Precision liquid mixing apparatus and method

Apparatus for providing a predetermined consistent liquid mixture to a point of use, comprising:

• a plurality of liquid component reservoirs, each of said reservoirs including an inlet port for loading a liquid component of the liquid mixture into the respective reservoir and an outlet port;
• a gas supplier configured to provide the same gas pressure within each reservoir;
• a plurality of valves, each valve being individually coupled to a respective one of the reservoir outlet ports;
• a mixing assembly disposed proximate the point of use, the mixing assembly being selectively, fluidly communicable with each of the reservoirs;
• and
• an electronic controller in communication with the plurality of valves and constructed for repetitively sequencing actuation of the plurality of valves to discharge upon each valve actuation predetermined doses of a selected plurality of liquid components from the plurality of reservoirs to the mixing assembly such that the selected liquid components are mixed in the mixing assembly proximate a time of use of the liquid mixture, wherein the mixing assembly includes a discharge port and flow measurement means.

Apparatus for providing a predetermined consistent liquid mixture to a point of use, comprising:

• a plurality of liquid component reservoirs, each of said reservoirs including an inlet port for loading a liquid component of the liquid mixture into the respective reservoir and an outlet port;
• a gas supplier configured to provide the same gas pressure within each reservoir;
• a plurality of valves, each valve being individually coupled to a respective one of the reservoir outlet ports;
• a mixing assembly disposed proximate the point of use, the mixing assembly being selectively, fluidly communicable with each of the reservoirs;
• and
• an electronic controller in communication with the plurality of valves and constructed for repetitively sequencing actuation of the plurality of valves to discharge upon each valve actuation predetermined doses of a selected plurality of liquid components from the plurality of reservoirs to the mixing assembly such that the selected liquid components are mixed in the mixing assembly proximate a time of use of the liquid mixture, wherein the liquid mixture is a slurry mixture.

Apparatus for providing a predetermined consistent liquid mixture to a point of use, comprising:

• a plurality of liquid component reservoirs, each of said reservoirs including an inlet port for loading a liquid component of the liquid mixture into the respective reservoir and an outlet port;
• a gas supplier configured to provide the same gas pressure within each reservoir;
• a plurality of valves, each valve being individually coupled to a respective one of the reservoir outlet ports;
• a mixing assembly disposed proximate the point of use, the mixing assembly being selectively, fluidly communicable with each of the reservoirs;
• and
• an electronic controller in communication with the plurality of valves and constructed for repetitively sequencing actuation of the plurality of valves to discharge upon each valve actuation predetermined doses of a selected plurality of liquid components from the plurality of reservoirs to the mixing assembly such that the selected liquid components are mixed in the mixing assembly proximate a time of use of the liquid mixture, wherein the plurality of reservoirs are each cylindrical members disposed in an annular array about a central longitudinal axis which is aligned with the longitudinal axes of the plurality of cylindrical reservoir members.

Apparatus for providing a precisely mixed liquid mixture according to a predetermined recipe, comprising:

• a reservoir section comprising a plurality of liquid component reservoirs having a gas inlet port, a liquid component outlet port, and a liquid component inlet port;
• a gas manifold section disposed at one end of the reservoirs and connecting the individual reservoirs to a source of gas pressure;
• a valving section disposed at an opposed end of the reservoirs, with a plurality of valves coupled individually to the respective reservoir liquid component outlet ports, and including valve outlets through which liquid component doses are discharged;
• a mixing section proximate a point of use of the liquid mixture, the mixing section being coupled to the valving section with the discharged liquid component doses being directed to said mixing section;
• an electronic controller section for controlling the operation of the valving section, with the individual valves being actuated in a repetitive sequence for predetermined actuation periods to control the volume of liquid component which is discharged from the respective reservoirs as repetitive doses until the predetermined liquid mixture recipe is completed, the controller being configured to dynamically control actuation of the plurality of valves proximate a time of use of the liquid mixture;
• and
• a mixing assembly into which the predetermined doses of liquid component are discharged for mixing said liquid components to form the predetermined liquid mixture, said mixing assembly including a discharge port.

A system for producing a liquid mixture according to a predetermined recipe for use at a point of use, comprising:

• a central operations controller for determining the predetermined liquid mixture recipe for use at the point of use;
• and
• an apparatus capable of being located at the point of use for precisely mixing a predetermined liquid mixture recipe proximate the point of use, said apparatus comprising
• a plurality of liquid component reservoirs, each of said reservoirs including an inlet port for loading a liquid component of the liquid mixture into the respective reservoir and an outlet port,
• a gas supplier configured to maintain the same gas pressure within each reservoir,
• a plurality of valves, each valve being individually coupled to a respective one of the reservoir outlet ports,
• an electronic controller communicating with the central operations controller, said electronic controller controlling repetitively sequenced actuation of the plurality of valves to discharge upon each valve actuation a precise dose of a selected plurality of liquid components from the plurality of reservoirs to provide the predetermined liquid mixture according to the recipe, the selected liquid components being mixed proximate a time of use of the liquid mixture, and
• a liquid component supplier including sources of the liquid components and including valves for loading the liquid components into the plurality of liquid component reservoirs.

Apparatus for providing a precisely mixed liquid mixture according to a predetermined recipe, comprising:

• a reservoir section comprising a plurality of liquid component reservoirs having a gas inlet port, a liquid component outlet port, and a liquid component inlet port;
• a gas manifold section disposed at one end of the reservoirs and connecting the individual reservoirs to a source of gas pressure;
• a valving section disposed at an opposed end of the reservoirs, with a plurality of valves coupled individually to the respective reservoir liquid component outlet ports, and including valve outlets through which liquid component doses are discharged;
• a mixing section proximate a point of use of the liquid mixture, the mixing section being coupled to the valving section with the discharged liquid component doses being directed to said mixing section;
• and
• an electronic controller section for controlling the operation of the valving section, with the individual valves being actuated in a repetitive sequence for predetermined actuation periods to control the volume of liquid component which is discharged from the respective reservoirs as repetitive doses until the predetermined liquid mixture recipe is completed, the controller being configured to dynamically control actuation of the plurality of valves proximate a time of use of the liquid mixture,
• wherein the selected liquid components are mixed in the mixing assembly during the time of use of the liquid mixture.