Abstract:
A metering and mixing mechanism including a housing secured to a location associated with a first fluid holding container. A volume of a second fluid is held within a reservoir incorporated into the housing. A first piston assembly is selectively communicated with the interior volume of fluid held in the container, whereas a second piston assembly communicates with a second volume reservoir internally held within the housing. The first and second piston assemblies are cooperatively actuated to withdraw metered volumes of the first and second fluids, e.g. gas and oil, and to admix said fluids into a common mixing chamber associated with the housing for distribution through an exit spout extending therefrom.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/664,232, filed Mar. 22, 2005, for an Oil and Gasoline Pump and Mixing Gun. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates generally to mixing and metering devices, such as for use with oil and gasoline reservoirs for intermixing 2-cycle fluid volumes. More specifically, the present invention discloses an oil and gasoline pump and mixing apparatus, capable of withdrawing volumes of gasoline and oil from individual reservoirs, intermixing the discrete fluids at a gate associated with the gun, and depositing the intermixed fluid directly into a reservoir associated with a 2-cycle motorized implement.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0005]     The prior art is well documented with examples of oil and gas metering and measuring devices. The purpose in each instance is to provide for an effective ratio of a first fluid (e.g. gas) to a further fluid (e.g. oil) in a desired metered fashion and for such as a two-cycle engine application where it is desired to establish the desired admixture of fluids prior to introduction into a fuel/oil tank associated with the 2 cycle appliance.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,250,154, issued to Cheresko, teaches a fluid metering and measuring device exhibiting a filling chamber with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. One way check valves are disposed at both the inlet and outlet to prevent backflow. A plunger stem includes a piston disposed within a cylindrical chamber. Upon actuating the piston upwardly, a vacuum is created within the cylindrical chamber, resulting a metered volume of oil being caused to flow into the chamber. Upon being depressed downwardly, the piston causes the metered oil volume to be introduced into the main fluid holding body of the device (such as containing gasoline). Gradations or indicia indicate the amount of oil withdrawn into the piston chamber and to ensure proper rationed admixture with the main gas reservoir.  
         [0007]     Other container integrated fluid measuring and proportioning devices include Isberg, U.S. Pat. No. 4,294,273, and which teaches a tube used to mix oil and gasoline in a fuel tank having a one way valve in an end opposite a pouring end of the tube. The tube capacity is related to the capacity of the tank so that a prescribed gasoline to oil ratio can be achieved when a certain mixing procedure is followed.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,833, issued to Huddleston, teaches a measuring, metering and mixing can and which, similar to Cheresko, includes a plunger-cylinder metering unit for withdrawing a selected amount of oil from the container and injecting the same into the gasoline for producing an oil-gasoline mixture. Visual gauges on the gasoline and oil containers permit the metering of specified amounts of oil, and dependent upon the volume of gasoline being held in order to establish a desired mixture ratio.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,492, issued to Centea, teaches a two-component liquid metering, mixing and dispensing gun. A pair of chambers each include front and rear components and communicate with liquid materials contained in pressurized portable cartridges through liquid material inlet openings formed in the rear compartments of each of the chambers. Passageways connect the chambers with an aligned material outlet opening to provide for passage of the material out of the gun. Adjustable rods mounted within each of the chambers are operated by pump means and between positive displacement positions wherein the front ends of the rods are sealingly engaged with the material passage openings and extend into the front compartments of the chambers, and retracted positions wherein the front and rear compartments are allowed to communicate through the material passage opening.  
         [0010]     The pump means is further driven by a portable compress pneumatic cartridge. A mechanical adjustment nut is operatively connected to the piston rod of the pump means for controlling the length of the stroke of the attached positive displacement rods. Check valves mounted adjacent to the chamber outlet openings prevent unintended passage of liquid material out of or back through the outlet openings.  
       SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
       [0011]     The present invention discloses a mixing and metering device, such as for use with oil and gasoline reservoirs for intermixing 2-cycle fluid volumes. More specifically, the present invention discloses an oil and gasoline pump and mixing apparatus and which, in a first preferred embodiment withdraws volumes of gasoline and oil from individual reservoirs, which are intermixed at a gate associated with a gun assembly, and depositing the intermixed fluid directly into a reservoir associated with a 2-cycle motorized implement.  
         [0012]     Variants associated with the gun-type assembly include a (smaller) oil reservoir integrally formed with the gun, or associated housing, and such that only a first intake line extends from the gun into an unmixed fuel reservoir. A second outlet line extends into the fuel reservoir associated with the 2-cycle driven implement.  
         [0013]     Additional variants include a pull/push handle and plunger assembly incorporated into a three dimensional housing secured to a flow outlet location of a larger gas holding container. An oil fill port is further provided for charging a volume of oil to be held within a separate reservoir located within the housing, and concurrent with admitting a further desired volume of gasoline into a separate gas holding chamber. Both the admitted volumes of oil and gasoline are held within respective volume holding pistons incorporated into the assembly and, upon fully engaging the handle/plunger assembly downward, admixes the oil supported within the housing with the metered amount of fluid withdrawn from the gasoline reservoir, and expels the combined mixture through an exit spout extending from the housing assembly. The present invention further provides, in a preferred variant, adjustable withdrawal of oil in order to quickly adapt for use with varying gas/oil recipes (ratios) for different 2-cycle powered implements. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]     Reference will now be made to the attached drawings, when read in combination with the following detailed description, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the oil and gasoline pump and mixing gun according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a rotated perspective view of the gun illustrated in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is schematic, in plan view illustration, and illustrating the operational aspects of the oil and gas pump and mixing gun according to the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the oil and gas pump and mixing apparatus built into a plunger style housing assembly according to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged sectional perspective of the assembly shown in  FIG. 4  and illustrating the plunger in a fully withdrawn position;  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  is a further enlarged sectional illustration of the cam adjustable aspect of the oil withdrawal piston associated with the assembly;  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  is a rotated plan view illustration of the assembly, again with the handle shown in its most fully retracted position, resulting in both a first volume of oil being drawn from the main reservoir holding oil cylinder into a lower adjustable sub-volume, as well as a volume of gas being admitted into the gas cylinder;  
         [0022]      FIG. 8  is a succeeding illustration to that shown in  FIG. 7  and by which the handle is partially depressed to an intermediate position, and by which the oil piston advances in pressurizing fashion within the charged oil cylinder, concurrent with a designated volume of gas being isolated within the corresponding gas cylinder;  
         [0023]      FIG. 9  illustrates the handle in its fully advanced position, and by which oil is forced from its cylinder, under pressure, through a bottom situated check valve and admixed within a common mixing line along with a volume of gas released from its associated cylinder;  
         [0024]      FIG. 10  is a rotated and enlarged view of the housing in its fully retracted position and corresponding to  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0025]      FIG. 11  is a likewise rotated and enlarged view corresponding to the illustration of  FIG. 8  and showing the inner components of the housing in its intermediate position;  
         [0026]      FIG. 12  is a corresponding view to the fully advanced position of  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0027]      FIG. 13  is a schematic illustrating the assembly of  FIG. 4  in its fully retracted position corresponding to the oil and gas ratio being set and both interiorly positioned cylinders charged from respective reservoir sources;  
         [0028]      FIG. 14  is a succeeding schematic illustration the assembly in its intermediate/partial stroke position and by which oil is injected into the associated mixing chamber in advance of the volume of gas momentarily being held within its associated gas piston; and  
         [0029]      FIG. 15  is a final and fully advanced stroke condition by which the gas is volume is admixed with the oil in the mixing chamber for delivery through the exit spout. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0030]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a mixing gun is generally illustrated at  10  for intermixing desired volumetric ratios of oil and fuel (gas) according to the present invention. As described previously, the present invention differs from prior art oil and gas mixing devices in that it provides for withdrawing volumes of gasoline and oil from individual reservoirs, intermixing the discrete fluids at a gate associated with the gun, and depositing the intermixed fluid directly into a reservoir associated with a 2-cycle motorized implement.  
         [0031]     As is known in the art, many engine powered tools utilize 2-cycle engines that require a specific (and varied) amount of lubricating oil added to gasoline fuel. A homeowner may typically have several such motorized tools, each requiring a different fuel-to-oil mixture. This poses a number of problems to the homeowner, including having to create the desired mixture in an external container for each 2-cycle operated tool/implement which operates off of a distinct fuel and oil mixture.  
         [0032]     The further result of this is the need for several containers, one for each mixture and properly identifying the mixture for future use. Further problems resulting from this are environmental issues when the mixture becomes old and/or the specific oil-to-gasoline ratio is no longer known and the contents of the container need to be disposed.  
         [0033]     The mixing gun  10  includes a substantially “T” shaped handle including a first 12 and second  14  interconnected and perpendicularly extending portions. An adjustable metering wheel is illustrated at  16  and which is rotatably mounted to an upper end of the handle portion  14 , at axis  18 .  
         [0034]     A trigger mechanism is illustrated by “L” shaped component  20  which is pivotally secured to the handle portion  14  about a further rotational axis  22  downwardly offset from the axis  18  associated with the adjustable metering wheel  16 . The component  20  includes an angled portion  24 , which extends between a gap or spacing in the extending portion  12  of the handle. A linkage member  26  pivotally interconnects at a first end  28  to the trigger portion  24  and at an opposite end  30  to an outer circumferential location associated with the wheel  16 .  
         [0035]     As best shown in  FIG. 1 , reference arrows  32  illustrate additional positions for connecting additional linkage members  34  and  36 , extending respectively from an integrally mounted oil withdrawal reservoir  38 , as well as extending into a mixing outlet  40  associated to admit and mix with a gasoline stream. The adjustability aspects associated with the wheel  16  and linkage members  34  and  36  render possible the ability to adjust the metering stroke of the wheel  16 , associated with a communicating oil reservoir, and in order to vary the mixture of the oil admitted and mixed with a gas/fuel reservoir.  
         [0036]     Also illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is an inlet connection  42  for vacuum withdrawing fluid from an associated gasoline (not shown) reservoir. An outlet  44  associated with the gun  10  is communicated by a hose or other suitable conduit, also not shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , and in order to communicate a rationally adjusted and admixed stream of gas and oil for direct introduction into a fuel tank associated with a 2-cycle powered implement.  
         [0037]      FIG. 3  is a schematic, in plan view illustration, and which shows the operational aspects of the oil and gas pump and mixing gun according to further preferred variants of the present invention. A gun illustrated generally at  46  includes a manual squeeze handle  48  and spring-biased trigger  50 , pivotally associated with the handle  48  at pivot point  52 .  
         [0038]     An adjustable and metering wheel  54 , operating as a primary cam  54 , is operably connected to a first linkage member  56 , pivotally interconnected at  58 , the linkage member  56  extending to an opposite pivotal connection  60  associated with the spring-biased trigger  50 . A further linkage member  62  is pivotally interconnected at a first end, at  64 , with a further location of the primary cam  65  and at a remote end  66  with a primary pump piston  68 .  
         [0039]     The piston  68  includes a check valve  70 , openable upon a vacuum pressure being created within the pump  68 , and in order to withdraw, through a connected hose  72 , a fluid (such as unmixed gasoline) contained within a reservoir  74 . A filter  76  is typically mounted to an end of the hose  72  extending within the reservoir  74 .  
         [0040]     A secondary cam  78  is slaved in some fashion to the primary cam  54 , the secondary cam  78  including a plurality of multiple displacement settings  80  (similar to those previously illustrated at  32  in the variant of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). A linkage member  82  pivotally interconnects between a first remote end  84  (associated with a selected displacement setting  80 ) and an opposite pivotal end  86  associated with a secondary piston pump  88 .  
         [0041]     The secondary pump  88  operates in cooperation with the primary pump  68 , and such that the secondary pump  88  withdraws (again through the creation of vacuum pressure) a determined volume of fluid from an oil reservoir  90  in operative communication with the secondary pump  88  through a check valve  91 . An outlet  92  of the secondary pump  88  communicates with a 2-position valve  94 , the purpose for which being to assist in the admittance and mixture of a measured volume of oil, through outlet line  96 , into a common communicating outlet line  98  associated with the primary pump  68  and in order to intermix, at the point of confluence, with a concurrently withdrawn volume of gasoline.  
         [0042]     An overflow return line is also illustrated at  99  extending between the valve  94  and secondary pump  88  and in order to protect against an overflow/overfill situation during the metering and measuring process. Check valve  100  is located at a downstream location of the combined outlet line  98 , such providing venting, and prior to engagement by a discharge hose  102  extending to a fuel tank inlet  104  of an associated 2-cycle powered device, see as further shown at  106  and represented by two cycle operated chainsaw.  
         [0043]     In this fashion, the present invention facilitates direct mixing, at an adjustable and predetermined ratio, of an oil/gas recipe and introduction of a desired volume of that recipe in continuously mixing fashion within a fuel tank of a 2-cycle powered implement. In additional variants, the tool can either be hand (pump) powered or electric motor powered.  
         [0044]     In a preferred application, only gasoline is originally withdrawn, based upon the position of the output valve, and in order to purge air from the pumping system (which is then discharged back into the original gasoline container). Repeated actuation of the primary pump  68  results in the secondary pump  88  withdrawing and delivering a specified quantity of oil from the reservoir  90 .  
         [0045]     As is illustrated, oil is withdrawn from the integrally mounted reservoir  90  (due to the smaller volume restrictions of the oil reservoir), it being further understood that the present invention contemplates the provision of a separate fluid reservoir associated with the oil and which can be concurrently withdrawn with gasoline. In this instance, a separate inlet line extends from the secondary pump to the remotely located oil reservoir in similar fashion as that illustrated in use with the gasoline reservoir  74 .  
         [0046]     The amount of oil delivered by the secondary pump will be mechanically selectable to achieve the desired ratio of gasoline to oil in a typical range of 20 parts gasoline to 1 part oil (20:1) up to 100 parts gasoline to one part oil (100:1). The check valves integrated into the gun function to maintain the desired flow direction. The two-position valve, previously referenced at  94 , operates to either redirect oil back into the integrated oil reservoir  90  or, in the alternative position, allows the oil to be injected into the discharge hose from the primary pump. An air vent with a one-way check valve is also included in the discharge passageway to allow the fuel/oil mixture to completely flow out of the discharge hose and into the dedicated 2-cycle implement reservoir.  
         [0047]     As further referenced by the example of  FIG. 3 , the hand (spring) powered version can be squeezed with one hand (right or left) to provide the necessary energy for pumping. The ratcheting mechanism (see again at  56  in  FIG. 3 ) is incorporated into the design to prevent an incomplete stroke of the pumping action. A complete cycle of the pumping action must be completed before a new cycle can be started, thus maintaining the desired mixture ratio.  
         [0048]     Additional considerations include the selection of construction materials for the gun, such as which may include plastic and/or metal, however provision can be made to allow a user to observe that that internal passageways have been purged of air, and which could upset the precise metering of the respective fluid volumes. Along these lines, a clear or semi-clear plastic material (resistant to gasoline and oil) can be used and which allows direct viewing of the passageways. An alternate design would be to use metal construction with integrated viewing ports of a glass or plastic material.  
         [0049]     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a perspective view is generally shown at  108  of an oil and gas pump and mixing apparatus built into a plunger style housing  110  according to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, the housing  110  defines a three dimensional enclosed structure which is secured to a fluid holding gas container  112 , and in particular to a lower associated location of the container  112  for permitting gravity feed of gas through an exit location  114 .  
