Volume metering device having a float operated valve

A liquid metering device for providing a measured volume of liquid comprising

• means for receiving liquid,
• a first liquid storage chamber in fluid communication with said receiving means and arranged to receive liquid from said receiving means when disposed in a first inverted orientation, said first chamber having a volume greater than said measured volume,
• float valve means associated with said first chamber for providing a predetermined volume of liquid in said first chamber at least as great as said measured volume but less than said first chamber volume,
• a second liquid storage chamber in fluid communication with said first chamber and disposed with respect to said first chamber so that liquid flows from said chamber to said second chamber when said chambers are in a second upright orientation,
• liquid volume control means coupled to said second chamber for providing said measured volume in said second chamber when said chambers are disposed in said first inverted orientation, and
• dispensing means coupled to said second chamber for removing the liquid in said second chamber when said chambers are in said first orientation.

A dispensing and measuring cap for a fluid stored in a container comprising:

• means for securing the cap to the container in fluid communication with the container interior,
• means associated with the cap for venting the container interior,
• a first storage chamber having a given volume and valve means disposed in said cap in fluid communication with said interior for providing a first measured volume of fluid in said first chamber less than said given volume when said cap is beneath the container for gravity feeding the fluid to said first storage chamber,
• a second storage chamber disposed beneath the first chamber with respect to gravity,
• a dump hole disposed between said chambers for dumping said measured volume of fluid from said first chamber into said second chamber when said container is beneath said cap and for venting air between said first chamber and said second chamber, and
• a fluid dispensing conduit coupled to said second chamber for dispensing said fluid from said second chamber when said container is disposed above said cap with respect to gravity.

A measuring and dispensing device for dispensing a volume of fluid having a predetermined value from a container comprising:

• a housing including first and second storage chambers one above the other and means for securing the container to the housing,
• a first fluid passage connecting the first chamber to the interior of said container,
• vent means for venting ambient air to the container interior,
• float valve means in said first chamber arranged to close said passage via gravity when the housing is upright and open said passage via gravity when the housing is inverted, fluid from said container tending to flow through said first passage into said first chamber when inverted, said float valve means being so dimensioned and oriented so as to close said first passage in response to the bouyant forces of said fluid when the fluid in said first chamber reaches a volume having said predetermined value,
• a second fluid passage located on one side of said housing connecting said first and second chambers to transfer fluid in said first chamber to said second chamber when the housing is upright, said second passage being so dimensioned and located to return fluid from said second chamber in excess of said predetermined value to said first chamber when the housing is inverted, and
• fluid discharge means located on the other side of said housing opposite said one side for discharging the fluid from said second chamber when the housing is inverted.