Liquid dispensing system

Claim 2

In a liquid dispensing system, pump means for delivering the liquid to the point of use and having an inlet, a manifold tube having at least some vertical extent and connected to the inlet of said pump means, at least one container containIng a supply of the liquid to be dispensed with the level of the liquid in the container exceeding the height vertically of the inlet to the pump means, said container having an outlet adjacent to the bottom thereof, said manifold tube having inlet means corresponding to said container and disposed at a level beneath that of the container outlet, and means for coupling the container outlet to the inlet means on the manifold tube to provide for gravity flow of the liquid from the container to the pump means, said coupling means including corresponding coupling units in flow communication with the container outlet and the manifold tube inlet means respectively, said coupling unit in communication with the container outlet including sealing closure means for the container and the coupling unit in communication with the manifold tube inlet means including means for breaking the closure means to place the container in flow communication with the manifold tube.

Claim 3

The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein the coupling unit in flow communication with the container outlet is a male coupling unit and is received within a female coupling unit in flow communication with the manifold tube inlet means.

Claim 4

The invention as set forth in claim 2 wherein the male coupling unit includes closure means for the container and the female coupling unit includes means for penetrating the closure means to place the container in flow communication with the manifold tube.

Claim 5

The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein the coupling unit in flow communication with the container outlet comprises a female coupling closure plug on the container and which is adapted to receive a male coupling unit in flow communication with the manifold tube inlet means.

Claim 6

The invention as set forth in claim 4 wherein the male coupling unit includes means for penetrating the closure plug to place the container in flow communication with the manifold tube.

Claim 7

In a liquid dispensing system, a pressure accumulator for delivering the liquid to the point of use, a motor-driven positive displacement pump having an inlet and an outlet with the latter communication with said accumulator, a plurality of containers containing the liquid for dispensation and having outlet means adjacent to the bottom thereof, a rack having a plurality of levels with each level adapted to support a container to place the containers in a vertical column, a vertically extending manifold having the lower end thereof communicating with the pump inlet, a plurality of vertically spaced inlets on said manifold, said manifold inlets corresponding to the respective levels of said rack and the respective inlets being disposed beneath the corresponding levels of said rack, a first coupling unit connected to each of the manifold inlets, and a second coupling unit connected to the respective container outlet means, said first coupling units being adapted for coupling to the corresponding second coupling units to connect the respective containers to the manifold and provide for gravity flow of liquid from the containers to the pump.

Claim 8

In a liquid dispensing system, a pressure accumulator for delivering the liquid to the point of use, a motor-driven positive displacement pump having an inlet and an outlet with the latter communication with said accumulator, a plurality of containers containing the liquid for dispensation and having outlet means adjacent to the bottom thereof, a rack having a plurality of levels with each level adapted to support a container to place the containers in a vertical column, a vertically extending manifold having the lower end thereof communicating with the pump inlet, a plurality of vertically spaced inlets on said manifold, said manifold inlets corresponding to the respective levels of said rack and the respective inlets being disposed beneath the corresponding levels of said rack, a first coupling unit connected to each of the manifold inlets, and a second coupling unit connected to the respective container outlet means, said first coupling units being adapted for coupling to the corresponding second coupling units to connect the respective containers to the manifold and provide for gravity flow of liquid from the containers to the pump.

Claim 9

The invention as set forth in claim 6 wherein check valve means are disposed between the manifold and each of the respective containers, said valve means being adapted to preclude flow from the containers to the manifold when the pressure head in the manifold exceeds that in the corresponding container and thereby provide for consecutive emptying of the vertical column of containers from top to bottom.

Claim 10

The invention as set forth in claim 7 wherein the check valve means comprises a spring biased rubber sealing member.

Claim 11

The invention as set forth in claim 6 wherein the second coupling unit serves as a sealing closure for the corresponding container.

Claim 12

The invention as set forth in claim 9 wherein the second coupling unit comprises a tubular coupling element the free end of which is closed by a resilient diaphragm.

Claim 13

The invention as set forth in claim 10 wherein the first coupling unit includes meanS for piercing the resilient diaphragm of the second coupling unit and thereby place the corresponding container in flow communication with the manifold.

Claim 14

The invention as set forth in claim 10 wherein said first coupling unit comprises a tubular coupling element, a probe element extending longitudinally within the tubular element and having a penetrating head adjacent to the free end of the coupling unit, said probe element being hollow with the interior thereof communicating with the manifold and having inlet means adjacent to the penetrating head, a valve member slidably disposed on said probe element, spring means biasing the valve member to a position of closure over the probe element inlet means, said penetrating head of the probe element being adapted to pierce the resilient diaphragm of the second coupling unit during the coupling operation with the second coupling unit engaging the valve member and pushing same from the closure position over the probe element inlet means against the biasing pressure of said spring means to place the probe element inlet means and therefore the manifold inflow communication with the container, and interlocking means on the respective tubular elements of the coupling units to maintain said units in coupling relation against the pressure of the spring means biasing the valve member.

Claim 15

The invention as set forth in claim 12 wherein check valve means are disposed between the probe element and manifold, said check valve means being adapted to preclude flow from the corresponding container until the pressure head in said container exceeds the pressure head in the manifold.

Claim 16

The invention as set forth in claim 12 wherein the interlocking means for maintaining the coupling relation comprises external ridge means on the tubular element of the second coupling unit, said ridge means being engageable behind internal radial inwardly projecting means on the first coupling unit.

