Liquid dispensing system and automatic selector therefor

A dispensing system with automatic storage means selection, said dispensing system comprising:

• first storage means for storing a liquid to be dispensed;
• second storage means for storing a liquid to be dispensed, each of said storage means being essentially closed to the atmosphere at least when such storage means has at least some of the liquid removed therefrom;
• a pump having an intake side and a discharge side;
• a pressure responsive selector coupled to both of said storage means and the intake side of said pump;
• said selector including valve means movable between a first position in which the selector provides communication between said first storage means and said pump and blocks communication between said second storage means and said pump and a second position in which the selector provides communication between said second storage means and said pump and blocks communication between said first storage means and said pump;
• pressure responsive actuator means responsive to the pressure drop at the selector resulting from at least the partial arrest of the liquid flow from the storage means supplying liquid to the selector for moving the valve means from one of said positions to the other of said positions whereby liquid can be supplied from the other of said storage means through the selector to the pump and the storage means which previously supplied liquid to the selector can be replaced;
• and
• said actuator means including a pressure responsive plunger movable in response to said pressure drop and means responsive to such movement of the plunger to move the valve means from said first position to said second position.

A dispensing system with automatic storage means selection, said dispensing system comprising:

• first storage means for storing a liquid to be dispensed;
• second storage means for storing a liquid to be dispensed, each of said storage means being essentially closed to the atmosphere at least when such storage means has at least some of the liquid removed therefrom;
• a pump having an intake side and a discharge side;
• a pressure responsive selector coupled to both of said storage means and the intake side of said pump;
• said selector including valve means movable between a first position in which the selector provides communication between said first storage means and said pump and blocks communication between said second storage means and said pump and a second position in which the selector provides communication between said second storage means and said pump and blocks communication between said first storage means and said pump;
• pressure responsive actuator means responsive to the pressure drop at the selector resulting from at least the partial arrest of the liquid flow from the storage means supplying liquid to the selector for moving the valve means from one of said positions to the other of said positions whereby liquid can be supplied from the other of said storage means through the selector to the pump and the storage means which previously supplied liquid to the selector can be replaced;
• and
• said actuator means including bistable spring means having first and second states and a neutral position between said states with said bistable spring means in said first and second states at least assisting in retaining the valve means in said first and second positions, respectively.

A dispensing system with automatic storage means selection, said dispensing system comprising:

• first storage means for storing a liquid to be dispensed;
• second storage means for storing a liquid to be dispensed, each of said storage means being essentially closed to the atmosphere at least when such storage means has at least some of the liquid removed therefrom;
• a pump having an intake side and a discharge side;
• a pressure responsive selector coupled to both of said storage means and the intake side of said pump;
• said selector including valve means movable between a first position in which the selector provides communication between said first storage means and said pump and blocks communication between said second storage means and said pump and a second position in which the selector provides communication between said second storage means and said pump and blocks communication between said first storage means and said pump;
• pressure responsive actuator means responsive to the pressure drop at the selector resulting from at least the partial arrest of the liquid flow from the storage means supplying liquid to the selector for moving the valve means from one of said positions to the other of said positions whereby liquid can be supplied from the other of said storage means through the selector to the pump and the storage means which previously supplied liquid to the selector can be replaced;
• and
• said actuator means including bistable spring means having first and second states and a neutral position between said states for at least assisting in moving the valve means between said positions thereof and means for drivingly coupling the bistable spring means to the valve means with lost motion to enable the bistable spring means to move from one of its states through the neutral position before initiating driving of the valve means from one of said positions toward the other of said positions.

An automatic selector for a liquid dispensing system comprising:

• a housing having first and second inlets, an outlet and passage means for communicating each of the inlets with the outlet;
• valve means on said housing movable between a first position in which the passage means provides communication between the first inlet and the outlet and the valve means blocks communication between the second inlet and the outlet and a second position in which the passage means provides communication between the second inlet and the outlet, and the valve means blocks communication between the first inlet and the outlet;
• pressure responsive actuator means within said housing responsive to a presure drop of a particular magnitude at the inlet which is in communication with the outlet for moving said valve means from one of the positions to the other of said positions;
• and
• said actuator means including a pressure responsive plunger movable in response to said pressure drop and means including a bistable spring for drivingly coupling the plunger and the valve means so that the plunger can move the valve means from said first position to said second position.

