Appliance dosing pump with an integrated reservoir liquid level sensing feature
AssigneeHTI Technology and Industries, Inc.
InventorRoger L. DeYoung
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided in this disclosure is an appliance dosing pump with an integrated reservoir liquid level sensing feature that includes a dosing pump head, a capacitive sensor, a motor housing, and a liquid reservoir. The dosing pump head has a vertical tube, an inlet port, and an outlet port. The capacitive sensor may include a plurality of sensing pads, and the liquid reservoir may have an outlet port. Together, the liquid reservoir outlet port and dosing pump head inlet port may define a fluid passage, which fluid passage may include a plurality of check valves therein.
Claims16
A dosing pump assembly comprising:
- a dosing pump head having an inlet port connected to a liquid reservoir, an outlet port for dispensing a predetermined dose of liquid from the reservoir, and a fluid passage between the inlet and outlet ports;
- a vertical tube fluidly connected to the fluid passage and configured to indicate liquid level of the reservoir;
- and
- a sensor array vertically affixed to the vertical tube, the sensor array comprising a plurality of sensors at a respective plurality of sensing positions along the vertical tube indicative of liquid level of the reservoir.
A dosing pump assembly comprising:
- a dosing pump head having an inlet port connected to a liquid reservoir, an outlet port for dispensing a predetermined dose of liquid from the reservoir, and a fluid passage between the inlet and outlet ports;
- a vertical tube fluidly connected to the fluid passage and configured to indicate liquid level of the reservoir;
- a plurality of reed switches that turn on or off in response to a position of a floating magnet which floats atop liquid in the vertical tube and thereby raises or lowers with the changing liquid level in the vertical tube;
- wherein the inlet port comprises an inlet port check valve that matingly connects to a reservoir check valve on the reservoir;
- and
- wherein the fluid passage is restricted from backflow and spillage by the check valves when the liquid reservoir is removed from the inlet port, thereby retaining liquid within the dosing pump in a primed condition.
A dosing pump assembly comprising:
- a dosing pump head having an inlet port connected to a liquid reservoir, an outlet port for dispensing a predetermined dose of liquid from the reservoir, and a fluid passage between the inlet and outlet ports;
- a vertical tube fluidly connected to the fluid passage and configured to indicate liquid level of the reservoir;
- a capacitive sensor vertically affixed to the vertical tube, the capacitive sensor comprising a plurality of pairs of sensing pads at a respective plurality of sensing positions along the vertical tube indicative of liquid level of the reservoir;
- wherein the inlet port comprises an inlet port check valve that matingly connects to a reservoir check valve on the reservoir;
- and
- wherein the fluid passage is restricted from backflow and spillage by the check valves when the liquid reservoir is removed from the inlet port, thereby retaining liquid within the dosing pump in a primed condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.