US 4,408,960 AGranted

Pneumatic method and apparatus for circulating liquids

AssigneeLogic Devices, Inc.

InventorPaul E. Allen

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Abstract

A pneumatic method and apparatus for causing the rapid recirculation of a liquid between a plurality of containers 10, 11 by adjusting the pressure of a gas exerted within each of said containers to superatmospheric, atmospheric and subatmospheric pressures, thereby avoiding the passing of the liquid through a mechanical flow-inducing pump. The containers 10, 11 are connected to each other by means of a liquid circulation system comprising a circulation conduit which includes a work station. A filled first container 10 is subjected to superatmospheric pressure to force the liquid into the circulation system while a second empty container 11 is subjected to subatmospheric pressure to suck the liquid from the circulation system. After each container is empty and before it is subjected to subatmospheric pressure, for refilling purposes, it is exposed to atmospheric pressure to release the elevated pressure therefrom. The circulation system preferably incorporates a bypass conduit 46 including a liquid replenishment tank 38 and/or means 39 for adjusting the temperature of the liquid.

Claims21

Dependent claims

Method for causing the rapid recirculation of a liquid between a plurality of containers solely by adjusting the pressure of a gas exerted within each of said containers to superatmospheric, atmospheric and subatmospheric pressure, comprising providing a closed liquid circulation device including said plurality of containers and a liquid circulation system comprising a circulation conduit which communicates with each of said containers and which incorporates a work station, substantially filling a first container and said liquid circulation conduit with a circulation liquid while retaining the other container(s) substantially empty of said liquid, subjecting said filled container to superatmospheric pressure to force substantially all of said liquid out of said filled container and into said circulation conduit to said work station while subjecting a second container to subatmospheric pressure to such said liquid out of said circulation system to substantially fill said second container, opening said first container to atmospheric pressure to relieve the superatmospheric pressure therefrom, subjecting said first container or another container which is at atmospheric pressure to subatmospheric pressure, closing said filled second container to subatmospheric pressure and opening it to superatmospheric pressure to force substantially all of said liquid out to empty said second container into said circulation conduit to said work station, the subatmospheric pressure within said first or other container causing said liquid to be sucked from said circulation system to fill said first or other container, opening said empty second container to atmospheric pressure to relieve the superatmospheric pressure therefrom, closing said second container to atmospheric pressure and then subjecting it or another container which is under atmospheric pressure to subatmospheric pressure while closing said filled container to subatmospheric pressure and opening it to superatmospheric pressure to cause the recirculation of said liquid from said filled container, through said liquid circulation system into said second or other container which is under subatmospheric pressure.

Apparatus for causing the rapid recirculation of a liquid between a plurality of containers solely by adjusting the pressure of a gas exerted within each of said containers to superatmospheric, atmospheric and subatmospheric pressures, comprising a closed liquid circulation apparatus having a first container, at least one second container and a liquid circulation system comprising a circulation conduit which communicates with each of said containers and which incorporates a work station, one of said containers and said liquid circulation conduit being substantially filled with a circulation liquid while the other container(s) are substantially empty of said liquid, pressure means associated with each of said containers for subjecting each said container, when filled with said liquid, to superatmospheric pressure to force substantially all of said liquid out of said container and into said circulation conduit to said work station, vacuum means associated with each of said containers for subjecting each said container, when empty of said liquid, to subatmospheric pressure to suck liquid out of said circulation system to substantially fill said empty container, relief means associated with each said container for opening and closing each said container, when empty of said liquid to atmospheric pressure to relieve the superatmospheric pressure therefrom prior to activation of said vacuum means, and means for alternating the activation of each said pressure means, vacuum means and relief means so that only one said container at a time is subjected to the maximum superatmospheric pressure and is dispensing said liquid and only one said container at a time is subjected to the maximum vacuum pressure and is receiving said liquid.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.