Pump and mixing device for liquids

• US 5,114,047 A
• Filed: 08/14/1990
• Issued: 05/19/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nestec SA (Nestle SA)
• Original Assignee: Lykes Pasco, Inc.
• Inventors: Baron, Richard D., Quadros, Valdemiro M., Smith, Malcolm C., Spoeth, Carl R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin P.
• Application Number:
  US07/567,186
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 222/129.1-129.4, 222/207, 222/209, 222/212, 222/213, 222/214, 222/333, 222/478, 222/491, 222/494-496, 222/547, 222/564
• US Class Current: 222/129.1
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0043 Mixing devices for liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/10 Pump mechanism in general F04
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/06 with guided stems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 137/903 Rubber valve springs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7879 Resilient material valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7888 With valve member flexing about securement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7904 Reciprocating valves

Abstract

A pump and mixing device for pumping a liquid from a container and mixing with a diluent. The pump and mixing device comprises a body member having an input body portion and an output body portion with a flexible wall defining a pumping chamber between the input body portion and the output body portion. The input body portion has an input aperture for enabling the liquid to flow from the container into the input body portion. The output body portion has an output aperture communicating with the flowing diluent. An input one-way valve is disposed in the input aperture for permitting the flow of liquid only from the container to the pumping chamber whereas an output one-way valve is disposed in the output aperture for permitting the flow of liquid only from the pumping chamber. A motive device reciprocates the output body portion relative to the input body portion between a first and a second position for causing liquid to flow from the container through the input one-way valve into the pumping chamber when the output body portion is moved into the first position and for causing liquid to flow from the pumping chamber through the output one-way valve to mix with the diluent when the output body portion is moved into the second position.

Claims

1. An apparatus for pumping a liquid from a container having container aperture means and for mixing the liquid from the container with a liquid diluent, comprising in combination:

a body member having an input body portion and an output body portion with flexible wall means interconnecting said input body portion and said output body portion;

said flexible wall means defining a pumping chamber between said input body portion and said output body portion;

said input body portion having an input aperture communicating with said pumping chamber;

said output body portion having an output aperture communicating with said pumping chamber;

mounting means for mounting said input body portion relative to the container for enabling the liquid from the container to flow through the container aperture means into said input aperture of said input body portion;

input one-way valve means for permitting the flow of liquid only from the container aperture means to said pumping chamber of said body member;

output one-way valve means for permitting the flow of liquid only from said pumping chamber of said body member to said output aperture of said output body portion;

motive means for reciprocating said output body portion relative to said input body portion between a first and a second position for causing liquid to flow from the container aperture means through said input one-way valve means into said pumping chamber when said output body portion is moved into said first position and for causing liquid to flow from said pumping chamber through said output one-way valve means when said output body portion is moved into said second position; and

a mixing port cooperating with said body member for introducing the liquid diluent for mixing with the container liquid.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the container aperture means include a plurality of container apertures disposed in a cap of the container.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the container aperture means include a plurality of container apertures disposed in a cap of the container;

and

said mounting means being integrally formed in said body member for resiliently grasping the cap of the container means.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said input body portion and said output body portion are integrally formed with said flexible wall means.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said input one way valve means in integrally formed with said body portion.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said output one way valve means is integrally formed with said body portion.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the container aperture means include a plurality of container apertures disposed in a cap of the container;

and

said input one way valve means being secured to the cap of the container.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said input one-way valve means cooperates with the container aperture means for permitting the flow of liquid from the container into said pumping chamber upon said motive means reciprocating said output body portion into said first position and for inhibiting the flow of liquid from said pumping chamber to the container upon said motive means reciprocating said output body portion into said second position.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said output one-way valve means cooperates with the output aperture for permitting the flow of liquid from said pumping chamber into said output body portion upon said motive means reciprocating said output body portion into said second position and for inhibiting the flow of liquid from said output body portion to said pumping chamber upon said motive means reciprocating output body portion into said first position.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said motive means includes a motor driving a reciprocating arm with said reciprocating arm having first coupling means;

and

said body member having second coupling means for cooperating with said first coupling means for coupling said reciprocating arm to said body member.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said body member is molded from a flexible polymeric material.

12. An apparatus for pumping a liquid from a container having container aperture means and for mixing the liquid from the container with a liquid diluent, comprising in combination:

a body member having an input body portion and an output body portion with flexible wall means interconnecting said input body portion and said output body portion;

said flexible wall means defining a pumping chamber between said input body portion and said output body portion;

said input body portion having an input aperture communicating with said pumping chamber;

said output body portion having an output aperture communicating with said pumping chamber;

mounting means for mounting said input body portion relative to the container for enabling the liquid from the container to flow through the container aperture means into said input aperture of said input body portion;

input one-way valve means for permitting the flow of liquid only from the container aperture means to said pumping chamber of said body member;

output one-way valve means for permitting the flow of liquid only from said pumping chamber of said body member to said output aperture of said output body portion;

motive means for reciprocating said output body portion relative to said input body portion between a first and a second position for causing liquid to flow from the container aperture means through said input one-way valve means into said pumping chamber when said output body portion is moved into said first position and for causing liquid to flow from said pumping chamber through said output one-way valve means when said output body portion is moved into said second position;

a mixing chamber defined in said output body portion of said body member;

said mixing chamber communicating with said output aperture for receiving the container liquid from said pumping chamber; and

a mixing port defined in said body member for introducing a liquid diluent into said mixing chamber for mixing with the container liquid.

