US5641006A — Liquid supply apparatus and method of operation

Claim 1

Independent Claim 119 words

A liquid supply system for supplying a pump with liquid via a pump supply path, said system comprising: a liquid containment system having a vented, replaceable bulk container and a sealed reservoir fed by said bulk container through a conduit; a sensor for boundaries between air and liquid in said conduit; a reservoir vent in fluid communication with said reservoir; a controlled valve for said reservoir vent; a pump for withdrawing liquid from said reservoir for utilization on demand; and a controller for closing said controlled valve upon detection of a liquid to air boundary passing said sensor, for running said pump, and for opening said controlled valve upon detection of an air to liquid boundary passing said sensor.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 119 words

A liquid supply system for supplying a pump with liquid via a pump supply path, said system comprising: a liquid containment system having a vented, replaceable bulk container and a sealed reservoir fed by said bulk container through a conduit; a sensor for boundaries between air and liquid in said conduit; a reservoir vent in fluid communication with said reservoir; a controlled valve for said reservoir vent; a pump for withdrawing liquid from said reservoir for utilization on demand; and a controller for closing said controlled valve upon detection of a liquid to air boundary passing said sensor, for running said pump, and for opening said controlled valve upon detection of an air to liquid boundary passing said sensor.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 35 words

The liquid supply system according to claim 1, further comprising: an air vent path having first and second ends, said first end disposed within said reservoir, and said second end connected to said controlled valve.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 16 words

The liquid supply system according to claim 1, wherein said sensor is a non-invasive capacitive sensor.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 56 words

The liquid supply system according to claim 1, said bulk container further comprising: a hinge at an upper surface thereof; and a lid attached to said bulk container at said hinge, wherein said conduit is disposed adjacent said lid and is removed from said bulk container when said lid is raised away from said second container.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 26 words

The liquid supply system according to claim 4, wherein said hinge further comprises a lid position sensor for detecting lid position relative to said bulk container.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 19 words

The liquid supply system according to claim 1, further comprising a drawer in which said bulk container is disposed.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 23 words

The liquid supply system according to claim 6, wherein said drawer further comprises a drip tray in which said bulk container is disposed.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 20 words

The liquid supply system according to claim 7, wherein said drip tray is contoured to securely receive said bulk container.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 21 words

The liquid supply system according to claim 6, wherein said drawer further comprises a rear wall adjacent said second liquid container.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 21 words

The liquid supply system according to claim 9, further comprising a bulk container identifying device disposed on said drawer rear wall.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 247 words

A liquid supply system for continuously supplying a pump with liquid via a pump supply path, said system comprising: a liquid container; a container supply path having first and second ends, said second end disposed within said liquid container; p1 a reservoir disposed below said container and communicable with said pump via said pump supply path, said reservoir having an interior volume in which a quantity of liquid is stored and withdrawn by said pump independent of said liquid container state; a sensor disposed proximate said container supply path for detecting liquid/air and air/liquid transitions within said container supply path; an air vent path having first and second ends, said first end disposed within said reservoir; an air vent valve disposed proximate said liquid container in fluid communication with said air vent path, said air vent path second end connected to a normally open port thereon; and a microprocessor-based control system in electrical communication with said sensor and said air vent valve for closing said air vent valve and tracking a number of pumping iterations of known volume withdrawn by said pump from said reservoir after said sensor senses a liquid/air transition within said supply path from said container, and for opening said air vent valve when said sensor senses an air/liquid transition within said supply path from said container, whereby said pump receives liquid from said reservoir when no liquid is provided by said liquid container via said supply path, and from said liquid container otherwise.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 247 words

A liquid supply system for continuously supplying a pump with liquid via a pump supply path, said system comprising: a liquid container; a container supply path having first and second ends, said second end disposed within said liquid container; p1 a reservoir disposed below said container and communicable with said pump via said pump supply path, said reservoir having an interior volume in which a quantity of liquid is stored and withdrawn by said pump independent of said liquid container state; a sensor disposed proximate said container supply path for detecting liquid/air and air/liquid transitions within said container supply path; an air vent path having first and second ends, said first end disposed within said reservoir; an air vent valve disposed proximate said liquid container in fluid communication with said air vent path, said air vent path second end connected to a normally open port thereon; and a microprocessor-based control system in electrical communication with said sensor and said air vent valve for closing said air vent valve and tracking a number of pumping iterations of known volume withdrawn by said pump from said reservoir after said sensor senses a liquid/air transition within said supply path from said container, and for opening said air vent valve when said sensor senses an air/liquid transition within said supply path from said container, whereby said pump receives liquid from said reservoir when no liquid is provided by said liquid container via said supply path, and from said liquid container otherwise.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 58 words

The liquid supply system according to claim 11, said liquid container further comprising: a hinge at an upper surface thereof; and a lid attached to said liquid container at said hinge, wherein said container flow path is disposed adjacent said lid and is removed from said liquid container when said lid is raised away from said liquid container.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 26 words

The liquid supply system according to claim 12, wherein said lid further comprises a lid position sensor for detecting lid position relative to said liquid container.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 19 words

The liquid supply system according to claim 11, further comprising a drawer in which said liquid container is disposed.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 23 words

The liquid supply system according to claim 14, wherein said drawer further comprises a drip tray in which said liquid container is disposed.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 20 words

The liquid supply system according to claim 15, wherein said drip tray is contoured to securely receive said liquid container.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 20 words

The liquid supply system according to claim 14, wherein said drawer further comprises a rear wall adjacent said liquid container.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 113 words

A continuous liquid supply module having a support structure, comprising: a bulk liquid container having an orifice disposed in an upper surface thereof; a hinged lid pivotably attached to said support structure and extending over said bulk liquid container upper surface; an arcuate tube having a first end disposable within said bulk liquid container and extending behind and below said bulk liquid container to terminate in an arcuate tube second end; a capacitive sensor disposed proximate said arcuate tube below said bulk liquid container for sensing liquid and air boundaries within said arcuate tube; a sealed, vented reservoir disposed beneath said bulk liquid container, said arcuate tube second end disposed within said reservoir.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 113 words

A continuous liquid supply module having a support structure, comprising: a bulk liquid container having an orifice disposed in an upper surface thereof; a hinged lid pivotably attached to said support structure and extending over said bulk liquid container upper surface; an arcuate tube having a first end disposable within said bulk liquid container and extending behind and below said bulk liquid container to terminate in an arcuate tube second end; a capacitive sensor disposed proximate said arcuate tube below said bulk liquid container for sensing liquid and air boundaries within said arcuate tube; a sealed, vented reservoir disposed beneath said bulk liquid container, said arcuate tube second end disposed within said reservoir.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 55 words

The module according to claim 18, further comprising: an air vent tube having a first end disposed within said reservoir and extending upwards to a second end; and an air vent valve disposed above a highest liquid level within said bulk liquid container, said air vent tube second end disposed on said air vent valve.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 24 words

The module according to claim 19, further comprising a lid sensor disposed on said support structure for detecting a position of said hinged lid.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 27 words

The module according to claim 20, further comprising a microprocessor-based control system in electrical communication with said capacitive sensor, said air vent valve, and said lid sensor.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 33 words

The module according to claim 19, further comprising a horizontally translatable drawer in which said support structure is disposed, said drawer further comprising a drip tray configured for receiving said bulk liquid container.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 32 words

The module according to claim 22, wherein said drip tray further comprises parallel linear recesses, and wherein said bulk liquid container comprises cooperating parallel linear protrusions disposable within said parallel linear recesses.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 181 words

A method of supplying a liquid from first and second interconnected containers to a pump via a pump flow path, comprising: pumping a liquid volume from said first container to said pump via said pump flow path; withdrawing a like liquid volume from said second container into said first container via a container flow path; monitoring said container flow path for a liquid/air transition indicative of an interruption in liquid flow from said second container; decrementing a known liquid volume available to said pump from said first container when said first container is not being supplied by said second container as indicated by said monitored liquid/air transition; monitoring said container flow path for an air/liquid transition indicative of a resumption of liquid supply from said second container to said first container; reinitializing said known volume available to said pump from said first container when said first container is once again being supplied by said second container as indicated by said monitored air/liquid transition; and stopping said withdrawal from said first container if said known liquid volume has been decremented to zero.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 181 words

A method of supplying a liquid from first and second interconnected containers to a pump via a pump flow path, comprising: pumping a liquid volume from said first container to said pump via said pump flow path; withdrawing a like liquid volume from said second container into said first container via a container flow path; monitoring said container flow path for a liquid/air transition indicative of an interruption in liquid flow from said second container; decrementing a known liquid volume available to said pump from said first container when said first container is not being supplied by said second container as indicated by said monitored liquid/air transition; monitoring said container flow path for an air/liquid transition indicative of a resumption of liquid supply from said second container to said first container; reinitializing said known volume available to said pump from said first container when said first container is once again being supplied by said second container as indicated by said monitored air/liquid transition; and stopping said withdrawal from said first container if said known liquid volume has been decremented to zero.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2000-06-23	2000-12-23	2001-06-24	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2004-06-23	2004-12-23	2005-06-24	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2008-06-23	2008-12-23	2009-06-24	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Liquid supply apparatus and method of operation

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