Apparatus for gravity feed of liquid under constant hydrostatic pressure

• US 4,588,396 A
• Filed: 08/31/1983
• Issued: 05/13/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Merle J. Stroebel
• Original Assignee: Merle J. Stroebel
• Inventors: Stroebel, Maurice G., Stroebel, Terryl T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Stephen C.
• Application Number:
  US06/528,048
• Time in Patent Office: 986 Days
• Field of Search: 604/246, 604/257, 604/251, 604/51, 604/244, 604/403, 604/411-415, 137/453, 137/454
• US Class Current: 604/246
• CPC Class Codes: A61D 7/00 Devices or methods for introducing solid, liquid, or gaseous remedies or other materials into or onto the bodies of animals for reproduction or fertilisation A61D19/00 ; devices for implanting pellets, radon seeds or the like A61M37/0069
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14 Infusion devices, e.g. infusing by gravity; Blood infusion; Accessories therefor

Abstract

An inverted liquid supply bottle containing liquid to be dispensed has a downwardly opening neck portion. In one form of the invention, a supply bottle support cup forms a reservoir defining a basin, an upper portion of which is nominally open to the atmosphere. The cup supports the bottle to position the bottom of the downwardly extending neck portion in spaced relation to the bottom of the cup. A liquid feed tube in the form of a capillary tube opens downwardly from the bottom of the reservoir basin and feeds into a transparent sight glass. A flexible deformable liquid delivery tube or hose carries the liquid being dispensed from the bottom of the sight glass to a location for use, and a manually operable hose clamp valve on the hose regulates the rate of flow of the liquid through the hose. In a second form, a reservoir providing a basin is situated below and spaced from the bottle neck. A liquid supply tube extends from inside of the bottle in sealing relationship to the neck portion and into the reservoir to terminate in the basin spaced from the bottom of the basin. A liquid delivery tube extends from the bottom of the basin into a conduit which delivers the liquid being dispensed to a location for use. In either form of the invention, the hose clamp on the outlet hose can be eliminated and flow can be controlled by controlling access of atmospheric pressure to the upper portion of the reservoir basin.

Claims

1. In combination with an invertable and inverted liquid tight liquid supply bottle having a penetrable cover, an apparatus for gravity feed of liquid under constant hydrostatic pressure, such apparatus including:

a. a reservoir defining a basin at one end thereof and having a receiving end on the opposite end thereof;

b. means for introducing atmospheric pressure into said reservoir above said basin end;

c. a liquid supply conduit connected to said receiving end having a tapered supply passage therethrough having an end for penetrating said cover and a delivery end, said tapered passge having its larger diameter end adjacent said penetrating end and its smaller diameter end arranged in spaced relation above said basin end and below said pressure introduction means; and

d. a fluid flow passge means arranged in said basin end for delivery of fluid therefrom.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

a. means is provided to control the rate of flow of liquid from said fluid flow passage means.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

a. said flow control means includes valve means in operable relation to said fluid flow passage means.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 and;

a. said liquid supply conduit having an air passage therethrough generally normal to said liquid flow passage means for introduction of atmospheric air into said passage.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 and;

a. said atmospheric air introduction passage being of a first diameter and communicating with said liquid passage means at a position longitudinally thereof at which the diameter of said tapered passage for liquid is greater than said first diameter of said communicating passage.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 and;

a. said reservoir providing a substantially closed body; and

,

b. said means for introducing atmospheric pressure into said reservoir including a passage formed through said reservoir.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 and;

a. valve means arranged and constructed to control the communication through said atmospheric pressure introduction means.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 and;

a. the smaller end of said liquid supply conduit being angularly arranged with respect to the longitudinal axis of the same.