13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein said mixing chamber reciprocation between said first position and said second position upon reciprocation of said output body portion for facilitating the mixing of the liquid diluent with the container liquid.

14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13, including a flexible tubing connecting the liquid diluent to said mixing port.

15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12, including a terminal passage communicating with said mixing chamber with said terminal passage defining a terminal orifice for discharging the container liquid and the liquid diluent therefrom.

16. An apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein said terminal passage and said terminal orifice are defined in said output body portion.

17. An apparatus as set forth in claim 16, wherein said mixing chamber is integrally formed with said body member and is interposed between said output aperture of said pumping chamber and said terminal orifice.

18. An apparatus as set forth in claim 17, including an overcap secured to the container for covering said body member and for sealing with said terminal orifice to prevent leakage of the container liquid.

19. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein said mixing port introduces the liquid diluent into said mixing chamber in a flow direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the container liquid.

20. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12, including a surface disposed in said mixing chamber for interrupting the flow of the container liquid to produce a turbulence of the container liquid and the liquid diluent for facilitating the mixing thereof.

21. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12, including a director for converting the turbulence of the container liquid and the liquid diluent into a substantially laminar flow from said terminal orifice.

22. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12, including liquid diluent flow control means for controlling the flow of the liquid diluent into said mixing chamber;

and

control means for simultaneously energizing said liquid diluent flow control means and said motive means for mixing a selected amount of the container liquid with a selected amount of the liquid diluent.

23. An apparatus for pumping a container liquid from a container having container aperture means and for mixing the container liquid with a liquid diluent, comprising in combination:

a body member having an input body portion and an output body portion with flexible wall means interconnecting said input body portion and said output body portion;

said flexible wall means defining a pumping chamber between said input body portion and said output body portion;

said input body portion having an input aperture communicating with said pumping chamber;

said output body portion having an output aperture communicating with said pumping chamber;

mounting means for mounting said input body portion relative to the container for enabling the liquid from the container to flow through the container aperture means into said input aperture of said input body portion;

input one-way valve means for permitting the flow of liquid only from the container aperture means to said pumping chamber of said body member;

output one-way valve means for permitting the flow of liquid only from said pumping chamber of said body member to said output aperture of said output body portion;

motive means for reciprocating said output body portion relative to said input body portion between a first and a second position for causing liquid to flow from the container aperture means through said input one-way valve means into said pumping chamber when said output body portion is moved into said first position and for causing liquid to flow from said pumping chamber through said output one-way valve means when said output body portion is moved into said second position;

a mixing chamber defined in said output body portion of said body chamber;

said mixing chamber communicating with said output aperture for receiving the container liquid from said pumping chamber; and

a liquid port defined in said body member for introducing the liquid diluent into said mixing chamber for mixing with the container liquid.

24. An apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein said motive means includes a motor driving a reciprocating arm with said reciprocating arm having first coupling means;

and

said body member having second coupling means for cooperating with said first coupling means for coupling said reciprocating arm to said body member.

25. An apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein said mixing chamber reciprocation between said first position and said second position upon reciprocation of said output body portion for facilitating the mixing of the liquid diluent with the container liquid.

26. An apparatus as set forth in claim 23, including a terminal passage communicating with said mixing chamber with said terminal passage defining a terminal orifice for discharging the container liquid and the liquid diluent therefrom;

and

said mixing chamber being integrally formed with said body member and being interposed between said output aperture of said pumping chamber and said terminal orifice.

27. An apparatus as set forth in claim 23, including flexible tubing means connecting the liquid diluent to said mixing port.

28. An apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein said mixing port introduces the liquid diluent into said mixing chamber in a flow direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the container liquid.

29. An apparatus as set forth in claim 23, including a surface disposed in said mixing chamber for interrupting the flow of the container liquid to produce a turbulence of the container liquid and the liquid diluent for facilitating the mixing thereof.

30. An apparatus as set forth in claim 23, including a director for converting the turbulence of the container liquid and the liquid diluent into a substantially laminar flow from said terminal orifice.

31. An apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein the container aperture means is defined in a container cap securable to the container;

and

said container cap having vent means for venting the container during depletion of the container liquid from the container.

32. An apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein the container aperture means is defined in a container cap securable to the container;

said container cap having vent means for venting the container during depletion of the container liquid from the container; and

an overcap securable to said container for sealing said vent means during storage and shipment.

33. An apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein the container aperture means is defined in a container cap securable to the container;

said container cap having vent means for venting the container during depletion of the container liquid from the container;

a gasket interposed between said container and said container cap for providing a sealing engagement therebetween;

said gasket establishing an annular wall disposed between said vent means and an interior volume of said container for creating a volume of air outboard of said annular wall for permitting air external said container to enter said interior volume of said container and for preventing the migration of liquid in said interior volume from said vent means.