Fail-safe multiple product aspirator

Claim 2

Apparatus comprising: a. a valve body defining a cavity therein; b. valving means positioned in said cavity and dividing said cavity into first and second valving compartments; c. means defining first and second fluid product inlet ports in said valve body in communication with said first and second valving compartments, respectively; and d. fluid pumping means in communication with each of said first and second valving compartments for separately exhausting therefrom the fluid products introducible therein through said first and second product inlet ports, respectively; and e. said valving means is operable by said fluid pumping means for movement between an essentially equilibrium position allowing simultaneous fluid flow into said first and second valving compartments and a nonequilibrium position terminating the fluid flow into one of said first and second valving compartments on the termination of the flow of fluid product introducible into the other of said first and second valving compartments.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 including first and second fluid passageways in communication with said first and second valving compartments, respectively, for providing fluid product flow therefrom wherein said valving means is operable by said fluid pumping means to terminate said fluid product flow in one of said first and second fluid passageways on the termination of said fluid product flow in the other Of said passageways.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pumping means includes first and second fluid aspirator means in communication with said first and second valving compartments, respectively, for providing said fluid flow into said first and second valving compartments, exhausting the fluids products from the first and second valving compartments, and for operating said valve means between said equilibrium and nonequilibrium positions.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said first and second fluid aspirator means include first and second venturi-type aspirators, respectively.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said valving means includes a generally elastic diaphragm member moveable between said equilibrium position and first and second nonequilibrium positions wherein fluid flow into one of said first and second valving compartments is terminated.

Claim 7

Dual product aspirator-valving apparatus, comprising: a. a valve body; b. means defining a cavity in said valve body; c. valving means positioned within said cavity and dividing said cavity into first and second fluidtight valving compartments; d. first and second inlet ports in said body in communication with said first and second fluidtight valving compartments, respectively, suitable for introducing a first fluid product into said first compartment and a second fluid product into said second compartment; e. first and second venturi aspirator means positioned within said valve body including inlet and outlet ports for allowing passage of a carrier fluid therethrough; and f. means defining first and second passageways operably interconnecting said first and second valving compartments and said first and second aspirators, respectively, for allowing aspiration of the first and second fluid products by said first and second aspirators, respectively, and for allowing operation of said valving means by said aspirators to terminate the aspiration of one of said fluid products upon exhaustion of the supply of said other fluid product.

Claim 8

Dual product aspirator-valving apparatus, comprising: a. a valve body; b. means defining a cavity in said valve body; c. valving means positioned within said cavity and dividing said cavity into first and second fluidtight valving compartments; d. first and second inlet ports in said body in communication with said first and second fluidtight valving compartments, respectively, suitable for introducing a first fluid product into said first compartment and a second fluid product into said second compartment; e. first and second venturi aspirator means positioned within said valve body including inlet and outlet ports for allowing passage of a carrier fluid therethrough; and f. means defining first and second passageways operably interconnecting said first and second valving compartments and said first and second aspirators, respectively, for allowing aspiration of the first and second fluid products by said first and second aspirators, respectively, and for allowing operation of said valving means by said aspirators to terminate the aspiration of one of said fluid products upon exhaustion of the supply of said other fluid product.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein: a. said valving means comprises a generally elastic diaphragm member; and b. said first and second valving compartments are of substantially identical shape.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein: a. said valve body includes first and second body sections each having an outwardly extending angular flange portion; and b. said angular flange portions of said first and second body sections are positioned adjacent one another so as to form said cavity in said valve body.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein: a. said flange portions of said first and second body sections include an outer end portion extending radially outward from said respective first and second body sections; and b. said flexible diaphragm member includes an outer portion thereof positioned between said outer end portions of said flanges and tautly held thereby.

Claim 12

Apparatus comprising: a. means defining a plurality of valving chambers; b. valving means positioned within each of said valving chambers and dividing each of said chambers into first and second valving compartments; c. a fluid product inlet port in each of said valving compartments for introducing a fluid product therein; d. a fluid product outlet port in each of said valving compartments for exhausting therefrom the fluid introduced therein through said inlet port; e. fluid conduit means in communication with a first plurality of said product inlet ports and a first plurality of said product outlet ports for interconnecting each of said first and second valving compartments with another of said first and second valving compartments; and f. fluid pumping means in communication with the remaining plurality of product outlet ports for exhausting fluid products from each of the first and second valving compartments and for operating said valving means to terminate communication between said pumping means and each of saiD valving compartments having fluid product introducible therein upon the termination of a flow of product introducible into another of said valving compartments.

Claim 13

Apparatus comprising: a. means defining a plurality of valving chambers; b. valving means positioned within each of said valving chambers and dividing each of said chambers into first and second valving compartments; c. a fluid product inlet port in each of said valving compartments for introducing a fluid product therein; d. a fluid product outlet port in each of said valving compartments for exhausting therefrom the fluid introduced therein through said inlet port; e. fluid conduit means in communication with a first plurality of said product inlet ports and a first plurality of said product outlet ports for interconnecting each of said first and second valving compartments with another of said first and second valving compartments; and f. fluid pumping means in communication with the remaining plurality of product outlet ports for exhausting fluid products from each of the first and second valving compartments and for operating said valving means to terminate communication between said pumping means and each of saiD valving compartments having fluid product introducible therein upon the termination of a flow of product introducible into another of said valving compartments.