Liquid dispenser having flow rate compensation
AssigneeABC TechCorp
InventorThomas S. Green
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for dispensing a predetermined quantity of a liquid from a dispensing pump. A recirculation path from the dispensing pump to a bulk reservoir is configured to be substantially identical to the dispensing path itself. Periodically, a recirculation cycle is undertaken and the flow rate during the recirculation cycle is determined. With the recirculation and dispensing paths being identical, the dispensing rate for the dispensing path is then known. The method for accurately determining the recirculation rate is derived from Boyle's law to determine the specific volume dispensed in a specific recirculation cycle time.
Claims16
A method of dispensing a predetermined quantity of a liquid from a pump, comprising:
- recirculating the liquid from the pump to a reservoir through a first flow path for a set period of time;
- determining the volume of liquid recirculated by the pump in said set period of time;
- determining a flow rate of the liquid through said first flow path;
- and
- dispensing the liquid from the pump through a second flow path, substantially identical to said first flow path, for a period of time sufficient to dispense the predetermined quantity of fluid at said flow rate.
A liquid dispensing apparatus, comprising:
- a source of regulated air pressure;
- a pump;
- a vessel of known fixed volume interposed between said source of air pressure and said pump;
- a reservoir of liquid in selective interconnection with said pump;
- a dispensing line connected to said pump;
- and
- a recirculation line selectively interconnecting said pump and said reservoir.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.