High volume dispense head with seal verification and low foam return line

• US 20030010387A1
• Filed: 07/11/2002
• Published: 01/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Entegris Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Entegris Incorporated
• Inventors: Hennen, John M., Rauworth, Barry L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,955,185 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/588
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0054 Recirculation means
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0294 Combined with valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/40 with a lift valve being opened automatically when the coupling is applied
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/85954 Closed circulating system
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86332 Vent and inlet or outlet in unitary mounting

Abstract

A fluid dispensing system for use with a drum with a bung, and a drum insert that includes a downtube that inserts into the bung. A dispense head has provision for a return flow line that discharges recirculated fluid into the annular space around the drum insert downtube. A foaming reduction device minimizes foam created from the recirculation. The invention includes a spring-loaded poppet that closes when the dispense head is removed from the bung opening. The poppet is configured such that the engagement member is a ring shaped with support members extending axially. The engagement member seats on and couples with a nipple on the drum insert.

The nipple has a seating portion to engage the engagement member of the poppet The invention also includes a seal verification conduit in fluid communication with a space intermediate two seals at a junction between the dispense head and the drum insert.

Claims

1. A dispense head configured to couple to a drum insert, the dispense head formed primarily of fluoropolymer and comprising:

a main fluid flow line having a poppet;

the poppet having a ring shaped engagement portion with an open central area and a plurality of axial support members supporting the engagement portion;

a plurality of fluid flow passageways extending between the support members;

the poppet positioned to confront a nipple on the drum insert and to provide a main fluid dispense pathway through the center of the ring shaped engagement portion thereby providing increased flow rate.

2. The dispense head of claim 1, in which the nipple of the drum insert comprises a plurality of nubs protruding into a central fluid chamber whereby the poppet is opened as the dispense head is inserted into the drum insert and substantially free fluid flow is achieved.

3. The dispense head of claim 1, further comprising a foaming reduction member to reduce foaming of fluid returning to the drum.

4. The dispense head of claim 3, in which the foaming reduction member comprises a chamber having vents whereby gas is separated from the foam and the gas is vented from the chamber and a liquid flows out of the chamber, the liquid flow surrounding a downtube in a substantially laminar flow.

5. The dispense head of claim 1, further comprising a seal verification conduit in fluid communication with a space intermediate two seals at a junction between the dispense head and the drum insert.

6. The dispense head of claim 1, further comprising a recirculation fluid conduit whereby fluid may be recirculated back into the drum through the dispense head without the need for an additional opening in the drum.

7. The dispense head of claim 1, further comprising a vent conduit whereby gas is allowed to enter and leave the drum to compensate for a varying volume of fluid within the drum.

8. A dispense system comprising:

a dispense head attachable to a drum insert in a drum;

the drum insert having a downtube extending towards a bottom of the drum and a nipple;

the dispense head having a first fluid dispense conduit in fluid communication with the downtube; and

a poppet located in the first fluid dispense conduit, the poppet comprising a ring shaped engagement member adapted to engage the nipple, a plurality of support members connecting the engagement member to the scaling portion.

9. The dispense system of claim 8 further comprising a foaming reduction member in fluid communication with the interior of the drum and with the second recirculating fluid conduit.

10. The dispense system of claim 9, in which the foaming reduction member comprises a chamber having vents whereby gas is separated from the foam and discharged from the chamber and a liquid flows out of the chamber in a substantially laminar flow positioned in the second conduit.

11. The dispense system of claim 8, in which a seating portion of the drum insert comprises a plurality of nubs protruding into a central fluid chamber whereby the poppet is opened as the dispense head is inserted into the drum insert and substantially free fluid flow is achieved.

12. The dispense system of claim 8, further comprising a seal verification conduit in fluid communication with a space intermediate two seals at a junction between the dispense head and the drum insert.

13. The dispense system of claim 8, the poppet further comprising a sealing portion.

14. The dispense system of claim 8, the poppet further comprising means for biasing the poppet toward a closed position such that the poppet is opened by the act of inserting the dispense head into the drum insert and closed by the act of removing the dispense head from the drum insert.

15. The dispense system of claim 8, the dispense head further comprising a second recirculating fluid conduit in fluid communication with an interior of the drum.

16. The dispense system of claim 8, the dispense head further comprising a vent conduit in fluid communication with the interior of the drum.

