Bulk dispensing apparatus system
First Claim
1. A self-contained liquid dispensing apparatus comprising:
- a housing;
a bulk tank in said housing for holding a bulk supply of liquid;
a reservoir mounted on said housing for holding a smaller supply of liquid;
a first pump in said housing and means connecting said first pump to said reservoir, for filling said reservoir from said bulk tank;
a second pump in said housing and means connecting said second pump to a dispensing outlet, for pumping liquid from said reservoir to said dispensing outlet;
liquid level sensing means associated with said reservoir and including an upper sending means and a lower sensing means for sensing a higher and a lower liquid level in said reservoir; and
control means for actuating said first and second pumps;
said lower and said upper sensing means respectively providing signals to said control means to actuate said first pump to fill said reservoir when said liquid level is at said lower liquid level and to permit actuation of said second pump for dispensing of said liquid to said dispensing outlet after filling of said reservoir.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dispensing apparatus for bulk fluids, and a method associated therewith, is disclosed in which a bulk storage tank operates in association with a second tank of a smaller size, and which retains a fluid to be dispensed in a self-serve operation. Preferably, separate pumps are employed for feeding liquid from the bulk tank to the smaller reservoir, and from the reservoir through a nozzle to a receptacle, on demand. The apparatus of the present invention provides a system for dispensing fluids such as windshield washer at e.g., service stations, which can be used by a customer when it is desired to re-fill a vehicle windshield washer, without the problems associated with filling using larger containers.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A self-contained liquid dispensing apparatus comprising:
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a housing; a bulk tank in said housing for holding a bulk supply of liquid; a reservoir mounted on said housing for holding a smaller supply of liquid; a first pump in said housing and means connecting said first pump to said reservoir, for filling said reservoir from said bulk tank; a second pump in said housing and means connecting said second pump to a dispensing outlet, for pumping liquid from said reservoir to said dispensing outlet; liquid level sensing means associated with said reservoir and including an upper sending means and a lower sensing means for sensing a higher and a lower liquid level in said reservoir; and control means for actuating said first and second pumps; said lower and said upper sensing means respectively providing signals to said control means to actuate said first pump to fill said reservoir when said liquid level is at said lower liquid level and to permit actuation of said second pump for dispensing of said liquid to said dispensing outlet after filling of said reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising:
- a bulk tank for holding a bulk supply of liquid;
a reservoir positioned in said bulk tank for holding a smaller supply of said liquid;
first pump means in said bulk tank for filling said reservoir from said bulk tank;
second pump means for pumping liquid from said reservoir to a dispensing outlet;
liquid level sensing means associated with said reservoir and including an upper sensing means and a lower sensing means for sensing a higher and a lower liquid level in said reservoir; and
control means for actuating said first and second pump means;
said lower and said upper sensing means respectively providing signals to said control means to actuate said first pump means and to cease filling said reservoir when said liquid level is at said upper liquid level, said control means permitting actuation of said second pump means for dispensing of said liquid through a flow line to said dispensing outlet after filling of said reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
- a bulk tank for holding a bulk supply of liquid;
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19. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising:
- a bulk tank for holding a bulk supply of liquid;
a reservoir for holding a smaller supply of said liquid;
first pump means for filling said reservoir from said bulk tank;
further pump means for pumping liquid from said reservoir to a dispensing outlet;
liquid level sensing means associated with said reservoir and including an upper sensing means and a lower sensing means for sensing a higher and a lower liquid level in said reservoir;
control means for actuating said pumps;
said lower and said upper sensing means respectively providing signals to said control means to actuate said first pump means to fill said reservoir when said liquid level is at said lower liquid level and to cease filling said reservoir when said liquid level is at said upper liquid level, said control means also actuating said further pump means to permit dispensing of said liquid to said dispensing outlet after filling of said reservoir; and
switch means connected to said control means for by-passing said lower sensing means to enable said pump means to re-fill said reservoir when the quantity of liquid dispensed does not lower the liquid level to said lower liquid level. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
- a bulk tank for holding a bulk supply of liquid;
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22. A method of dispensing bulk liquid from a bulk source, comprising:
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pumping a liquid from a bulk storage by a first mounted in said bulk storage to a reservoir mounted on said bulk storage for holding a smaller supply of liquid; feeding said liquid from said reservoir by a second pump mounted in said reservoir; initiating said pumping by said first pump by detection of a liquid level at a lower level and shutting off said pumping by said first pump by detection of the liquid level at an upper level, and actuating said second pump to pump liquid from said reservoir to an outlet, after filling said reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising:
- a bulk tank for holding a bulk supply of liquid;
a reservoir positioned on said bulk tank for holding a smaller supply of said liquid;
first pump means for filling said reservoir from said bulk tank;
second pump means for pumping liquid from said reservoir to a dispensing outlet;
liquid level sensing means associated with said reservoir and including an upper sensing means and a lower sensing means for sensing a higher and a lower liquid level in said reservoir;
control means for actuating said first and second pump means;
said lower and said upper sensing means respectively providing signals to said control means to actuate said first pump means to fill said reservoir when said liquid level is at said lower liquid level and to actuate said second pump means to cease filling said reservoir when said liquid level is at said upper liquid level, said control means permitting actuation of said second pump means for dispensing of said liquid to said dispensing outlet after filling of said reservoir.
- a bulk tank for holding a bulk supply of liquid;
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28. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising:
- a bulk tank for holding a bulk supply of liquid;
a reservoir positioned on said bulk tank for holding a smaller supply of said liquid;
first pump means in said bulk tank for filling said reservoir from said bulk tank;
second pump means positioned in said reservoir for pumping liquid from said reservoir to a dispensing outlet;
liquid level sensing means associated with said reservoir and including an upper sensing means and a lower sensing means for sensing a higher and a lower liquid level in said reservoir;
control means for actuating said first and second pump means;
said lower and said upper sensing means respectively providing signals to said control means to actuate said first pump means to fill said reservoir when said liquid level is at said lower liquid level and to actuate said first pump means to cease filling said reservoir when said liquid level is at said upper liquid level, said control means permitting actuation of said second pump means for dispensing of said liquid to said dispensing outlet after filling of said reservoir.
- a bulk tank for holding a bulk supply of liquid;
Specification