Gravity feed fluid dispensing system
AssigneeMinnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
InventorJohn J. Dyer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gravity based system for accurately dispensing a fluid and for mixing the fluid with another fluid. The system includes a bottle containing a quantity of the fluid. The bottle may be inverted and engaged with a dispenser assembly. The system is constructed so that the bottle is opened to allow the fluid to flow through the system when the bottle is engaged with the system, and to close the bottle when not engaged with the system. A second fluid may be introduced into the system and mixed with the first fluid in a controlled manner to dilute the first fluid.
Claims40
A gravity feed fluid dispensing system for dispensing a fluid, comprising:
- (a) a bottle having a cavity adapted for receiving a quantity of the fluid and an orifice communicating between said cavity and exteriorly of said bottle;
- (b) a valve cap mounted on said bottle about said orifice for controlling flow of the fluid, said valve cap being shiftable between a first, closed position preventing flow of the fluid from the bottle, and a second, open position for dispensing the fluid from the bottle through said orifice at a predetermined rate;
- (c) a dispenser assembly for supporting said bottle while dispensing the fluid, said dispenser assembly including
- a body having a chamber, a receiving opening above said chamber and a dispensing opening below said chamber, said receiving opening and said dispensing opening each communicating with said chamber,
- supporting means for engaging and supporting said bottle on said body with said orifice of said bottle directed downwardly through said receiving opening to said chamber, wherein shifting said valve cap to said open position enables the fluid to be dispensed from said bottle and outwardly from said dispenser assembly through said dispensing opening;
- (d) means for shifting said valve cap on said bottle from said closed position to said open position to enable dispensing of the fluid, said shifting means being actuated when said bottle is engaged with said supporting means;
- (e) means adapted for connection to a source of a first diluting fluid and for conveying the first diluting fluid through a first conduit from a first to a second end thereof formed in said dispenser assembly, to said chamber;
- (f) a first diluting valve for controlling the flow of the first diluting fluid though said first conduit into said chamber, shiftable between an open position enabling flow of the first diluting fluid into said chamber, and a closed position preventing flow of the first diluting fluid into the chamber, said first diluting valve being biased to said closed position;
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- (g) camming means for shifting said first diluting valve to said open position responsive to said bottle being received by and engaged with said supporting means of said dispenser body, and adapted to enable the first diluting fluid to flow into said chamber, whereby the fluid from said bottle and the first diluting fluid will intermix in said chamber and flow outwardly of said dispenser assembly though said dispensing opening.
A dispenser assembly adapted for use with a gravity feed fluid dispensing system, the fluid dispensing system including a bottle having a cavity for receiving a quantity of the fluid and an orifice communicating between the cavity and exteriorly of the bottle, a valve cap mounted on the bottle about the orifice for controlling flow of the fluid, the valve cap being shiftable between a first, closed position preventing flow of the fluid from the bottle, and a second, open position for dispensing the fluid from the bottle through the orifice at a predetermined rate, and at least one source of a diluting fluid, the dispenser assembly comprising:
- (a) a dispenser assembly body having a chamber, a receiving opening above said chamber and a dispensing opening below said chamber, said receiving opening and said dispensing opening each communicating with said chamber,
- (b) supporting means adapted for engaging and supporting the bottle on said body with the orifice of the bottle directed downwardly through said receiving opening to said chamber, wherein shifting the valve cap to the open position enables the fluid to be dispensed from the bottle and outwardly from said dispenser assembly through said dispensing opening;
- (d) means adapted for shifting the valve cap on the bottle from the closed position to the open position to enable dispensing of the fluid, said shifting means being actuated when the bottle is engaged with said supporting means;
- (e) means adapted for connection to one of the sources of a first diluting fluid and for conveying the first diluting fluid through a first conduit from a first to a second end thereof formed in said dispenser assembly, to said chamber;
- (f) a first diluting valve adapted for controlling the flow of the first diluting fluid though said first conduit into said chamber, shiftable between an open position enabling flow of the first diluting fluid into said chamber, and a closed position preventing flow of the first diluting fluid into the chamber, said first diluting valve being biased to said closed position;
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- (g) cam engaging means adapted for shifting said first diluting valve to said open position responsive to the bottle being received by and engaged with said supporting means of said dispenser body, and adapted to enable the first diluting fluid to flow into said chamber, whereby the fluid from the bottle and the first diluting fluid will intermix in said chamber and flow outwardly of said dispenser assembly through said dispensing opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.