An automatic selector for a liquid dispensing system comprising:

• a housing having first and second inlets, an outlet and passage means for communicating each of the inlets with the outlet;
• valve means on said housing movable between a first position in which the passage means provides communication between the first inlet and the outlet and the valve means blocks communication between the second inlet and the outlet and a second position in which the passage means provides communication between the second inlet and the outlet, and the valve means blocks communication between the first inlet and the outlet;
• pressure responsive actuator means within said housing responsive to a pressure drop of a particular magnitude at the inlet which is in communication with the outlet for moving said valve means from one of the positions to the other of said positions;
• and
• said actuator means including bistable spring means having first and second states and a neutral position between said states with said bistable spring means in said first and second states at least assisting in retaining the valve means in said first and second positions, respectively.

An automatic selector for a liquid dispensing system comprising:

• a housing having first and second inlets, an outlet and passage means for communicating each of the inlets with the outlet;
• valve means on said housing movable between a first position in which the passage means provides communication between the first inlet and the outlet and the valve means blocks communication between the second inlet and the outlet and a second position in which the passage means provides communication between the second inlet and the outlet, and the valve means blocks communication between the first inlet and the outlet;
• pressure responsive actuator means within said housing responsive to a pressure drop of a particular magnitude at the inlet which is in communication with the outlet for moving said valve means from one of the positions to the other of said positions;
• and
• said actuator means including bistable spring means having first and second states and a neutral position between said states for at least assisting in moving the valve means between said positions thereof and means for drivingly coupling the bistable spring means to the valve means with lost motion to enable the bistable spring means to move from one of its states through the neutral position before initiating driving of the valve means from one of said positions toward the other of said positions.

An automatic selector for a liquid dispensing system comprising:

• a housing having first and second inlets, an outlet and passage means for communicating each of the inlets with the outlet;
• valve means on said housing movable between a first position in which the passage means provides communication between the first inlet and the outlet and the valve means blocks communication between the second inlet and the outlet and a second position in which the passage means provides communication between the second inlet and the outlet, and the valve means blocks communication between the first inlet and the outlet;
• pressure responsive actuator means within said housing responsive to a pressure drop of a particular magnitude at the inlet which is in communication with the outlet for moving said valve means from one of the positions to the other of said positions;
• and
• said actuator means including a leaf spring for at least assisting in driving the valve means between said positions thereof, a rocker body having a slot for receiving an end porition of the leaf spring, said leaf spring being urged toward the rocker body, a rocker shaft extending into the rocker body and communicating with said slot whereby the end of the leaf spring at said one end porition thereof bears on said shaft, the peripheral portion of the shaft at said slot being more resistant than the rocker body to being cut by said end of the leaf spring, means including the shaft for mounting the rocker body for pivotal movement and pressure responsive means for pivoting the rocker body to move the leaf spring to bring about movement of the valve means from one of said positions to the other.

An automatic selector for a liquid dispensing system comprising:

• a housing having first and second inlets, an outlet and passage means for communicating each of the inlets with the outlet;
• valve means on said housing movable betwaeen a first position in which the passage means provides communication between the first inlet and the outlet and the valve means blocks communication between the second inlet and the outlet and a second position in which the passage means provides communication between the second inlet and the outlet, and the valve means blocks communication between the first inlet and the outlet;
• pressure responsive actuator means within said housing responsive to a pressure drop of a particular magnitude at the inlet which is in communication with the outlet for moving said valve means from one of the positions to the other of said positions;
• said actuator means including a pressure responsive plunger movable in response to said pressure drop and means responsive to such movement of the plunger to move the valve means from said first position to said second position;
• and
• said means responsive to movement of the plunger including a pivotally mounted rocker having a cam track thereon, an actuator member drivable by the pressure-responsive plunger and engageable with the cam track to pivot the rocker, and means for drivingly coupling the rocker and the valve means.