Abstract:
A shuttling Venturi that eliminates the need for a check valve to prevent backflow or an on/off valve to control flow of a secondary fluid. The shuttling Venturi provides for the mixing of liquids, gases and/or solids, in particular, in applications where space is limited and extra control valves cannot be located.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/145,811 filed Apr. 10, 2015 by Daniel Kenneth Noall. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a Venturi and more particularly to a shuttling Venturi that can be used for mixing liquids, gases or solids. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    When a fluid flows through a restricted area, the fluid pressure is reduced, and the fluid velocity is increased. This is known as a Venturi effect. It is known in the art that a Venturi can be used to mix liquids, gases and/or solids. In mixing liquids, a Venturi utilizes the kinetic energy of one liquid to cause another liquid to flow and usually consists of a converging nozzle, a chamber body, and a diffuser. When the primary fluid enters the converging nozzle, the pressure is decreased and acts to pull a secondary fluid into the flow of the fluid going through the nozzle, mixing the two fluids together. 
         [0004]    One problem that is universally faced in using a Venturi for mixing is protecting against backflow into the mixing port and secondary liquid, which can damage the system or cause the mixture to backflow into the mixing chamber and create system contamination. To prevent backflow, a check valve or other pneumatic, manual or electrical solenoid valves are often utilized. Particularly in applications where the space for the Venturi is limited, there may not be room for a check valve. The present invention alleviates the need for a check valve and permits use of a Venturi in spaces where it would not otherwise be feasible. It also permits a user to decide whether it wants to activate the Venturi to permit mixing of two liquids, gases and/or solids. 
         [0005]    Another requirement of most Venturis is that an on/off valve be contained in the secondary fluid line, which then permits the user to determine whether to allow or prevent the flow of the secondary fluid. In the present invention, no such on/off valve is required as the movement of the Venturi is what allows or prevents the flow from the secondary fluid line. In some Venturi systems, a check valve is used in secondary fluid line. The moveable Venturi of the present system eliminates the need for such a check valve. The resulting reduction in components for the system allows for the use of the moveable Venturi in applications where a Venturi would not otherwise be feasible. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention has been accomplished to provide a shuttling Venturi. 
         [0007]    According to the present invention, there is provided a shuttling Venturi, which is generally comprised of a Venturi moveable in a linear or rotational motion, a mixing port and a mixing chamber. 
         [0008]    In one aspect of the invention, it provides a shuttling Venturi that can be moved linearly or rotationally to allow or prevent the mixing of two different liquids, gases or solids. 
         [0009]    In another aspect of the inventions, it provides a shuttling Venturi that eliminates the need for a check valve to prevent backflow. 
         [0010]    In another aspect of the invention, it provides a shuttling Venturi that eliminates the need for an on/off valve to shut off flow from the secondary fluid line. 
         [0011]    In another aspect of the invention, it provides a shuttling Venturi that can be moved linearly or rotationally to permit a user to combine water with a flavor without having to mix the water and flavor within a reservoir. 
         [0012]    To the accomplishment of the above and related aspects, the invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The drawings, however, are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being part of the invention, limited only by the scope of the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective side view of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is another perspective side view of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is another perspective side view of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is another perspective side view of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is perspective cut away view of the present invention being used in a hydration pack application. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    As shown in the accompanying drawings, this is a shuttling Venturi.  FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of a linear shuttling Venturi  10  that operates in a linear fashion. A liquid or gas enters Venturi inlet  11 . The pressure of that liquid or gas decreases as it enters the constricted portion  12  of the Venturi. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the linear shuttling Venturi  10  is in an “off” position. In the off position, mixing port  13  is not aligned with 360 degree mixing chamber  14  and no liquid or gas is drawn from suction tube  15  to mix with the liquid or gas flowing through the constricted portion  12  of the Venturi. In this configuration, the liquid or gas that entered through Venturi inlet  11  flows out of Venturi outlet  16  without mixing with any other liquid or gas. Venturi body seals  17  also help ensure that no liquid or gas from suction tube  15  and mixing chamber  14  enters mixing port  13 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 2  shows linear shuttling Venturi  10  in the “on” position. In this position, a liquid or gas enters Venturi inlet  11 . The pressure of that liquid or gas decreases as it enters the constricted portion  12  of the Venturi. In the on position, mixing port  13  is aligned with 360 degree mixing chamber  14  and suction tube  15 . The effect of the liquid or gas flowing through the Venturi causes the liquid or gas in suction tube  15  to be drawn into mixing chamber  14  and subsequently into the Venturi through mixing port  13 , wherein the liquids and/or gases mix. In this configuration, the liquid or gas that entered through Venturi inlet  11  flows out of Venturi outlet  16  having mixed with the liquid or gas located in suction tube  15 . Venturi body seals  17  restrict the liquid or gas coming from suction tube  15  to mixing chamber  14  so that it can flow through mixing port  13  to mix with the liquid or gas flowing through Venturi inlet  11  and constricted portion  12 . Shuttling Venturi  10  is moved linearly into the on position when a force is applied to either end of shuttling Venturi  10 . In some configurations, a spring holds shuttling Venturi  10  in an on or off position and only moves to the opposite position when a force is applied. When the force is removed, shuttling Venturi  10  returns to the spring loaded position. Because the shuttling Venturi  10  can move between the on and off positions, no check valve is needed to prevent back flow into the mixing chamber. Additionally, no on/off valve is needed to shut off flow from suction tube  15 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  illustrates a rotational shuttling Venturi  40  in the “off” position. Rather than moving linearly, the Venturi in  FIG. 3  moves rotationally. A liquid or gas enters through Venturi inlet  41  through constricted area  42  and out Venturi outlet  43 . Mixing port  44  is not aligned with mixing chamber  45  and suction tube  46 . As such no liquid or gas is drawn into constricted area  42  from suction tube  46  and mixing chamber  45  through mixing port  44 . The liquid or gas that entered Venturi inlet  41  exits Venturi outlet  43  unchanged. Any leakage from suction tube  46  and mixing chamber  45  is prevented by sealing surface  47 . 
         [0021]    In  FIG. 4 , a force has been applied to rotational shuttling Venturi  40  causing it to rotate into an “on” position so that mixing port  44  is aligned with mixing chamber  45  and suction tube  46 . In the open position, a liquid or gas flows into Venturi inlet  41  to constricted area  42  where the pressure of the liquid or gas drops causing a liquid or gas in suction tube  46  and mixing chamber  45  to flow through mixing port  44  into the constricted area  42  where it mixes with the liquid or gas that entered from Venturi inlet  41  into constricted area  42 . In this configuration, the liquid or gas that flows out of Venturi outlet  43  is a combination of the liquid or gas that entered through Venturi inlet  41  and the liquid or gas that entered through mixing port  44 . Sealing surface  47  restricts the liquid or gas coming from suction tube  46  to mixing chamber  45  so that it can flow through mixing port  44  to mix with the liquid or gas flowing from Venturi inlet  41  into constricted portion  42 . Because shuttling Venturi  40  can move between the on and off positions, no check valve is needed to prevent back flow into the mixing chamber  45 . Additionally, no on/off valve is needed to shut off flow from suction tube  46 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 5  shows the present invention being used in a hydration pack, which has minimal space for a Venturi. In  FIG. 5 , it is contemplated that a flavor cartridge  90  will be inserted in the suction line from a hydration pack to allow a user to add flavor to the water without mixing the flavor into the actual reservoir of the hydration pack. In flavor cartridge  90 , a liquid flows through inlet manifold  91  into Venturi inlet  92 . Shuttling Venturi  93  is maintained in an off position by return spring  94 . When the user applies suction to outlet manifold  96 , diaphragm  95  actuates due to the pressure differential of user suction and atmospheric pressure, exerting a force on shuttling Venturi  93  causing it to move to an on position so that mixing port  97  is aligned with mixing chamber  98  and suction tube  99 . This allows for hands-free actuation of the system. As the liquid flows through constricted area  100 , the liquid located in flavor reservoir  101  (often a liquid containing concentrated flavor essence) is drawn through suction tube  99  into mixing chamber  98 , which is sealed off by lip ring seals  102 , and then through mixing port  97  into constricted area  100 , where the flavor essence mixes with the liquid flowing through shuttling Venturi  93 . The mixed liquids then flow out of Venturi outlet  103  to outlet manifold  96  and from there to the user. Adjustable needle valve  104  allows the user to meter the amount of flavor essence that flows through suction tube  99  to mixing chamber  98 . 
         [0023]    Using the present invention as shown in  FIG. 5  permits a user to combine water and a flavor hands-free without having to mix it within the hydration pack reservoir. It is extremely cumbersome to clean the reservoir of a hydration pack once anything other than water is introduced into the reservoir. The use of shuttling Venturi  93  in flavor cartridge  90  eliminates the need for mixing in the hydration pack reservoir and thus eliminates the cumbersome cleaning associated with such mixing. 
         [0024]    The description of the invention above should not be interpreted as limiting the invention to the disclosed embodiment because those who are skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to devise other equivalent forms thereof within the scope of the invention. Variations and changes, which are obvious to one skilled in the art, are intended to be within the scope and nature of the present invention.