IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0312422
(2001-06-26)
|
우선권정보 |
GB-0015992.1(2001-06-29) |
국제출원번호 |
PCT/GB01/002830
(2001-06-26)
|
§371/§102 date |
20030707
(20030707)
|
국제공개번호 |
WO02/002243
(2002-01-10)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
7 인용 특허 :
4 |
초록
▼
A liquid delivery apparatus includes a vessel having an inlet and an outlet, and a valve between the vessel and the outlet. The valve has an opening, a closure member for closing the opening, and a biasing means to hold the valve in a normally-closed position. A valve control mechanism controls oper
A liquid delivery apparatus includes a vessel having an inlet and an outlet, and a valve between the vessel and the outlet. The valve has an opening, a closure member for closing the opening, and a biasing means to hold the valve in a normally-closed position. A valve control mechanism controls operation of the valve in response to pressure of liquid and air in the vessel. A transmitting means transmits the pressure to the valve control mechanism. The valve control mechanism includes a moveable element that can be acted on by the pressure in the vessel and transmit a resultant force to the closure member to thereby open the valve. The respective effective surface areas of the moveable element and the closure member and the force of the biasing means are chosen such that the closure member is openable when the pressure in the vessel reaches a predetermined level.
대표청구항
▼
The invention claimed is: 1. A liquid delivery apparatus comprising (i) a first vessel into which a liquid may be introduced via an inlet to partially fill the first vessel and to pressurise the liquid that partially fills the first vessel and the air that fills the remainder of the first vessel; (
The invention claimed is: 1. A liquid delivery apparatus comprising (i) a first vessel into which a liquid may be introduced via an inlet to partially fill the first vessel and to pressurise the liquid that partially fills the first vessel and the air that fills the remainder of the first vessel; (ii) an outlet via which said liquid may be discharged from the first vessel under the pressure of the liquid and air in the first vessel; (iii) a valve between the first vessel and the outlet to control passage of liquid from the first vessel to the outlet, said valve having (a) an opening, (b) a closure member adapted to close the opening, and (c) a biasing means, the arrangement of the components of the valve being such that the valve is normally held closed by the biasing means; (iv) a valve control mechanism for controlling the operation of the valve in response to the pressure of the liquid and air in the first vessel; (v) a means for transmitting the pressure of the liquid and air in the first vessel to a first chamber of a second vessel that includes an inner moveable wall which sub-divides the second vessel into said first chamber and a second chamber which are of variable volume depending upon the position of the said inner moveable wall in the vessel; and (vi) a means for transmitting the pressure of the air in the second chamber of the second vessel to the valve control mechanism; wherein the valve control mechanism comprises a moveable element which is capable of being acted on by the pressure of the air in the second chamber and transmitting a resultant force to the closure member of the valve in a direction to open the valve, and wherein the respective effective surface areas of the moveable element and the closure member and the force of the biasing means are chosen such that the closure member is opened when the pressure of the liquid and air in the first vessel reaches a predetermined level. 2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inlet includes an upright tube extending upwardly into the vessel or the first vessel, the height of the tube in the vessel determining the level of liquid remaining in the vessel after discharge. 3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a baffle plate is disposed in the first vessel, between the valve opening and the inlet, so as partially to subdivide the interior of the vessel or the first vessel into first and second compartments such that flow of liquid from one compartment to the other is possible. 4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inlet to the first vessel includes a non-return valve. 5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the moveable element of the valve control mechanism comprises either a diaphragm in a pressure chamber or a bellows. 6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, including means for varying the length of the bellows. 7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the biasing means comprises a compression spring, and wherein the apparatus includes means for varying the degree of compression of the compression spring. 8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for transmitting the pressure to the valve control mechanism comprises a first pressure line directly connecting the first vessel to the first chamber of the second vessel and a second pressure line directly connecting the second chamber of the second vessel to the pressure chamber containing the diaphragm or to the bellows. 9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein a regulating tank is disposed in either of both of the first and second pressure lines. 10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closure member of the valve is one that is able to open in two or more stages in which the closure member has different effective surface areas such that the force required to open the valve is less in the second (or subsequent) stage than it is in the first (or previous) stage. 11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the diaphragm or the bellows is acted on directly by the pressure of the liquid introduced via the inlet. 12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outlet via which the liquid may be discharged comprises an upright rotatable discharge tube having one or more offset discharge nozzles connected thereto. 13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, having a moveable flap mounted at the end of the discharge nozzle, or having a moveable ball mounted in the discharge nozzle. 14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12 or 13, wherein the rotatable discharge tube has a rope or strap wound around it via which reciprocating movement of the rope or strap can cause or allow rotation of the discharge tube in a stepwise manner. 15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the rotatable discharge tube is rotated by a drive mechanism that in turn is driven by a bellows that in turn is driven by pressure change. 16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a pump for pumping air into the first vessel. 17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein the pump is driven by pressure change. 18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein the pump is a diaphragm pump having a diaphragm which is connected to the outlet on one side and to the atmosphere and the first vessel on the other side. 19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the baffle plate contains an opening such that gas trapped beneath the baffle plate can escape into the first vessel. 20. A liquid delivery apparatus comprising (i) a vessel into which a liquid may be introduced via an inlet to partially fill the vessel and to pressurise the liquid that partially fills the vessel and the air that fills the remainder of the vessel; (ii) an outlet via which said liquid may be discharged from the vessel under the pressure of the liquid and air in the vessel; (iii) a valve between the vessel and the outlet to control passage of liquid from the vessel to the outlet, said valve having (a) an opening, (b) a closure member adapted to close the opening, and (c) a biasing means, the arrangement of the components of the valve being such that the valve is normally held closed by the biasing means; (iv) a valve control mechanism for controlling the operation of the valve in response to the pressure of the liquid and air in the vessel, the valve control mechanism comprising a diaphragm contained in a pressure chamber; (v) a means for transmitting the pressure of the liquid and air in the vessel to the valve control mechanism, said means comprising a pressure line directly connecting the vessel to the pressure chamber containing the diaphragm; and (vi) a pump for pumping air into the vessel; wherein the diaphragm is capable of being acted on by the pressure of the liquid and air in the vessel and transmitting a resultant force to the closure member of the valve in a direction to open the valve, and wherein the respective effective surface areas of the moveable element and the closure member and the force of the biasing means are chosen such that the closure member is openable when the pressure of the liquid and air in the vessel reaches a predetermined level. 21. An apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the inlet includes an upright tube extending upwardly into the vessel or the first vessel, the height of the tube in the vessel determining the level of liquid remaining in the vessel after discharge. 22. An apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein a baffle plate is disposed in the vessel, between the valve opening and the inlet, so as partially to subdivide the interior of the vessel into first and second compartments such that flow of liquid from one compartment to the other is possible. 23. An apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein the baffle plate contains an opening such that gas trapped beneath the baffle plate can escape into the first vessel. 24. An apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the inlet to the vessel includes a non-return valve. 25. An apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein a regulating tank is disposed in the pressure line. 26. An apparatus as claimed claim 20, wherein the closure member of the valve is one that is able to open in two or more stages in which the closure member has different effective surface areas such that the force required to open the valve is less in the second (or subsequent) stage than it is in the first (or previous) stage. 27. An apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the diaphragm is acted on directly by the pressure of the liquid introduced via the inlet. 28. An apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the outlet via which the liquid may be discharged comprises an upright rotatable discharge tube having one or more offset discharge nozzles connected thereto. 29. An apparatus as claimed in claim 28, having a moveable flap mounted at the end of the discharge nozzle, or having a moveable ball mounted in the discharge nozzle. 30. An apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein the rotatable discharge tube has a rope or strap wound around it via which reciprocating movement of the rope or strap can cause or allow rotation of the discharge tube in a stepwise manner. 31. An apparatus as claimed in 28, wherein the rotatable discharge tube is rotated by a drive mechanism that in turn is driven by a bellows that in turn is driven by pressure change in the outlet. 32. An apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein the pump is driven by pressure change in the outlet. 33. An apparatus as claimed in claim 32 wherein the pump is a diaphragm pump having a diaphragm which is connected to the outlet on one side and to the atmosphere and the first vessel on the other side. 34. A liquid delivery apparatus comprising (i) a vessel into which a liquid may be introduced via an inlet to partially fill the vessel and to pressurise the liquid that partially fills the vessel and the air that fills the remainder of the vessel; (ii) an outlet via which said liquid may be discharged from the vessel under the pressure of the liquid and air in the vessel; (iii) a valve between the vessel and the outlet to control passage of liquid from the vessel to the outlet, said valve having (a) an opening, (b) a closure member adapted to close the opening, and (c) a biasing means, the arrangement of the components of the valve being such that the valve is normally held closed by the biasing means; (iv) a valve control mechanism for controlling the operation of the valve in response to the pressure of the liquid and air in the vessel, the valve control mechanism comprising a bellows; (v) a means for transmitting the pressure of the liquid and air in the vessel to the valve control mechanism, said means comprising a pressure line directly connecting the vessel to the bellows; and (vi) a regulating tank is disposed in the pressure line; wherein the bellows is capable of being acted on by the pressure of the liquid and air in the vessel and transmitting a resultant force to the closure member of the valve in a direction to open the valve, and wherein the respective effective surface areas of the moveable element and the closure member and the force of the biasing means are chosen such that the closure member is openable when the pressure of the liquid and air in the vessel reaches a predetermined level. 35. An apparatus as claimed in claim 34, wherein the inlet includes an upright tube extending upwardly into the vessel or the first vessel, the height of the tube in the vessel determining the level of liquid remaining in the vessel after discharge. 36. An apparatus as claimed in claim 34, wherein a baffle plate is disposed in the vessel, between the valve opening and the inlet, so as partially to subdivide the interior of the vessel into first and second compartments such that flow of liquid from one compartment to the other is possible. 37. An apparatus as claimed in claim 36, wherein the baffle plate contains an opening such that gas trapped beneath the baffle plate can escape into the first vessel. 38. An apparatus as claimed in claim 34, wherein the inlet to the vessel includes a non-return valve. 39. An apparatus as claimed claim 34, wherein the closure member of the valve is one that is able to open in two or more stages in which the closure member has different effective surface areas such that the force required to open the valve is less in the second (or subsequent) stage than it is in the first (or previous) stage. 40. An apparatus as claimed in claim 34, wherein the diaphragm or the bellows is acted on directly by the pressure of the liquid introduced via the inlet. 41. An apparatus as claimed in claim 34, wherein the outlet via which the liquid may be discharged comprises an upright rotatable discharge tube having one or more offset discharge nozzles connected thereto. 42. An apparatus as claimed in claim 41, having a moveable flap mounted at the end of the discharge nozzle, or having a moveable ball mounted in the discharge nozzle. 43. An apparatus as claimed in claim 41, wherein the rotatable discharge tube has a rope or strap wound around it via which reciprocating movement of the rope or strap can cause or allow rotation of the discharge tube in a stepwise manner. 44. An apparatus as claimed in claim 41, wherein the rotatable discharge tube is rotated by a drive mechanism that in turn is driven by a bellows that in turn is driven by pressure change. 45. An apparatus as claimed in claim 34, further comprising a pump for pumping air into the vessel. 46. An apparatus as claimed in claim 45 wherein the pump is driven by pressure change in the outlet. 47. An apparatus as claimed in claim 46 wherein the pump is a diaphragm pump having a diaphragm which is connected to the outlet on one side and to the atmosphere and the first vessel on the other side. 48. A liquid delivery apparatus comprising (i) a vessel into which a liquid may be introduced via an inlet to partially fill the vessel and to pressurise the liquid that partially fills the vessel and the air that fills the remainder of the vessel; (ii) an outlet via which said liquid may be discharged from the vessel under the pressure of the liquid and air in the vessel; (iii) a valve between the vessel and the outlet to control passage of liquid from the vessel to the outlet, said valve having (a) an opening, (b) a closure member adapted to close the opening, open in two or more stages in which the closure member has different effective surface areas such that the force required to open the valve is less in the second (or subsequent) stage than it is in the first (or previous) stage, and (c) a biasing means, the arrangement of the components of the valve being such that the valve is normally held closed by the biasing means; (iv) a valve control mechanism for controlling the operation of the valve in response to the pressure of the liquid and air in the vessel; and (v) a means for transmitting the pressure of the liquid and air in the vessel to the valve control mechanism; wherein the valve control mechanism comprises a moveable element which is capable of being acted on by the pressure of the liquid and air in the vessel and transmitting a resultant force to the closure member of the valve in a direction to open the valve, and wherein the respective effective surface areas of the moveable element and the closure member and the force of the biasing means are chosen such that the closure member is openable when the pressure of the liquid and air in the vessel reaches a predetermined level. 49. An apparatus as claimed in claim 48, wherein the inlet includes an upright tube extending upwardly into the vessel, the height of the tube in the vessel determining the level of liquid remaining in the vessel after discharge. 50. An apparatus as claimed in claim 48, wherein a baffle plate is disposed in the vessel, between the valve opening and the inlet, so as partially to subdivide the interior of the vessel into first and second compartments such that flow of liquid from one compartment to the other is possible. 51. An apparatus as claimed in claim 50, wherein the baffle plate contains an opening such that gas trapped beneath the baffle plate can escape into the first vessel. 52. An apparatus as claimed in claim 48, wherein the inlet to the vessel includes a non-return valve. 53. An apparatus as claimed in claim 48, wherein the moveable element of the valve control mechanism comprises either a diaphragm in a pressure chamber or a bellows. 54. An apparatus as claimed in claim 53, including means for varying the length of the bellows. 55. An apparatus as claimed in claim 53, wherein the means for transmitting the pressure to the valve control mechanism comprises a pressure line directly connecting the vessel to the pressure chamber containing the diaphragm or to the bellows. 56. An apparatus as claimed in claim 55, wherein a regulating tank is disposed in the pressure line. 57. An apparatus as claimed in claim 53, wherein the diaphragm or the bellows is acted on directly by the pressure of the liquid introduced via the inlet. 58. An apparatus as claimed in claim 48, wherein the outlet via which the liquid may be discharged comprises an upright rotatable discharge tube having one or more offset discharge nozzles connected thereto. 59. An apparatus as claimed in claim 58, having a moveable flap mounted at the end of the discharge nozzle, or having a moveable ball mounted in the discharge nozzle. 60. An apparatus as claimed in claim 58, wherein the rotatable discharge tube has a rope or strap wound around it via which reciprocating movement of the rope or strap can cause or allow rotation of the discharge tube in a stepwise manner. 61. An apparatus as claimed in 58, wherein the rotatable discharge tube is rotated by a drive mechanism that in turn is driven by a bellows that in turn is driven by pressure change in the outlet. 62. An apparatus as claimed in claim 48, further comprising a pump for pumping air into the vessel. 63. An apparatus as claimed in claim 62 wherein the pump is driven by pressure change in the outlet. 64. An apparatus as claimed in claim 63 wherein the pump is a diaphragm pump having a diaphragm which is connected to the outlet on one side and to the atmosphere and the first vessel on the other side. 65. A liquid delivery apparatus comprising: (i) a vessel into which a liquid may be introduced via an inlet to partially fill the vessel and to pressurise the liquid that partially fills the vessel and the air that fills the remainder of the vessel, the inlet including an upright tube extending upwardly into the vessel, the height of the tube in the vessel determining the level of liquid remaining in the vessel after discharge; (ii) an outlet via which said liquid may be discharged from the vessel under the pressure of the liquid and air in the vessel; (iii) a valve between the vessel and the outlet to control passage of liquid from the vessel to the outlet, said valve having (a) an opening, (b) a closure member adapted to close the opening, and (c) a biasing means, the arrangement of the components of the valve being such that the valve is normally held closed by the biasing means; (iv) a valve control mechanism for controlling the operation of the valve in response to the pressure of the liquid and air in the vessel; and (v) a means for transmitting the pressure of the liquid and air in the vessel to the valve control mechanism; wherein the valve control mechanism comprises a moveable element which is capable of being acted on by the pressure of the liquid and air in the vessel and transmitting a resultant force to the closure member of the valve in a direction to open the valve, and wherein the respective effective surface areas of the moveable element and the closure member and the force of the biasing means are chosen such that the closure member is openable when the pressure of the liquid and air in the vessel reaches a predetermined level. 66. A liquid delivery apparatus comprising (i) a vessel into which a liquid may be introduced via an inlet to partially fill the vessel and to pressurise the liquid that partially fills the vessel and the air that fills the remainder of the vessel; (ii) an outlet via which said liquid may be discharged from the vessel under the pressure of the liquid and air in the vessel; (iii) a valve between the vessel and the outlet to control passage of liquid from the vessel to the outlet, said valve having (a) an opening, (b) a closure member adapted to close the opening, and (c) a biasing means, the arrangement of the components of the valve being such that the valve is normally held closed by the biasing means; (iv) a valve control mechanism for controlling the operation of the valve in response to the pressure of the liquid and air in the vessel; (v) a means for transmitting the pressure of the liquid and air in the vessel to the valve control mechanism; and (vi) a baffle plate disposed in the vessel between the valve opening and the inlet, so as partially to subdivide the interior of the vessel into first and second compartments such that flow of liquid from one compartment to the other is possible; wherein the valve control mechanism comprises a moveable element which is capable of being acted on by the pressure of the liquid and air in the vessel and transmitting a resultant force to the closure member of the valve in a direction to open the valve, and wherein the respective effective surface areas of the moveable element and the closure member and the force of the biasing means are chosen such that the closure member is openable when the pressure of the liquid and air in the vessel reaches a predetermined level.
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