17. The dispense system of claim 8, the dispense head further comprising a seal verification conduit in fluid communication with a space intermediate two seals at a junction between the dispense head and the drum insert.

19. The poppet of claim 18, in which the engagement member, the sealing portion and the support members define an open central area that allows for a substantially free flow of fluid through the poppet into the dispense head when the poppet is in an open position

20. The poppet of claim 18, in which the biasing means comprises a plastic spring.

18. A poppet valve for use in a dispense head configured to couple to a drum insert, the dispense head formed primarily of fluoropolymer, the drum insert comprising a nipple, the poppet comprising:

a ring shaped engagement member adapted to engage the nipple;

a sealing portion;

a plurality of support members connecting the engagement member to the sealing portion; and

means for biasing the poppet toward a closed position such that the poppet is opened when the dispense head is secured to the drum insert and self closed when the dispense head is removed from the drum insert.

21. A method of recirculating liquid to a drum through a dispense head, the method comprising the steps of:

inserting a drum insert into a drum and the dispense head into the drum insert, the drum insert comprising a nipple;

including, in the dispense head, a main fluid conduit, a recirculation fluid conduit and a vent conduit;

inserting into the main fluid conduit a poppet, the poppet comprising a ring shaped engagement member adapted to engage the nipple, a sealing portion, a plurality of support members connecting the engagement member to the sealing portion; and

means for biasing the poppet toward a closed position such that the poppet is opened by the act of inserting the dispense head into the drum insert; and

venting gas into and out of the drum via the vent conduit to compensate for the displacement of liquid in the drum.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of interposing a foaming reduction member between the dispense head and the drum insert.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of including, in the dispense head, a seal verification conduit in fluid communication with a space intermediate two seals at a junction between the dispense head and the drum insert.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of opening the poppet by engaging the dispense head to the drum insert and confronting the engagement member with the nipple thereby overcoming the biasing force of a spring and opening the poppet.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step directing fluid out of the drum via the main fluid conduit and returning fluid to the drum via the recirculation fluid conduit

27. The dispense head of claim 26, in which the foaming reduction member comprises a chamber having vents whereby gas is separated from the foam and the gas is vented from the chamber and a liquid flows out of the chamber, the liquid flow surrounding a downtube in a substantially laminar flow.

28. The dispense head of claim 27, in which the foaming reduction member comprises a cylindrical portion and a conical portion.

29. The dispense head of claim 26, the poppet having a ring shaped engagement portion with an open central area and a plurality of axial support members supporting the engagement portion and in which the nipple of the drum insert comprises a plurality of nubs protruding into a central fluid chamber whereby the poppet is opened as the dispense head is inserted into the drum insert and substantially free fluid flow is achieved.

30. The dispense head of claim 26, further comprising a seal verification conduit in fluid communication with a space intermediate two seals at a junction between the dispense head and the drum insert.

26. A dispense head configured to couple to a drum insert, the dispense head formed primarily of fluoropolymer and comprising:

a main fluid flow line having a poppet;

the poppet comprising means for biasing the poppet toward a closed position such that the poppet is opened by the act of inserting the dispense head into the drum insert;

a recirculation fluid conduit;

a vent conduit; and

a foaming reduction member in fluid communication with the recirculation fluid conduit to reduce foaming of fluid returning to the drum.

31. A method of reducing foaming while recirculating liquid to a drum through a dispense head, the method comprising the steps of:

inserting a drum insert into a drum and the dispense head into the drum insert,;

including, in the dispense head, a main fluid conduit, a recirculation fluid conduit and a vent conduit;

inserting into the main fluid conduit a poppet, the poppet comprising means for biasing the poppet toward a closed position such that the poppet is opened by the act of inserting the dispense head into the drum insert;

interposing a foaming reduction member in fluid communication with the recirculation fluid conduit between the dispense head and the drum insert; and

venting gas into and out of the drum via the vent conduit to compensate for the displacement of liquid in the drum.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of including, in the dispense head, a seal verification conduit in fluid communication with a space intermediate two seals at a junction between the dispense head and the drum insert.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of opening the poppet by engaging the dispense head to the drum insert and confronting the engagement member with a nipple thereby overcoming the biasing force of the biasing means and opening the poppet.

34. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of directing fluid out of the drum via the main fluid conduit and returning fluid to the drum via the recirculation fluid conduit and the foaming reduction member.