Dispensing – Automatic control – Material level control
Patent
1997-06-20
1999-03-02
Derakshani, Philippe
Dispensing
Automatic control
Material level control
222158, 2223831, 222442, B67D 508
Patent
active
058759255
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
THIS INVENTION relates to liquid control and/or supply systems, and it has particular but not exclusive reference to the safe handling of chemical substances in liquid form.
BACKGROUND ART
There have always been many instances in which liquid chemicals need to be supplied in appropriate volumes to containers from which they are progressively dispensed, while retrieval of the remaining contents after a period of dispensing will in most cases be necessary or desirable. We have found this very pertinent in relation to liquid pre-mix weedicides to be applied by spraying via an agricultural machine, or applied by wick-rope wiping action as in our Australian Patent No. 529361. Whether the liquid chemicals be weedicide or extremely hazardous chemicals, it is obviously desirable that supply and/or retrieval be accomplished with a minimum of spillage since this is harmful to the environment as well as to the operators. Often after a period of use such as at the end of a day, it is necessary to clean pumps and/or other components associated with the distribution containers, thus increasing the risks of spillage. The large number of similar practical applications of this type will be known to users of such equipment or will be apparent from the discussions herein in relation to the present invention.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The present invention arises from considering ways of dealing with the spillage problems as aforementioned, and it accordingly has for its principal object to provide such improvements in relation to supplying or retrieving liquid from containers that the likelihood of spillage will be greatly reduced or totally removed. A particular object of the invention is to provide apparatus and methods of handling liquids whereby a set quantity or predetermined or selectively variable volume may be delivered with accuracy and efficiency from a supply vessel therefor to a dispensing container, for any one of the many purposes for which such action might be required. It is a further object to provide features in the method and apparatus whereby the residual volume in the container may be retrieved easily, quickly and accurately without spillage when it is necessary to do so.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide liquid supply apparatus of the character described which may be of very simple and inexpensive nature, being able to be handled for all purposes by a single operator if necessary, and which will avoid the need for dismantling pumps or other ancillary equipment for cleaning same because of the need to clear contained residual chemicals.
The invention also aims to provide methods and apparatus for the above purposes utilising suction pump means for withdrawing air from a vessel so as to suck liquid in to take the place of the air, but having such further improvements that the suction pump means will not be reached by liquid contained in bubbles in the withdrawn air arising from liquid agitation of any kind.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the type described which may be utilised in principle, with minor modifications if necessary, to retrieve chemical spills of the type which currently occur far too frequently and which allow hazardous chemicals to enter watercourses or to pollute large areas of land. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter apparent.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention resides broadly, according to one aspect, in a method of transferring a volume of liquid from a liquid supply vessel to a dispensing container, including the steps of: lower end is in liquid communication via pipe means with the contents of the supply vessel; transfer vessel to draw a volume of liquid from the supply vessel into the transfer vessel while maintaining the said upper vent valve closed, and including the step of simultaneously causing air withdrawn by the suction pump means from the transfer vessel to pass through a bubble extraction chamber inter
REFERENCES:
patent: 2587060 (1952-02-01), Meyer
patent: 4567908 (1986-02-01), Bolsterli
patent: 5148945 (1992-09-01), Geatz
Derakshani Philippe
Josephine Stevens Eva
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