Fluid Dispensing Device

Various types of fluid dispensing devices are, of course, well known. Pumps at gas stations dispense fluid and measure the amount dispensed and are capable of halting upon reaching a predetermined amount to be dispensed. Similarly, manual dispensing apparatus have been used for many years for filling cars and other mechanical devices with oil and/or grease such that an amount is mechanically dialed into a dispensing meter and that amount is dispensed. Such devices are sometimes less desirable as they are not easily susceptible to a change in the type of units or with respect to quantities which are dispensed. Such units are also not as accurate as might otherwise be desired. These further tend to be reasonably complicated and in need of repair reasonably often due to leakage and breakage.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a fluid dispensing meter which is highly accurate, hand held, easy to use, reliable and inexpensively manufacturable. It is further an object of this invention to provide a fluid dispensing meter which is also capable of providing information as to the total amount of fluid dispensed by the system in addition to the amount dispensed in the particular operation, and to have the unit of measurement easily field convertible.

Fluid to be dispensed flows through a fluid motor having a multi-lobed pump and lobed rotating housing which cooperate to form a positive displacement pump capable of highly efficiently and accurately measuring the amount of fluid flowing there through. A magnet is located on the shaft of the fluid motor; that magnet is in turn sensed by a reed switch located in the housing of the fluid motor. The reed switch counts the number of rotations of the fluid motor which is directly proportional to the amount dispensed through the fluid motor. Appropriate electronics convert the number of rotations into the amount of fluid dispensed and that amount is compared with the preset amount which has been entered via a keypad on the dispensing unit and compared.

When the predetermined amount is reached, a 20-50 millisecond pulse of electricity is sent to a solenoid which, during its brief energization, releases and allows the valve to close. The valve has been previously manually actuated by the operator against a reasonably strong spring. Thus, the force necessary to positively close the valve is in effect supplied by the operator during the opening motion and is stored in the spring. The solenoid thus merely serves to release the spring and allow the valve to close of its own volition.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the following description made in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a cross-section of the fluid dispensing unit of the instant invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-section of an alternate embodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the electronics of the instant invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-section of the fluid motor.

Fluid dispensing unit 12 of the instant invention is provided with a fluid motor housing 12 having a positive displacement fluid motor 14 located therein. Fluid motor 14 is shown in detail in FIG. 4 and has a central rotor 16 and a surrounding rotating housing 18 therewith. This type of fluid motor is in general well known in the art and will not be described more fully hereinafter. This type of motor is, however, particularly suited for accurate measurement in the instant invention. Because of the motor's construction, no rotating seals are ncessary and hence the unit is practically immune from leaks. Other types of positive displacement motors such as gear types are also capable of functioning as desired. Rotor 16 has a shaft 20 which has located on the end thereof a rotating magnet 22 which in turn triggers reed switch 24 through coil 26, located in fluid motor housing 12. Fluid enters through port 28 and exits through port 30.

As shown in FIG. 1, the device is storing energy in spring 31 while the valve (not shown) is open. When the predetermined amount of fluid has been dispensed, solenoid 32 is actuated, thereby pulling release trigger 34 to the right against return spring 36. Doing so allows detent balls 38 to drop downwardly over the ramp 32a of solenoid 32. This in turn allows the actuator sleeve 38 to move to the left and thereby release the energy stored in spring 31, thereby pulling shut valve actuator 40. Prior to starting the present dispense, the operator manually pushes actuator sleeve 38, thereby compressing coil spring 31 until the detent balls 38 engage the internal groove 38a in the actuator sleeve 38. This allows the release trigger 34 to move forward from the light force of spring 36, thereby locking actuator sleeve 38 and pull actuator 40 in the position shown. The valve controlling fluid flow can be any suitable type of valve, one example being shown in the FIG. 2 embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of the electronics of the unit of the instant invention. The electronic package, generally designated 42, is located in the top of housing 12 and is comprised generally of a central processing unit (CPU), a liquid crystal or similar display 46, a connection to reed switch 26, a connection to solenoid 32, and a keypad 48. the electronics used in this device are generally conventional and need not be described more fully hereinafter. In particular, the user enters the predetermined amount which he wishes to dispense through keypad 48. Upon the reed switch having sent an appropriate number of pulses to CPU 44, a 20-50 millisecond burst of electricity is sent to energize solenoid 22, thereby releasing the valve. Display 46 can be set to display the amount to be dispensed, the amount that has been dispensed so far, or even a cumulative amount which the device has dispensed over time since, for instance, the container from which it dispenses was filled. CPU 44 may be easily programmed to change the units of measurement as desired, e.g., from quarts to liters.

If desired, of course, it can be realized that the fluid motor 14 can be used to drive a small generator and recharge the batteries, thereby extending the life of the invention for almost an indefinite period. This can be seen in FIG. 2; a digital display is provided which can show both the amount of fluid dispensed and the preset amount which has been punched in via the keyboard.

Turning to the alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the fluid dispensing unit 110 is generally provided with a motor housing 112, which contains therein a fluid motor 114. Motor 114 is the same as the FIG. 1 embodiment motor 14 shown in cross-section in FIG. 4. Shaft 120 of fluid motor 114 has a magnet 122 at one end thereat, the rotation of which is sensed by reed switch 126. If a coil 124 is placed outside of rotating magnet 122, a small alternator has been produced, the output of which can be rectified and used to recharge the circuit batteries. An inlet port 128 flows incoming fluid to fluid motor 114 and an outlet port 130 directs the fluid to wherever appropriate.

A valve assembly 150 is provided having a fluid valve 152 therein which is biased in a closed position by a strong energy storage spring 131. Valve 152 is actuated by a hand trigger 154, which pivots on a hinge 156. Closing trigger 154 simultaneously opens fluid valve 152 starting flow and precompressing spring 131. With the trigger closed, the operator can switch the latch 158 placing slot 160 around pin 162 holding the trigger 154 closed and the fluid valve 52 open. Fluid dispense will continue until the preset volume has been reached. The electronics package 142 will send the electrical pulse to solenoid 132 pulling the actuator band 140 and releasing trigger latch 158.

It is contemplated that various changes and modifications may be made to the fluid dispensing unit without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.