Additive dispensing apparatus

• US 5,919,360 A
• Filed: 08/06/1997
• Issued: 07/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: Cuno Incorporated
• Inventors: Slovak, Robert A., Contaxis, William III
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo, Jay H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOEY, BETSEY MORRISON
• Application Number:
  US08/906,819
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 210/198.1, 210/205, 222/92, 222/105
• US Class Current: 210/198.1
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/302 having inlet or outlet ports
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/4046 Means for avoiding false mounting of different parts
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/312 with Venturi elements; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/3131 with additional mixing means other than injector mixers, e.g. screens, baffles or rotating elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/315 wherein a difference of pressure at different points of the conduit causes introduction of the additional component into the main component B01F25/316 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/00 Engine-pertinent apparatus for adding non-fuel substances or small quantities of secondary fuel to combustion-air, main fuel or fuel-air mixture adding secondary air to fuel-air mixture F02M23/00; adding exhaust gases F02M26/00; fuel-injection apparatus operating simultaneously on two or more fuels or on a liquid fuel and another liquid F02M43/00
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/32 characterised by filters or filter arrangements

Abstract

An additive dispensing apparatus for a fluid system is disclosed which includes a head having a body portion adapted and configured for fluid communication with the fluid system and having a flow path extending therethrough. A fluid inlet portion of the flow path defines a relatively high pressure region and a fluid outlet portion of the flow path defines a relatively low pressure region. A canister is operatively associated with the body portion and structure is provided for facilitating fluid communication between the fluid inlet portion and the interior of the canister. A collapsible container is disposed within the canister for containing a liquid additive for dispensement into the fluid system and structure is provided for facilitating fluid communication between the collapsible container and the fluid outlet portion, whereby the differential pressure between the interior of the canister and the interior of the collapsible container effectuates a proportional dispensement of liquid additive into the fluid system.

Claims

1. An additive dispensing apparatus for a fluid system comprising:

a) a head having a body portion adapted and configured for fluid communication with the fluid system and having a flow path extending therethrough;

b) a fluid inlet portion of said flow path defining a relatively high pressure region, and a fluid outlet portion of said flow path defining at least in part a relatively low pressure region;

c) a canister operatively associated with said body portion and having an interior region;

d) a fluid passageway providing fluid communication between said fluid inlet portion and said interior region of said canister;

e) a collapsible container disposed within said interior region of said canister and having an interior region for containing liquid additive for dispensement into the fluid system; and

f) at least one elongated feed tube providing fluid communication between said collapsible container and said fluid outlet portion, whereby the differential pressure between said interior region of said canister and said interior region of said collapsible container effectuates a proportional dispensement of liquid additive into the fluid system.

2. An additive dispensing apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said canister includes an elongated enclosure having opposed top and bottom ends and an end cap provided at said top end, said end cap having an axial connector portion provided thereon.

3. An additive dispensing apparatus as recited in claim 2, further comprising at least one tab on one of said body portion and said axial connector portion and a complementary keyed portion on one of said body portion and said axial connector portion for releasably receiving said at least one tab.

4. An additive dispensing apparatus as recited in claim 2, further comprising a latching groove formed in said end cap and a latch operatively attached to said body portion for releasably engaging said latching groove to maintain said end cap in a predetermined operating position.

5. An additive dispensing apparatus as recited in claim 2, further comprising a plurality of axially extending apertures formed in said connector portion between said interior region of said canister and said fluid outlet portion.

6. An additive dispensing apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said fluid passageway providing fluid communication between said fluid inlet portion and said interior region of said canister includes at least one radially extending aperture formed in said axial connector portion.

7. An additive dispensing apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one elongated feed tube includes an upper feed tube and a lower feed tube.

8. An additive dispensing apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a check valve operatively associated with said at least one elongated feed tube to control the dispensement of additive therethrough.

9. An additive dispensing apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said check valve is defined by a duckbill-type check valve.

10. An additive dispensing apparatus for a fluid system comprising

a) a head having a body portion adapted and configured for fluid communication with the fluid system and having a first flow path extending therethrough;

b) a fluid inlet portion of said first flow path defining a relatively high pressure region and a fluid outlet portion of said first flow path defining at least in part a relatively low pressure region;

c) a canister operatively associated with said body portion and having an interior region;

d) a second flow path providing fluid communication between said inlet portion of said first flow path and said interior region of said canister;

e) a collapsible container disposed within said interior region of said canister and having an interior region for containing liquid additive for dispensement into the fluid system; and

f) a feed tube providing fluid communication between said collapsible container and said fluid outlet portion, whereby the pressure differential between said interior region of said canister and said interior region of said collapsible container effectuates proportional dispensement of liquid additive into the fluid system.

