Leakage detector, a latching solenoid, a flow meter, and a liquid dispensing apparatus including same

• US 6,502,451 B1
• Filed: 10/27/2000
• Issued: 01/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eugene Fourie
• Original Assignee: Eugene Fourie
• Inventors: Fourie, Eugene
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): Garber, Charles D.
• Application Number:
  US09/674,240
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 73/405.R, 732/62, 732/69, 732/70, 732/71, 732/78, 732/79, 738/617.9, 200/83.L
• US Class Current: 73/40.50R
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/075 with magnetic or electromagnetic coupling to the indicating device
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/115 with magnetic or electromagnetic coupling to the indicating device
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/003 using electromagnetic, electric or electronic means G01F15/002, G01F15/02 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/28 for pipes, cables or tubes; for pipe joints or seals; for valves ; for welds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3433 the counter having monetary units
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/00 Coin-freed apparatus with meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices

Abstract

This invention relates to the dispensing of liquids by means of a fluid dispensing apparatus (10) having one or more of a leakage detection means (94), a latching solenoid (84), and a fluid flow meter (20). The invention also provides each of the leakage detection means, the latching solenoid, then fluid flow meter, a fluid dispensing installation, and a method of dispensing fluid. In some embodiments, the fluid dispensing apparatus is a pre-payment water dispensing meter.

Claims

1. A liquid dispensing apparatus for dispensing a liquid, said apparatus comprising:

a flow meter having flow rate detection means;

a latching solenoid valve operative with the flow meter for metering the liquid being dispensed;

a leakage detection means for detecting liquid leaking from the liquid dispensing apparatus, the leakage detection means including

a diaphragm located radially to a direction of flow of liquid through the liquid dispensing apparatus,

a magnet provided on the diaphragm and displaceable by the diaphragm in sympathy with fluctuations in pressure exerted on the diaphragm, and

a detection switch actuatable by proximity to the magnet located on the liquid dispensing apparatus for detecting displacement of the magnet towards the detection switch;

processing means for comparing signals from said flow rate detection means and said leakage detection means; and

control means for interrupting the flow of liquid, wherein said control means interrupts the flow of liquid when (1) said leakage detection means detects a flow of liquid, and (2) said flow rate detection means does not indicate at least a minimum predetermined flow rate.

2. A liquid dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detection switch of the leakage detection means is a reed switch of the type having a magnetic reed of opposite polarity to the magnet provided on the diaphragm, the switch being actuatable by the magnetic repulsion of the magnetic reed as the magnet provided on the diaphragm is displaced towards it.

3. A liquid dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the diaphragm is made of a material having a shore hardness on the Shore A hardness scale of about 60.

4. A liquid dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material of manufacture of the diaphragm is selected to have a hardness on the Shore A hardness scale of between 50 and 70.

5. A liquid dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the diaphragm is made from a material selected from the group consisting of synthetic butyl rubber, natural rubber, polyethylene, nitrile rubber, and Neoprene™

.

6. A liquid dispensing apparatus claimed in claim 5, wherein the diaphragm is made of nitrile rubber.

7. A liquid dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flow meter includes:

a stator mounted in the flow path and configured to impart an angular direction of flow to liquid passing therethrough, a rotor mounted for rotation in the flow path immediately downstream of the stator, the rotor including a hub and a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart radially extending arms and axially extending vanes protruding from said arms.

8. A liquid dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the rotor is made from a material having a density similar to that of the fluid, the flow of which is to be measured with the use of the meter.

9. A liquid dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 8, which includes a magnet mounted on the rotor and a counter configured to count magnetic pulses which correspond to the revolutions of the rotor and hence the liquid flow rate.

10. A liquid dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the magnet and counter are in the form of a magnet and ferritic reed switch arrangement, the magnet being mounted on the rotor and the counter is a reed switch actuatable by the magnet provided on the rotor is displaced towards and passes in proximity of the reed during rotation of the rotor.

11. A liquid dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein a counter balance weight to the weight of the magnet is provided on the rotor to ensure rotational balance of the rotor.

12. A liquid dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the rotor is made from H.D.P.E.