Method for dispensing a solution

• US 6,659,117 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2003
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: EZ FLO Injection Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: EZ FLO Injection Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Gilmore, Dan C.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KEVIN L
• Application Number:
  US10/367,192
• Publication Number:
  US 20030155011A1
• Time in Patent Office: 298 Days
• Field of Search: 137/268, 137/564.5, 137/205.5, 137/1
• US Class Current: 137/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/40 Mixing liquids with liquids; Emulsifying
• 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: B01F 25/316 with containers for additional components fixed to the conduit
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/80 Forming a predetermined ratio of the substances to be mixed controlling ratio of two or more flows of fluid or fluent material G05D11/02
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/2445 and a secondary stream of carrying liquid being brought together in the container or putting the carried liquid under pressure in the container
• CPC Class Codes: F04F 1/06 the fluid medium acting on the surface of the liquid to be pumped F04F1/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04F 5/24 displacing liquids, e.g. containing solids, or liquids and elastic fluids
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/21 Dinitrogen oxide [N2O], e.g. using aquaponics, hydroponics or efficiency measures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3112 Main line flow displaces additive from shunt reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/4891 With holder for solid, flaky or pulverized material to be dissolved or entrained
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8597 Main line as motive fluid for follower-type feeder

Abstract

A method of using a fluid injector in fluid communication with a fluid flow line where flow is transferred from the flow line into the fluid injector and back to the fluid flow line. An inlet flow is used to pressurize the storage tank and provide a solution to mix with injection solutions in the tank.

Claims

1. A method for dispensing a solution contained within a storage tank into a flow of fluid in a flow line, comprising:

diverting a portion of the fluid from the flow line into a top portion of the storage tank;

venting air from the top portion of the storage tank into the flow line as the storage tank fills with the portion of the fluid;

drawing the solution from a bottom portion of the storage tank; and

directing the solution drawn from the bottom portion of the storage tank into the flow of fluid in the flow line.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising diverting a portion of the fluid from the flow line into a bottom portion of the storage tank to agitate the solution.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising drawing fluid into the flow line from the top portion of the storage tank during conditions of system backflow.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein a positive pressure in the flow line is utilized for diverting the portion of the fluid from the flow line into the top portion of the storage tank.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein the positive pressure is created by using a tap fitting to place the storage tank in fluid flow communication with the flow line.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein solution is drawn through a pickup filter positioned in the bottom portion of the storage tank.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein air is vented from the storage tank into the flow line via a vent port.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, further comprising drawing from the top portion of the storage tank via the vent port a portion of the fluid in the storage tank.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the vent port is sized to determine a mix ratio of the fluid drawn from the top of the storage tank and the solution drawn from the bottom of the storage tank.

10. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein a portion of the fluid from the flow line is diverted into a top portion of the storage tank via an inlet port.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising diverting a portion of the fluid from the flow line to the solution drawn from the bottom of the storage tank using a crossover connection that is positioned between the inlet port and the outlet vent.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising using a mixing valve positioned within the crossover connection to control the amount of fluid diverted into the top portion of the storage tank.

13. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein solution is drawn from the bottom portion of the storage tank with as little as two gallon per hour flow in the flow line and as little as five PSI operating pressure within the flow line.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising using a flow restrictor within the flow line for controlling an amount of fluid diverted from the flow line.

15. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein a negative pressure in the flow line is utilized for drawing the solution from the bottom portion of the storage tank.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the negative pressure is created by using a tap fitting to place the storage tank in fluid flow communication with the flow line.

17. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising equalizing pressure within the storage tank with pressure in the flow line using fluid diverted from the flow line.

18. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein solution is drawn from the bottom portion of the storage tank at a rate consistent with a rate of fluid flow in the flow line.