11. An additive dispensing apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said canister includes an elongated enclosure having opposed top and bottom ends and an end cap provided at said top end, said end cap having an axial connector portion provided thereon.

12. An additive dispensing apparatus as recited in claim 10, further comprising a third flow path providing fluid communication between said interior of said canister and said fluid outlet portion.

13. An additive dispensing apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said feed tube includes an upper feed tube portion and a lower feed tube portion.

14. An additive dispensing apparatus as recited in claim 10, further comprising a check valve operatively associated with said feed tube for controlling the dispensement of additive therethrough.

15. An additive dispensing apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein said check valve is defined by a duckbill-type check valve.

16. A fluid system comprising:

a) at least one conduit for transmitting fluid;

b) an additive dispensing apparatus including;

i) a body portion adapted and configured for fluid communication with said fluid system and having a flow path extending therethrough, said flow path including a fluid inlet portion defining a relatively high pressure region and a fluid outlet portion defining at least in part a relatively low pressure region;

ii) a canister operatively associated with said body portion and having an interior region;

iii) a first fluid passageway providing fluid communication between said fluid inlet portion and said interior region of said canister;

iv) a collapsible container disposed within said interior region of said canister and having an interior region for containing liquid additive for dispensement into the fluid system; and

v) at least one elongated feed tube providing fluid communication between said interior region of said collapsible container and said fluid outlet portion;

c) a manifold providing fluid communication between said at least one conduit and said fluid inlet portion and between said fluid outlet portion and said at least one conduit; and

d) a flow restriction between said inlet portion and said outlet portion for establishing said relatively high pressure region within said inlet portion and said relatively low pressure region within said outlet portion,

whereby the differential pressure between said interior region of said canister and said interior region of said collapsible container effectuates a proportional dispensement of liquid additive into the fluid system.

17. An additive dispensing apparatus as recited in claim 16, further comprising a second fluid passageway between said interior region of said canister and said fluid outlet portion.

18. A fluid system as recited in claim 16, wherein said manifold further comprises an in line filter attachment and a filter cartridge operatively attached to said filter attachment for permitting filtration of fluid as it passes through the fluid system.

19. An additive dispensing apparatus for a fluid system comprising:

a) a head having a body portion adapted and configured for fluid communication with the fluid system and having a flow path extending therethrough;

b) a fluid inlet portion of said flow path defining a relatively high pressure region, and a fluid outlet portion of said flow path defining at least in part a relatively low pressure region;

c) a canister, operatively associated with said body portion, having an interior region and opposed top and bottom ends;

d) an end cap provided at said top end of said canister and having an axial connector portion provided thereon;

e) at least one radially extending aperture formed in said axial connector portion for providing fluid communication between said fluid inlet portion and said interior region of said canister;

f) a plurality of axially extending apertures formed in said axial connector portion for providing fluid communication between said interior region of said canister and said fluid outlet portion;

g) a collapsible container disposed within said interior region of said canister and having an interior region for containing liquid additive for dispensement into the fluid system; and

h) an elongated feed tube disposed between said collapsible container and said fluid outlet portion for providing fluid communication therebetween, whereby the differential pressure between said interior region of said canister and said interior region of said collapsible container effectuates a proportional dispensement of liquid additive into the fluid system.

20. An additive dispensing apparatus for use in conjunction with a fluid system including a head defining a fluid flow path having at least in part a relatively high pressure region and a relatively low pressure region, and an enclosure in fluid communication with said relatively high pressure region and defining an interior region, the apparatus comprising:

a) a collapsible container disposed within the interior region of the enclosure and having an interior region for containing liquid additive for dispensement into the fluid system;

b) at least one elongated feed tube for facilitating fluid communication between said collapsible container and said relatively low pressure region; and

c) a check valve operatively associated with said collapsible container for controlling the flow of liquid additive from said collapsible container.

21. An additive dispensing apparatus as recited in claim 20, wherein the enclosure includes opposed top and bottom ends and an end cap provided at said top end, said end cap having an axial connector portion provided thereon.

22. An additive dispensing apparatus as recited in claim 20, wherein said enclosure is detachable from said head for providing access to said enclosure interior to permit removal of said collapsible container.

23. An additive dispensing apparatus as recited in claim 22, wherein a male threaded portion is formed on one of said head and said enclosure and a female threaded portion is formed on one of said head and said enclosure.

24. An additive dispensing apparatus as recited in claim 22, wherein an attachment lobe is formed in one of said head and said enclosure and a lobe shoulder formed in one of said head and said enclosure.

25. An additive dispensing apparatus as recited in claim 20, further including a removable mating collar permitting said collapsible container to be refilled.

26. An additive dispensing apparatus as recited in claim 21, further comprising at least one tab on one of said head and said axial connector portion and a complementary keyed portion on one of said head and said axial connector portion for releasably receiving said at least one tab.