초록 ▼

A dispensing assembly for discharging a flowing fluid into which a desired amount of an additive liquid has been inserted includes a container for the additive liquid which may be removed from a dispenser body. The container is normally positively biased to a closed condition to prevent escape of th

A dispensing assembly for discharging a flowing fluid into which a desired amount of an additive liquid has been inserted includes a container for the additive liquid which may be removed from a dispenser body. The container is normally positively biased to a closed condition to prevent escape of the additive liquid. Opening of the container is effected upon establishment of a predetermined minimum pressure by the flowing fluid in the dispenser body. Additive liquid is forced from the container into the flowing fluid by a metered amount of flowing fluid inserted into the container to cause a flexible pressure member to force the additive liquid from the container. Opening of the container is not achieved until after the pressure member is exerting a force on the additive liquid. Resistance to flow of the additive liquid from the container is minimized, so that the amount of additive liquid inserted into the flowing fluid is dependent upon the flow rate of the flowing fluid and is essentially independent of the characteristics of the additive liquid. An alternative rinse path is provided to insure rinsing of the dispenser body before and after opening of the container. An appropriate flow regulating arrangement is utilized to selectively direct the flowing fluid through the alternative rinse path or to a pressure chamber to activate a mechanism for opening of the container.

대표청구항 ▼

A dispensing assembly for inserting a desired amount of an additive liquid into flowing water and discharging the resultant mixture comprising: a container in which the additive liquid is stored; an upwardly extending projecting portion formed at the top of said container and having a smaller diamet

A dispensing assembly for inserting a desired amount of an additive liquid into flowing water and discharging the resultant mixture comprising: a container in which the additive liquid is stored; an upwardly extending projecting portion formed at the top of said container and having a smaller diameter than said container; threads formed on the external surface of said projecting portion; an annular neck portion extending into said container through said projecting portion, said neck portion having a first larger diameter section having one end connected to the top of said projecting portion by a solid web and a second smaller diameter section located below said first section, the connection between said first and said second sections forming a shoulder; at least one additive liquid exit opening formed in said first section of said neck portion; at least one water opening formed in said second section of said neck portion; a closure member having an outer sealing portion to fit over said first section of said neck portion and an inner blocking portion to fit inside said second section of said neck portion, said blocking portion of said closure member having a head that slides with a snug fit in said second section of said neck portion and a smaller diameter leg that is attached to the base of said sealing portion, said blocking portion extending upwardly from said base of said sealing portion; a closure biasing compression spring located between said head of said blocking portion and an inwardly extending lip at the bottom of said second section of said neck portion; a sealing rim formed at the top end of said sealing portion of said closure member to slide over said first section of said neck portion with a liquid sealing fit while the remainder of said sealing portion has a greater diameter than the diameter of said first section of said neck portion to permIt water flow between said first section of said neck portion and the internal surface of said sealing portion of said closure member, said sealing rim forming a liquid-tight seal with said first section of said neck portion and said connecting web of said container under the urging of said closure biasing spring, at least one water opening formed in said base of said sealing portion of said closure member; a flexible pressure bag surrounding the bottom portion of said closure member and attached to the external surface of said sealing portion of said closure member with a liquid-tight seal; an extension of said leg of said blocking portion of said closure member extending into said flexible bag beyond said base of said sealing portion to prevent said flexible pressure bag from expanding to the walls of said container and trapping additive liquid in the bottom of said container; a metering plate located in said first section of said neck portion in abutment with said shoulder; an orifice formed through said metering plate from the interior of said first section to the interior of said second section of said neck portion; a dispenser body into which the water is inserted and from which the resultant mixture is discharged, said dispenser body having an annular depending skirt with threads formed on the internal surface thereof to engage mating threads on said projecting portion of said container to attach said dispenser body to said container; a primary water pressure chamber formed in said dispenser body; a plunger having a plunger disc located in said water pressure chamber, said plunger disc being free for movement in said pressure chamber but having a close enough fit to provide a generally water-tight sliding seal; a pressure relief vent extending through said plunger disc, said relief vent having a size to pass a gas in said pressure chamber without actuating said plunger but without preventing the development of water pressure in said pressure chamber; a secondary larger chamber located below said pressure chamber into which said pressure plate is forced upon the establishment of a water pressure in said pressure chamber that is in excess of a predetermined minimum pressure; a plurality of extending guides formed in said secondary chamber to properly position said plunger plate for return to said pressure chamber; a generally annular sleeve extending from said secondary chamber generally concentric with said depending skirt of said dispenser body and adapted to fit into said first section of said neck portion of said container, a mixing passageway being formed between the external surface of said sleeve and the internal surface of said first section of said neck portion; a plunger stem attached to said plunger disc and extending through said sleeve, said plunger stem being aligned to fit into said orifice in said metering plate to form a metering port when said pressure disc is forced toward said secondary chamber; an activating bias spring located along said plunger stem between said plunger disc and an inwardly extending lower lip of said sleeve; at least one water opening formed in said inwardly extending lip of said sleeve; and a passageway to convey water to said pressure chamber.