Metering system & methods
AssigneeSealant Equipment & Engineering, Inc.
InventorsCarl L. Schultz, Scott A. Dittmer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A metering system for controlling the flow of a fluid is disclosed. The metering system comprises a metering device, two input valves that actively control flow of fluid into the metering device, and two output valves that actively control flow of fluid from the metering device. The input and output valves are selectively opened and closed to cause metered amounts of fluid to be dispensed from the metering device through the output valves.
Claims36
A system for metering a fluid, comprising:
- a metering device;
- first and second input valves that actively control flow of the fluid into said metering device;
- and
- first and second output valves that actively control flow of the fluid from said metering device.
A system for mixing a multiple-part fluid having at least a first component fluid and a second component fluid, comprising:
- a first metering container having a first pre-determined volume;
- first and second input valves that actively control flow of the first component fluid into said first metering container;
- first and second output valves that actively control flow of the first component fluid from said first metering container;
- a second metering container having a second pre-determined volume;
- third and fourth input valves that actively control flow of the second component fluid into said second metering container;
- and
- third and fourth output valves that actively control flow of the second component fluid from said second metering container.
A method of metering a fluid, comprising the steps of:
- selectively opening one of a first input valve and a second input valve to allow the fluid to flow into a metering device;
- and
- selectively opening one of a first output valve and a second output valve to allow the fluid to flow from said metering device.
A method of mixing a multiple-part fluid, comprising the steps of:
- selectively opening one of a first input valve and a second input valve to allow a first component fluid to flow into a first metering container, said first metering container having a pre-determined volume;
- selectively opening one of a third input valve and a fourth input valve to allow a second component fluid to flow into a second metering container, said second metering container having a pre-determined volume;
- selectively opening one of a first output valve and a second output valve to allow said first component fluid to flow from said first metering container;
- selectively opening one of a third output valve and a fourth output valve to allow said second component fluid to flow from said second metering container;
- and
- mixing said first and second component fluids.
A method of purging a metering system having first and second input valves that actively control flow of a fluid into a metering container and first and second output valves that actively control flow of the fluid from the metering container, comprising the steps of:
- selectively opening the first input valve and the first output valve to cause a straight through condition on a first side of the metering container;
- and
- selectively opening the second input valve and the second output valve to cause a straight through condition on a second side of the metering container.
In a metering system having first and second input valves that actively control flow of a fluid into a metering container, a piston slidably disposed in said metering container, and first and second output valves that actively control flow of the fluid from the metering container, a method of pre-positioning the piston in the metering container, comprising the steps of:
- selectively closing the first and second output valves;
- selectively opening the first and second input valves;
- and
- causing the piston to slide within the metering container to a desired position.
A method of applying a bead of material to an automotive product, comprising the steps:
- positioning a metering piston to a first pre-determined position within a metering container;
- selectively opening one of a first input valve and a second input valve;
- selectively opening one of a first output valve and a second output valve;
- and
- moving said metering piston within said metering container toward said open output valve to cause material to flow through said open output valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.