AUTOMATIC FLUID DISPENSING APPARATUS WITH MANUAL OVERRIDE

• US 3,666,143 A
• Filed: 06/22/1970
• Issued: 05/30/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Murray Weston
• Original Assignee: Murray Weston
• Inventors: Weston, Murray
• Primary Examiner(s): Reeves, Robert B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kocovsky, Thomas E.
• Application Number:
  US05/048,327
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 222/30,37,61,70 137/624.12
• US Class Current: 222/61
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0006 based on the timed opening of a valve
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/08 Details
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1405 Control taps
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/1483 electrically or electro-mechanically operated

Abstract

An apparatus for dispensing a predetermined volume of fluid under pressure with provision for modifying the dispensing time of the fluid to compensate for changes in the pressure on the fluid. Further provision is made to selectively dispense one of a plurality of predetermined liquid volumes, and to record the number of dispensing cycles made of each said predetermined liquid volume.

Claims

1. Apparatus for dispensing predetermined quantities of fluid under pressure from a conventional faucet having a mechanically actuable manual valve comprising:

selectively engageable mechanical interlock means adapted to be mounted proximate to the conventional faucet and operatively connected to the handle of the conventional faucet;

manually operable handle means operatively connected to said interlock means whereby when said interlock means is engaged, said manually operable handle means is in direct mechanical connection with the handle on the conventional faucet; and

means for selectively disengaging and engaging said interlock means whereby upon said disengagement, said manually operable handle means is mechanically disconnected from the handle on the conventional faucet whereby the handle on the conventional faucet returns to an off position irrespective of the position of said manually operable handle means.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said manually operable handle means is pivotally mounted on said interlock means.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for selectively engaging and disengaging said interlock means includes latching means pivotally connected to said manually operable handle means, and bridge means operatively engaging the handle of the conventional valve, said latching means being mechanically engageable and disengageable with said bridge means.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 further including means normally biasing said bridge means in a position generally corresponding to the handle position of the conventional valve when it is closed.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said latching means includes lifting means for accomplishing said selective engagement and disengagement of said manually operable handle means with the handle of the conventional valve.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 further including fail safe means whereby said manually operable handle means can be maintained in an operative engagement with the conventional valve irrespective of the normally functioning engagement of disengagement of said interlock means.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said fail safe means comprises a pin member insertable between said latching means and a fixed reference point on said interlock means whereby said latching means is maintained in engagement with said bridge means.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said lifting means is actuated by electro-mechanical means.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said electro-mechanical means comprises a solenoid.

10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8 further including first electrical switch means actuable by selective positioning of said manually operable handle means for actuating said electro-mechanical lifting means.