Refillable material transfer system
First Claim
1. An apparatus for transferring material from a vessel, the apparatus comprising:
- a crown;
a tangential member attached to the crown and having a longitudinal axis, wherein the tangential member is configured with an outer surface substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis;
a thruster attached to the tangential member, wherein the thruster is configured with a portion for penetrating a material; and
a level indicating device including a stem having a plurality of magnetic reed switches, wherein the stem is slidably disposed within the crown, tangential member and thruster, and a magnetic actuator is disposed within a bottom portion of the thruster.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A material transfer system for storing, transferring and dispensing viscous material, such as fluids and liquids, includes a material containment vessel with an upper region incorporating a motive force and a bottom region with a material ingress and egress opening. A diconical or other shaped force transfer device is located in the material containment area. The force transfer device is an energy transducer when the material containment is filled with highly viscous materials, such as adhesives, sealants, mastics or lubricating greases. The force transfer device serves as an integral part of a level indicator for both viscous fluids and lower viscosity liquids. The viscous material itself forms a seal between the interface region of the force transfer device and the inside wall of the fluid vessel. Vertical stabilizing elements may extend outward from the force transfer device.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. An apparatus for transferring material from a vessel, the apparatus comprising:
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a crown; a tangential member attached to the crown and having a longitudinal axis, wherein the tangential member is configured with an outer surface substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis; a thruster attached to the tangential member, wherein the thruster is configured with a portion for penetrating a material; and a level indicating device including a stem having a plurality of magnetic reed switches, wherein the stem is slidably disposed within the crown, tangential member and thruster, and a magnetic actuator is disposed within a bottom portion of the thruster.
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2. A refillable system for transferring material, the system comprising:
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a vessel having a first end having a material inlet manifold, a second end having a material exit manifold and a wall disposed between the first end and the second end, the vessel further having a longitudinal axis and a transverse width; a force transfer device disposed within the vessel, the force transfer device including, (a) a crown; (b) a tangential member attached to the crown and having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vessel, wherein the tangential member is configured with an outer area substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the crown, wherein the tangential member has a transverse width substantially less than the transverse width of the vessel, and (c) a thruster attached to the tangential member, wherein the thruster is configured to penetrate a material in a vessel; a level indicating device having a display disposed at the first end of the vessel, the display being attached to a stem having a plurality of magnetic reed switches, wherein the stem is slidably disposed within the crown, tangential member and thruster, and wherein a magnetic actuator is disposed within a bottom portion of the thruster; a retainer positioned at the first end of the vessel and configured to conform to the shape of the crown; and an arrestor positioned at the second end of the vessel and configured to conform to the shape of the thruster.
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3. An apparatus for transferring material from a vessel, the apparatus comprising:
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a crown; a tangential member attached to the crown and having a longitudinal axis, wherein the tangential member is configured with an outer surface substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis; a thruster attached to the tangential member, wherein the thruster is configured with a portion for penetrating a material and is not configured to create a pressure seal; and a level indicating device including a stem having a plurality of magnetic reed switches, wherein the stem is slidably disposed within the crown, tangential member and thruster, and a magnetic actuator is disposed within a bottom portion of the thruster.
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4. A refillable system for disbursing a viscous material comprising:
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a vessel having a top, a bottom, an inner upper surface, an inner lower surface, at least one side wall between the inner upper and lower surfaces, and a material exit extending between the inner lower surface and the bottom of the vessel; a force transfer device within the vessel having a top portion, an intermediate portion, and bottom portion, wherein the top portion substantially conforms with the inner upper surface of the vessel, the bottom portion substantially conforms with the inner lower surface of the vessel, and the intermediate portion is substantially parallel to the side wall of the vessel; and a heat transfer element disposed in proximity with the material exit for heating or cooling the viscous material as it passes through the material exit. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A refillable system for disbursing a viscous material comprising:
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a vessel having a top, a bottom, an inner upper surface, an inner lower surface, at least one side wall between the inner upper and lower surfaces, and a material exit extending between the inner lower surface and the bottom of the vessel; a force transfer device within the vessel having a top portion, an intermediate portion, and bottom portion, wherein the top portion substantially conforms with the inner upper surface of the vessel, the bottom portion substantially conforms with the inner lower surface of the vessel, and the intermediate portion is substantially parallel to the side wall of the vessel; a drive shaft coupled to the force transfer device for driving said force transfer device between a first longitudinal position and a second longitudinal position; and a removable penetration tip disposed at a lower surface of the force transfer device and aligned with the material exit, the removable penetration tip having an apex at a lowermost position. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 31)
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24. A refillable system for disbursing a viscous material comprising:
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a vessel having a top, a bottom, an inner upper surface, an inner lower surface, at least one side wall between the inner upper and lower surfaces, and a material exit extending between the inner lower surface and the bottom of the vessel; a force transfer device within the vessel having a top portion, an intermediate portion, and bottom portion, wherein the top portion substantially conforms with the inner upper surface of the vessel, the bottom portion substantially conforms with the inner lower surface of the vessel, and the intermediate portion is substantially parallel to the side wall of the vessel; and a level sensor cooperating with the force transfer device to measure a level of fluid inside said vessel. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32)
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Specification