Multiple function dispenser

ES 2 265 032 T3

DESCRIPTION

Multi-function dispenser.

Background of the invention

The scope of the invention is that of concentrated chemical dispensers, and particularly the dispensing of concentrated chemicals with multiple unit flow rates and different concentrations. In US Patent Nos.^you5,320,288 and 5,372,310 describe dispensers of the type that pertain to this invention. Although the spray apparatus disclosed in these patents can control the flow of the entrainment fluid and the chemical, it cannot do so in a precise and controlled manner.

US Patent No. 2,719,704 describes a valve element 31 with eductor conduits 41 and 43. These conduits are interconnected with inlet ports 58 and 61.

US patents no.^you 2,991,939 and 4,901. 923 describe eductor-type dispensers having rotating discs with various calibrated orifices to control the amount of concentrated product that is entrained with the water flowing through a nozzle.

US-A-4,508,272 describes a spray nozzle that is attached to the end of a flexible tube and that is capable of mixing and dispensing a dilute liquid. The device consists of a sleeve that can be attached to the end of the flexible tube. The shell has a through bore and two cylindrical plugs, arranged laterally. The first plug cuts the bore and has two different diameter through passages at different depths of the plug. By placing the shutter at different depths, a control of the unit flow rate of the liquid can be achieved. This first shutter can also be turned at right angles to the flow to completely interrupt it. Later the bore has a second shutter that only cuts the edge of the bore. It has a central tube that flows into the bottle of the concentrated product. The shutter is rotatable to change the angle of an outlet port that connects the tube of concentrate with the through bore. There is no operational connection between the two shutters.

A dispenser that dispenses concentrated chemical should have the ability to dispense the concentration at a low flow rate, as in the case of a bottle to be filled, and at a high flow rate, when a bucket is to be filled. In the case of filling a bucket it is desirable that both low and high concentration of the concentrated chemical can be provided.

The prior art provides a rotating eductor with concentrate flow passages, eductor-type dispensers having rotating discs with several calibrated holes, or a slidable open venturi. It does not provide a dispensing apparatus that has both slideable and rotatable eductors, in addition to the valve assembly that provides different concentrations of the concentrated chemical at different unit flow rates. Summary of the invention

The present invention provides a dispenser as defined in appended claim 1. The dispenser includes a body member having a through bore with an inlet end, adapted to connect at one end to a source of pressurized water, and an outlet at the opposite end connected to the inlet end. A valve member is slidably located in the through bore of the body member. An eductor is axially received in the body member, slidably and rotatably. The eductor is in contact with the valve member and in fluid communication with a source of the concentrated chemical. A trigger member is connected to the body member and the eductor to effect slidable movement of the eductor and the valve member to open the valve. The eductor and valve member are constructed and arranged to provide control of both the different concentrations of the concentrated chemical, and the different unit flow rates of the water and the concentrated chemical.

In a preferred embodiment, the eductor is composed of first and second parts, with only the first part being rotatable and extending from the body member.

In another embodiment, a second part of the eductor is not rotatable and includes a fluid conduit. A dilution adjusting member, having a multiplicity of different calibrated holes, is connected to the rotary eductor with a sealable fit in the fluid conduit.

In one aspect, the body member includes a product conduit and a ventilation conduit. A seal is constructed and arranged so that it seals both the product duct and the ventilation duct.

In a preferred embodiment, the valve member of the dispenser includes first and second valve members operatively related to the non-rotating eductor, the valve members being constructed and arranged so that when the first valve member is moved in a linear slidable manner relative to a first unit flow rate is produced to the second valve member and when the second valve member moves in a linear slidable manner relative to the body portion, with the first valve member moved linearly with respect to the second valve member, a second, faster unit flow rate is established.

In another aspect, the dispenser includes an elongated spout, connected to the body member, and a flexible tube member connected to the eductor and spout.

In yet another aspect, the trigger member includes a latch mechanism.

In yet another aspect, the dispenser body includes an adjustment finger portion, extending therefrom at the inlet, and a trigger member pivotally attached to the body and extending along an opposite body portion. to the part of the adjustment finger.

Still in a preferred embodiment there are graduation members operatively related to the body member and the eductor.

A general object of the invention is to provide a dispensing apparatus that can effect a mixture of a concentrated chemical, in a jet of water, at different concentrations and dispense the mixture of the concentrated product with controlled unit flow rates.

Another object is a closed dispenser that produces little foam, little air occlusion and a filling

ES 2 265 032 T3 slow liquid, regardless of the pressure of the water supply used.

Other general objectives are a dispensing apparatus that can spray and / or fill, allows control of both flow and dilution, and allows integration with a bottle so that they cannot be separated.

Still another object is a dispenser which is composed of plastic parts, which is therefore inexpensive to manufacture and which is disposable.

Still another object is a dispenser, of the above type, that has good hand contact.

Still another object is a dispenser, of the above type, that can accurately dispense a concentrated chemical.

Still another object is a dispenser, of the above type, which may have a backflow prevention device.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the dispenser of this invention, in combination with a container.

Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the dispenser shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the component parts of the dispenser.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the dispenser in the closed position.

Figure 5 is a view, similar to that of Figure 4, showing the dispenser in a low flow state.

Figure 6 is a view, similar to that of Figure 4, showing the dispenser in a high flow state.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a graduation of an eductor of the dispenser.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view of the casing of the dispenser, illustrating the contact surfaces of the eductor that limit the movement of the eductor.

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the dilution adjustment member used in the dispenser.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of an alternate dilution adjustment member of the dispenser.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the dilution adjustment member shell shown in Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a dilution adjusting device used in the dilution adjusting member.

Figure 13 is a rear view of the dilution adjustment device shown in Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a front view of the dilution adjustment device shown in Figure 12.

Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of a component of a flow control device used in the dispenser.

Description of preferred embodiments

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the dispenser 10 generally has a body member 12 with a container connector 14 for connection to a container or bottle 16. In a commonly admitted patent application it is more fully described a preferred connector system. At one end of the body member 12 is a hose coupling 18 for supplying pressurized water to the dispenser. Below the coupling 18 a handle 17 is provided. At the other end it has the spout 22 and a nozzle 20 for dispensing a mixed chemical solution. Between the nozzle 20 and the spigot 22 extends a flexible tube 15.

With reference to Figures 3 and 4, the dispenser 10 includes an eductor 11, generally composed of the first or external eductor portion 24, having a divergent conduit 24a, and a second internal eductor portion 26 having a conduit. convergent 26a. They are slidably connected in body member 12 with seals 52 and 56 that provide fluid-tight contact. Also slidably fitted to body member 12 is a valve assembly 28, intended to control the flow of water through dispenser 10, and in contact with eductor portion 26. Hose coupling 18 is rotatably connected to body member 12 snap fit 34. A back flow prevention device 30 is located in hose coupling 18 and has a seal 32 for contact with body member 12. At the opposite end of body member 12, nozzle 20 is attached to eductor portion 24.

An annular groove 36 is provided in the eductor portion 24 and receives a head portion 38 of the trigger 40 having wing portions, as shown at 42, of the trigger 40 having shafts (not shown) extending in bores. , such as those indicated at 44. A latch member 46 extends upwardly from member 12 so as to fit through aperture 48 of trigger 40.

In the eductor part 24 a dilution adjustment member 50 is connected by means of the grooves 47. This member is shown in the figure.

9. It has L-shaped conduits 90-94 for introducing a concentrated chemical into the gap 27 between the eductor parts 24 and 26. These conduits 90-94 have different diameters, or widths, to dose different concentrations of the concentrated chemical. In some cases there are no conduits to apply a rinse function. A dip tube 19 is connected to the body member 12 and extends into the container 16 serving as a siphon to draw the concentrated chemical into the bore 13 of the body member 12 through the conduit 21. Between the dilution adjustment member 50 and the body member 12 is located a seal member 23. A vent 25 connects the container 16 and the bore 13. The adjustment member 50 is located within the eductor 26. A spring 54 urges eductor portion 26, in addition to eductor portion 24, toward head portion 38 of trigger 40.

A quadruple O-ring 60 is attached to the throat 57 of the valve head portion 58. It serves as a flow control element, as explained later. An apertured valve member 28 33 has a head portion 58 with a groove 59. In groove 59 of head portion 58 sits a seal 66 and another seal 64 is located on collar 62. For the bushing 68 a gasket 67 is provided and at 69 a hose seal is provided.

Referring to Figure 8, it can be seen that body member 12 has a contact surface 79 with contact member 29 of eductor 24, in addition to grooves 81 and 82 that serve to linearly position eductors 24 and 26, and consequently the valve assembly, when pressed

ES 2 265 032 T3 me the trigger 40. In the body member 12 a keyway 70 is disposed which mates with a key member 76 (see Figure 9) of the eductor portion 26, allowing the connection slidably, but non-rotatable, with body member 12. A second opposite keyway 80 is also provided in body member 12, in combination with key member 84.

Referring to Figure 7, eductor 24 is shown with notches 77. These receive shoulders 75 of arms 72 and 73 that extend from body member 12. This provides a grading function in combination with alignment of the member of adjustment of dilution 50 and conduit 21.

Figures 10-14 illustrate an alternate embodiment of dilution adjustment member 50 that is formed as a separate component of eductor 24. In embodiment 101 generally shown in these figures, the dilution adjustment member includes a casing. adjustment device 102 in which a dilution adjustment device 112 is fitted. The casing 102 includes a central conduit 110 for passage of the flow of water and the concentrated chemical product. It also has five L-shaped conduits 103 with an oval portion 105 in a side wall 104 and a cylindrical portion 107 in an end wall 106. The annular adjustment device 112 frictionally fits within the annular shell 102 and also has a conduit. central 111 for the passage of water and the concentrated chemical product. As can best be seen in Figure 13, the adjuster 112 or adapter has an annular body 113 through which conduits 114 extend from a front side 115 to a rear side 117. These conduits also extend through members. tubular members 116 located on the rear side 117. These tubular members 116 fit into the cylindrical portions 107 of the conduits 103 of the dilution adjustment shell 102. The conduits 114 have narrow holes 122 of various dimensions. Alternatively, one or more of them could be blocked to apply a rinse function. An alignment projection 118 extends from the rear side 117 so as to fit into the alignment compartment 109 of the adjustment shell 102. This facilitates the alignment of the tubular members 116 with the parts 107. The projections 120 extend from the front side 115 in contact with the eductor 26 to leave the gap 27 between the eductors.

Functioning

A better understanding of the dispenser will be gained through a description of its operation. With reference to Figure 4 the dispenser is shown in the closed position. A source of pressurized water, such as a hose, will have been connected to the hose coupling 18. In this case, the seal 66 of the valve head 58 is seated against the collar 62 and the seal 64 against the part of the valve head. valve seat 65. Consequently, water cannot pass between these two components, nor into bore 13. The flow of water entering coupling 18 increases this sealing effect against components 58 and 62 of the valve. The spring 54 and the force of the water also position the head 31 of the eductor portion 24 away from the contact surface 79 of the body.

Referring now to FIG. 5, trigger 40 has been moved toward body member 12 with the result that eductor head 31 is touching surface 79 of body member 12. Valve portion 58 has moved toward coupling 18 and seal 66 has stopped fitting in collar 62. In this position, water can flow between the two component parts as grooves 63 are positioned in collar 62 allowing such flow into bore 13. This is a low flow state. In this position, the quadruple O-ring 60 serves as a flow control element since, with increasing pressure and water flow, the ring will expand and partially occupy the grooves 63. This maintains a constant unit flow rate despite variations in inlet water supply pressure. This water can then pass through the through openings 33 and into the conduit 26a of the eductor portion 26.

To begin a high flow state, the trigger 40 is moved further toward the body member 12. This is shown in Figure 6. In this position, not only has the seal 66 moved away from the collar 62, but the collar 62 itself has moved away from the seat portion 65 of the valve. In this position water can flow not only between the head portion 58 and the grooves 63 of the collar 62, but also between the collar 62 and the valve seat portion 65. It should be noted that in this high flow position the trigger 40 may become engaged with the detent 46, if desired, so that it can be held in the high flow state. Referring again to Figure 8, the contact member 29 of the eductor portion 24 will now fit into the grooves, such as 81 or 82, in order to allow the eductor portions 26 and 24 to move further inward. body 12.

During the states of flow through the dispenser 10 described above, such as in the low or high flow states, concentrated product will be drawn from the container 16, for example through the dip tube 19. However, as previously noted , in Figure 4 there is a seal member 23 positioned over the conduit 21 so that the product cannot be removed from the container 16. At the same time the seal 23 also closes the vent 25. As can be seen, in both Figures 5 and 6 the seal member 23 has been removed from both the product and vent conduits 21 and 25, respectively. In this position the aspirated product can enter one of the five conduits 90, 91, 92, 93 and 94 of the dilution adjustment member 50, as can be seen in Figure 9. In this way the concentrated liquid is siphoned off and introduced into interspace 27 where it mixes with the water flowing through conduit 26a and 24a. Water that converges in conduit 26a and diverges in conduit 24a causes a pressure drop.

The alignment of the various conduits 90-94 with the opening 23a of the seal 23 is facilitated by the graduation shown in Figure 7.

The mixture of the solution will then exit through the nozzle 20 and go down the tube 15 located in the spout 22. In this case the tube 15 is flexible so that the eductor 24 can move into and out of the body member. 12. This is the position used when filling a bucket or bottle, with the product flowing through tube 15 and spout 22. As previously described, a low flow state would be used to fill a bottle, while a large vessel such as a bucket would be used to fill a bottle.

ES 2 265 032 T3 would stop the high flow state. The spout 22 allows the dispenser to be hung in a bucket. If desired, a hose (not shown) may be connected to spout 22 for filling purposes, such as in a "scrubber washer" or when the dispenser is mounted on a wall. Dispenser 10 can easily be converted to a spray unit by replacing nozzle 20 and attaching a conventional spray head (not shown). As also previously explained, the solution concentration can be easily adjusted by rotating the eductor 24 in combination with the dilution adjustment member 50. The low and high flow states, in combination with the dilution adjustment member dilution, make the use of multiple dispensing heads unnecessary.

Accordingly, it will be understood that a very versatile dispenser is now provided, which can not only be used in low and high flow conditions, but can also be adjusted to vary the concentration of the solution mixture. Dispenser 10 is inexpensively manufactured so that it can be disposed of once permanently attached to a container.

It will also be understood that the dispenser 10 has good hand contact. This is accomplished by placing the handle 17 under the body member 12 and away from the trigger 40 so that the thumb can be placed on the trigger 40.

The dilution setting member 101 functions in the same way as the dilution setting member 50. The advantage it has is that, as a separate part, the formation of the conduits 114 of the tube can be more easily controlled during plastic molding. dilution adjusting device 112. Furthermore, it is cheaper to supply various dilution adjusting devices 112, with varying dimensions of conduits 114, to fit into shell 102. To facilitate their identification they can be of different colors.

The dispenser 10 has preferably been described in combination with a latching feature of the trigger 40. Obviously this is not an essential feature and can be eliminated. It is also not essential that a backflow prevention device be employed in the unit itself. The same could be done upstream in the supply pipe. Furthermore, although spout 22 offers the advantage of allowing coupling of a hose, as with projections 100, this could be eliminated while offering the additional advantage of allowing coupling of a bucket. It is also not essential that the container connector 14 allows permanent use of the dispenser with the container. The dispenser 10 could be used with a refillable container. Although the dilution adjustment members 50 and 101 have been shown to have five conduits, their number can vary from a single conduit, to as many as can be manufactured in practice. In some cases it may be desirable to limit the flow through the dispenser to a single passageway. This could be accomplished by placing a pin through body member 12 and a slot in eductor portion 24. These and other modifications are within the scope defined by the appended claims.