AU649311B2 - Dispenser - Google Patents

Description

64931 1 P00011 Regulation 3.2O Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act, 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Original c TO BE COMPLETED BY THE APPLICANT NAME OF APPLICANT: ACTUAL INVENTOR: ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: RAYMOND SVETOMIR SA:.NIC RAYMOND SVETOMIR STANIC Peter Maxwell Associates Blaxland House, Suite 10, 5 Ross Street, NORTH PARRAMATTA NSW 2151 DISPENSER INVENTION TITLE: DETAILS OF ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION NO(S): PK 5540 1ITH APRIL, 1991 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it know to me:- The present invention relates to a dispenser for watersoluble or water-miscible products and, more particularly, to a dispenser suited for use with (but not to be limited only to use with) a garden hose or the like for the distribution of such products thereby.

The present invention seeks to provide a convenient means for distributing water-soluble or water-miscible products.

Accordingly, in one broad form of the invention, there is provided a dispenser for a water-soluble or water-miscible product, said dispener comprising inlet connection means adapted to receive a supply of water under pressure; an outlet connection means in fluid commuanication with said inlet connection means and also in fluid communication with a i source of said water-soluble or water-miscible product whereby water received in said inlet connection means has mixed with it product from said source prior to ejection of said water from said outlet connection means, and wherein the source of product comprises a chamber having a movable wall whereby the volume of the chamber is reduced as the wall moves in a first direction and is inc.eased as the wall moves in a second (opposite direction); said chamber adapted to urge product in said chamber to mix with said water as said volume of said chamber is rAY ed; and wherein the movable wall is urged in said first direction by water pressure of said supply of water; wherein the movable wall comprises a slidable seal within said chamber; and wherein an elongate Sextension rod is attached to said movable wall, the rod being of sufficient length to protrude at least partially through an aperture in said chamber whereby the length of said rod which protrudes from said chamber provides an indication of the volume of said chamber.

The inlet means may be connected in fluid communication with said outlet means by way of a through-pipe. Such a pipe may also be in fluid communication near its inlet end with an outer surface of .jad movable wall; and in fluid communication with said chamber near its outlet end.

A control valve may be included to regulate the degree of fluid communication in both instances.

In a particular form of the invention, product in said dispenser chamber is drawn into water in said through-pipe by a venturi effect.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:- Fig. 1 is a side section view of a dispenser

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according to a first embodiment of the invention, Fig. 2 is a side section view of the dispenser of Fig. 1 applied to a domestic garden *s

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sprinkler system, and,- Fig. 3 is a side section view of a dispenser according to a second embodiment of the invention.

The remote operative dispenser shown in Fig. 1 comprises a rectangular container 1 calibrated for volu'aetric displacement which has a base 2 and an opening 3. The base 2 of the container is concave in the centre to allow complete pick up of liquid fertiliser. The opening 3 on the top of the container 1 provides an access for fertiliser to be dispensed. A screw cap 5 is connected with breather holes to facilitate siphonic or venturi action.

A hollow cylindrical tube 6 allows water to pass from inlet connector 7 into variable mixing rate chamber 8 creating a siphon or venturi action with the fertiliser being drawn from the container 1 through a stem 9 and combined with e water in the variable mixing rate chamber 8 and expelled *o* through outlet connector A disposable filter 11 is fitted about the bottom of stem 9 to prevent b2ockages.

Fig. 2 shows one example of the remote operative dispenser for liquid fertiliser used in conjunction with a conventional garden sprinkler unit. It can be seen that the dispenser is connected to a tap 13 using a garden hose with snap on fitting 12. In use, tap 13 is turned on allowing water to enter the mixing chamber 8 thereby urging the fertiliser from the container 1 by venturi effect and dispensing the diluted fertiliser through the outlet connector 10. A short length of houe with snap on fittings conveys the diluted fertiliser to the sprinkler 14 for distribution to garden or lawn. Once the liquid fertiliser is expended from the container, plain water continues to flow through the dispenser and out of the sprinkler so as to thoroughly soak the fertiliser well into the soil.

