System and method for dispensing liquid from storage containers
First Claim
1. A system for dispensing liquid from first and second containers, comprising:
- first media transfer line means, positioned in liquid-flow communication with said first container, for transferring liquid from said first container;
second media transfer line means, positioned in liquid-flow communication with said second container, for transferring liquid from said second container;
switchable valve means for, in a first state, preventing liquid from flowing through said first media transfer line means while allowing liquid to flow through said second media transfer line means and for, in a second state, preventing liquid from flowing through said second media transfer line means while allowing liquid to flow through said first media transfer line means;
a liquid storage reservoir connected in liquid-flow communication with said valve means for storing liquid received from said first and second media transfer line means by way of said valve means;
bleeding valve means for selectively introducing gas into said liquid storage reservoir;
pump means for withdrawing liquid stored within said liquid storage reservoir;
transfer line sensor means for monitoring said first and second media transfer line means for the presence of liquid therein, and for generating a first switching signal when liquid becomes absent from said first media transfer line and a second switching signal when liquid becomes absent from said second media transfer line;
container switching means for alternately placing said first and second containers in liquid-flow communication with said reservoir by switching said valve means to said first state in response to said first switching signal and by switching said valve means to said second state in response to said second switching signal; and
means for inducing liquid to flow from said transfer line means into said liquid storage reservoir.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for dispensing liquid from first and second containers is disclosed herein. The liquid dispensing system includes a first media transfer line, positioned in liquid-flow communication with the first container, for transferring liquid from the first container. A second media transfer line, positioned in liquid-flow communication with the second container, is disposed to transfer liquid from the second container. When placed in a first state a switchable valve prevents liquid from flowing through the first media transfer line and allows liquid to flow through the second media transfer line. In a second state the switchable valve prevents liquid from flowing through the second media transfer line while allowing liquid to flow through the first media transfer line. A liquid storage reservoir connected in liquid-flow communication with the switchable valve stores liquid received from the first and second media transfer lines by way of the switchable valve. A transfer line sensor arrangement monitors the first and second media transfer lines for the presence of liquid therein, and generates a first switching signal when liquid becomes absent from the first media transfer line and a second switching signal when liquid becomes absent from the second media transfer line. The switchable valve is switched to the first state in response to the first switching signal and to the second state in response to the second switching signal. A vacuum generator is disposed to remove gas from the liquid storage reservoir above the level of liquid therein.
66 Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A system for dispensing liquid from first and second containers, comprising:
-
first media transfer line means, positioned in liquid-flow communication with said first container, for transferring liquid from said first container; second media transfer line means, positioned in liquid-flow communication with said second container, for transferring liquid from said second container; switchable valve means for, in a first state, preventing liquid from flowing through said first media transfer line means while allowing liquid to flow through said second media transfer line means and for, in a second state, preventing liquid from flowing through said second media transfer line means while allowing liquid to flow through said first media transfer line means; a liquid storage reservoir connected in liquid-flow communication with said valve means for storing liquid received from said first and second media transfer line means by way of said valve means; bleeding valve means for selectively introducing gas into said liquid storage reservoir; pump means for withdrawing liquid stored within said liquid storage reservoir; transfer line sensor means for monitoring said first and second media transfer line means for the presence of liquid therein, and for generating a first switching signal when liquid becomes absent from said first media transfer line and a second switching signal when liquid becomes absent from said second media transfer line; container switching means for alternately placing said first and second containers in liquid-flow communication with said reservoir by switching said valve means to said first state in response to said first switching signal and by switching said valve means to said second state in response to said second switching signal; and means for inducing liquid to flow from said transfer line means into said liquid storage reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A system for dispensing liquid from first and second containers, comprising:
-
first media transfer line means, positioned in liquid-flow communication with said first container, for transferring liquid from said first container; second media transfer line means, positioned in liquid-flow communication with said second container, for transferring liquid from said second container; switchable valve means for, in a first state, preventing liquid from flowing through said first media transfer line means while allowing liquid to flow through said second media transfer line means and for, in a second state, preventing liquid from flowing through said second media transfer line means while allowing liquid to flow through said first media transfer line means; a liquid storage reservoir connected in liquid-flow communication with said valve means for storing liquid received from said first and second media transfer line means by way of said valve means; level sensing means for monitoring the level of liquid within said storage reservoir, and for providing a reservoir low signal when the liquid level within said reservoir falls below a first predetermined level; pump means for withdrawing liquid stored within said liquid storage reservoir; transfer line sensor means for monitoring said first and second media transfer line means for the presence of liquid therein, and for generating a first switching signal when liquid becomes absent from said first media transfer line and a second switching signal when liquid becomes absent from said second media transfer line; valve switching means for switching said valve means to said first state in response to said first switching signal and for switching said valve means to said second state in response to said second switching signal; means for inducing liquid to flow from said transfer line means into said liquid storage reservoir, said means for inducing liquid to flow comprising a vacuum generator; first three-way valve means for placing said vacuum generator in gas-flow communication with said reservoir means upon receiving said reservoir low signal from said level sensing means; and gas supply means for bleeding gas into said reservoir means through said first three-way valve means when gas-flow communication is blocked between said reservoir means and said vacuum generator. - View Dependent Claims (13)
-
-
14. A system for dispensing liquid media from first and second containers comprising:
-
means for selectively transferring said media from either said first container through a first media transfer line, or from said second container through a second media transfer line, to a liquid storage reservoir;
means for monitoring said transfer of media through said media transfer lines and switching liquid flow between said containers into said reservoir when media is not being transferred through one of said media transfer lines;means for selectively introducing gas into said liquid storage reservoir; and means for selectively withdrawing said gas from within said liquid storage reservoir; wherein said transfer of media through said transfer lines is expedited by said selective withdrawal of gas therefrom.
-
-
15. A method of dispensing liquid media from first and second containers comprising the steps of:
-
selectively transferring said media from either said first container through a first media transfer line, or from said second container through a second media transfer line, to a liquid storage reservoir; monitoring said transfer of media through said media transfer lines and switching liquid flow between said containers into said reservoir when media is not being transferred through one of said media transfer lines; and selectively introducing gas into said liquid storage reservoir; and selectively withdrawing gas from within said liquid storage reservoir in order to induce liquid to flow from said first and second media transfer lines into said reservoir.
-
-
16. A method for dispensing liquid from first and second containers, comprising the steps of:
-
transferring liquid from said first container through a first media transfer line into a liquid storage reservoir; transferring liquid from said second container through a second media transfer line into said liquid storage reservoir; withdrawing liquid stored within said liquid storage reservoir; selectively introducing gas into said liquid storage reservoir; selectively withdrawing said gas from within said liquid storage reservoir in order to induce liquid to flow from said first and second media transfer lines into said reservoir; generating a first switching signal when liquid becomes absent from said first media transfer line and a second switching signal when liquid becomes absent from said second media transfer line; preventing liquid from flowing in said first media transfer line while allowing liquid to flow through said second media transfer line in response to said first switching signal, and preventing liquid from flowing in said second media transfer line while allowing liquid to flow in said first media transfer line in response to said second switching signal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
-
-
19. A system for dispensing liquid from first and second containers, comprising:
-