         [0050]     As referenced throughout the several succeeding illustrations, the housing  110  is illustrated in substantially transparent fashion and in order to reference its various internal components. The housing  110  further exhibits a three dimensional shape and size and which, as shown, exhibits an upwardly disposed pump handle  116 . Extending downwardly from the handle  116  are a pair of spaced apart piston assemblies  118  and  120 , these traveling respectively within oil  122  and gas  124  chambers defined within the housing.  
         [0051]     Additional features of the housing assembly  110  include a spring loaded end portion  126  associated with the oil piston  118  and which is modified in its positioning by an axially end positioned and ratio adjusting piston  128 , and controlled by a cam element  130 . An oil fill port  132  is located at a top location of the housing  110  and to permit filling of an interior chamber of the oil cylinder with oil, from which metered volumes are subsequently withdrawn for admixture with likewise metered volumes of gasoline. It is also envisioned that other variants may include a conduit extending from a remotely located oil volume (not shown) and secured to the oil port  132  for admitting larger volume of oil. Oil withdrawn from the remote reservoir is accordingly admitted into the oil chamber  122  for subsequent admixture with a desired withdrawn volume of gas. Yet additional features shown include a mixing chamber  134  located at a lower communicating location to both the oil and gas piston and cylinder assemblies, and which exits the assembly through an exit spout  136 .  
         [0052]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , an enlarged sectional perspective of the assembly shown in  FIG. 4  further illustrates the plunger  116  in a fully withdrawn position and by which concurrent upward motion of both the oil  118  and gas  120  piston assemblies results in both the associated and volume holding cylinders  122  and  124  being charged. Specifically, a three dimensional interior volume is defined between a lowermost extending and stem-connected plunger  138  associated with the gas cylinder and a bottom facing surface  140  of an inner cylindrical solid portion  142 .  
         [0053]     In the fully withdrawn position of  FIG. 5 , this interior volume is aligned with the exit aperture  114  associated with the main gas holding container  112 , thus allowing a selected volume of gas to fill the associated volume  124  defined. An air vent port  144  is further defined in extending fashion to a lower most positioned gas chamber  146  to assist in subsequent dispensing into the mixing location  134 .  
         [0054]     Concurrently, a given rotary positioning of the disc shaped cam portion  130 , results in establishing a desired positioning of an oil-adjusting piston  128  (and by modifying its linear positioning within oil cylinder). The linear position of the axial component  128  defines a selected reservoir admitting volume of oil into a lowermost volume holding location and which is established between a lower most facing surface  148  associated with the spring loaded piston  126  in contact over the oil adjusting piston  128 . Adjustment of the spring loading of the oil piston  126  thus in turn modifies the volume of oil permitted to being withdrawn from a main interior oil reservoir  122  into piston location  126 .  
         [0055]      FIG. 6  is a further enlarged sectional illustration of the cam adjustable aspect of the oil withdrawal piston associated with the assembly and shows the interior spring  150  held within the oil adjustable and metering location  126 . A check valve  152  is located at a bottom of the spring  150 , as will be subsequently described, responds to a given pressure application from the oil piston in order to dispel the metered volume of oil into the mixing location  134 .  
         [0056]     Also shown in enlarged fashion in  FIG. 6  is the ability to set the depth of the oil adjusting and admitting  128  by virtue of a stem portion  154  which extends laterally from the component  128  and which seats within an arcuate slot  156  defined in the cam  130 . A vertical slot  158  is defined in an outer wall within which the adjustable component  128  is located and through which the stem portion  154  extends.  
         [0057]     In this fashion, the cam  130  is dialed to a desired location, thus pre-positioning the component  128  within the lower most oil receiving (sub) reservoir and prior to vertically withdrawing the handle  116  upwardly. At this point the bottom facing surface  148  of the spring loaded piston  126  unseats from the lower most reservoir location (note telescoping and spring biasing displacing motion of the inner piston  126  via an inner recessed seating location defined in the outer piston shaft  118 ), resulting in the desired volume of oil flowing downwardly from the main interior oil reservoir  128  and into the lower positioned sub-reservoir location.  
         [0058]     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a rotated plan view is shown of the assembly, again with the handle  116  shown in its most fully retracted position and uppermost permitted position. This again results in both a first volume of oil being drawn from the main interior reservoir  122  into a reservoir sub-volume, see at  160 , as well as a volume of gas concurrently being admitted into the gas cylinder holding reservoir (see as referenced at  162 ) according to a desired ratio.  
         [0059]      FIG. 8  is a succeeding illustration to that shown in  FIG. 7 , and by which the handle  116  is partially depressed to an intermediate position, corresponding to the oil piston (see bottom facing surface  148 ) advancing in pressurizing fashion within the sub-volume location (at  160  in  FIG. 7 ), thereby charging the oil cylinder and causing the check valve  152  to the metered oil volume into the mixing location  134 . Concurrently, the designated volume of gas  162  is held in a momentarily isolated manner within the entrapped volume above the lowermost displaced plunger  138  within the corresponding gas cylinder.  
         [0060]     As is further shown in  FIG. 9 , the handle  116  is now illustrated in its fully advanced position, and by which the spaced apart gas cylinder plunger  138  is fully displaced downwardly, thereby permitting the inner volume  162  of gas to be released through a lower most defined aperture, see arrow  164  for admixture with the oil volume introduced into the chamber  134 . The air vent  144  previously identified allows the gas to exit into the mixing chamber  134 .  
         [0061]      FIG. 10  illustrates a rotated and enlarged view of the housing in its fully retracted position and corresponding to  FIG. 7 . In particular, the modified shaping of the cam slot  156  is shown and which includes both a curved and interconnected/downwardly extending component for facilitating pre-positioning the adjustable oil spacer element  128 .  
         [0062]      FIG. 11  is a likewise rotated and enlarged view corresponding to the illustration of  FIG. 8  and showing the inner components of the housing in its intermediate position.  FIG. 12  is a corresponding view to the fully advanced position of  FIG. 9  and by which the oil/gas mixture is has been admixed together and dispensed from the exit spout  136 .  
         [0063]      FIG. 13  is a schematic illustrating the assembly of  FIG. 4  in its fully retracted position corresponding to the oil and gas ratio being set and both interiorly positioned cylinders charged from respective reservoir sources. In particular, a variant of the design shows a cam  166  for adjusting the axial displacement of the oil piston component  128  and further whereas the retracted position of the oil piston  126  exposes the inner oil sub-reservoir  160  (the dimensions of which are again determined by the positioning of the inner disposed oil piston component  128 ).  
         [0064]      FIG. 14  is a succeeding schematic illustration the assembly in its intermediate/partial stroke position and by which oil is injected into the associated mixing chamber in advance of the volume of gas momentarily being held within its associated gas piston. The downward motion of the handle causes the coil spring surrounding the piston portion  126  to compress over the sub-volume defining opening  160 , thus charging the metered oil volume for administering through the check valve  152  and into the mixing chamber  134  once a sufficient pressure has been achieved.  
         [0065]     Finally,  FIG. 15  illustrates a schematic of a fully advanced stroke condition, by which the oil and successively the metered gas volume is admixed with the oil in the mixing chamber for delivery through the exit spout. In this condition, the oil piston spring is fully compressed (to ensure all remaining oil is admitted through the check valve  152 ) and the lowermost plunger  138  is downwardly displaced to the location at which the metered gas volume is released (see again arrow  164 ) into the mixing chamber  134 .  
         [0066]     Having described my invention, other and additional preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains. In particular, the manually operable hand crank is capable of being either operated by or substituted in favor of a motorized or other suitable powered sub-assembly built into the housing. In this fashion, the mechanism can be more effectively and repetitively operated to administer multiple admixed sub-volumes of oil/gas into a reservoir associated with such as a two-cycle implement  106 .