Automatic liquid delivery system
First Claim
1. An automatic liquid delivery system that comprises:
- a plurality of first coupling means disposed in an array of predetermined geometry,liquid source means and means for receiving liquid from said system,means for connecting one of said liquid source means and said liquid-receiving means individually to said plurality of first coupling means, andmeans for automatically connecting the other of said liquid source means and said liquid-receiving means to said plurality of first coupling means in a predetermined sequence comprising second coupling means constructed for selective individual coupling engagement with each of said plurality of first coupling means, support means on which said second coupling means is mounted, motor means coupled to said support means for selectively moving said support means and said second coupling means carried thereby such that said second coupling means traverses said array, and control means connected to said motor means and to said second coupling means for connecting said second coupling means to said plurality of first coupling means in said predetermined sequence.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for automatically and accurately transferring/transporting quantities of liquids from bulk storage source tanks to mixing/processing tanks with minimal contamination of the liquids or to the surrounding environment. The several bulk storage source tanks are individually connected by associated pumps and control valves to a corresponding plurality of first couplers fixedly mounted on a terminal panel in an array of predetermined geometry. A second coupler, adapted for selective mating engagement with the first couplers, is carried by a robotic arm that is movably mounted on a support base for bringing the second coupler selectively into registry and coupling engagement with any one of the first couplers. Motion of the arm and engagement/disengagement of the couplers, as well as operation of the several storage source pumps and appropriate control valves, are all controlled by a process controller/computer, which also receives an input from a mass flow meter for determining quantity of liquid transferred to the mixing/processing tank from each storage tank. The couplers are of the locking dry-break type to minimize spillage or leakage during the coupling/decoupling and liquid transport operation.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An automatic liquid delivery system that comprises:
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a plurality of first coupling means disposed in an array of predetermined geometry, liquid source means and means for receiving liquid from said system, means for connecting one of said liquid source means and said liquid-receiving means individually to said plurality of first coupling means, and means for automatically connecting the other of said liquid source means and said liquid-receiving means to said plurality of first coupling means in a predetermined sequence comprising second coupling means constructed for selective individual coupling engagement with each of said plurality of first coupling means, support means on which said second coupling means is mounted, motor means coupled to said support means for selectively moving said support means and said second coupling means carried thereby such that said second coupling means traverses said array, and control means connected to said motor means and to said second coupling means for connecting said second coupling means to said plurality of first coupling means in said predetermined sequence. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An automatic liquid delivery system that includes:
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a plurality of first liquid coupling means and means mounting said plurality of first coupling means in a fixed positions in a planar array of predetermined geometry, a plurality of liquid tanks and a pump individually connecting each of said tanks to at least one of said plurality of first coupling means, means for receiving liquid from said system, and means for automatically connecting said liquid-receiving means to said plurality of first coupling means in a predetermined sequence so as to receive liquid in turn from predetermined ones of said liquid tanks, said automatically-connecting means comprising a base having an arm movably mounted thereon and first motor means connecting said arm to said base for moving said arm on said base in a direction corresponding to a dimension of said array, second coupling means mounted on said arm and spaced from said base so as to traverse said array as said arm is moved with respect to said base, second motor means coupled to said arm for positively coupling said second coupling means to a one of said plurality of first coupling means aligned therewith, and control means connected to said first and second motor means and to said pumps for sequentially moving said second coupling means among said plurality of first coupling means and coupling said second coupling means to said one of said plurality of first coupling means in a predetermined sequence and operating said pump means in said sequence to transfer liquid from said tanks, to said liquid-receiving means in said predetermined sequence and in predetermined amounts. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification