One-way valve and vacuum relief device
First Claim
1. In combination, an enclosed, liquid containing reservoir and a vacuum relief mechanism comprising a vacuum relief device and a one-way valve;
- the reservoir having a reservoir outlet from which liquid is to be dispensed and within which reservoir a vacuum below atmospheric pressure is developed on dispensing liquid from the reservoir outlet,the vacuum relief device is adapted to permit atmospheric air to enter the reservoir to reduce any vacuum developed in the reservoir,the vacuum relief device comprising an enclosed chamber having an air inlet and a liquid inlet,the liquid inlet open to the chamber at a height which is below a height at which the air inlet is open to the chamber,the air inlet in communication with atmospheric air at atmospheric pressure such that the chamber is at atmospheric pressure,the liquid inlet connected by via a liquid passageway with liquid in the reservoir,the liquid inlet at a height below a height of liquid in the reservoir such that when pressure in the reservoir is atmospheric pressure, due to gravity the liquid from the reservoir fills the liquid passageway and, via the liquid passageway, fills the chamber to a height above the height of the liquid inlet and below the height of the air inlet, and wherein on dispensing liquid from the reservoir outlet increasing vacuum below atmospheric in the reservoir, the height of liquid in the chamber decreases until the height of liquid is below the height of the liquid inlet and the liquid inlet is open to air in the chamber such that air in the chamber attempts to flow under gravity upward through the liquid passageway to the reservoir to decrease vacuum in the reservoir,the one-way valve disposed across the liquid passageway between the liquid inlet and the reservoir movable between a closed position preventing flow between the reservoir and the liquid inlet and an open position permitting flow between the reservoir and the liquid inlet.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Liquid dispensers are provided including a vacuum relief mechanism with a vacuum relief device and a one-way valve in series with the vacuum relief device to prevent flow into and out of the reservoir when a vacuum exists in the reservoir. The vacuum relief device comprises an enclosed chamber having an air inlet open to the atmosphere and a liquid inlet in communication with liquid in the reservoir and in which the liquid inlet opens to the chamber at a height below a height at which the air inlet opens to the chamber. The one-way valve is capable of failure, in which case the vacuum relief device alone provides for pressure relief. The vacuum relief valve permits relief of vacuum from the reservoir without moving parts or valves.
33 Citations
20 Claims
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1. In combination, an enclosed, liquid containing reservoir and a vacuum relief mechanism comprising a vacuum relief device and a one-way valve;
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the reservoir having a reservoir outlet from which liquid is to be dispensed and within which reservoir a vacuum below atmospheric pressure is developed on dispensing liquid from the reservoir outlet, the vacuum relief device is adapted to permit atmospheric air to enter the reservoir to reduce any vacuum developed in the reservoir, the vacuum relief device comprising an enclosed chamber having an air inlet and a liquid inlet, the liquid inlet open to the chamber at a height which is below a height at which the air inlet is open to the chamber, the air inlet in communication with atmospheric air at atmospheric pressure such that the chamber is at atmospheric pressure, the liquid inlet connected by via a liquid passageway with liquid in the reservoir, the liquid inlet at a height below a height of liquid in the reservoir such that when pressure in the reservoir is atmospheric pressure, due to gravity the liquid from the reservoir fills the liquid passageway and, via the liquid passageway, fills the chamber to a height above the height of the liquid inlet and below the height of the air inlet, and wherein on dispensing liquid from the reservoir outlet increasing vacuum below atmospheric in the reservoir, the height of liquid in the chamber decreases until the height of liquid is below the height of the liquid inlet and the liquid inlet is open to air in the chamber such that air in the chamber attempts to flow under gravity upward through the liquid passageway to the reservoir to decrease vacuum in the reservoir, the one-way valve disposed across the liquid passageway between the liquid inlet and the reservoir movable between a closed position preventing flow between the reservoir and the liquid inlet and an open position permitting flow between the reservoir and the liquid inlet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A liquid dispenser comprising:
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an enclosed non-collapsible container enclosed but for having at one end of the container a neck open at a container outlet opening, a dispensing plug received in the container outlet opening comprising a piston chamber forming element defining an outwardly opening cylindrical chamber with a piston member slidably received therein for reciprocal sliding to dispense liquid from the container and in dispensing liquid create a vacuum within the container, a vacuum relief device carried on the dispensing plug adapted to permit atmospheric air to enter the container to reduce any vacuum developed in the container, the vacuum relief device comprising an enclosed chamber having an air inlet and a liquid inlet, the liquid inlet open to the chamber at a height, which is below a height at which the air inlet is open to the chamber, the air inlet in communication through the dispensing plug with air at atmospheric pressure such that the chamber is at atmospheric pressure, the liquid inlet connected by via a liquid passageway with liquid in the container, the liquid inlet at a height below a height of liquid in the container such that when pressure in the container is atmospheric pressure, due to gravity the liquid from the container fills the liquid passageway and, via the liquid passageway, fills the chamber to a height above the height of the liquid inlet and below the height of the air inlet, and wherein on dispensing liquid from the container increases vacuum below atmospheric in the container, the height of liquid in the chamber decreases until the height of liquid is below the height of the liquid inlet and the liquid inlet is open to air in the chamber such that air in the chamber attempts to flow under gravity upward through the liquid passageway to the container to decrease vacuum in the reservoir, a one-way valve disposed across the liquid passageway between the liquid inlet and the container movable between a closed position preventing flow between the container and the liquid inlet and an open position permitting how between the container and the liquid inlet. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification