US3626972A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Soluble granule feeders
Assignee: Epicure Products Inc
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Filing: 1970-09-18
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Granted: 1971-12-14
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Expires: 1990-09-18
Abstract
Abstract A tank through which a proportion of return line liquid from a pool is bypassed when the pool pump is on receives soluble granules from an adjustable metering cup depending from a granule supply bin connecting to the tank. A valving cylinder responsive to a float in the tank alternately opens the bin to the metering cup or the cup to the tank in response to the on-off cycling of the pool pump. Flow through the tank is from the pool water circulation line bypass into the tank, through the tank to a return line independent of or downstream of the pump. A check valve intervenes between the tank and the pump.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter C Lorenzen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 03:21
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/68; C02F1/685; C02F1/688; B; B01; B01F; B01F21/00; B01F21/20; B01F21/22; B01F21/221; G; G05; G05D; G05D11/00; G05D11/006; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/2496; Y10T137/2559; Y10T137/4891
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
269 words
A soluble granule feeder for use in a liquid circulation system with a pump and suction and return lines, the feeder comprising a mixing tank, a bypass conduit joining the tank to the return line downstream of the pump, a venturi unit in the return line downstream of the bypass conduit, an educer tube connecting between the mixing tank and the venturi unit, a check valve between the bypass conduit and the pump, a supply bin for granules connecting to the tank, a metering cup between the bin and the tank, a bin valve port in the granule supply bin, a cup valve port in the metering cup, a float in the mixing tank; a valve member adapted alternately to open and close the cup and bin ports, the cup port being open when the bin port is closed and the bin port being open when the cup port is closed; means fixing the valve member to the float such that the float lifts the valve member through the valve ports when the pump turns on so that granules in the metering cup move through the cup port into the mixing tank and so that the bin port is closed, and such that the float lowers the valve member through the valve ports when the pump shuts off so that the cup port is closed and the bin port is open so that the granules from the bin fill the metering cup; the educer tube being positioned within the mixing tank such that liquid flows through the tank so long as the pump delivers liquid to the return line.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
269 words
A soluble granule feeder for use in a liquid circulation system with a pump and suction and return lines, the feeder comprising a mixing tank, a bypass conduit joining the tank to the return line downstream of the pump, a venturi unit in the return line downstream of the bypass conduit, an educer tube connecting between the mixing tank and the venturi unit, a check valve between the bypass conduit and the pump, a supply bin for granules connecting to the tank, a metering cup between the bin and the tank, a bin valve port in the granule supply bin, a cup valve port in the metering cup, a float in the mixing tank; a valve member adapted alternately to open and close the cup and bin ports, the cup port being open when the bin port is closed and the bin port being open when the cup port is closed; means fixing the valve member to the float such that the float lifts the valve member through the valve ports when the pump turns on so that granules in the metering cup move through the cup port into the mixing tank and so that the bin port is closed, and such that the float lowers the valve member through the valve ports when the pump shuts off so that the cup port is closed and the bin port is open so that the granules from the bin fill the metering cup; the educer tube being positioned within the mixing tank such that liquid flows through the tank so long as the pump delivers liquid to the return line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the metering cup comprises a threaded collar depending from the supply bin about the bin port, a sleeve threadably engaged with the collar, and a floor on the sleeve sloping downwardly to the aforesaid cup port.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising means for changing the position of the educer tube within the mixing tank to vary the liquid level in the tank when the pump is on.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
129 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the check valve comprises a plumbing tee connecting to the bypass conduit, a sleeve tube in the tee, a valve wall in the tube transversely thereof, an annular wall in the valve wall defining a valve port, a support spider in the tube remote from the valve wall, a valve stem supported in cantilever fashion from the spider, a valve closure member on the stem remote from the spider and separated therefrom by the valve wall and adapted to close the valve port, a stop on the valve stem, the spider being interposed between the valve wall and the stop, and a compression spring between the spider and the stop urging the valve closure member into closed relationship to the valve port.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
117 words
In a soluble granule feeder having a mixing tank and inlet and outlet liquid lines, The combination comprising a granule supply bin, a metering cup between the bin and the tank, a bin valve port, a cup valve port in the metering cup, a float in the mixing tank responsive to liquid level in the tank, and a valve member operative by the float alternately to open and to close the cup valve port and the bin valve port by raising and lowering the valve member into and out of bin and cup ports in response to the liquid level of the mixing tank, said metering cup having a frustoconical floor sloping to the cup valve port.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
117 words
In a soluble granule feeder having a mixing tank and inlet and outlet liquid lines, The combination comprising a granule supply bin, a metering cup between the bin and the tank, a bin valve port, a cup valve port in the metering cup, a float in the mixing tank responsive to liquid level in the tank, and a valve member operative by the float alternately to open and to close the cup valve port and the bin valve port by raising and lowering the valve member into and out of bin and cup ports in response to the liquid level of the mixing tank, said metering cup having a frustoconical floor sloping to the cup valve port.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
228 words
A soluble granule feeder for use in a liquid circulation system with a pump and suction and return lines, the feeder comprising a mixing tank, a bypass conduit joining the tank to the circulation line downstream of the pump, means connecting the feeder to a return line to the pool, a check valve between the tank and the pump, a supply bin for granules connecting to the tank, a metering cup between the bin and the tank, a bin valve port in the granule supply bin, a cup valve port in the metering cup, a float in the mixing tank; a valve member adapted alternately to open and close the cup and bin ports, the cup port being open when the bin port is closed and the bin port being open when the cup port is closed; means fixing the valve member to the float such that the float lifts the valve member through the valve ports when the pump turns on so that granules in the metering cup move through the cup port into the mixing tank and so that the bin port is closed, and such that the float lowers the valve member through the valve ports when the pump shuts off so that the cup port is closed and the bin port is open so that the granules from the bin fill the metering cup.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
228 words
A soluble granule feeder for use in a liquid circulation system with a pump and suction and return lines, the feeder comprising a mixing tank, a bypass conduit joining the tank to the circulation line downstream of the pump, means connecting the feeder to a return line to the pool, a check valve between the tank and the pump, a supply bin for granules connecting to the tank, a metering cup between the bin and the tank, a bin valve port in the granule supply bin, a cup valve port in the metering cup, a float in the mixing tank; a valve member adapted alternately to open and close the cup and bin ports, the cup port being open when the bin port is closed and the bin port being open when the cup port is closed; means fixing the valve member to the float such that the float lifts the valve member through the valve ports when the pump turns on so that granules in the metering cup move through the cup port into the mixing tank and so that the bin port is closed, and such that the float lowers the valve member through the valve ports when the pump shuts off so that the cup port is closed and the bin port is open so that the granules from the bin fill the metering cup.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein the metering cup comprises a threaded collar depending from the supply bin about the bin port, a sleeve threadably engaged with the collar, and a floor on the sleeve sloping downwardly to the aforesaid cup port.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein the metering cup comprises a first cylindrical chamber, a second frustoconical chamber, a valve port at the minimum diameter of the second chamber, and a resilient transverse membrane at the port adapted to sealingly receive said valve member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-12-13 | 1975-06-14 | 1975-12-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-13 | 1979-06-14 | 1979-12-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-13 | 1983-06-14 | 1983-12-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |