Dispensing – Processes of dispensing
Patent
1994-06-06
1996-04-30
Shaver, Kevin P.
Dispensing
Processes of dispensing
13761404, 141346, 141348, 141351, 2224007, F16L 3900
Patent
active
055116922
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a method of dispensing fluids from containers and to a fluid coupling therefor.
There is a class of fluid dispense systems employing negative pressure dispensation of fluids-from containers, such as expensive or hazardous liquid chemicals, the container being fitted with a dispense valve assembly that is to be mated with a coupling at a point of use to enable the fluid to be pumped from the container; for example, as described in International Patent Specification No. WO 88/06693 (The Mogul Corporation).
There is also a class of fluid dispense systems employing positive pressure dispensation of fluids from containers, such as gas pressure dispensing of beer from kegs. Known keg beer dispense systems comprise a dispense valve assembly having a valve member spring-loaded to normally close an annular outlet port in the top of a valve body, that is fitted into the neck of a beer keg. A coupling head has a body to engage the top of the dispense valve body and an internal reciprocating member movable downwardly of the coupling head to seal with and force down the dispense valve body member and thereby open the valve and define a central outlet and a concentric inlet for the dispense valve assembly. The coupling head also has a beer outlet line connected to the central outlet, via the slideable member, and an inlet for pressurised gas to connect with the concentric port, via a gas passage between the coupling head body and the slideable member. The dispense valve assembly has to seal both the gas inlet annulus and the beer outlet port when the coupling head is disconnected from the keg dispense valve assembly and the coupling head has to seal the pressure gas inlet when it is disconnected from keg dispense valve assembly.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a negative pressure dispense system and couplings that are as simple and safe to use as those for a gas pressure beer dispense system, but which prevent leakage of dispensed fluid wherever possible.
According to the present invention, a method of dispensing fluid from a sealed container by negative pressure comprises the steps of: dispense valve assembly sealing the container and having valves, for ingress of ambient air and egress of dispensed fluid respectively, and the coupling head being arranged to open the air and fluid valves and form a sealed connection solely with the fluid valve; head, whilst ambient air flows into the container via the air valve; and,
Also according to the present invention a fluid coupling for a negative pressure fluid dispense system comprises: ingress of ambient air and egress of dispensed fluid respectively; and, open the air and fluid valves and form a sealed connection solely with the fluid valve; the coupling head, whilst ambient air flows into the container via the air valve.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the dispense valve assembly is arranged to be fitted into the neck of a fluid container, the dispense valve assembly has a valve member spring-loaded to normally close an annular outlet port in the top of a dispense valve body and the coupling head has a body to releasably engage the top of the dispense valve body and a ducted member axially slideable within the coupling head body for the bottom end of the slideable member to engage and force down the dispense valve member, to define and seal a central fluid outlet and form a concentric air inlet for the dispense valve assembly. Thus the ease of use of a gas pressure beer dispense system is retained, the coupling head only has to be engaged with the dispense valve assembly and the slideable member moved downwards to broach the container and enable fluid to be pumped out without leakage.
The principal difference between the present invention and the above-described gas pressure beer dispense system is that the coupling does not have to provide for pressurised gas. An air vent in the coupling head does not have to be sealed from ambient in any way. The only sealing that has to be provided is for dispensed fluid. This much
REFERENCES:
patent: 3142416 (1964-07-01), Federighi
patent: 3596810 (1971-08-01), Taubenheim
patent: 3939860 (1976-02-01), Golding
patent: 4180189 (1979-12-01), Zurit et al.
patent: 4351456 (1982-09-01), Nezwobki
patent: 4450853 (1984-05-01), Dessenoix et al.
patent: 4483368 (1984-11-01), Panthofer
patent: 4510969 (1985-04-01), Rodth
patent: 4564132 (1986-01-01), Lloyd-Davies
patent: 4759475 (1988-11-01), Munthe
patent: 4948014 (1990-08-01), Rutter et al.
patent: 5392844 (1995-02-01), Lomax et al.
Hinds William R.
Royal Packaging Industries Van Leer B.V.
Shaver Kevin P.
LandOfFree
Fluid dispense system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Fluid dispense system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Fluid dispense system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-623051