Not Applicable.
The field of the invention is dispensers for chemical concentrates, and particularly the dispensing of chemical concentrates at multiple flow rates and different concentrations.
Dispensers of the type concerned with in this invention are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,320,288 and 5,372,310. While the spraying apparatus disclosed in these patents can control the flow of carrier fluid and chemical product, it cannot do so in a precise and controlled manner.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,719,704 discloses a valve element 31 with eductor passages 41 and 43. These interconnect with inlet openings 58 and 61.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,991,939 and 4,901,923 disclose eductor type dispensers having rotatable discs with various sized apertures for controlling the amount of concentrate being drawn into the water flowing through a nozzle.
A dispenser which dispenses chemical concentrate should have the capability of dispensing the concentration at a low rate such as in the instance where a bottle is to be filled and at a high rate where a bucket is to be filled. In the instance of a bucket fill, it is desirable if both a low and high concentration of chemical concentrate can be provided.
The prior art provides either a rotatable with concentrate flow passages, eductor type dispensers having rotatable discs with various sized apertures, or a sliding open-venturi. It does not provide a dispensing apparatus with both sliding and rotating eductors as well as valving so as to afford different concentrations of chemical concentrate at different flow rates.
The present invention provides a dispenser for dispensing different concentrations of chemical concentrate into a stream of water from a concentrate container at different flow rates. The dispenser includes a body member having a through bore with an inlet end adapted to be connected to a source of pressurized water at one end and an outlet at the opposite end connected to the inlet housing. A valve member is slideably positioned in the through bore of the body member. An eductor is slideably and rotatably received in the body member. The eductor is in contact with the valve member and in fluid communication with a source of chemical concentrate. A trigger member is connected to the body member and eductor to cause slideable movement of the eductor. The eductor and valve member are constructed and arranged to provide control of both different concentrations of chemical concentrate and different flow rates of water and chemical concentrate.
In a preferred embodiment, the eductor is composed of first and second parts with only the first part being rotatable and extending from the body member.
In another embodiment, a second part of the eductor is nonrotatable and includes a fluid passage. A dilution adjustment member having a multiplicity of different sized apertures is connected to the rotatable eductor for sealable engagement with the fluid passage.
In one aspect, the body member includes a product passage and a vent passage. A seal is constructed and arranged to seal both the product passage and the vent passage.
In another preferred embodiment, the valve member in the dispenser includes first and second valve members operatively associated with the nonrotatable eductor, the valve members constructed and arranged so that when the first valve member is moved in a linear slideable manner with respect to the second valve member, a first flow rate is effected and when the second valve member is moved in a linear slideable manner with respect to the body portion with the first valve member moved linearly with respect to the second valve member, a second faster flow rate is established.
In another aspect, the dispenser includes an elongated spout connected to the body member and a flexible tube member connected to the eductor and the spout.
In yet another aspect, the trigger member includes a latching mechanism.
In still another aspect, the body of the dispenser includes a finger engaging portion extending therefrom at the inlet and a trigger member pivotally connected to the body and extending over a portion of the body opposite the finger engaging portion.
In yet another preferred embodiment, there are indexing members operatively associated with the body member and the eductor.
A general object of the invention is to provide a dispensing apparatus which can effect a mixing of chemical concentrate into a stream of water at different concentrations and dispense the mixed concentrate at controlled flow rates.
Another object is a closed dispenser which produces low foam, low air entrapment and a low energy liquid fill independent of the pressure of the attached water supply.
Other general objectives are a dispensing apparatus which can both spray and/or fill, gives control over both flow and dilution and lends itself to be integrated with a bottle so they cannot be separated.
Still another object is a dispenser which is composed of plastic parts, thus economical to produce and is disposable.
Yet another object is a dispenser of the foregoing type which has a good hand feel.
Still yet another object is a dispenser of the foregoing type which can accurately dispense chemical concentrate.
Yet another object is a dispenser of the foregoing type which can accommodate a back flow prevention device.
Referring to
Referring to
An annular groove 36 is provided in the eductor part 24 and accommodates a head portion 38 of the trigger 40 with flange portions such as shown at 42 on the trigger 40 having shafts (not shown) for extending into bores such as 44. A latch member 46 extends upwardly from the member 12 for fitment through the passage 48 of the trigger 40.
A dilution adjustment member 50 is connected to the eductor part 24 by means of the splines 47. This is shown in
A quad O-ring 60 is attached in groove 57 of valve head portion 58. It serves as a flow control element as later explained. A valve member 28 with passages 33 has a head portion 58 with groove 59. A seal 66 is seated in groove 59 of head portion 58 and another seal 64 is placed on collar 62. A gasket 67 is provided for cap 68 and a hose seal is provided at 69.
Referring to
Referring to
A better understanding of the dispenser will be had by a description of its operation. Referring to
Referring now to
In order to initiate a high flow condition, the trigger 40 is moved further toward body member 12. This is shown in
During the previously described flow conditions through the dispenser 10 such as when in the high or low flow condition, the concentrate will be drawn upwardly from the container 16 such as through the dip tube 19. However, as noted previously in
The orientation of the various passages 90-94 with the opening 23a in seal 23 is facilitated by the indexing shown in
The mixed solution will then exit through nozzle 20 down through the tube 15 positioned in the spout 22. Tube 15 in this instance is flexible so as to allow the eductor 24 to move inwardly and outwardly from the body member 12. With product passing through tube 15 and spout 22, this is the position which is utilized when filling a bucket or a bottle. As previously described a low flow condition would be utilized for filling a bottle while the high flow condition would be utilized to fill a large vessel such as a bucket. The spout 22 provides for the dispenser to be hung on a bucket 22a. If desired, a hose (not shown) can be connected to spout 22 for filling purposes such as a “scrubber washer” or when the dispenser is mounted to a wall. Dispenser 10 can easily be converted to a spray unit by the replacement of the nozzle 20 and the attachment of a conventional spray head (not shown). Also stated previously, the concentration of the solution can be easily adjusted by the rotation of the eductor 24 in conjunction with the dilution adjustment member 50. The low and high flow condition in combination with the dilution adjustment member obviates the use of multiple dispenser heads.
It will thus be seen that there is now provided a very versatile dispenser which can be utilized in not only a high and a low flow condition but also can be adjusted to vary the concentration of mixed solution. The dispenser 10 is produced economically so that once it is captively connected to a container, it is disposable.
It will also be seen that a good hand feel is provided by dispenser 10. This is accomplished by placement of the handle 17 beneath body member 12 and outwardly from trigger 40 to allow placement of a thumb on trigger 40.
Dilution adjustment member 101 will function in the same manner as dilution adjustment member 50. The advantage it has is that the formation of the passages 114 in dilution adjustment device 112 can be more easily controlled as a separate piece during plastic molding. Further, it is less expensive to supply several dilution adjustment devices 112 with varying dimensions of the passages 114 for fitment into housing 102. To facilitate identification they can be of different colors.
The dispenser 10 has been preferably described in conjunction with a latching feature for the trigger 40. It is obvious that this is not an essential feature that can be eliminated. Neither is it essential that a back flow preventer be employed in the unit itself. This could be accomplished upstream in a supply line. Further, while the spout 22 offers the advantage of a hose attachment such as with the barbs 100, this could be eliminated although it does further offer the advantage of a bucket attachment. Neither is it essential that the container connector 14 provides a captive use of the dispenser with the container. The dispenser 10 could be utilized with a refillable container. While dilution adjustment members 50 and 101 have been shown to have five passages, the number can vary from a single passage to as many as can be practically manufactured. In some instances, it may be desirable to limit the dispenser for flow through a single passageway. This could be accomplished by placement of a pin through body member 12 and a groove in eductor part 24. All such and other modifications within the spirit of the invention are meant to be within a scope as defined by the appended claims.
Priority is based on U.S. Ser. No. 10/758,884 filed Jan. 16, 2004, which is a divisional application of U.S. Ser. No. 09/956,294 filed Sep. 19, 2001 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,708,902 issued Mar. 23, 2004), which is based on Provisional Application 60/261,613, filed Jan. 12, 2001.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60261613 | Jan 2001 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 09956294 | Sep 2001 | US |
Child | 10758884 | Jan 2004 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 10758884 | Jan 2004 | US |
Child | 11331254 | Jan 2006 | US |