Liquid chemical measuring and distribution system

A method of measuring a desired volume of concentrated liquid agrichemical from a bulk agrichemical storage tank and dispensing the measured volume of concentrated liquid agrichemical for mixing with a diluent prior to application, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a measuring vessel having a predetermined volume, the measuring vessel having an inlet in fluid communication with the storage tank, an outlet for fluid communication with a dispensing means, and an air inlet;
• applying a suction pressure to the air inlet from a suction pressure port of an air compressor to draw the concentrated liquid agrichemical into the measuring vessel;
• accumulating a desired volume of less than or equal to the predetermined volume of the measuring vessel of the concentrated liquid agrichemical in the measuring vessel;
• then automatically applying a prevailing ambient atmospheric pressure to the air inlet when the desired volume of concentrated liquid agrichemical has accumulated in the measuring vessel to cease drawing in the chemical and to hold the chemical in the vessel for a selected period of time;
• and
• then applying a positive pressure above the ambient pressure to the air inlet from a positive pressure port of the air compressor to cause the measured volume of concentrated liquid agrichemical to be dispensed from the outlet.

A fluid actuated pump comprising:

• a housing having a first inlet, a suction inlet, and an outlet;
• a valve member disposed within said housing and selectively actuatable into a bypass position and a suction position, said valve member defining a chamber therein having a first opening of a first diameter, a second opening of a second diameter disposed diametrically opposite said first opening, a third opening of a third diameter disposed angularly between said first and second openings, and a fourth opening of a fourth diameter disposed diametrically opposite said third opening, said fourth diameter being smaller than said first and second diameters;
• a tubular nipple disposed over said fourth opening and extending into said chamber, said tubular nipple having a chamfer disposed on an end within said chamber, said chamfer facing said first opening when said valve member is in said bypass position;
• and
• said valve member manually moveable into said bypass position and said suction position, wherein when said valve member is in said bypass position said first and second openings align with said first inlet and said outlet respectively, and said fourth opening is aligned with said suction inlet such that diluent flows from said first inlet and said first opening and through said second opening and said outlet without creating suction at said suction inlet, and when said valve member is in said suction position, said fourth and third openings align with said first inlet and said outlet respectively, so that diluent flows through said nipple and third opening and said outlet and said second opening is aligned with said suction inlet thereby creating a suction pressure at said suction inlet.

A method of drawing a desired measured volume of liquid chemical from a chemical storage tank and dispensing the measured volume therefrom for mixing with a diluent, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a measuring vessel of a known volume, the measuring vessel having an inlet in fluid communication with the storage tank, an outlet, and an air passage therein;
• applying a suction pressure at said air passage for creating a suction pressure within said measuring vessel to cause a desired volume of less than or equal to the predetermined volume of the measuring vessel of the chemical within the storage tank to be drawn therefrom and into the measuring vessel via the inlet;
• then applying a prevailing atmospheric pressure at said air passage for creating an atmospheric pressure within said measuring vessel;
• and
• then creating a suction pressure at said outlet in order to draw the measured amount of liquid chemical accumulated within said measuring vessel therefrom for dispensing.

An apparatus for drawing a desired measured volume of liquid chemical from a chemical storage tank and dispensing the measured volume for mixing with a diluent, the apparatus comprising:

• a measuring vessel of a predetermined volume, said measuring vessel having a fluid inlet for fluid communication with the storage tank, a fluid outlet, and an air passage therein;
• a fluid actuated pump having a suction inlet, a first inlet, and an outlet, for selectively creating a suction pressure at said suction inlet, wherein when said fluid actuated pump is in a by-pass position, diluent flows into said first inlet and out of said outlet without creating a suction pressure at said suction inlet, and when said fluid actuated pump is in a suction position, diluent flows into said first inlet and out of said outlet creating a suction pressure at said suction inlet;
• and
• a valve selectively actuatable into a first position for applying the suction pressure created by said fluid actuated pump to said air passage whereby the suction pressure causes the liquid chemical to be drawn from the storage tank into said inlet and accumulate within said measuring vessel, and a second position for applying the suction pressure created by said fluid actuated pump to said outlet of said measuring vessel whereby the suction pressure causes the liquid chemical within the measuring vessel to be dispensed therefrom;
• wherein the liquid chemical dispensed from said measuring vessel into said fluid actuated pump is mixed with the diluent within said fluid actuated pump before flowing from said outlet of said fluid actuated pump.

A method of measuring a desired volume of liquid chemical from a chemical storage tank and dispensing the measured volume therefrom for mixing with a diluent, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a measuring vessel having an interior of a known volume, the measuring vessel having an inlet in fluid communication with the storage tank and an outlet;
• setting a control to select a variable desired volume of liquid to be dispensed;
• creating a suction pressure within the measuring vessel to cause the set desired volume to be drawn from the tank and into the measuring vessel via the inlet;
• automatically terminating the flow of liquid into said measuring vessel interior when said chemical reaches the selected desired volume;
• and
• then creating a positive pressure within the measuring vessel to dispense the measured volume of chemical from the measuring vessel via the outlet.