Automatic detection system for detecting disruptions in the flow to a dispensing apparatus

• US 10,365,665 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2018
• Issued: 07/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rodney Laible
• Original Assignee: Rodney Laible
• Inventors: Laible, Rodney
• Primary Examiner(s): Arnett, Nicolas A
• Application Number:
  US16/136,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20190018431A1
• Time in Patent Office: 313 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 57/18 causing operation of audible or visible alarm signals
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1245 Change-over devices, i.e. connecting a flow line from an empty container to a full one
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/565 for indicating end of flow, e.g. by optical or audible signals
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/62 power operated
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/00 Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow measuring a proportion of the volume flow G01F5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/85 Investigating moving fluids or granular solids
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 13/0086 with photo-electric detection
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0617 specially adapted for fluid materials

Abstract

An automatic detection system is provided for detecting disruptions in the flow of liquid from a liquid container or containers to a dispensing apparatus. Two embodiments of the system are disclosed. In the first embodiment, a single liquid container is utilized. In the second embodiment, two liquid containers are utilized. In both embodiments, an optical sensor is employed to detect a disruption in the flow of liquid from the liquid containers to the dispensing apparatus.

Claims

1. An automatic detection system for detecting disruptions in the liquid flow to a dispensing apparatus, comprising:

a valve module;

said valve module having a first liquid inlet port and a first liquid outlet port;

an electrically operated first valve positioned in said valve module;

said first valve having a liquid intake side and a liquid outlet side;

said liquid intake side of said first valve being in fluid communication with said first liquid port of said valve module;

said liquid outlet side of said first valve being in fluid communication with said first liquid outlet port of said valve module;

said first valve being movable between open and closed positions;

a first liquid container having a liquid outlet;

said first liquid container being spaced from said valve module;

said liquid outlet of said first liquid container being in fluid communication with first liquid inlet port of said valve module and said liquid intake side of said first valve;

an alarm module positioned remotely from said valve module;

said alarm module including at least one alarm;

an optical sensor positioned in said alarm module;

said optical sensor having a liquid intake end and a liquid outlet end;

said intake end of said optical sensor being in fluid communication with said first liquid outlet port of said valve module and said liquid outlet side of said first valve;

means spaced from said valve module and said optical sensor for selectively supplying liquid from said first liquid container through said first valve, when said first valve is moved from said closed position to said open position, into said intake end of said optical sensor, through said optical sensor, outwardly through said liquid outlet of said optical sensor, and supplying the liquid to a remote receptacle;

a computer driven controller;

said optical sensor being electrically connected to said computer driven controller;

said computer driven controller controlling the said means for supplying liquid from said first liquid container, said first valve, said optical sensor and said alarm module;

said computer driven controller deactivating said means for supplying liquid when said optical sensor senses a disruption of liquid passing through said optical sensor; and

said computer driven controller activating said at least one alarm when said optical sensor senses a disruption of liquid passing through said optical sensor.

2. The automatic detection system of claim 1 wherein said means for supplying liquid from said first liquid container comprises a pump means.

3. The automatic detection system of claim 1 wherein said means for supplying liquid from said first liquid container comprises a Venturi means.

4. The automatic detection system of claim 1 wherein said means for supplying liquid from said first liquid container comprises a radial piston pump.

5. The automatic detection system of claim 1 wherein said means for supplying liquid from said first liquid container comprises a gear pump.

6. The automatic detection system of claim 1 wherein said means for supplying liquid from said first liquid container comprises a vane pump.

7. The automatic detection system of claim 1 wherein said means for supplying liquid from said first liquid container comprises a peristaltic hose pump.

8. The automatic detection system of claim 1 wherein said means for supplying liquid from said first liquid container comprises a lobe pump.

9. The automatic detection system of claim 1 wherein said means for supplying liquid from said first liquid container comprises a piston pump.

10. The automatic detection system of claim 1 wherein said alarm module includes a reset button.

11. An automatic detection system for detecting disruptions in the flow to a dispensing apparatus, comprising:

a valve module;

said valve module having a first liquid outlet port, a first liquid intake port, a second liquid intake port, an outlet port, a normally closed electrically operated first valve positioned between said first liquid intake port and said first liquid outlet port and a normally closed electrically operated second valve positioned between said second liquid intake port and said first liquid outlet port;

each of said first and second valves being movable between open and closed positions;

a first liquid container having a liquid outlet;

said first liquid container being spaced from said valve module;

said liquid outlet of said first liquid container being in fluid communication with said first liquid intake port of said valve module;

a second liquid container having a liquid outlet;

said second liquid container being spaced from said valve module;

said liquid outlet of said second liquid container being in fluid communication with said second liquid intake port of said valve module;

an alarm module positioned remotely from said valve module;

an optical sensor positioned in said alarm module;

said optical sensor having a liquid intake end and a liquid outlet end;

said intake end of said optical sensor being in fluid communication with said first liquid outlet port of said valve module and said liquid outlet side of said first valve;

said outlet port of said valve module being in communication with said fluid inlet end of said optical sensor;

said alarm module including at least one of a visual alarm, a data alarm and an audible alarm;

said at least one of said visual alarm, said data alarm and said audible alarm being activated upon the flow of liquid from said first liquid container to said valve module being disrupted;

said at least one of said visual alarm, said audible alarm and said data alarm being activated upon the flow of liquid from said liquid outlet of said second liquid container to said second liquid inlet port of said valve module being disrupted;

means for selectively supplying liquid from said first liquid container through said first valve, when said first valve is moved from its closed position to its open position, and through said first liquid output port of said valve module, through said optical sensor, through said means for supplying liquid and supplying the liquid to a remote receptacle;

said means for selectively supplying liquid from said first liquid container also being configured to selectively supply liquid from said second liquid container through said second valve, when said second valve is moved from its closed position to its open position, and through said first liquid output port of said valve module through said optical sensor, through said means supplying the liquid to a remote receptacle;

and a computer driven controller which controls the operation of said means for supplying liquid from said first and second liquid containers, said first and second valves, said optical sensor and said alarm module.

12. The automatic detection system of claim 11 wherein said means for supplying liquid from said first and second liquid containers comprises a pump means.

13. The automatic detection system of claim 11 wherein said means for supplying liquid from said first and second liquid containers comprises a radial piston pump.

14. The automatic detection system of claim 11 wherein said means for supplying liquid from said first and second liquid containers comprises a gear pump.

15. The automatic detection system of claim 11 wherein said means for supplying liquid from said first and second liquid containers comprises a vane pump.

16. The automatic detection system of claim 11 wherein said means for supplying liquid from said first and second liquid containers comprises a peristaltic hose pump.

17. The automatic detection system of claim 11 wherein said means for supplying liquid from said first and second liquid containers comprises a lobe pump.

18. The automatic detection system of claim 11 wherein said means for supplying liquid from said first and second liquid containers comprises a piston pump.

19. The automatic detection system of claim 11 wherein said means for supplying liquid from said first and second liquid containers comprises a Venturi pump.

20. The automatic detection system of claim 11 wherein said alarm module includes a reset button.