Mixing and diluting apparatus

• US 5,288,145 A
• Filed: 05/27/1993
• Issued: 02/22/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: M.C. Chemical Co.
• Original Assignee: M.C. Chemical Co.
• Inventors: Mackey, Glenn C., Lucas, William H.
• Primary Examiner(s): JENKINS, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US08/068,414
• Time in Patent Office: 271 Days
• Field of Search: 366/141, 366/151, 366/152, 366/153, 366/160, 366/161, 366/162, 366/601, 366/18, 366/33, 222/57, 222/58
• US Class Current: 366/141
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/881 by weighing, e.g. with automatic discharge

Abstract

Apparatus for automatically mixing a predetermined weight of liquid having a high concentration of solids with water in order to dilute the concentrate. A programmable controller is adapted to be programmed with the desired weights of concentrate and water for the mixture and responds to signals from a weighing scale to automatically cut off the flow of each material into a mixing tank when the proper weight of each material has been delivered into the tank.

Claims

1. Apparatus for mixing a first liquid material with a second at least partially liquid material, said apparatus comprising a mixing tank, first and second electrically controlled valves for regulating the flow of said first and second materials, respectively, to said tank, means for detecting the instantaneous weight of material in said tank and for producing an electrical signal representative of such weight, electrically controlled power operated means for mixing the first and second materials in said tank, controller means adapted to be programmed with the desired weight of each of said materials to be added to said tank, said controller means:

(A) causing one of said valves to open and admit one of said materials to said tank through said one valve;

(B) causing said power-operated means to start;

(C) responding to said signal and causing said one valve to close and causing the other valve to open when the weight of said one material in said tank reaches the desired weight whereby the other of said materials is then admitted into said tank through said other valve;

(D) responding to said signal and causing said other valve to close when the weight of the other material in said tank reaches the desired weight; and

(E) causing said power-operated means to stop a predetermined time after closure of said other valve.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including means for causing the mixed material to be discharged from said tank, said controller means responding to said signal and re-opening said one valve when the weight of material in said tank drops to a predetermined value.