US5568882A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Precise volume fluid dispenser
Assignee: ABC TechCorp
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Filing: 1995-02-03
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Granted: 1996-10-29
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Expires: 2015-02-03
Abstract
Abstract A fluid dispenser for measuring precise volumes of a fluid for later mixing with other materials which has a pressure vessel for receiving a fluid supplied from a supply tank, a bubbler sensor communicating with the pressure vessel for correlating pressure within a bubbler tube with volume in the pressure vessel so that a controller in communication with the bubbler sensor can control the inflow and outflow of precise volumes of the fluid through the pressure vessel. The bubbler robe is received within the pressure vessel and is monitored by a pressure transducer which communicates with the controller so that a plurality of solenoid valves can control the inflow and outflow of the measured fluid.
Inventors
- 👤 Gregory W. Takacs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 03:20
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F23/00; G01F23/14; G01F23/16; G01F23/165; G01F23/168
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A fluid dispenser for measuring precise volumes of a fluid, comprising: a pressure vessel for receiving a fluid supplied from a supply tank; a sense pressure supply a bubbler tube received within said pressure vessel and connected to said sense pressure supply, said sense pressure supply continually exerting a pressure through said bubbler tube while said pressure vessel is receiving said fluid from said supply tank; a controller in communication with said bubbler tube for controlling the inflow and outflow of said fluid through said pressure vessel; and a pressure transducer connected to said controller and in communication with said bubbler tube, said pressure transducer monitoring a pressure within said bubbler tube, said controller correlating said pressure to a volume of said fluid in said pressure vessel and stopping said inflow of said fluid when said pressure reaches a predetermined level.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
A fluid dispenser for measuring precise volumes of a fluid, comprising: a pressure vessel for receiving a fluid supplied from a supply tank; a sense pressure supply a bubbler tube received within said pressure vessel and connected to said sense pressure supply, said sense pressure supply continually exerting a pressure through said bubbler tube while said pressure vessel is receiving said fluid from said supply tank; a controller in communication with said bubbler tube for controlling the inflow and outflow of said fluid through said pressure vessel; and a pressure transducer connected to said controller and in communication with said bubbler tube, said pressure transducer monitoring a pressure within said bubbler tube, said controller correlating said pressure to a volume of said fluid in said pressure vessel and stopping said inflow of said fluid when said pressure reaches a predetermined level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
123 words
The fluid dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising: a first solenoid valve operative with said controller for providing said sense pressure supply to said bubbler tube; a second solenoid valve operative with said controller and disposed between said supply tank, said pressure vessel and a dispense tank such that said second solenoid valve opens and closes under control of said controller for regulating the inflow and outflow of said fluid through said pressure vessel; and a third solenoid valve operative with said controller and disposed between a dispense pressure supply and said pressure vessel such that said third solenoid valve opens and closes under control of said controller for forcing said fluid out of said pressure vessel and into said dispense tank.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The fluid dispenser according to claim 2, further comprising a dispense pressure tube disposed between said third solenoid valve and said pressure vessel, wherein said dispense pressure tube receives said bubbler tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
The fluid dispenser according to claim 2, wherein said pressure vessel has a top end and a bottom end, said pressure vessel tapered from said top end inwardly to said bottom end to provide increased resolution of said bubbler sensor in correlating the amount of pressure in said bubbler tube and thus the volume of fluid within said pressure vessel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
79 words
The fluid dispenser according to claim 2, further comprising: an insulator disposed between said bubbler tube and said pressure vessel; and an empty sense line interconnected between said pressure vessel and said controller such that a closed circuit is observed between said bubbler tube and said pressure vessel whenever said fluid is in contact with said bubbler tube so as to allow said controller to detect whenever the desired amount of fluid has flowed out of said pressure vessel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The fluid dispenser according to claim 5, further comprising: a sight tube operative with said pressure vessel so as to provide a visual indication of said fluid therein.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The fluid dispenser according to claim 6, wherein said bubbler tube is received by said insulator and wherein said sight tube receives said insulator so as to provide a visual indication of the operation of said bubbler tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
146 words
A fluid dispenser for measuring precise volumes of a fluid for later mixing with other materials, comprising: a pressure vessel; a supply tank for supplying a fluid to said pressure vessel; a bubbler tube received in said pressure vessel; an insulator disposed between said bubbler tube and said pressure vessel; a dispense pressure supply in communication with said pressure vessel; a dispense tank for receiving said fluid from said pressure vessel; a controller in communication with said bubbler tube for determining a precise volume of said fluid received and dispensed by said pressure vessel; and an empty sense line interconnected between said pressure vessel and said controller such that a closed circuit is observed between said bubbler tube and said pressure vessel whenever said fluid is in contact with said bubbler tube and an open circuit is observed whenever said fluid is not in such contact.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
146 words
A fluid dispenser for measuring precise volumes of a fluid for later mixing with other materials, comprising: a pressure vessel; a supply tank for supplying a fluid to said pressure vessel; a bubbler tube received in said pressure vessel; an insulator disposed between said bubbler tube and said pressure vessel; a dispense pressure supply in communication with said pressure vessel; a dispense tank for receiving said fluid from said pressure vessel; a controller in communication with said bubbler tube for determining a precise volume of said fluid received and dispensed by said pressure vessel; and an empty sense line interconnected between said pressure vessel and said controller such that a closed circuit is observed between said bubbler tube and said pressure vessel whenever said fluid is in contact with said bubbler tube and an open circuit is observed whenever said fluid is not in such contact.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
70 words
The fluid dispenser according to claim 8, further comprising: a sense pressure supply communicative with said bubbler tube; a first solenoid valve operatively controlled by said controller and disposed between said sense pressure supply and said bubbler tube; and a pressure transducer interconnected between said controller and said bubbler tube for determining the amount of pressure within said bubbler tube and thus the volume of fluid within said pressure vessel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
85 words
The fluid dispenser according to claim 9, further comprising: a second solenoid valve operatively controlled by said controller and disposed between said supply tank, said dispense tank and said pressure vessel; and a third solenoid valve operatively controlled by said controller and disposed between said dispense pressure supply and said pressure vessel, wherein said controller opens and closes said plurality of solenoid valves to receive and precisely measure an amount of fluid in said pressure vessel, and to transfer said fluid to said dispense tank.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The fluid dispenser according to claim 10, further comprising: a sight tube operatively connected to said pressure vessel so as to provide a visual indication of the amount of said fluid in said pressure vessel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The fluid dispenser according to claim 11, wherein said bubbler tube and said insulator is received within said sight tube so as to provide a visual indication of the operation of said bubbler tube.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The fluid dispenser according to claim 10, further comprising: a dispense pressure tube disposed between said third solenoid valve and said pressure vessel, wherein said dispense pressure tube receives said bubbler tube such that said dispense pressure supply clears said bubbler tube.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
55 words
The fluid dispenser according to claim 10, wherein said pressure vessel has a top end and a bottom end, said pressure vessel tapered from said top end inwardly to said bottom end to provide increased resolution by said bubbler tube in correlating an amount of pressure therein with a volume of fluid within pressure vessel.
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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) | 1999-10-29 | 2000-04-29 | 2000-10-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-10-29 | 2004-04-29 | 2004-10-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-10-29 | 2008-04-29 | 2008-10-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |