US3738543A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Measuring valve having spring-loaded actuating mechanism
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-06-01
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Granted: 1973-06-12
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Expires: 1991-06-01
Abstract
Abstract A valve for dispensing a measured volume of liquid includes a spring-loaded actuating mechanism. A measuring chamber is closed at either end by respective valve discs supported by a valve stem. The valve stem and discs are biased to open the inlet end and close the outlet end, thereby permitting liquid to fill the measuring chamber. When the valve stem is displaced by the actuating mechanism, the discs close the inlet end and open the outlet end to dispense a measured volume of liquid. To insure rapid opening of the measuring valve, an actuating mechanism includes a piston slidingly disposed in a cylinder and attached to the valve stem. A pivotally mounted control lever moves the cylinder so as to compress against the piston a spring contained within the cylinder. When the compressed spring force exceeds the bias on the valve stem, the spring rapidly displaces the piston, valve stem and discs to the liquid dispensing position.
Inventors
- 👤 P Aperlo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 21:07
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F11/00; G01F11/28; G01F11/30; G01F11/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
In a measuring valve of the type wherein a pre-established volume of liquid is dispensed when a valve stem is moved from a closed to an open position, the improvement comprising: a bias spring for applying a first axial force to said valve stem to bias said valve stem to said closed position; and a valve actuating mechanism comprising: a cylinder, an actuating piston slidingly disposed within said cylinder and attached to one end of said valve stem, an actuating spring disposed within said cylinder between said piston and an end of said cylinder for applying a second axial force to said valve stem in a direction opposite to said first axial force, said first force being significantly greater than said second force so that a substantial compression of said actuating spring is required for said second force to overcome said first force, and means for displacing said cylinder toward said valve stem to cause compression of said actuating spring against said piston, whereby after significant movement of said cylinder toward said valve stem the second force of said actuating spring exceeds the first force of said bias spring rapidly moving said piston and said valve stem to said open position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
201 words
In a measuring valve of the type wherein a pre-established volume of liquid is dispensed when a valve stem is moved from a closed to an open position, the improvement comprising: a bias spring for applying a first axial force to said valve stem to bias said valve stem to said closed position; and a valve actuating mechanism comprising: a cylinder, an actuating piston slidingly disposed within said cylinder and attached to one end of said valve stem, an actuating spring disposed within said cylinder between said piston and an end of said cylinder for applying a second axial force to said valve stem in a direction opposite to said first axial force, said first force being significantly greater than said second force so that a substantial compression of said actuating spring is required for said second force to overcome said first force, and means for displacing said cylinder toward said valve stem to cause compression of said actuating spring against said piston, whereby after significant movement of said cylinder toward said valve stem the second force of said actuating spring exceeds the first force of said bias spring rapidly moving said piston and said valve stem to said open position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A measuring valve according to claim 1 further comprising: a pivotally mounted actuating lever, one end of said lever forming a yoke, and means operatively connecting said yoke to said cylinder, whereby pivotal motion of said lever causes displacement of said cylinder to compress said actuating spring.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
valve means connected to a shaft (a) for closing said outlet end and opening said inlet end when said shaft is in a first position, thereby permitting entry of liquid via said inlet end to fill said chamber, and (b) for opening said outlet end and closing said inlet end when said shaft is in a second position, thereby dispensing via said outlet end the measured volume of liquid contained in said chamber,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
valve means connected to a shaft (a) for closing said outlet end and opening said inlet end when said shaft is in a first position, thereby permitting entry of liquid via said inlet end to fill said chamber, and (b) for opening said outlet end and closing said inlet end when said shaft is in a second position, thereby dispensing via said outlet end the measured volume of liquid contained in said chamber,
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
bias means for applying a first axial force to said shaft for biasing said valve means and shaft to said first position,
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
bias means for applying a first axial force to said shaft for biasing said valve means and shaft to said first position,
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
A measuring valve according to claim 2 wherein the other end of said lever is situated beneath the liquid outlet of said valve, thereby permitting motion to be imparted to said lever by a glass positioned to receive liquid dispensed from said valve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
A measuring valve according to claim 2 further comprising a liquid reservoir supplying said measuring valve, said reservoir having a horizontal dimension substantially greater than the height of said reservoir, thereby maintaining a substantially constant pressure head regardless of how much liquid remains in said reservoir.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
compressible means for applying a second axial force to said shaft in a direction opposite to said first axial force, said first force being significantly greater than said second force so that said valve means and said shaft normally remain in said first position, a substantial compression of said compressible means being required for said second force to overcome said first force, and
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
compressible means for applying a second axial force to said shaft in a direction opposite to said first axial force, said first force being significantly greater than said second force so that said valve means and said shaft normally remain in said first position, a substantial compression of said compressible means being required for said second force to overcome said first force, and
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
lever operated actuating means for causing compression of said compressible means to move said valve means and said shaft to said second position when said second force exerted by said compressible means exceeds said first force exerted on said shaft by said bias means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
lever operated actuating means for causing compression of said compressible means to move said valve means and said shaft to said second position when said second force exerted by said compressible means exceeds said first force exerted on said shaft by said bias means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
4 words
A measuring valve comprising:
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
4 words
A measuring valve comprising:
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
103 words
A measuring valve according to claim 5 wherein said compressible means comprises a spring and wherein said actuating means comprises: a cylindrical member, a piston slidingly disposed within said cylindrical member and connected to said shaft, said spring being situated within said cylindrical member between an end thereof and said piston, and yoke means connecting said lever to said cylindrical member, whereby motion of said lever transmitted via said yoke means to said cylindrical member causes compression of said spring against said piston, sufficient compression overcoming the bias on said shaft and causing said piston to move said shaft to said second position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
