Apparatus for drawing a pre-selectable quantity of liquid

• US 5,040,106 A
• Filed: 08/29/1989
• Issued: 08/13/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hansa Metallwerke AG (Paasikivi Family)
• Original Assignee: Hansa Metallwerke AG (Paasikivi Family)
• Inventors: Maag, Horst
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jerry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Muir, Patrick
• Application Number:
  US07/400,139
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 364/510, 364/167.01, 141/192, 141/195, 141/196, 251/205, 222/56, 222/639, 222/640, 222/641
• US Class Current: 700/56
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/303 involving digital counting

Abstract

An apparatus for drawing a pre-selectable quantity of liquid, in particular a quantity of water, comprises an input device, at which the respectively desired quantity of liquid to be delivered automatically can be fed in. Located in the path of the liquid is an electrically variable flow-control valve, whereof the position is varied automatically according to the pre-selected quantity of liquid, corresponding to a characteristic curve stored in a memory: the flow rate is chosen to be all the greater, the greater the pre-selected quantity of liquid. Due to this it is ensured that very different quantities of liquid can be drawn in times which are practical for use.

Claims

1. Apparatus for drawing a pre-selected quantity of liquid with an input device in which the quantity of liquid is presettable and with an electrically operated shut-off valve (12) further comprising:

(a) an electrically adjustable flow-control valve (11), by which the flow rate delivered is continuously variable between a minimum value and a maximum value;

(b) a memory (5) in which a characteristic curve is memorized and which establishes a relationship between the quantity of liquid and the flow rate in such a way that as the quantity of liquid increases, the flow rate increases; and

(c) a control unit (4) which, according to the quantity of liquid pre-selected at the input device (1), reads the associated flow rate from the memory (5) and adjusts the flow-control valve (11) by corresponding electrical signals.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the flow-control valve (11) is formed by a variable stroke-limiting device integrated in the shut-off valve (12).

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 which further comprises a locking circuit (6) which monitors the time during which the flow-control valve (11) is adjusted and allows the switching of the shut-off valve (12) solely after the expiration of this time.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 which further comprises a flow meter (7) which monitors the quantity of liquid flowing after opening the shut-off valve (12) and closes the shut-off valve 912) on reaching the pre-selected quantity of liquid.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 which further comprises an electric timing member which produces an opening pulse for the shut--off valve (12) with a time duration which corresponds to the pre-selected quantity of liquid.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the memory (5) is programmable by way of the input device (1).

7. Apparatus according to claim 3 which further comprises an electric timing member which produces an opening pulse for the shut-off valve (12) with a time duration which corresponds to the pre-selected quantity of liquid.

8. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the memory (5) is programmable by way of the input device (1).

9. Apparatus according to claim 2 which further comprises a flow member (7) which monitors the quantity of liquid flowing after opening the shut-off valve (12) and closes the shut-off valve (12) on reaching the pre-selected quantity of liquid.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1 which further comprises a locking circuit (6) which monitors the time during which the flow-control valve (11) is adjusted and allows the switching of the shut-off valve (12) solely after the expiration of this time.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1 which further comprises a flow meter (7) which monitors the quantity of liquid flowing after opening the shut-off valve (12) and closes the shut-off valve (12)) on reaching the pre-selected quantity of liquid.

13. Apparatus according to claim 1 which further comprises an electric timing member which produces an opening pulse for the shut-off valve (12) with a time duration which corresponds to the pre-selected quantity of liquid.

14. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the memory (5) is programmable by way of the input device.

10. Apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the memory (5) is programmable by way of the input device (1).