first media transfer line means, positioned in liquid-flow communication with said first container, for transferring liquid from said first container; second media transfer line means, positioned in liquid-flow communication with said second container, for transferring liquid from said second container; switchable valve means for, in a first state, preventing liquid from flowing through said first media transfer line means while allowing liquid to flow through said second media transfer line means and for, in a second state, preventing liquid from flowing through said second media transfer line means while allowing liquid to flow through said first media transfer line means; a liquid storage reservoir connected in liquid-flow communication with said valve means for storing liquid received from said first and second media transfer line means by way of said valve means; level sensing means for monitoring the level of liquid within said storage reservoir, and for providing a reservoir low signal when the liquid level within said reservoir falls below a first predetermined level, said level sensing means including a first low level sensor mounted at a first predetermined location on said reservoir for generating said reservoir low signal, and a first high level sensor mounted at a second predetermined location on said reservoir for generating a reservoir high signal when the liquid level within said reservoir rises above a second predetermined level wherein said level sensing means further includes a second high level sensor mounted at a predetermined location on said reservoir above said first high level sensor, for generating an overfill signal when the level of liquid within said reservoir rises above a predetermined overfill level; pump means for withdrawing liquid stored within said liquid storage reservoir; transfer line sensor means for monitoring said first and second media transfer line means for the presence of liquid therein, and for generating a first switching signal when liquid becomes absent from said first media transfer line and a second switching signal when liquid becomes absent from said second media transfer line; valve switching means for switching said valve means to said first state in response to said first switching signal and for switching said valve means to said second state in response to said second switching signal; means for inducing liquid to flow from said transfer line means into said liquid storage reservoir, said means for inducing liquid to flow comprising a vacuum generator; and three-way valve means for placing said vacuum generator in gas-flow communication with said reservoir means upon receiving said reservoir low signal from said level sensing means, said three-way valve means being operative to block gas-flow communication between said reservoir means and said vacuum generator upon receiving said overfill signal from said level sensing means.
-
-
20. A system for dispensing liquid from first and second containers, comprising:
-
a first media transfer line, positioned in liquid-flow communication with said first container, for transferring liquid from said first container; a second media transfer line, positioned in liquid-flow communication with said second container, for transferring liquid from said second container; a switchable valve for, in a first state, preventing liquid from flowing through said first media transfer line while allowing liquid to flow through said second media transfer line and for, in a second state, preventing liquid from flowing through said second media transfer line means while allowing liquid to flow through said first media transfer line; a liquid storage reservoir connected in liquid-flow communication with said switchable valve for storing liquid received from said first and second media transfer lines by way of said switchable valve; a source of inert gas in switchable gas-flow communication with said liquid storage reservoir; a pump for withdrawing liquid stored within said liquid storage reservoir; a transfer line sensor arrangement for monitoring said first and second media transfer lines for the presence of liquid therein, and for generating a first switching signal when liquid becomes absent from said first media transfer line and a second switching signal when liquid becomes absent from said second media transfer line; valve switching means for switching said switchable valve to said first state in response to said first switching signal and for switching said switchable valve to said second state in response to said second switching signal; and a vacuum generator for inducing liquid to flow from said first and second transfer lines into said liquid storage reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
-
-
23. A system for dispensing liquid from first and second containers, comprising:
-
a first media transfer line, positioned in liquid-flow communication with said first container, for transferring liquid from said first container; a second media transfer line, positioned in liquid-flow communication with said second container, for transferring liquid from said second container; a switchable valve for, in a first state, preventing liquid from flowing through said first media transfer line while allowing liquid to flow through said second media transfer line and for, in a second state, preventing liquid from flowing through said second media transfer line while allowing liquid to flow through said first media transfer line; a liquid storage reservoir connected in liquid-flow communication with said switchable valve for storing liquid received from said first and second media transfer lines by way of said switchable valve; a source of inert gas in switchable gas-flow communication with said liquid storage reservoir reservoir level sensor means for monitoring the level of said liquid stored within said reservoir; a pump for withdrawing liquid stored within said liquid storage reservoir; container switching means for switching said switchable valve to said first state in response to removal of substantially all of said liquid from said first container, and for switching said switchable valve to said second state in response to removal of substantially all of said liquid from said second container; and a vacuum generator, responsive to said reservoir level sensor means, for inducing liquid to flow from said first and second transfer lines into said liquid storage reservoir in order to maintain the level of said liquid stored within said reservoir between upper and lower reservoir fill levels. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
-
Specification