US3788527A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Quick-release aerator for introducing high pressure air into a container to facilitate dispensing
Assignee: Martin Engineering Co
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Filing: 1973-01-22
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Granted: 1974-01-29
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Expires: 1993-01-22
Abstract
Abstract A container chargeable with a relatively large volume of air under significant pressure and including quick-release valve means for rapidly discharging the container via a self-contained tubular outlet for suddenly releasing energy into a receptacle for the purpose of accelerating the flow of granular and like materials.
Inventors
- 👤 C Matson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 21:20
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D88/00; B65D88/54; B65D88/64; B65D88/70; B65D88/703
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
334 words
A quick-release aerator for facilitating the flow of granular and like material, comprising an air-tight container having a peripheral wall and first and second opposite end walls, said first end wall having an air inlet opening and the second end wall having an aperture, a tube of substantially smaller crosssection than the container and fitted within the aperture and having an outer terminal end exteriorly of the container and an inner terminal end within the container and spaced from the first end wall, said outer terminal end being adapted to communicate directly with the contents of a receptacle containing such material, a hollow cylinder also of substantially smaller crosssection than the container but of slightly larger diameter than the tube and secured to the first end wall in communication with the air inlet opening and extending toward and loosely concentric with the inner terminal end of the tube so as to provide air passage meAns between the container and the tube, said cylinder having air port means spaced from the inner terminal end of the tube toward said first end wall to provide communication between the cylinder and the container, a piston having port control means and passage control means and movable back and forth in the cylinder between a first position spaced away from the inner terminal end of the tube so as to open the air passage means and to close the air port means and a second position opening the air port means and closing the air passage means, said piston being movable from its first position to its second position via air under pressure through the air inlet opening whereby to charge the container with air via the air port means and said piston being returnable to its first position via a combination of release of air through said air inlet opening and air under pressure from the container flowing rapidly through the air passage means for discharge through the outer terminal end of the tube and into the receptacle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
334 words
A quick-release aerator for facilitating the flow of granular and like material, comprising an air-tight container having a peripheral wall and first and second opposite end walls, said first end wall having an air inlet opening and the second end wall having an aperture, a tube of substantially smaller crosssection than the container and fitted within the aperture and having an outer terminal end exteriorly of the container and an inner terminal end within the container and spaced from the first end wall, said outer terminal end being adapted to communicate directly with the contents of a receptacle containing such material, a hollow cylinder also of substantially smaller crosssection than the container but of slightly larger diameter than the tube and secured to the first end wall in communication with the air inlet opening and extending toward and loosely concentric with the inner terminal end of the tube so as to provide air passage meAns between the container and the tube, said cylinder having air port means spaced from the inner terminal end of the tube toward said first end wall to provide communication between the cylinder and the container, a piston having port control means and passage control means and movable back and forth in the cylinder between a first position spaced away from the inner terminal end of the tube so as to open the air passage means and to close the air port means and a second position opening the air port means and closing the air passage means, said piston being movable from its first position to its second position via air under pressure through the air inlet opening whereby to charge the container with air via the air port means and said piston being returnable to its first position via a combination of release of air through said air inlet opening and air under pressure from the container flowing rapidly through the air passage means for discharge through the outer terminal end of the tube and into the receptacle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The invention defined in claim 1, in which the cylinder axially overlaps the inner terminal end of the tube and means is provided to secure the tube and cylinder rigidly together in annularly spaced relation, said means including openings providing said air passage means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention defined in claim 1, in which the port control means is an annular seal means carried by the piston.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention defined in claim 1, in which the passage control means is an elastomer seat means carried by the radial face of the piston that faces toward and seats on the inner terminal end of the tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The invention defined in claim 1, in which the port control means is an annular seal carried by the piston and the passage control means is an elastomer seat carried by the radial face of the piston that faces toward and seats on the inner terminal end of the tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention defined in claim 1, including flange means carried by a portion of the tube exteriorly of the container for welding to a metal receptacle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention defined in claim 1, in which the container, tube and cylinder are circular in cross-section and are concentrically arranged.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention defined in claim 1, in which elastomer bumper means is provided within the cylinder adjacent to the first end wall to absorb rebound shocks of the piston when the piston returns to its first position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
179 words
A quick-release aerator for facilitating the flow of granular and like material, comprising a relatively large-volume container, a tube of substantially smaller cross-section than the container and projecting through a wall of the container so as to have an inner terminal end within the container and an outer terminal end exteriorly of the container, said outer terminal end being adapted to communicate directly with the contents of a receptacle containing such material, said container having air inlet means adjacent to the inner terminal end of the tube, valve means within the container and cooperative with the air inlet means and the inner terminal end of the tube and responsive to variations in air inlet pressure for selectively connecting the air inlet means to the container while closing the inner terminal end of the tube so as to charge the container exclusively of the tube and for opening the inner terminal end of the tube while closing the air inlet means to allow rapid escape of container air through the outer terminal end of the tube and into the receptacle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
179 words
A quick-release aerator for facilitating the flow of granular and like material, comprising a relatively large-volume container, a tube of substantially smaller cross-section than the container and projecting through a wall of the container so as to have an inner terminal end within the container and an outer terminal end exteriorly of the container, said outer terminal end being adapted to communicate directly with the contents of a receptacle containing such material, said container having air inlet means adjacent to the inner terminal end of the tube, valve means within the container and cooperative with the air inlet means and the inner terminal end of the tube and responsive to variations in air inlet pressure for selectively connecting the air inlet means to the container while closing the inner terminal end of the tube so as to charge the container exclusively of the tube and for opening the inner terminal end of the tube while closing the air inlet means to allow rapid escape of container air through the outer terminal end of the tube and into the receptacle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention defined in claim 9 in which the valve means includes a cylinder and piston means associated with the inner terminal end of the tube.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-28 | 1977-07-30 | 1978-01-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-28 | 1981-07-30 | 1982-01-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-28 | 1985-07-30 | 1986-01-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |