Apparatus for Dispensing Fluids

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to apparatus for dispensing fluid material. More particularly, the present invention pertains to apparatus for dispensing fluids from one or more sources by introducing such fluids in small quantities into a primary fluid flow. The fluids to be dispensed are thus mixed with and carried by the fluid of the primary fluid flow. The mixture may then be sprayed, for example, thus distributing a selected concentration of the fluid to be dispensed along with the greater quantity of the fluid originally in the primary fluid flow.

2. Description of the Prior Art.

The concept of dispensing a material in relatively small concentrations by introducing the material in small quantities into a primary fluid flow is well known. Currently, small cakes, or other solid forms of material to be so dispensed, may be placed in a housing in line with the water flow in a garden hose. As the water flows by the solid material, small quantities of the solid are picked up by the water stream, and are carried off with the water and thereafter ejected from the nozzle of the garden hose. In this way, a relatively low concentration of soap, for example, mixed with water may be sprayed for use in washing a large area, such as an automobile or a house. Other solid materials such as wax, herbicides, or fertilizer, may also be so dispensed. A variation of this technique includes placing the material to be dispensed in a housing adjacent the conduit carrying the water flow, and selectively permitting a small amount of water to be circulated through the housing. While in the housing, this small quantity of water dissolves a portion of the solid material to be dispensed, and carries off the dissolved solid material and introduces it back into the main water flow. With devices of this type, it is a relatively simple matter to interrupt the diversion of water into the housing in order to cease dispensing the solid material with the main water flow. Such apparatus may be incorporated into the plumbing of an ordinary shower.

When the material to be dispensed is in the form of a fluid, the mechanism of an aspirator may be employed to introduce the fluid to be dispensed into the primary fluid flow, or carrier. It is well known that the pressure along a flow of incompressible fluid decreases as the velocity of the flow increases. Bernoulli's equation describes this effect. By establishing a sufficiently fast primary fluid flow, fluid from an adjacent source may be propelled by the pressure of the atmosphere into the primary fluid flow at the point of low pressure therein. Thus, a rapid stream of air picks up and carries off perfume vapor in the case of a perfume aspirator bottle. Similarly, water passing along a garden hose carries off liquid soap, etc., introduced into the garden hose water flow from an adjacent bottle. In both of these examples of aspirator techniques, the cross-sectional area of the primary fluid flow may be reduced, as in a Venturi tube, at the point the fluid to be dispensed is introduced into the primary fluid flow, to ensure having a sufficiently high fluid velocity, and, consequently, a sufficiently low pressure, at that point.

It will be appreciated that a fluid-tight connection must be maintained between the container providing the fluid to be dispensed and the conduit carrying the primary fluid flow in order for the pressure of the atmosphere to effectively propel the fluid to be dispensed into the primary fluid flow in the aspirator devices. Indeed, such dispensing of fluids may be interrupted by opening the conduit to the atmosphere at the point where the fluid to be dispensed is introduced into the primary fluid flow. Consequently, practical and efficient devices, using the aspirator technique for dispensing fluids, are not readily available whereby a plurality of fluids to be dispensed may be provided, with one or another of the fluids selected at will for dispensing.

The dispensing apparatus of the present invention includes a conduit for conducting a first, or a primary, fluid flow. The fluid, or fluids, to be dispensed are maintained in a housing adjacent the conduit. The fluid of the primary fluid flow, as well as the fluid to be dispensed, may be any material exhibiting fluid properties, including liquids, gases and slurries. A passage is provided for selectively conducting a second fluid flow from the housing through the wall of the conduit for selectively introducing fluid to be dispensed into the first fluid flow. Control means is selectively movable between a first configuration, in which said second fluid flow is so established, and a second configuration, in which said second fluid flow is interrupted.

The housing includes a cap device and a canister. The latter element is equipped with a plurality of chambers for maintaining supplies of different types of fluids to be dispensed. The canister is separable from the cap device for filling the chambers, and for general maintenance. The cap device includes throughbores, or paths, for conducting fluid to be dispensed from the chambers to the passage through the conduit wall. The paths are continued within the housing in tubes which reach to the bottom of the chambers when the canister and the cap device are joined together. Thus, fluid from the bottom of the chambers moves along the tubes through the paths in the cap device to the passage when the second fluid flow is established. Sealing apparatus joins the passage with a selected path in the cap device to complete the fluid-tight flow path from the corresponding tube in the selected chamber to the exit of the passage within the conduit at the primary fluid flow.

A base is fixed adjacent to the conduit for positioning the housing by releasably connecting to the cap device. The cap device is thus removable from the base for maintenance of both the housing as well as the conduit and base. While connected to the base, the housing, and, therefore, the cap device, is movable relative to the conduit to selectively join the sealing apparatus to the cap device at one or another of the paths. Thus, the control means includes the cap device and the base to which it is joined, and is operable by manipulation of the housing relative to the conduit.

The apparatus of the present invention is particularly applicable to shower devices whereby the dispensing apparatus may be used to introduce soap, oil, or other desirable materials into the water stream sprayed from a shower heat. Thus, the conduit is positioned in line along the water pipe leading to the shower head, and carries the water stream supplied by the water pipe as the primary fluid flow. The housing may be constructed so that it is readily connected to, and disconnected from, the base so that the user may easily service the apparatus. Similarly, the manipulation of the housing to selectively introduce one or another of the fluids to be dispensed into the shower stream may be readily carried out by one using the shower, and suffering from wet and soapy hands. The present invention as applied to shower dispensers has the additional advantages of being easily installed on existing equipment, and being made in a relatively simple and inexpensive fashion.

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a multichamber device for selectively dispensing fluids by introducing them into a primary fluid flow;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the dispenser of the present invention as applied to a shower facility;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a shower dispenser of the present invention, illustrating the first configuration of the control means in which the second fluid flow may be conducted;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 3, indicating the second configuration of the control means;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal cross-section taken along the lines 5--5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a horizontal cross-section taken along the lines 6--6 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the sealing apparatus of the present invention.

The dispenser of the present invention is shown schematically in FIG. 1, where primed numbers indicate that the elements are shown schematically only. A conduit 10' is provided for conducting a first fluid flow, as indicated by arrow A. A housing 12' contains a plurality of chambers 14' for storing fluids to be dispensed. A control means 16' selectively connects one or another of the chambers 14' with a second passage 18' leading to the interior of the conduit 10'. The second passage 18' conducts a second fluid flow, indicated by the arrow B, from the selected chamber 14' into the first fluid flow A in the conduit 10'. Within the housing 12', appropriate connecting tubes 20' are provided for communicating the fluid from the chambers 14' to the control means 16' as selected. It will be appreciated that variations in construction of the dispenser are possible within the scope of the present invention. For example, the control means 16' may be any device which will selectively connect at least one of the chambers 14' with the second passage 18'. Also, the control device is capable of preventing any communication of fluid from the chambers 14' to the second passage 18', when that condition is desired. Thus, the control means 16' may be a valve, or a valve in conjunction with additional appropriate apparatus, or any type of selective connecting device suitable for performing the function of the control means of the present invention as described herein.

FIG. 2 shows the present invention in the form of a shower dispenser. Elements corresponding to those shown schematically in FIG. 1 are hereinafter indicated without primes. The conduit 10 is placed in line between a water pipe 22 and the shower head 24, and carries, as its primary fluid flow, the water ordinarily supplied to the shower head. The housing 12 is suspended from a base 26, which is fixed to the conduit 10. Fittings 28 and 30 join the conduit 10 to the water pipe 22 and a pipe segment 29 leading to the shower head 24, respectively. As will be more fully described hereinafter, one using the shower may readily select one or another of the fluids contained within the housing 12 to be dispensed through the shower head 24 with the primary fluid flow, or choose no fluid to be dispensed, by manipulating the housing 12 relative to the base 26 and, therefore, the conduit 10. Details of the control means, not readily apparent in FIG. 2, as well as other elements of the shower dispenser, may be appreciated by reference to FIGS. 3-7.

A segment of the conduit 10 is equipped with a reduced interior cross-sectional area, indicated at 10a. As noted hereinbefore, the pressure in the primary fluid flow through the conduit 10 is decreased where the velocity of the flow is increased. Also, since the water being conducted by the conduit 10 is virtually imcompressible, a reduction in conduit cross-sectional area requires the flow rate of the fluid flow to increase at the reduced area segment. Consequently, the pressure within the conduit 10 is lowest in the reduced area section 10a. It is in this reduced area section 10a that the passage 18 conducting the second fluid flow intersects the interior of the conduit 10.

The housing at 12 includes a cap device 32 and a canister 34. The interior of the canister 34 is divided by walls 34a into the elongate chambers 14 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. While three such chambers 14 are illustrated, any number of chambers, including just one, may be employed. The cap 32 is in the form of an inverted cup which receives the top of the canister 34. A split ring, or snap ring, 36 cooperates with appropriate annular grooves in the interior surface of the cap 32 and the exterior surface of the canister 34 to releasably anchor, or hold, the canister longitudinally fixed relative to the cap. A lug 34b projecting from the exterior side of canister 34 meshes with a slot 32a on the interior surface of the cap 32 when the canister is inserted with the cap. Thus, the lug 34b and slot 32a constitute a key means for permitting the canister 34 to be inserted within the cap 32 in only one rotational orientation relative to the cap. To join the canister 34 to the cap 32 then, the top of the canister is inserted within the cap with the lug 34b aligned with the slot 32a, and the two housing elements are moved together until the snap ring 36 is held within the appropriate grooves. It will be appreciated that the snap ring 36 may be fitted to be carried by either the canister 34 or the cap 32. Also, since the snap ring 36 is in the form of a split ring, and is not designed to function as a seal between the two housing elements, atmospheric pressure communicates to the interior of the canister 34 when the latter is held by the snap ring to the cap 32.

A snap ring 38, also in the form of a split ring, is used to similarly position and releasably anchor the cap 32 translationally within the base 26. However, the base 26 is equipped with two annular grooves for receiving the snap ring 38: an upper groove 26a; and a lower groove 26b. While a single snap ring 38 is shown carried by the cap 32 for releasable anchoring in either of the two base grooves 26a and 26b, it will be appreciated that the base grooves might each carry a separate snap ring for reception within the single groove of the cap 32. As in the case of the releasable anchoring of the canister 34 within the cap 32 by the snap ring 36, the anchoring of the cap within the base 26 by the snap ring 38 is effected without sealing occurring between the cap and the base. Thus, atmospheric pressure may still communicate with the region above the cap 32 within the base 26 and the adjacent exterior surface of the conduit 10.

The cap 32, and, therefore, the entire housing 12, is movable within the base 26 between a first translational position, illustrated in FIG. 3, and a second translational position shown in FIG. 4. In both instances, the snap ring 38 releasably anchors the housing 12, through the cap 32, against translational motion relative to the base 26 and, therefore, the conduit 10. Thus, in the first translational position, the snap ring 38 engages the upper base groove 26a; in the second translational position, the lower groove 26b. The cap 32, with or without the canister 34 attached, may be joined to the base 26 by simply inserting the cap within the interior of the base and moving the cap toward the conduit until the snap ring 38 engages one or another of the grooves 26a or 26b. The cap 32 may be similarly withdrawn from the base 26 by pulling the cap in a direction away from the conduit, with the snap ring 38 releasing its engagement with the grooves 26a or 26b.