Claim 17

The invention as set forth in claim 12 wherein the first coupling unit is a male coupling unit having an external peripheral groove intermediate the length thereof and the second coupling unit is a female unit having an internal annular ridge at the forward end thereof, said ridge being engageable within said groove during the coupling operation to maintain the coupled relation between the coupling units.

Claim 18

The invention as set forth in claim 6 wherein the second coupling unit is a plastic closure plug and includes a resilient diaphragm sandwiched between layers of plastic material and said first coupling unit includes means for piercing the diaphragm and plastic layers to place the corresponding container in flow communication with the manifold.

Claim 19

A coupling arrangement for connecting a liquid supply container into a dispensing system for the liquid, comprising first and second coupling units adapted to be coupled together, said first coupling unit connected to the container and comprising a tubular element having a free end closed by a resilient diaphragm member to provide a sealing closure for the container, said second coupling unit connected to the balance of the dispensing system and comprising a tubular element having an internal longitudinally extending probe element adapted to penetrate through the diaphragm member during the coupling operation, said probe element being hollow with the interior thereof communicating with the balance of the dispensing system and having inlet means placing the interior thereof in communication with the container.

Claim 20

A coupling arrangement for connecting a liquid supply container into a dispensing system for the liquid, comprising first and second coupling units adapted to be coupled together, said first coupling unit connected to the container and comprising a tubular element having a free end closed by a resilient diaphragm member to provide a sealing closure for the container, said second coupling unit connected to the balance of the dispensing system and comprising a tubular element having an internal longitudinally extending probe element adapted to penetrate through the diaphragm member during the coupling operation, said probe element being hollow with the interior thereof communicating with the balance of the dispensing system and having inlet means placing the interior thereof in communication with the container.

Claim 21

A coupling arrangement for connecting a liquid supply container into a dispensing system for the liquid, comprising male and female coupling units, said male coupling unit being connected to the container and comprising a tubular element having the free end thereof closed by a resilient diaphragm member to provide a sealing closure for the container, said female coupling unit being connected to the balance of the dispensing system and comprising a tubular element adapted to receive the male coupling unit, a probe element extending longitudinally within the tubular element of the female unit and adapted to penetrate through the diaphragm member of the male unit during the coupling operation, said probe element being hollow with the interior thereof communicating with the balance of the dispensing system and having inlet means, a valve member slidably disposed on said probe element, spring means to bias the valve member to a position of closure over the probe element inlet means, said valve member being engaged and pushed from the probe element inlet means closure position by the male coupling unit during the coupling operation to place the probe element inlet means in flow communication with the container and hence place the container into the dispensing system, and interlocking means on the respective tubular elements of the coupling units to maintain said units in coupling relation against the pressure of the spring means biasing the valve member.

Claim 22

A coupling arrangement for connecting a liquid supply container into a dispensing system for the liquid, comprising male and female coupling units, said male coupling unit being connected to the container and comprising a tubular element having the free end thereof closed by a resilient diaphragm member to provide a sealing closure for the container, said female coupling unit being connected to the balance of the dispensing system and comprising a tubular element adapted to receive the male coupling unit, a probe element extending longitudinally within the tubular element of the female unit and adapted to penetrate through the diaphragm member of the male unit during the coupling operation, said probe element being hollow with the interior thereof communicating with the balance of the dispensing system and having inlet means, a valve member slidably disposed on said probe element, spring means to bias the valve member to a position of closure over the probe element inlet means, said valve member being engaged and pushed from the probe element inlet means closure position by the male coupling unit during the coupling operation to place the probe element inlet means in flow communication with the container and hence place the container into the dispensing system, and interlocking means on the respective tubular elements of the coupling units to maintain said units in coupling relation against the pressure of the spring means biasing the valve member.

Claim 23

A coupling arrangement for connecting a liquid supply container into a dispensing system for the liquid, comprising male and female coupling units, said female coupling unit being connected to the container and comprising a closure plug therefor having a tubular element and a resilient diaphragm member, said male coupling unit being connected to the balance of the dispensing system and comprising a tubular element adapted to enter the female coupling unit, a probe element extending longitudinally within the tubular element of a male unit and adapted to penetrate through the diaphragm member of the female unit during the coupling operation, said probe element being hollow with the interior thereof communicating with the balance of the dispensing system and having inlet means, a valve member slidably disposed on said probe element, spring means to bias the valve member to a position of closure over the probe element inlet means, said valve member being engaged and pushed from the probe element inlet means closure position by the female coupling unit during the coupling operation to place the probe element inlet means in flow communication with the container and hence place the container into the dispensing system, and interlocking means on the respective tubular elements of the coupling units to maintain said units in coupling relation against the pressure of the spring means biasing the valve member.

Claim 24

A coupling arrangement for connecting a liquid supply container into a dispensing system for the liquid, comprising male and female coupling units, said female coupling unit being connected to the container and comprising a closure plug therefor having a tubular element and a resilient diaphragm member, said male coupling unit being connected to the balance of the dispensing system and comprising a tubular element adapted to enter the female coupling unit, a probe element extending longitudinally within the tubular element of a male unit and adapted to penetrate through the diaphragm member of the female unit during the coupling operation, said probe element being hollow with the interior thereof communicating with the balance of the dispensing system and having inlet means, a valve member slidably disposed on said probe element, spring means to bias the valve member to a position of closure over the probe element inlet means, said valve member being engaged and pushed from the probe element inlet means closure position by the female coupling unit during the coupling operation to place the probe element inlet means in flow communication with the container and hence place the container into the dispensing system, and interlocking means on the respective tubular elements of the coupling units to maintain said units in coupling relation against the pressure of the spring means biasing the valve member.