Automated fluid dispenser

• US 6,564,968 B1
• Filed: 10/03/2002
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brian Terrell, John Spilotro
• Original Assignee: Brian Terrell, John Spilotro
• Inventors: Spilotro, John, Terrell, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Derakshani, Philippe
• Application Number:
  US10/264,046
• Time in Patent Office: 229 Days
• Field of Search: 222/63, 222/334, 222/341, 222/386, 222/389, 222/309
• US Class Current: 222/63
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/04 of the free-piston type
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/08 of the diaphragm or bellows type

Abstract

An automatic fluid dispenser includes a pump mechanism actuated by the movement of a piston between a first position and a second position. The piston includes a resilient diaphragm that separates a pump chamber from a pressurized fluid chamber. An inlet check valve in the pump chamber, biased into a closed position, allows fluid flow only into the pump chamber from a fluid source, and an outlet check valve allows fluid flow only out of the pump chamber. A valve in a conduit, coupling the pressurized fluid chamber to a pressurized fluid source, is movable between an open position in which the pressurized fluid moves the piston to the second position, dispensing fluid from the fluid chamber, and a closed position in which the pressurized fluid is bled from the pressurized fluid chamber and the piston returns to the first position, thereby drawing additional fluid into the fluid chamber.

Claims

1. An automatic fluid dispenser comprising:

a pump mechanism including a housing defining a pump chamber having a fluid inlet coupled to a fluid source and a fluid outlet, an inlet check valve mounted in the fluid inlet of the pump chamber for allowing fluid to flow only into the pump chamber from the fluid source, and an outlet check valve mounted in the fluid outlet for allowing fluid to flow only out of the pump chamber to the fluid outlet, the inlet check valve being normally biased into a closed position;

a reciprocating element positioned within the pump chamber for reciprocating motion between a first position in which the pump chamber has a first volume and a second position in which the pump chamber has a second, smaller volume causing fluid contained in the pump chamber to be dispensed, the reciprocating element defining a pressure receiving surface;

a biasing element included in the pump mechanism for biasing the reciprocating element into the first position;

a pressurized fluid conduit couplable to a pressurized fluid source and coupled to the pressure receiving surface of the reciprocating element to supply pressurized fluid to the pressure receiving surface of the reciprocating element for moving the reciprocating element from the first position to the second position;

a valve carried by the pressurized fluid conduit and movable between an open position in which a pressurized fluid from the pressurized fluid source moves the reciprocating element to the second position, and a closed position stopping the pressurized fluid;

a pressurized fluid bleed coupled to the pressurized fluid source adjacent the pressure receiving surface for relieving pressure on the pressure receiving surface when the valve is in the closed position to allow the biasing element to return the reciprocating element to the first position; and

a sensor for actuating the valve from the closed position to the open position, the valve being normally biased to the closed position.

2. An automatic fluid dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the reciprocating element and the biasing element include a resilient diaphragm affixed to the pump mechanism housing to provide a reciprocating portion with a bias.

3. An automatic fluid dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outlet check valve is unbiased.

4. An automatic fluid dispenser as claimed in claim 1 including a clothes washing machine with a central clothes receiving tub, the fluid outlet of the pump chamber and the pressurized fluid bleed being in fluid communication with the clothes receiving tub.

5. An automatic fluid dispenser as claimed in claim 4 wherein the valve carried by the pressurized fluid conduit is operated electrically, the valve being electrically coupled to an electrical timing and activating circuit in the clothes washing machine for operation at a selected time during a washing cycle.

6. An automatic fluid dispenser as claimed in claim 1 including a dishwasher with a central dish receiving area, the fluid outlet of the pump chamber and the pressurized fluid bleed being in fluid communication with the dish receiving area.

7. An automatic fluid dispenser as claimed in claim 6 wherein the valve carried by the pressurized fluid conduit is operated electrically, the valve being electrically coupled to an electrical timing and activating circuit in the dishwasher for operation at a selected time during a washing cycle.

8. An automatic fluid dispenser comprising:

a pump mechanism including a housing defining a pump chamber having a fluid inlet coupled to a fluid source and a fluid outlet and a pressurized fluid chamber in communication with the pump chamber,

an inlet check valve mounted in the fluid inlet of the pump chamber for allowing fluid to flow only into the pump chamber from the fluid source, and an outlet check valve mounted in the fluid outlet for allowing fluid to flow only out of the pump chamber to the fluid outlet, the inlet check valve being normally biased into a closed position;

a reciprocating element including a resilient diaphragm positioned within the pressurized fluid chamber and separating the pressurized fluid chamber from the pump chamber, the reciprocating element being mounted for reciprocating motion between a first position in which the pump chamber has a first volume and a second position in which the pump chamber has a second, smaller volume, the reciprocating element being biased into the first position, movement of the reciprocating element into the second position causing fluid contained in the pump chamber to be dispensed through the outlet from the pump chamber and return movement of the reciprocating element into the first position causing fluid to be drawn from the inlet into the pump chamber;

a pressurized fluid conduit couplable to a pressurized fluid source and coupled to the pressurized fluid chamber for moving the reciprocating element under pressure of a pressurized fluid from the first position to the second position;

a valve carried by the pressurized fluid conduit and movable between an open position in which a pressurized fluid from the pressurized fluid source moves the reciprocating element to the second position and a closed position stopping the pressurized fluid;

a pressurized fluid bleed coupled to the pressurized fluid chamber for relieving pressure on the pressure receiving surface when the valve is in the closed position to allow the bias to return the reciprocating element to the first position; and

a sensor for actuating the valve from the closed position to the open position, the valve being normally biased to the closed position.

9. An automatic fluid dispenser as claimed in claim 8 wherein the outlet check valve is unbiased.

10. An automatic fluid dispenser as claimed in claim 8 including a clothes washing machine with a central clothes receiving tub, the fluid outlet of the pump chamber and the pressurized fluid bleed being in fluid communication with the clothes receiving tub.

11. An automatic fluid dispenser as claimed in claim 10 wherein the valve carried by the pressurized fluid conduit is operated electrically, the valve being electrically coupled to an electrical timing and activating circuit in the clothes washing machine for operation at a selected time during a washing cycle.

12. An automatic fluid dispenser as claimed in claim 8 including a dishwasher with a central dish receiving area, the fluid outlet of the pump chamber and the pressurized fluid bleed being in fluid communication with the dish receiving area.

13. An automatic fluid dispenser as claimed in claim 12 wherein the valve carried by the pressurized fluid conduit is operated electrically, the valve being electrically coupled to an electrical timing and activating circuit in the dishwasher for operation at a selected time during a washing cycle.

14. An automatic fluid dispenser as claimed in claim 8 wherein the resilient diaphragm included in the reciprocating element provides the bias that biases the reciprocating element into the first position.

15. An automatic fluid dispenser as claimed in claim 8 further including a compression spring positioned in the pump chamber to provide the bias that biases the reciprocating element into the first position.