A plurality of lugs 32b on the exterior of the cap 32 mesh with an equal number of slots 26c lining the interior of the base 26 when the housing 12 is in the first translational position illustrated in FIG. 3. Then, the housing 12, through the cap 32, is held rotationally fixed relative to the base 26 and, therefore, the conduit 10. When the housing 12 is in the second translational position illustrated in FIG. 4, the lugs 32b are clear of the slots 26c, and the housing 12 is free to rotate about its longitudinal axis relative to the base 26 and the conduit 10. Thus, with the housing 12 in a second translational position illustrated in FIG. 4, the housing may be rotated relative to the base 26 and the conduit 10 until the desired alignment of lugs 32b with slots 26c is achieved. Then, the housing may be moved to the first translational position illustrated in FIG. 3. It will be appreciated, by reference to FIG. 6, that the number of lugs 32b and slots 26c employed in a given application of the present invention is equal to the number of chambers 14 present in the canister 34. However, the key apparatus including the lugs 32b and slots 26c, as well as the aforementioned key apparatus including the lug 34b on the canister 34 and the slot 32 a on the cap 32, may each be varied. For example, the relative positions of the lugs and slots in each case may be reversed. Also, to key rotational positions of the cap 32 relative to the base 26, only one lug 32b need be employed with an appropriate number of slots 26c to match the number of chambers 14 present in the canister 34. Other variations of keying apparatus may be employed within the scope of the present invention.

The cap 32 is equipped with a number of paths, or throughbores, 32c equal in number to the chambers 14 present in the canister 34. Each path 32c is equipped with an upwardly facing annular shoulder 32d, and is bordered by a downwardly-projected lip 32e. A tube 20 is frictionally held to each lip 32e, and extends downwardly to the vicinity of the bottom of each chamber 14 when the canister 34 is engaged, by way of the snap ring 36, with the cap 32. The friction fit between each tube 20 and the corresponding lip 31e is also relatively fluid-tight, so that fluid may pass upwardly through the path 32e only after passing along the length of the corresponding tube 20.

The second passage 18 includes a throughbore 10b extending radially outwardly from the reduced area conduit section 10a, and is continued through an externally threaded fitting 40, fixed to the conduit 10 and best seen in FIG. 7. A tubular sealing member 42, including a shank 42a and an annular flange 42b, is held to the fixture 40 by a nut 44 which encloses the flange 42b against the fixture. The shank of the seal 42a extends downwardly to communicate the throughbore 10b of the passage with the housing 12. Thus, when the housing 12 is in the first translational position illustrated in FIG. 3, one of the paths 32c through the cap 32 is aligned with the throughbore 10b and its continuation through the fixture 40 and the sealing member 42. Such an alignment is guaranteed by the keying operation of the lugs 32b and the slots 26c. It will be appreciated, that, that whenever the cap 32 is rotationally oriented relative to the base 26c and the conduit 10 to be permitted, by the lugs 32b and slots 26c, to move into the first translational position illustrated in FIG. 3, one of the paths 32c will be so aligned with the passage 18 that, when the cap is in the first translational position, the sealing member shank 42a will extend downwardly within the path 32c and abut the shoulder 32d. The sealing member 42 is made of resilient sealing material, such as rubber or nylon, and thus establishes a fluid-tight seal with the cap 32. Then, the seal acts to communicate fluid moving along the corresponding tube 20 through the path 32c, to the interior of the conduit 10, by way of the throughbore 10b. When the cap 32, and, therefore, the housing 12, is lowered to the second translational position illustrated in FIG. 4, the path 32c is pulled away from the seal member 42 leaving the seal member free of fluid-tight connection with the cap. Also, as noted hereinbefore, the lugs 32b are then clear of the slots 26c of the base 26 and the housing 12 is free to be rotated to align any one of the paths 32c, corresponding to a particular chamber 14, with the passage 18. To then reconnect the passage 18 to the tube 20 and the selected chamber 14, the housing is moved back into the first translational position, with the lugs 32b appropriately aligned with the slots 26c in the newly selected rotational orientation of the housing 12 relative to the base 26 and the conduit 10. To facilitate the movement of the housing 12, the lower external region of the cap 32 is equipped with a knurled surface 32f.

The housing 12 may be completely removed from the base 26, and the canister 34 may be separated from the cap 32. Thus, one or more of the chambers 14 may be supplied with fluid to be dispensed by simply pouring such fluid into the top of the canister when the later is removed from the cap 32. The canister 34 is then rotationally aligned with the cap 32, that is, the lug 34b is aligned with the slot 32a, and the canister is inserted into the cap 32 until the two elements are held translationally relative to each other by the snap ring 36. The combination of the lug 34b and the slot 32a holds the canister 34 against rotational motion relative to the cap 32. It will be appreciated that the tubes 20 may remain held to the cap 32 by the lips 32e whenever the canister 34 is removed from the cap. Then, each tube must be placed within its corresponding chamber 14 in order to appropriately rotationally align the canister 34 relative to the cap when the housing 12 is being reassembled. It will also be appreciated that the canister 34 may be removed from, or joined to, the cap 32 whether or not the cap is held within the base 26, and also regardless of which of the two translational positions the cap is in relative to the base and the conduit 10.

With the housing 12 in its assembled configuration, it may be retained in the second translational position of FIG. 4, if it is not desired to dispense fluid into the first fluid flow of the shower. In order to carry out the dispensing of such fluid, the housing is simply rotated in its second translational position until the chamber 14 containing the fluid desired to be dispensed is in position so that the corresponding path 32c is aligned with the passage 18. This can be readily done by grasping either the canister 34 or the knurled portion of the cap 32, and rotating appropriately. Then, the housing 12 is pushed toward the conduit 10 until the housing is moved into its first translational position of FIG. 3. In this instance, the sealing member 42 engages the shoulder 32d within the path 32c corresponding to the chamber 14 containing the fluid selected to be dispensed. With the first fluid flow established along the conduit 10, atmospheric pressure then operates on the surface of the fluid to be dispensed within the appropriate chamber 14, forcing the fluid through the tube 20 into passage 18 and into the low-pressure conduit region 10a. Obviously, the speed with which the fluid will be so propelled into the primary fluid flow will depend upon the pressure within the reduced area segment 10a, determined by the velocity of flow of the first fluid flow therethrough, as well as the density of the fluid to be dispensed. However, it will be appreciated that the primary fluid flow generally occurs at a relatively large flow rate. Therefore, the fluid to be dispensed generally emerges from the shower head 24 as a relatively low percentage of the total fluid emerging therefrom.

When it is desired to cease the dispensing of the fluid from the selected chamber 14, the cap 32 is simply withdrawn from the first translational position of FIG. 3 to the second translational position of FIG. 4, breaking the fluid-tight seal between the sealing member 42 and the path 32c. Then, atmospheric pressure may act directly through the passage 18, and only the water of the primary fluid flow will emerge from the shower head 24. The housing 12 may be rotated to align the path 32c corresponding to a different chamber 14 with the passage 18, and returned to the first translational position, or left in the second translational position.

The term "fluids" as used herein to describe the material to be dispensed by the apparatus of the present invention includes any substance generally exhibiting fluid properties. Thus, by way of example, and not limitation, the present invention may be used with liquids or slurries. Also, solid material may be placed with liquids in the chamber 14 with appropriate solvent, and the resultant solution dispensed with the first fluid flow. Vapors may also be dispensed with the present invention.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that the control means, illustrated schematically as 16 in FIG. 1, includes the cap 32 and the base 26 in the shower dispenser embodiment illustrated in detail in FIGS. 2-7. Thus, when the housing 12 is in the first translational position of FIG. 3, the control means is in its first configuration in which the second fluid flow is established along the passage 18. when the housing 12 is in the second translational position of FIG. 4, the control means is in its second configuration, in which the second fluid flow along the passage 18 is interrupted.

When the canister 34 contains but a single chamber for providing fluid to be dispensed, the cap 32 may be equipped with but one path 32c. Then, the path 32c may be centered on the cap, and the base 26 positioned, relative to the throughbore 10b, so that the path 32c is always aligned with the passage 18 whenever the housing 12 is joined to the base. In such case, rotational orientation of the canister 34 and cap 32 is not critical, and the keying combinations of lugs and slots as described hereinbefore are not required.

It will be appreciated that the present invention provides a dispensing device, particularly applicable to use with shower facilities, for selectively dispensing one or more fluids by introducing such fluids into a primary fluid flow carried by a conduit. The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the details of the illustrated apparatus may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.