve to provide a desired flow rate of the fluid at the dispenser; and wherein the controller is configured to control the prime mover to increase the pressure generated by the prime mover based on a valve-open time approaching 100 percent of the duty-cycle of the valve, and the controller is configured to control the prime mover to decrease the pressure generated by the prime mover based on the valve-open time approaching zero percent of the duty-cycle of the valve. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The fluid dispensing system of claim 9, wherein the valve comprises a ball and a seat. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The fluid dispensing system of claim 9, and further comprising: a hose disposed between and fluidly connecting the dispenser and the valve. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The fluid dispensing system of claim 9, and further comprising: a flow meter disposed between the valve and the dispenser and in communication with the controller; and wherein the flow meter senses an in-stream data and communicates the in-stream data to the controller. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The fluid dispensing system of claim 9, wherein the valve is a pneumatically actuated valve. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The fluid dispensing system of claim 9, further comprising: a regulator attached to the prime mover and communicating with the controller, the regulator controlling a pressure generated by the prime mover. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The fluid dispensing system of claim 9, wherein the valve is selected from a group consisting of an electrically-actuated valve and a hydraulically-actuated valve. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The fluid dispensing system of claim 9, wherein the valve cycles at a fixed frequency. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The fluid dispensing system of claim 9, wherein the valve cycles at a variable frequency. ### Claim 18 (depends on 9) The fluid dispensing system of claim 9, and further comprising: a restrictive hose disposed between and connecting the prime mover and the valve. ### Claim 19 (depends on 9) The fluid dispensing system of claim 9, wherein a fluid being dispensed is a polysulfide material.