GB2185902A - Liquid dispensing and mixing device - Google Patents

Abstract

In a device for use in dispensing a first liquid, e.g. fertilizer or detergent, from a container (12) whilst simultaneously diluting that first liquid with water, mains water pressure is used to inflate an expansible element (20) within the container (12) such as to force liquid from the container (12) into a nozzle (23) through which mains water is being passed, whereby the liquid expelled from the container (12) is mixed with the mains water in the nozzle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Liquid Dispensing Device The present invention is concerned with liquid dispensing devices.

Many occasions arise where it is required to spray a mixture of two liquids. For example, many fertilizers and detergents come in concentrated liquid form which has to be mixed with water prior to being sprayed under pressure from a nozzle.

Such pressure may, for example, be generated by a motor driven pump, by a hand-operated pump or by gas pressure supplied from a gas cylinder or compressed air source.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device which enables a first, relatively concentrated liquid to be dispensed via a spray while at the same time automatically diluting or reducing the concentration of that first liquid with a second liquid.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for use in dispensing a first liquid from a container whilst simultaneously diluting that first liquid with water, wherein mains water pressure is used to inflate an expansible element within said container such as to force liquid from the container into a nozzle through which mains water is being passed, whereby the liquid expelled from the container is mixed with the mains water in the nozzle.

Preferably the nozzle is adapted to eject the mixture of water and liquid in the form of a spray.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for use in dispensing a first liquid from a container whilst simultaneously diluting that first liquid with water, comprising: a main body which is adapted to be secured to the mouth of the container with a liquid-tight joint therebetween; means defining a liquid path through the main body, one end of said path being adapted to be connected to a mains water supply and the other end being in the form of a spray nozzle, whereby water supplied to said path is sprayed from the nozzle; an inflatable envelope, such as a balloon or bag, whose interior is in fluid communication with said liquid path and which, in use of the device, is adapted to be disposed within'said first liquid in the container;; the arrangement being such that part of the water supplied to said liquid path serves to inflate said envelope whereby to forte liquid from said container into the nozzle where it mixes with the water being sprayed.

Preferably said means defining the liquid path includes a tubular member which is rotatably received within a throughbore in said main body, one end of said tubular member being adapted to be connected to the mains water supply and the other end defining said nozzle, the tubular member being capable of being selectively set in any of three predetermined angular positions within said through-bore wherein (1) water can pass through the liquid path to reach the nozzle, water can also reach the inflatable envelope and liquid can be forced out of the container into the nozzle, (2) water can pass through the liquid path to reach the nozzle, water can also reach the inflatable envelope but liquid is prevented from being forced out of the container into the nozzle and (3) water is prevented from passing through said liquid path, water is prevented from reaching the inflatable envelope and liquid is prevented from being forced out of the container into the nozzle, respectively.

The invention is described further hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic partially cut-away side view illustrating one embodiment of a diluting and dispensing device in accordance with the present invention mounted on a container and in its nonoperating state; Fig. 2 illustrates the embodiment of Fig. 1 in its operating state; Fig. 3 is a perspective sectional view of the device of Figs. 1 and 2; and Figs. 4(a), (b) and (c) diagrammatically illustrate three operating conditions of the device.

Figures 1 and 2 show an embodiment of the present device 10 fitted to a container 12, such as a metal or plastics drum. The container houses a concentrated liquid 14, such as a liquid fertilizer or detergent, which is to be diluted with water, supplied from a source of water by way of a pipe 16, and dispensed from the device 10 in the form of a spray 18. The operating principle of the device 10 is that part of the water supplied by the pipe 16 is used to expand an inflatable balloon 20 within the container 12 to force liquid 14 from the container via a tube 22 to a nozzle 23 within the device 10 where the liquid is mixed with further water from the pipe 16 and is expelled in the spray 18.

Referring now to Fig. 3, the illustrated embodiment comprises a main body 24 of circular section having a radially outwardly extending flange 26. A cap member 28 has a central aperture 30, which receives the main body 24, and a skirt portion 32 having an internal screw-thread 34 for engaging a corresponding external screw-thread on the neck 35 of the container 12 (not shown in Fig. 3). The arrangement is such that by screwing the cap 28 onto the container neck 35, the flange 26 on the main body 24 is urged firmly against the upper end of the container neck whereby to effect a liquid-tight joint therebetween.

The main body 24 includes a depending hollow tubular portion 36 which is adapted to fit within the mouth of the inflatable balloon 20 so that the balloon sits within the body of liquid 14 in the container. The tubular portion 36 can be formed integrally with the main body 24 as shown in Fig. 3, or may be a separate tubular member which is received tightly within a bore (not shown) in the body 24.

In the portion projecting upwardly out of the cap 28, the main body 24 is formed with flat parallel portions 44, 45 on two opposite sides thereof.

Extending transversely to the longitudinal (vertical) axis of the main body 24, and perpendicular to the two flat side portions (44,45, there is formed a through-bore 38 which, in the embodiment of Fig. 3, is of uniform circular section along its length.

Disposed within the bore 38 is a tubular member 40 which is arranged to be capable of rotation within the bore 38. Longitudinal displacement of the tubular member 40 relative to the bore 38 is, however, prevented by the provision of an integral enlarged diameter, knurled boss 42 which abuts the flat side portion 44 and a rubber O-ring 46 disposed in a peripheral groove in the tubular member 40 adjacent the opposite flat side portion 45.

In another embodiment, the uniform bore 38 may be replaced by a bore which tapers towards the flat side 45 and which receives a correspondingly tapered tubular member 40 with a rubber sleeve disposed therebetween. A taper of approximately 1:20 has been found to be satisfactory for this purpose. It is found that the latter arrangement reduces any tendency for liquid leakage at the rotary joint between the tubular member 40 and the surrounding bore 38. If the machining is sufficiently accurate, the latter rubber sleeve may not be needed.

The tubular member 40 is formed at one end (right-hand end as viewed in Fig. 3) with a first internal bore 46 which is closed at its inner end by a transverse wall 48, this one end of the tubular member 40 (as viewed in Fig. 3) being adapted to be connected to the hose pipe 16 (see Figs. 1 and 2) for the supply of pressured water, usually from the mains, to the internal bore 46. Disposed in the peripheral wall of the tubular member 40, adjacent to the transverse wall 48, there is formed an angularly elongate aperture 50. Extending axially inwardly from the other end of the tubular member 40 is a second conical bore 52 whose narrow inner end communicates with a further, angularly elongate aperture 54 in the peripheral wall of the tubular member 40.Part way along the conical bore 52, there is formed in the peripheral wall of the tubular member 40 a radial bore 56.

In the angular position of the tubular member 40 shown in Fig. 3 (see also Fig. 4(c)), the aperture 50 in the tubular member 40 is arranged to lie in fluid communication with a first bore 57 in the main body 24 which leads to the interior 58 of the hollow tubular portion 36; the aperture 52 in the tubular member 40 lies in fluid communication with a second bore 60 in the main body leading to the interior 58 of the hollow tubular portion 36; and the radial bore 56 in the tubular member 40 lies in fluid communication with a third bore 62 in the main body 24. The bore 62 is coupled to the tube 22 (see Figs. 1 and 2) which is not shown in Fig. 3 but whose open end is arranged to lie near the bottom or base end of the container 12.

The angularly elongate nature of the apertures 50 and 54 enables the tubular member 40 to be rotated to a second position (see Fig. 4(b)) in which the apertures 50 and 54 are still in fluid communication with the bores 57 and 60 in the main body 24 but in which the radial bore 56, leading to the conical bore 52, is no longer in fluid communication with the bore 62. However, when the tubular member 40 is rotated beyond the second position to a third position (see Fig. 4(a)), the communication between the apertures 50, 54 and the bores 57, 60, is also broken. The significance of these three rotary positions of the tubular member 40 will become apparent from the description of the operation of the device which follows.

With the tubular member 40 in the position illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4(c), when water is supplied under pressure via the hose 16 to the first bore 46, it is able to flow through the aperture 50 into the aligned bore 57 and thence into the interior 58 of the tubular portion 36. The majority of this water then flows up the bore 60, through the aligned aperture 54 and into the conical bore 52 from which it emerges in the form of the spray 18. However, part of the water reaching the interior 58 of the tubular portion 36 fills and expands the balloon 20 and in so doing forces some of the liquid 14 in the container up through the tube 22 and the bore 62 into the aligned bore 56 and thence into the conical bore 52, where it becomes thoroughly mixed and diluted with the water flowing out of the aperture 54 and forming the spray 18.

The spray shape is determined by the configuration of the conical bore 52 and the position of the aperture 54. Different spray shapes and patterns for the device 10 can thus be selected merely by a suitable choice of tubular member 40.

Where aqueous solutions are involved, it has been found to be convenient for the balloon 20 to be made of rubber. However, for other liquids it may be more suitable to use other materials for the balloon, e.g. polythene. It is not essential for the material of the balloon 20 to stretch during inflation. It is only necessary that the balloon occupies a greater volume when inflated than when non-inflated.

It will be appreciated that the volume of water passing straight through the device via the bores 57 and 60 and the aperture 54 is far greater than the volume of liquid 14 expelled from the container 12 by inflation of the balloon 20 so that considerable dilution of the liquid 14, which might for example be a fertilizer or detergent, takes place. The rate of dilution can be adjusted by alteration of the relative aperture and bore sizes, in particular the relative sizes of the bore combination 56, 62 and the aperture and bore combination 54, 60.

When the tubular member 40 is rotated to its second position illustrated diagrammatically in Fig.

4(b),watersupplied bythe hose 16 can still pass from the bore 46, through the aperture 50, bore 57, bore 60 and aperture 54 to the conical bore 52 where it emerges as the spray 18. However, in this position, it will be noted that the bores 56 and 62 are no longer in registry so that it is not possible for liquid 14 to be expelled via the tube 22. Pure water alone is thus sprayed in this position.

In the third angular position of the tubular member 40 illustrated in Fig. 4(a), the aperture 50 is out of registry with the bore 57, the aperture 54 is out of registry with the bore 60, and the bore 56 is out of registry with the bore 62. Thus, in this condition, no water can get beyond the bore 46 and the device is effectively "off".

These three positions are preferably indicated by suitable markings (not shown) provided on a smooth end position 42a of the knurled boss 42 which can be aligned with a fixed pointer on the top of the main body 24 for setting and indicating the selected angular portion of the tubular member 40.

Preferably, the tubular member 40 can be fixed or sealed by some means in the "off" position untii such time as the dispenser device is first to be used.

This provision is to prevent leakage or spillage during storage, transportation etc.

The device 10 is intended usually to be provided separately of the container 12, so that it can be used repeatedly on a plurality of different disposable containers.

Suitable means (not shown) may be incorporated enabling quick attachment and release of the hose pipe 16 to the tubular member 40 or the device can be permanently attached to a length of pipe 16.

The balloon 20 is preferably connectible to the depending tubular portion 36 by a quick release means, such as an elastic band or clip, which enables the balloon to be easily removed and replaced by a fresh balloon.

Preferably, the main body 24 and the tubular member 40 are machined from a suitable plastics material such as.

In principle, the fluid supplied by the hose 16 need not be water and can be any suitably pressurised liquid.

In another embodiment, the cap member 28 may be replaced by an alternative structure having the same effect, for example a crimped metal band.

In an alternative embodiment, the O-ring 46 may be replaced by a metal circlip.

Claims (9)

1. A device for use in dispensing a first liquid from a container whilst simultaneously diluting that first liquid with water, wherein mains water pressure is used to inflate an expansible element within said container such as to force liquid from the container into a nozzle through which mains water is being passed, whereby the liquid expelled from the container is mixed with the mains water in the nozzle.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the nozzle is adapted to eject the mixture of water and liquid in the form of a spray.

3. A device for use in dispensing a first liquid from a container whilst simultaneously diluting that first liquid with water, comprising: a main body which is adapted to be secured to the mouth of the container with a liquid-tight joint therebetween; means defining a liquid path through the main body, one end of said path being adapted to be connected to a mains water supply and the other end being in the form of a spray nozzle, whereby water supplied to said path is sprayed from the nozzle; an inflatable envelope, such as a balloon or bag, whose interior is in fluid communication with said liquid path and which, in use of the device, is adapted to be disposed within said first liquid in the container;; the arrangement of the latter components being such that part of the water supplied to said liquid path serves to inflate said envelope whereby to force liquid from said container into the nozzle where it mixes with the water being sprayed.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said means defining the liquid path includes a tubular member which is rotatably received within a through-bore in said main body, one end of said tubular member being adapted to be connected to the mains water supply and the other end defining said nozzle, the tubular member being capable of being selectively set in any of three predetermined angular positions within said through-bore wherein (1) water can pass through the liquid path to reach the nozzle, water can also reach the inflatable envelope and liquid can be forced out of the container into the nozzle, (2) water can pass through the liquid path to reach the nozzle, water can also reach the inflatable envelope but liquid is prevented from been forced out of the container into the nozzle and (3) water is prevented from passing through said liquid path, water is prevented from reaching the inflatable envelope and liquid is prevented from being forced out of the container into the nozzle, respectively.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said through-bore in the body is of uniform circular section.

6. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said through-bore tapers inwardly towards the end most adjacent the nozzle end of the tubular member therein.

7. A device as claimed in claims 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein the main body is adapted to be secured to the mouth of the container by means of a cap member having a central aperture, which receives the main body, and a skirt portion having an internal screw-thread for engaging a corresponding screwthread on the container.

8. A device as claimed in any of claims 3 to 7, wherein the main body includes a hollow tubular portion which is adapted to fit within a mouth portion of the inflatable envelope so that, in use, the envelope sits within the liquid in the container.

9. A device for the use in dispensing liquid from a container, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.