AN IMPROVED DISPENSER FOR LIQUIDS

Abstract: A simple, robust and reliable dispenser for liquid has a strong closed casing (1) which forms a reservoir (19) for the liquid and encloses a movable diaphragm (17) and an outlet valve whereof the valve member (35) is connected to the diaphragm. Control means for the diaphragm include means for drawing and releasing a vacuum in the casing. When the vacuum is drawn the diaphragm moves to effect opening of the outlet valve, and when the vacuum is released the diaphragm moves under the action of a spring (22) to close the outlet valve. The dispenser can be used to lubricate engine parts, in which event the liquid in the dispenser is lubricating oil. The vacuum may be drawn and released through a flexible suction tube (6) connecting the casing of the dispenser to the induction system of the engine. Manually operable means for drawing and releasing the vacuum are also described.

Description: "AN IMPROVED DISPENSER FOR LIQUIDS" The present invention is concerned with an improved dispenser for liquids which is of use in various industries including engineering and horticulture. For example, the dispenser may be used to feed lubricating 5. oil to the moving parts of machinery, and to feed treating liquid to growing plants. The invention is particularly concerned with the feeding of lubricating oil to the roller-type chain of the chain-and -sprocket wheel drive of a motor cycle. . A usual dispenser for liquid consists of a reservoir for the liquid, a feed tube extending from a . liquid outlet in the floor of the reservoir, and an outlet valve in the feed tube manually operable to create the desired flow from a nozzle at the end of the feed tube. This existing dispenser has the serious disadvantage that manual operation of * the valve is very inconvenient, and as the valve is exposed it tends to become damaged, and consequently difficult to operate. Moreover, when the outlet valve of the dispenser is to be operated from a remote location, or a series of outlet valves are to be operated simultaneously, the required mechanical or electromagnetic means for .operating the valves are of necessity rather complex, and being exposed are susceptible to damage and failure. According to the present invention I provide a dispenser for liquid comprising a closed casing, a movable diaphragm in the casing dividing the casing into a vacuum chamber and a reservoir for liquid, a liquid outlet in the , casing, and an outlet valve having a valve member connected to the movable diaphragm so that on drawing and releasing a vacuum in the chamber the diaphragm moves the valve member to ' open and close the liquid outlet. Preferably the casing is of upright tubular form, the diaphragm divides the casing into an upper vacuum chamber and a lower reservoir, and a compression spring in the vacuum chamber urges the diaphragm downwards to close the liquid outlet. Preferably also the valve member includes a needle portion movable in the outlet opening to vary the flow, and a manually adjustable stop is provided in the vacuum chamber to limit the upward movement of the diaphragm so that adjustment of the stop effects pre¬ setting of the valve for different liquid flow rates. An embodiment of the invention will now be describe b way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top perspective view of a dispenser having a casing mounted on the tubular frame of a motor cycle to drip-feed lubricating oil to the roller chain of the chain-and-sprocket drive to the rear wheel of the machine. Fig. 2 is a sectional detail view in perspective of the dispenser of Fig. 1 showing one form of diaphragm control means. Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view showing the discharge of oil from the dispenser feed tube into the roller chain. Figs. 4 and 5 are diagrammatic sectional detail views of the dispenser showing an adjustable stop preset for respectively minimum and maximum rates of flow of lubricating oil through the outlet valve of the dispenser. Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view in perspective of the dispenser showing an alternative form of diaphragm control means. Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic illustration of the -four stages I to IV in the operation of the diaphragm control means of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary top perspective view showing yet another form of diaphragm control means. Figs. 9 and 10 are sectional perspective views illustrating the operation of the diaphragm control means of Fig. 8. Referring to Figs. 1 to 5, a dispenser for lubricating oil is mounted on a motor cycle to drip- feed the oil to the roller-type chain of the usual chain -and -sprocket drive to the rear wheel of the cycle. The dispenser is shown in Fig. 1 and the chain being lubricated is shown in Fig. 3. The dispenser consists of a closed elongate casing 1 of rigid translucent plastics material attached by rings 2 and 3 to a frame tube 4 of the cycle, a flexible plastics breathing tube 5 extending from the periphery of the- top of the casing to atmosphere, a flexible plastics suction tube 6 extending from the centre of the top of the casing to the air intake manifold of the engine and tacked to the breathing tube 5, and a flexible plastics feed tube 7 extending from the centre of the bottom of the casing to the chain 8 (Fig. 3) on the sprocket wheel 9 to drip-feed the oil on to the chain at one side of the sprocket wheel. The suction tube 6 is connected to the air intake manifold by a screwthreaded tubular spigot 10, while the feed tube 7 is connected to a plate 11 on the cycle frame by a screw clamping means 12 and terminates in a wick 13. The casing 1 (Fig. 2) is cylindrical and is closed by top and bottom end walls 14 and 15. A tubular guide post 16 extends downwards