Patent ID: 6722527
Filing Date: 2004-04-20
Classification: A01C,A01M,B01F,Y10T

Abstract:
A fluid dispensing apparatus, comprising:a primary flow member having a primary flow line disposed between an inlet port and an outlet port, the primary flow line configured to be placed in fluid communication with an irrigation fluid flow stream, the primary flow member including a first orifice disposed near the inlet port and a second orifice disposed near the outlet port, the first and second orifices in fluid communication with the primary flow line; and a container having a container fluid inlet and a container fluid outlet, the container fluid inlet being disposed near a top of the container and being fluidicly coupled with the first orifice of the primary flow member, the container fluid outlet being disposed near a bottom of the container and being fluidicly coupled with the second orifice of the primary flow member via an outlet channel which extends from the container fluid outlet up toward the top of the container and back down toward the second orifice of the primary flow member; wherein a venturi action flow restriction is disposed in the primary flow member and is adjacent to and upstream of the second orifice of the primary flow member to provide a venturi action to produce a flow from the container through the second orifice to the primary flow member; wherein the container includes a check valve disposed at the top; wherein the check valve is closed to block air flow through a vent in the container during filling of the container by the irrigation fluid from the irrigation fluid flow stream via the primary flow line, the first orifice, an inlet channel and the container fluid inlet; and wherein the check valve is open to permit air flow through the vent into the container during draining of the fluid from the container into the irrigation fluid flow stream via the container fluid outlet, the outlet channel, the second orifice, and the primary flow line.