Meter controlled dispensing apparatus

In apparatus for dispensing a predetermined quantity of liquid wherein a hydraulically operated main valve has a valve body and a valve element therein which is biased closed when inlet pressure is applied equally to both sides thereof and is moved openward by inlet pressure as the inlet pressure on its downstream side is progressively exhausted downstream of the valve element through a pilot valve operatively connected to a meter actuated preset mechanism;

• the improvement which consists in providing a pilot valve having a body spaced from said main valve and rigidly mounted on a casing enclosing said meter actuated preset mechanism, said pilot body having an inlet and an outlet and a single valve element therein operatively connected to said preset mechanism and movable thereby to three discriminate positions i.e., a first closed position in said pilot body in which no inlet pressure applied to the outlet side of said main valve element is exhausted therethrough, a second open position in which sufficient inlet pressure being applied to the outlet side of said main valve element is exhausted therethrough to effect full opening of said main valve element, and a third partially open position in which just sufficient inlet pressure is exhausted therethrough to effect a partial opening of said main valve element, and in connecting the pilot valve body to the body of said main valve body by detachably connected conduits thereby to provide communication between said main and pilot valves.