101 words
A measuring valve according to claim 5 wherein said chamber is interiorly cylindrical and includes a central region situated between an inlet region and an outlet region each having a diameter greater than that of said central region, wherein said shaft extends coaxially through said chamber, and wherein said valve means comprises first and second valve discs concentrically attached to said shaft and situated respectively within said inlet and outlet regions, the diameter of each said disc being greater than the diameter of said central region but less than the diameter of the respective inlet or outlet region containing said disc.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
A measuring valve according to claim 7 wherein the shoulders at each end of said central region function as valve seats for said valve discs, and further comprising an annular seal attached to the surface of each said valve disc facing the respective valve seat shoulder.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
51 words
A measuring valve according to claim 8 wherein each shoulder is tapered and wherein said seal comprises a ring of resilient material adhesively bonded to an annular groove in said valve disc surface, said seal having a pair of annular sealing fingers projecting from said groove to contact said tapered shoulder.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
69 words
A measuring valve according to claim 7 wherein said chamber is interior of a valve housing having threaded, removable ends respectively forming the ends of said inlet and outlet regions, wherein said shaft projects through said inlet region end to said actuating means, and wherein said bias means comprises a spring situated around said shaft within said outlet region between said outlet region end and said second valve disc.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
48 words
A measuring valve according to claim 10 further comprising a reservoir supplying liquid to said inlet region, said reservoir having a horizontal dimension substantially greater than the height thereof, whereby the pressure head into said measuring valve remains substantially independent of how much liquid is in said reservoir.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
50 words
A measuring valve according to cLaim 10 further comprising one or more elements clipped to said shaft between said valve discs to reduce the liquid capacity of said central region to a selected volume, thereby permitting control of the amount of liquid dispensed at each actuation of said measuring valve.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
349 words
A device for dispensing a measured volume of liquid comprising: a. a valve housing having interior thereof an inlet chamber at one end, an outlet chamber at the other end, and a measuring chamber communicating therebetween, the diameter of said measuring chamber being less than the diameters of said inlet and outlet chambers, the shoulders of said measuring chamber thereby forming first and second valve seats, b. a valve stem extending through said valve housing and adapted to move between a valve open position and a valve closed position, c. a first valve disc situated within said inlet chamber and attached to said valve stem, said first valve disc seating against the first valve seat when said valve stem is in said open position, d. a second valve disc situated within said outlet chamber and attached to said valve stem, said second valve disc seating against said second valve seat when said valve stem is in said closed position, e. a fluid inlet communicating into said inlet chamber and a fluid outlet communicating out of said outlet chamber, f. bias means for applying a first axial force to said valve stem for biasing said valve stem to said closed position, and g. a valve actuating mechanism comprising: a cylinder, an actuating piston slidingly disposed within said cylinder and attached to one end of said valve stem, an actuating spring disposed within said cylinder between said piston and an end of said cylinder for applying a second axial force to said valve stem in a direction opposite to said first axial force, said first force being significantly greater than said second force so that a substantial compression of said actuating spring is required for said second force to overcome said first force, and means for displacing said cylinder toward said valve stem to cause compression of said actuating spring against said piston, whereby after significant movement of said cylinder toward said valve stem the second force of said actuating spring exceeds the first force of said bias spring rapidly moving said piston and said valve stem to said open position.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
349 words
A device for dispensing a measured volume of liquid comprising: a. a valve housing having interior thereof an inlet chamber at one end, an outlet chamber at the other end, and a measuring chamber communicating therebetween, the diameter of said measuring chamber being less than the diameters of said inlet and outlet chambers, the shoulders of said measuring chamber thereby forming first and second valve seats, b. a valve stem extending through said valve housing and adapted to move between a valve open position and a valve closed position, c. a first valve disc situated within said inlet chamber and attached to said valve stem, said first valve disc seating against the first valve seat when said valve stem is in said open position, d. a second valve disc situated within said outlet chamber and attached to said valve stem, said second valve disc seating against said second valve seat when said valve stem is in said closed position, e. a fluid inlet communicating into said inlet chamber and a fluid outlet communicating out of said outlet chamber, f. bias means for applying a first axial force to said valve stem for biasing said valve stem to said closed position, and g. a valve actuating mechanism comprising: a cylinder, an actuating piston slidingly disposed within said cylinder and attached to one end of said valve stem, an actuating spring disposed within said cylinder between said piston and an end of said cylinder for applying a second axial force to said valve stem in a direction opposite to said first axial force, said first force being significantly greater than said second force so that a substantial compression of said actuating spring is required for said second force to overcome said first force, and means for displacing said cylinder toward said valve stem to cause compression of said actuating spring against said piston, whereby after significant movement of said cylinder toward said valve stem the second force of said actuating spring exceeds the first force of said bias spring rapidly moving said piston and said valve stem to said open position.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
102 words
A liquid dispensing device according to claim 13 wherein said means for displacing comprises: a lever arm having a yoke at one end and a bumper at the other end, means for mounting said lever to pivot about an axis generally perpendicular to said valve stem and situated nearer said yoke than to said bumper, a pair of pins projecting laterally from said cylinder, said yoke partly surrounding said cylinder against said pins, whereby pushing said bumper causes said lever to pivot about said axis and force said yoke against said pins to displace said cylinder and actuate said liquid dispensing device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
54 words
A liquid dispensing device according to claim 14 wherein said bias means comprises a spring surrounding said valve stem and situated within said outlet chamber between one end of said valve housing and said second valve disc, and wherein said valve stem projects through the other end of said valve housing to said piston.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-11 | 1976-12-11 | 1977-06-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-11 | 1980-12-11 | 1981-06-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-11 | 1984-12-11 | 1985-06-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |