Precision-ratioed fluid-mixing device and system

A fluid-mixing system for filling a liquid mixture container with a diluted fluid, comprising:

• a plurality of concentrate containers, each such concentrate container having an opening and being adapted to contain a respective one of a plurality of liquid concentrates;
• a plurality of plugs, each such plug being disposed into a respective one of the plural concentrate container openings and being snap-engagedly affixed thereto, each such plug defining a plug aperture;
• a plurality of first conduit means, one end of each such first conduit means being carried by a respective one of the plural plugs in a manner so as to be in fluid communication with its respective plug aperture, the other end of each such first conduit means being immersed into a liquid concentrate contained within a respective one of the plural concentrate containers;
• a plurality of nozzles, each such nozzle defining a nozzle inlet adapted for receiving a pressurized liquid diluent, a nozzle mixing chamber, and a nozzle outlet, whereupon each such nozzle mixing chamber becomes a vacuum region when pressurized liquid diluent enters its nozzle inlet and discharges from its nozzle outlet;
• a plurality of first liquid-metering means, each such first liquid-metering means having an outlet port which is in fluid communication with the nozzle mixing chamber of a respective one of the plural nozzles and an inlet port that communicates with the respective nozzle mixing chamber via the outlet port of its first liquid-metering means;
• a plurality of second liquid-metering means, each such second liquid-metering means being disposed in a respective one of the plural first conduit means and having an outlet port that is in fluid communication with the inlet port of a respective one of the plural nozzles via the outlet port of a respective one of the plural first liquid-metering means, each such second liquid-metering means including an inlet port that communicates with the nozzle mixing chamber of a respective one of the plural nozzles via the outlet port of a respective one of the plural first liquid-metering means, for combining liquid diluent and liquid concentrate in predetermined ratioed amounts in each respective one of the plural nozzle mixing chambers, to thereby produce a plurality of liquid mixtures for purposes of filling the liquid mixture container with at least one of the plural liquid mixtures, each such liquid mixture being discharged from a respective one of the plural nozzles via its nozzle outlet;
• means for supporting the plurality of concentrate containers;
• and
• a valved manifold carried by the supporting means for individually providing each one of the plural nozzle inlets with pressurized liquid diluent.

A fluid-mixing system for filling a liquid mixture container with a diluted fluid, comprising:

• a plurality of concentrate containers, each such concentrate container having an opening and being adapted to contain a respective one of a plurality of liquid concentrates;
• a plurality of plugs, each such plug being disposed into a respective one of the plural concentrate container openings and being affixed thereto, each such plug defining a plug aperture;
• a plurality of first conduit means, one end of each such first conduit means carried by a respective one of the plural plugs in a manner so as to be in fluid communication with its respective plug aperture, the other end of each such first conduit means being immersed into a liquid concentrate contained within a respective one of the plural concentrate containers;
• a plurality of nozzles, each such nozzle defining a nozzle inlet adapted for receiving a pressurized liquid diluent, a nozzle mixing chamber, and a nozzle outlet, whereupon each such nozzle mixing chamber becomes a vacuum region when pressurized liquid diluent enters its nozzle inlet and discharges from its nozzle outlet;
• a plurality of first liquid-metering means, each such first liquid-metering means having an outlet port which is in fluid communication with the nozzle mixing chamber of a respective one of the plural nozzles and an inlet port that communicates with the respective nozzle mixing chamber via the outlet port of its first liquid-metering means;
• a plurality of second liquid-metering means, each such second liquid-metering means being disposed in a respective one of the plural first conduit means and having an outlet port that is in fluid communication with the inlet port of a respective one of the plural first liquid-metering means, each such second liquid-metering means including an inlet port that communicates with the nozzle mixing chamber of a respective one of the plural nozzles via the outlet port of a respective one of the first liquid-metering means, for combining liquid diluent and liquid concentrate in predetermined ratioed amounts in each respective one of the plural nozzle mixing chambers, to thereby produce a plurality of liquid mixtures for purposes of filling the liquid mixture container with at least one of the plural liquid mixtures, each such liquid mixture being discharged from a respective one of the plural nozzles via its nozzle outlet;
• means for supporting the plurality of concentrate containers;
• and
• a valved manifold carried by the supporting means for individually providing each one of the plural nozzle inlets with pressurized liquid diluent.

A method of providing a plurality of liquid mixture in predetermined ratioed amounts comprising the steps of

• I) affixing a plurality of concentrate containers, each containing a dilutable liquid concentrate, to a fluid-mixing system in a fluid-tight manner to permit the liquid concentrate to be drawn into the fluid-mixing system and diluted in a predetermined ratio with a pressurized liquid diluent to form the liquid mixture, and thereafter
• II) selecting a liquid mixture to be delivered from among a plurality of such mixtures,
• III) opening a valve distribution port to cause liquid diluent to flow through a nozzle mixing chamber in the system and to create a vacuum effect which draws liquid concentrate into the mixing chamber to produce the desired liquid mixture having a predetermined ratioed amount of liquid concentrate to liquid diluent, and
• IV) dispensing the liquid mixture;
• wherein each concentrate container has an opening and is adapted to contain a respective one of a plurality of liquid concentrates;
• there being a plug disposed into a respective one of the plural concentrate container openings and being affixed thereto, each such plug defining a plug aperture;
• and
• a plurality of first conduit means, one end of each such first conduit means being carried by a respective one of the plural plugs in a manner so as to be in fluid communication with its respective plug aperture, the other end of each such first conduit means being immersed into the liquid concentrate contained within a respective one of the plural concentrate containers;
• and
• the fluid-mixing system further comprises a plurality of nozzles, each such nozzle defining a nozzle inlet adapted for receiving the pressurized liquid diluent, a nozzle mixing chamber, and a nozzle outlet, whereupon each such nozzle mixing chamber becomes a vacuum region when the pressurized liquid diluent enters its nozzle inlet and discharges from its nozzle outlet;
• a plurality of first liquid-metering means, each such first liquid-metering means having an outlet port which is in fluid communication with the nozzle mixing chamber of a respective one of the plural nozzles and an inlet port that communicates with the respective nozzle mixing chamber via the outlet port of its first liquid-metering means;
• a plurality of second liquid-metering means, each such second liquid-metering means being disposed in a respective one of the plural first conduit means and having an outlet port that is in fluid communication with the inlet port of a respective one of the plural first liquid-metering means, each such second liquid-metering means including an inlet port that communicates with the nozzle mixing chamber of a respective one of the plural nozzles via the outlet port of a respective one of the first liquid-metering means, for combining the liquid diluent and liquid concentrate in predetermined ratioed amounts in each respective one of the plural nozzle mixing chambers, to thereby produce a plurality of the liquid mixtures for purposes of dispensing at least one of the plural liquid mixtures, each such liquid mixture being discharged from a respective one of the plural nozzles via its nozzle outlet;
• means for supporting the plurality of concentrate containers;
• and
• a valved manifold carried by the supporting means for individually providing each one of the plural nozzle inlets with pressurized liquid diluent upon opening a valve distribution port specific to each liquid mixture to be delivered.