US4017393A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for dispensing a liquid
Assignee: Canada Minister of Environment
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Filing: 1976-02-23
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Granted: 1977-04-12
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Expires: 1996-02-23
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for dosing a treatment solution into a waste liquid comprises a device for measuring and dispensing a predetermined volume of solution, means for delivering treatment solution to and from the device and control means adapted to determine when waste liquid is present to be dosed and activate the device to dispense a measured volume of treatment solution into a waste liquid. The device has a container with an inlet and outlet diaphragm valve, and an air vent means for venting the chamber during filling and dispensing of treatment solution. Reversible actuation means is provided for simultaneously opening the inlet valve and closing the outlet valve to permit filling of the chamber with a treatment solution and for simultaneously closing the inlet valve and opening the outlet valve to permit dispensing of the measured volume of treatment solution. The control means operates the reversible actuation means to dispense treatment solution into the waste liquid and is adapted to close the outlet valve and open the inlet valve in the absence of waste liquid to be dosed.
Inventors
- 👤 H. Rodney Foggett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 13:32
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/68; C02F1/685; C02F1/686; B; B01; B01J; B01J4/00; B01J4/008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
293 words
An apparatus for dosing a treatment solution into a waste liquid comprising a device for measuring and dispensing a predetermined volume of treatment solution, means for delivering treatment solution from a reservoir to said device and means for delivering a measured volume of treatment solution from said device to a waste liquid to be dosed, and control means adapted to determine when waste liquid is present to be dosed and activate said device to dispense a measured volume of treatment solution into a waste liquid, said device having a container which defines a chamber of predetermined volume with an inlet in communication with said means for delivering treatment solution to said device and an outlet in communication with said means for delivering treatment solution to waste liquid, an inlet valve and an outlet valve provided respectively at said inlet and said outlet, air vent means for venting said chamber during the filling and dispensing of treatment solution, said air vent means being adapted to prevent overflow of treatment solution from said vent means to the surroundings, reversible actuation means for simultaneously opening said inlet valve and closing said outlet valve to permit filling of said chamber with a treatment solution and for simultaneously closing said inlet valve and opening said outlet valve to permit dispensing a measured volume of treatment solution, said reversible actuation means being operated by said control means when waste liquid is to be dosed to thereby open said outlet valve and close said inlet valve so that waste liquid is dosed with a measured volume of treatment solution, said control means being adapted to close said outlet valve and open said inlet valve for refilling said chamber with treatment solution in the absence of waste liquid to be dosed.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
293 words
An apparatus for dosing a treatment solution into a waste liquid comprising a device for measuring and dispensing a predetermined volume of treatment solution, means for delivering treatment solution from a reservoir to said device and means for delivering a measured volume of treatment solution from said device to a waste liquid to be dosed, and control means adapted to determine when waste liquid is present to be dosed and activate said device to dispense a measured volume of treatment solution into a waste liquid, said device having a container which defines a chamber of predetermined volume with an inlet in communication with said means for delivering treatment solution to said device and an outlet in communication with said means for delivering treatment solution to waste liquid, an inlet valve and an outlet valve provided respectively at said inlet and said outlet, air vent means for venting said chamber during the filling and dispensing of treatment solution, said air vent means being adapted to prevent overflow of treatment solution from said vent means to the surroundings, reversible actuation means for simultaneously opening said inlet valve and closing said outlet valve to permit filling of said chamber with a treatment solution and for simultaneously closing said inlet valve and opening said outlet valve to permit dispensing a measured volume of treatment solution, said reversible actuation means being operated by said control means when waste liquid is to be dosed to thereby open said outlet valve and close said inlet valve so that waste liquid is dosed with a measured volume of treatment solution, said control means being adapted to close said outlet valve and open said inlet valve for refilling said chamber with treatment solution in the absence of waste liquid to be dosed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 1 which is adapted for use in dosing waste liquid effluent from a flush toilet wherein said control means determines when a toilet is flushed to thereby operate said reversible actuation means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus of claim 2 wherein said control means includes a sensing means for sensing when a toilet is flushed, said sensing means electrically activating an electrical solenoid when a toilet is flushed, said solenoid being adapted to operate said actuation means in a manner to dispense treatment solution from said container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus of claim 1 wherein said inlet is located at the top of said container and said outlet is located at the bottom of said container, said inlet and outlet valves both being diaphragm valves with reciprocating plungers which open and close the valves when moved outwardly and inwardly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus of claim 4 wherein said reciprocating plungers are moved by a linkage assembly which is adapted to move one of said reciprocating plungers in and simultaneously withdraw the other plunger thereby simultaneously closing and opening the respective diaphragm valves.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
162 words
An apparatus of claim 5 wherein said linkage assembly comprises two parallel spaced-apart link arms, each parallel link arm having two free end portions and being pivotally mounted between its two free end portions on said container in a manner so that a first free end portion of each parallel link arm engages and is adapted to move the respective reciprocal plunger, said parallel link arms being interconnected at their second free end portions by a connecting member whereby said parallel link arms swing simultaneously in the same direction so that as one of the reciprocal plungers is moved inwardly by the respective parallel link arm to close the corresponding valve, the other reciprocal plunger is moved simultaneously outwardly by the respective parallel link arm to open the corresponding valve, drive arm means being connected to said linkage assembly to swing said parallel link arms in a direction which either fills said chamber with or dispenses from said chamber, a treatment solution.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
99 words
An apparatus of claim 6 which is adapted for use in dosing waste liquid effluent from a flush toilet wherein said control means includes a device for sensing when a toilet is flushed, said device electrically activating an electrical solenoid when a toilet is flushed, said solenoid having a plunger which is connected to said drive arm means, the solenoid plunger being retracted when the solenoid is activated to move said parallel link arms in a direction so that said inlet valve is closed and said outlet valve is opened to thereby dispense treatment solution into a waste liquid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus of claim 7 wherein said vent means is a tube connected to the top of said container and is in communication with said chamber, said tube extending upwardly to a position which is above the highest level at which treatment solution is stored in a reservoir.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus of claim 7 wherein said vent means is a tube connected to the top of said container and in communication with said chamber, said tube being returned to a reservoir for a treatment solution.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
266 words
A device for measuring and dispensing a pre-determined volume of liquid comprising a container which defines a chamber of a predetermined volume and which has an inlet and an outlet, an inlet valve and an outlet valve provided respectively at said inlet and outlet, air vent means for venting said chamber during the filling and dispensing of a liquid, reversible actuation means for simultaneously opening said inlet valve and closing said outlet valve to permit filling of said chamber with a liquid and for simultaneously closing said inlet valve and opening said outlet valve to permit dispensing of a measured volume of a liquid and control means for operating said reversible actuation means, said inlet and outlet valves being diaphragm valves with reciprocating plungers which open and close the valves when moved outwardly and inwardly, said reversible actuation means comprising a linkage assembly of two parallel spaced-apart link arms and an interconnecting member, each parallel link arm having two free end portions and being pivotally mounted between its two free end portions on said container in a manner so that a first free end portion of each parallel link arm engages and is adapted to move the respective reciprocal plunger, said parallel link arms being interconnected at their second free ends by said member whereby said parallel link arms swing simultaneously in the same direction so that as one of the reciprocal plungers is moved inwardly by the respective parallel link arm to close the corresponding valve, the other reciprocal plunger is moved simultaneously outwardly by the respective parallel link arm to open the corresponding valve.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
266 words
A device for measuring and dispensing a pre-determined volume of liquid comprising a container which defines a chamber of a predetermined volume and which has an inlet and an outlet, an inlet valve and an outlet valve provided respectively at said inlet and outlet, air vent means for venting said chamber during the filling and dispensing of a liquid, reversible actuation means for simultaneously opening said inlet valve and closing said outlet valve to permit filling of said chamber with a liquid and for simultaneously closing said inlet valve and opening said outlet valve to permit dispensing of a measured volume of a liquid and control means for operating said reversible actuation means, said inlet and outlet valves being diaphragm valves with reciprocating plungers which open and close the valves when moved outwardly and inwardly, said reversible actuation means comprising a linkage assembly of two parallel spaced-apart link arms and an interconnecting member, each parallel link arm having two free end portions and being pivotally mounted between its two free end portions on said container in a manner so that a first free end portion of each parallel link arm engages and is adapted to move the respective reciprocal plunger, said parallel link arms being interconnected at their second free ends by said member whereby said parallel link arms swing simultaneously in the same direction so that as one of the reciprocal plungers is moved inwardly by the respective parallel link arm to close the corresponding valve, the other reciprocal plunger is moved simultaneously outwardly by the respective parallel link arm to open the corresponding valve.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
A device of claim 10 wherein said control means includes an electrical solenoid with a moveable solenoid plunger connected to said linkage assembly, said solenoid being activated when it is desired to dispense a predetermined volume of a liquid to thereby move the solenoid plunger in a direction such that said outlet valve is opened and said inlet valve is closed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
112 words
A device of claim 10 wherein each diaphragm valve includes a diaphragm of two sheets of flexible material held in contacting relationship at their circumferences, the sheet of material which is unexposed to a treatment solution in said container having an aperture cut therein, a threaded bolt extending outwardly through said aperture with the head of the bolt lying between said two sheets of flexible material, the head of said bolt being significantly larger than said aperture to preclude withdrawal of the head of the bolt from between said two flexible sheets, each plunger being adapted to threadably receive a threaded bolt of a respective diaphragm valve to thereby engage the diaphragm.
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) | 1980-04-11 | 1980-10-11 | 1981-04-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-04-11 | 1984-10-11 | 1985-04-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-04-11 | 1988-10-11 | 1989-04-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |