Mixing system for use with concentrated liquids

• US 4,941,596 A
• Filed: 07/14/1986
• Issued: 07/17/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co (3M Company)
• Inventors: Plumbo, Philip S., Marty, John L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Skaggs, H. Grant
• Application Number:
  US06/884,994
• Time in Patent Office: 1,464 Days
• Field of Search: 134/95, 134/169 R, 417/7, 417/8, 137/567, 137/624.18, 137/504, 222/1, 222/144.5, 222/145, 222/14, 222/63, 222/72, 222/71, 222/255, 222/148
• US Class Current: 222/144.5
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/4505 Mixing ingredients comprising detergents, soaps, for washing, e.g. washing machines
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/483 using water for diluting a liquid ingredient, obtaining a predetermined concentration or making an aqueous solution of a concentrate
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7549 using distributing means, e.g. manifold valves or multiple fittings for supplying the discharge components to a plurality of dispensing places
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/8823 using diaphragms or bellows
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/36 Arrangements of flow- or pressure-control valves associated with nozzles B67D7/42
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/74 Devices for mixing two or more different liquids to be transferred coin-freed apparatus G07F13/06
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86163 Parallel

Abstract

Mixing concentrates requires the precise dispensing of predetermined amounts of concentrate into predetermined amounts of liquid and such mixes can be obtained by the use of a system having two positive displacement pumps, one for pumping larger volumes with each operation than the second pump and a pressure regulator to maintain a predetermined pressure on the solvent carrier fluid for the mixture.

Claims

1. A fluid dispensing system for dispensing a solution comprising a predetermined amount of a concentrate together with a carrier fluid, said system comprising

a closed manifold chamber for storing a quantity of carrier fluid,

a plurality of ports leading to said manifold chamber, each of said ports being connected by a valve to said manifold chamber and being connected to a supply of concentrate,

a first positive displacement pump connected to said chamber and operable upon each cycle of said pump to displace from said manifold chamber a predetermined volume of said carrier fluid and to replace it with an equal volume of concentrate;

a second positive displacement pump connected to said manifold chamber for pumping a second predetermined volume of fluid from said manifold chamber during each cycle, which second predetermined volume is different from that of said first pump during each cycle of operation;

a pressure regulator, said pressure regulator being adapted for connection to a source of carrier fluid and means for connecting said pressure regulator to said manifold chamber, said means including a valve for controlling the flow of fluid from said pressure regulator to said manifold chamber;

whereby, operation of said first pump and said second pump will draw predetermined amounts of concentrate through said ports into said manifold chamber and a predetermined amount of carrier fluid may be dispensed through said manifold chamber.

2. A fluid dispensing system according to claim 1 wherein said system comprises an output manifold having a passageway connected to receive discharge from said first pump and from said second pump and carrier fluid direct from said regulator.