Container with automatically controlled discharge for continuous metering of liquid flow
OwnerIsaac Rinkewichinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Liquid, such as milk, enters the sealed container from an inlet at the top of the container and exits through an outlet at the bottom of the container. The quantity of liquid in the container is sensed and a microprocessor calculates the total volume of liquid. During periods of low flow, such as at the beginning and at the end of the milking cycle, the outlet is automatically closed, partially or completely, by a motorized valve connected to the microprocessor, or by a weighted float situated within the container, so as to accumulate the liquid during those periods thereby enhancing the accuracy of the measurement.
Claims16
Apparatus for metering liquid flow comprising a sealed liquid container having an inlet proximate the top and an outlet proximate the bottom, such that liquid from said inlet flows through the container and is discharged from said outlet, a discharge tube connected below said outlet, pressure equalization means comprising a tube connecting a point on said container above the surface of the liquid and said discharge tube, means for sensing the quantity of liquid in said container, means for calculating the total liquid flow through said container and means for automatically reducing the size of said outlet in accordance with the quantity of liquid in said container.
Apparatus for metering liquid flow comprising a sealed liquid container having an inlet proximate the top and an outlet proximate the bottom, such that liquid from said inlet flows through the container and is discharged from said outlet, a first conduit connected to a point on said container above the surface of the liquid, a second conduit connected to a point on said container below the surface of the liquid, differential sensor means connected between said first and second conduits for sensing the quantity of liquid in said container, means connected to said sensor means for calculating the total liquid flow through said container and means for automatically reducing the size of said outlet in accordance with the quantity of liquid in said container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.