Fluid-metering apparatus

• US 3,913,807 A
• Filed: 06/12/1974
• Issued: 10/21/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Elmer E. Reinmiller, Walter G. Lale
• Original Assignee: Elmer E. Reinmiller, Walter G. Lale
• Inventors: Lale, Walter G., Reinmiller, Elmer E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoffman, Drayton E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lane, Hadd
• Application Number:
  US05/478,743
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 222/442,449,453,450,340,341
• US Class Current: 222/442
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/28 with stationary measuring chambers having constant volume during measurement

Abstract

Volumetric fluid metering means for metering a preselected fluid volume and including a metering chamber enclosing an interior volume corresponding to a preselected fluid volume to be metered. Ganged, dual valve means provides intake porting and exhaust porting of the metering chamber, alternatively in mutually exclusive ones of two opposite states of the valve means, a first state corresponding to a fluid-charging mode, the second state corresponding to a metered discharge mode.

Claims

1. Gravity-operated fluid metering means for metering a preselected fluid volume, comprising a metering chamber enclosing an interior volume corresponding to the preselected fluid volume to be metered and having an intake port at one end of said chamber, an exhaust port at an opposite end of said chamber, and a vent port, means in fluid communication with said venting port and adapted for venting said metering chamber at a heighth corresponding to the fluid level of an external source of fluid-to-be-metered, monostable, dual-mode, dual valve means for fluid flow switching of said intake and exhaust ports, said two ports being operated in mutually exclusive states, a stable first state corresponding to an open state of said intake port and a closed state of said exhaust port, and an astable second state corresponding to a closed state of said intake port and an open state of said exhaust port, said gravity-operated fluid metering means being enclosed within a cylindrical casing having a normally vertical axial extent, said casing being divided into a vertical array at three axial chambers, by two parallel inner walls, a charging first chamber formed between a top of said casing and a first one of the inner walls parallel to said casing top, a metering second chamber formed between said first inner wall and a second one of the inner walls, a discharging third chamber formed between said second inner wall and a bottom of said casing, each said top of said casing and said inner walls being pierced by a respective aperture to accommodate insertion of an integral valve stem, said valve stem fixedly mounting two axially spaced valve heads, said aperture in said top of said casing having an elastomeric seal to seal said aperture in said casing top while allowing mechanical linkage of said valve stem with electromechanical actuation means;

said aperture in said first inner wall being formed as a first valve seat for a first valve head on said valve stem when moving axially within said charging chamber toward said first inner wall, said aperture in said second inner wall being formed as a second valve seat for a second valve head formed on said valve stem when moving axially within said second discharging chamber toward said second inner wall, leaf-type axial-spring loading means within said third chamber for urging said valve axially such that said second valve head tends to seat in said second valve seat, said charging chamber having an inlet port adapted to be connected to a means for utilizing a metered fluid, said metering chamber having a vent adapted to extend to a height of said fluid reservoir.