from a central suction opening in the top wall 14, and a movable di&phragm 17 in the casing divides the casing into an upper vacuum chamber 18 and a lower reservoir 19 for the oil. The diaphragm 17 is composed of a central inverted cap 20 loosely slidable on the post 16, and an annular flexible membrane 21 extending between the cap 20 and the periphery of the casing 1. A compression spring 22 extends between the lower end of the post 16 and the floor of the cap 20 and serves to urge the diaphragm downwards. A tubular suction spigot 23 is slidingly reciprocable in the bore of the post 16 and has a lower end 24 engageable with the floor of the cap 20 to limit the upward movement of the diaphragm 17, and a nipple end portion 25 to which the suction tube 6 is coupled by means of a sleeve 26. A nut 27 rot table in the bore of the post 16 engages a screwthreaded portion 28 of spigot 23 and has thereon a finger knob 29 rotatably mounted on the top wall 14 and serving to shroud the joint between the nipple 25 and the sleeve 26. Rotation of the knob 29 effects axial adjustment of the suction spigot 23 to vary the spacing of its lower end 24 from the floor of the cap 20. A tubular post 30 extends upwards from avcentral opening in the floor 15 of the casing, and the end wall 31 of the post has therethrough a liquid outlet opening 32. The end wall 31 forms the seat of an outlet valve for controlling oil flow through the outlet opening 32. The valve member of the outlet valve includes a cap 33 having a skirt 34 slidingly engaging the post 30, a base 35 engaging the seat 31, and a radial wedge shaped web 36 on the skirt 34 having therethrough a passageway 37 sloping upwards and inwards from the periphery of the end wall 15 of the casing to the top of the cap to permit flow of oil into the cap when the valve opens. The valve member includes also a tapered needle 38 which slides in the bore of the outlet opening 32. A stem 39 connects the base 35 of the valve member to the floor of the cap 20, and the feed tube 7 passes directly ' on to a spigot 40 projecting from the base, the tube being thus readily applied and withdrawn, and the joint between the spigot and the tube being shrouded by the post 30. At the top of the reservoir 19 a tubular spigot 41 extends laterally and upwards from an air inlet opening 42 in the casing and has the short breathin tube 5 coupled thereto. Also at the top of the reservoir, an oil filler opening is closed by a removable plug 43. Oil is injected into the reservoir 19 under pressure to open the outlet valve and produce a priming flow of oil through . the feed tube 7 to the wick 13, and fill the reservoir. The dispenser is pre-set for the desired rate of oil drip by rotating the knob 29 to adjust th.e spigot 23. The range of vertical movement of the spigot 23 is indicated at D in Fig. 4. The setting shown in Fig. 4 gives a minimum flow rate while the setting shown in Fig. 5 gives a maximum flow rate. A suitable scale is provided on the end wall 14 to enable fine pre-adjustment of the flow rate. When the motor cycle is in use the pressure fluctuations in the suction manifold are transmitted to the vacuum chamber 18 through the suction tube 6. With a vacuum drawn in the chamber 18, the diaphragm 17 is raised by atmospheric pressure against the action of the spring 22 to open the outlet valve and permit gravity flow of oil through the valve member 33,36 to the outlet opening whereupon there is gravity feed of oil to the wick 13 from which the oil drips into the critical zone of the chain. With the vacuum released in the chamber 18, the spring 22 closes the outlet valve. When the level of oil falls to the outlet valve, there is syphonic flow of oil through the valve member 33, 36. By virtue of the location of the entry 37A to the passageway 37, the dispenser can operate satisfactoril with the casing 1 in any position between and including the horizontal and the vertical.. Referring to the modification shown in Figs 6 and 7, the suction and breathing tubes and the flow-adjusting means are omitted, and the diaphragm is controlled by manually operable means including a resilient pulser bulb 44 closing an open-topped vacuum chamber, and a non-return flap valve 45 provided at the lower end of a tube 46 extending from an opening 47 in the floor of the central cap of the diaphragm and connected to the valve member of the outlet valve. The flap valve 45 embodies a bleed opening 48 whereby the vacuum in the vacuum chamber is progressively released. The operating sequence of this arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 7 in which L indicates the level of the oil and arrows indicate the oil and air flows. At stage I the dispenser is in "off" position. At stage II the ' "bulb 44 has been depressed. At stage III the bulb 44 has been released, the oil is flowing to the chain, there is a bleed flow through the opening 48, and the bulb 44 is gradually returning to its original form. At stage IV the dispenser has returned to "off" position. Referring to the modification shown in Figs. 8 to 10, the pulser bulb is replaced by the suction and breathing tubes and the low-adjusting means of Fig. 1, and a suction device 49 is inserted in the suction tube 6. The device 49 comprises a base 50, walling on the base including a resilient bulb 51, a collapsible internal annular wall 52 connected to the bulb 51 to form therewith and with the base a central chamber 53 and an annular chamber 54, and ducts 55 and 56 in the base extending from, respectively, the chambers 53 and 54 to respective- spigots 57 and 58 to which ends of the suction tube 6 are connected. Thus,- pressure fluctuations in the air-intake manifold of the engine are transmitted by the suction device 49 to the vacuum chamber to cause the diaphragm to actuate the outlet valve.

Claims: - β - CIA IMS 1. A dispenser for liquid comprising a closed casing, a movable diaphragm in the casing dividing the casing into a vacuum chamber and a reservoir for liquid, a liquid outlet in the casing^ and an outlet valve having a valve member connected to the movable diaphragm so that on drawing and releasing a vacuum in the chamber the diaphragm moves the valve member to open and close the liquid outlet. 2. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the casing is of upright tubular form the diaphragm divides ' the casing into an upper vacuum chamber and a lower reservoir, and a compression spring in the vacuum chamber urges the diaphragm downwards to close the liquid outlet. 3. A dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the valve member includes a needle portion movable in the outlet opening to vary the flow, and a manually adjustable stop is provided in the vacuum chamber to limit the upward movement of the diaphragm so that adjustment of the stop effects pre-setting of the valve for different liquid flow rates. 4. A dispenser according to claim 3, wherein the manually adjustable stop comprises the lower end portion of a tubular spigot vertically reciprocable in the top end wall of the casing, and a finger knob is rotatably mounted on said top end wall and has thereon a nut formation engaging a screw thread on the spigot so that rotation of the knob effects adjustment of the stop. OMPI 5. A dispenser according to claim 4, wherein the finger knob encloses the upper end portion of the spigot so that the joint formed on coupling a flexible vacuum tube to the spigot is .shrouded by the knob. 6. A dispenser according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the valve seat defining the liquid outlet comprises a top end wall of a tubular post extending upwards from a central opening in floor of the casing, and the valve member includes a cap slidingly reciprocable on the post and ducting on the cap extending downwards from the cap top to the floor of the casing so that when the valve opens the liquid flows to the outlet through the ducting and residual liquid syphons to the outlet from the bottom portion of the casing. 7. A dispenser accordin to claim 6, wherein the ducting extends downwards and laterally outwards to the periphery of the casing to enable the dispenser to operate in any position between and including the horizontal and the vertical. 8. A dispenser according to claim 6 or 7, wherein a spigot projects from the underside of the valve seat into the tubular post so that the joint formed on coupling a flexible feed tube to the spigot is shrouded by the post. 9. A dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, including diaphragm control means in operative communication with the vacuum chamber to draw and release a vacuum in the chamber. 10. A dispenser according to claim 9, wherein the contro means include a flexible vacuum tube to connect the vacuum chamber to the induction system of an engine to that a vacuum is drawn and released intermittently by the pressure fluctuations in the system. 11. A dispenser according to claim 9, wherein the diaphragm control means include a.-resilient pulser bulb forming a top wall portion of the vacuum chamber, and a valve for controlling flow through an opening in the diaphragm so that the bulb on being depressed discharges the contents of the vacuum chamber through the open valve and into the reservoir and on being released effects closure of the valve and .thereupon draws a vacuum in the vacuum chamber. 12. A dispenser according to claim 11, wherein the valve incorporates a bleed opening whereby the vacuum is progressively released in the vacuum chamber to cause closure of the liquid outlet by the outlet valve after a predetermined period of liquid flow. 13. A dispenser according to claim 9, wherein the diaphragm control means include (a) a suction device having a base, and walling on the base including a bulbous resilient outer wall and a collapsible annular internal wall forming with the outer wall and the base central and peripheral chambers, and a pair of ducts in the base respectively extending from the central and peripheral chambers and respectively connected to the vacuum chamber and connectible to the induction system of an engine and (b) a valve for controlling flow through an opening in the diaphragm, the arrangement being such that pressure fluctuations in the induction . system are transmitted by the suction device to the vacuum chamber to cause the diaphragm to actuate the liquid outlet valve. 14. A dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wall of the reservoir has therein a breathing aperture for air and a filler aperture for liquid. 15. A dispenser for liquid, substantially as hereinbefor described, with reference to Figs. 1 to 5, or Figs. 6 or 7, or Figs. 8 to 10 of the accompanying drawings.

Inventors: SCOTT FRASER MATHESON, SCOTT, FRASER, MATHESON
Applicants: F M SCOTT OILERS LTD, F.M. SCOTT OILERS LTD
Application year: 1981
Main classification: F16N7
IPC codes: B67D3, F16N7