This will save time and ensure uniform distribution of fertiliser onto garden or lawns.

A second embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 3 utilises a different principle for extracting liquid fertiliser or other water-soluble or water-miscible product 0* from the container or reservoir portion and into the water stream. It utilises a positive displacement arrangement to urge the liquid fertiliser into the water stream.

The dispenser 20 of this embodiment comprises a 0* straight through-pipe 21 having an inlet 28 at one end and an outlet 29 at the other, both the inlet 28 and the outlet 29 being adapted to receive clip-on hose fittings which are prevalent in the domestic garden market today.

Located immediately below the through-pipe 21 and attached thereto is a dispenser chamber assembly 33 which is divided internally into a dispenser chamber 23 and a dispenser drive chambe 22 by a movable wall or seal 27.

The seal 27 is adapted to slide along the longitudinal axis of the dispenser chamber assembly 33.

The dispenser drive chamber 22 is in fluid communication with through-pipe 21 by way of pressure fluid supply inlet line 24 which is controlled by inlet control valve Dispenser chamber 23 is in fluid communication with through-pipe 21 by way of dispenser outlet 25 whose degree of opening is controlled by outlet control valve 31.

For the dispenser assembly to operate correctly it is necessary that inlet line 24 be connected to through-pipe 21 at a point closer to inlet 28 than outlet pipe 25 is connected to inlet 28. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, inlet line 24 is connected to through-pipe 21 at a point very close to inlet 28 whilst outlet pipe 25 is connected to through-pipe 21 at a point very close to outlet 29.

An indicator rod 26 is connected to movable seal 27 and adapted to at least partially protrude through aperture 36 in the dispenser chamber assembly 33 for all positions of the movable seal 27 within the dispenser chamber assembly 33.

The degree of protrusion of indicator rod 26 from the dispenser chamber assembly 33 is inversely proportional to the volume of the dispenser chamber 23 and can be used as a guide to the volume of that chamber. Indicator rod 26 also acts as a volume displacer creating positji pressure causing ejection of water and compounds mixed therewith.

Dispenser filler aperture 32 is covered by a removable cap and is used to fill dispenser charnber 23 with watersoluble or water-miscible product whicl. is to be dispensed by the dispenser assembly in an alternative embodiment of the invention, indicator rod 26 may be omitted. In this case, it is -7essential in order to provide positive displacement that seal 38 be of lesser diameter than seal 37.

In use, inlet 28 is connected to a source of water at reasonable pressure for example a domestic water tap.

Product such as liquid fertiliser is poured into dispenser chamber 23 by way of filler aperture 32 thereby causing movable seal 27 to move so as to define a maximum volume of dispenser chamber 23 and with only a small portion of indicator rod 26 protruding from the dispenser chamber assembly 33. The water tap is then turned on which causes water to flow into inlet 28 and along through-pipe 21 and out of outlet 29 and also causes chamber 22 to become positive displaced thereby urging movable seal 27 against the product 9* in dispenser chamber 23 which, in turn, causes product to be forced through outlet pipe 25 and into the water stream in through-pipe 21 where it mixes with this water before passing 9.

9 out of outlet 29.

The rate of introduction of product into the water stream in through-pipe 21 is regulated primarily by adjustment of outlet control valve 31 and secondarily by an optional inlet control valve As product is forced from dispenser chamber 23, the volume of the chamber steadily reduces as indicated by the increased length of protrusion of indicator rod 26 from the dispenser chamber assembly 33.

Conveniently, the entire assembly can be hand held by gripping a central po'tion of through-pipe 21.

The dispenser is suitable for use in many forms by simply changing the configuration of attachments. A garden hose may be attached to the output connector for spraying fertiliser without carrying a container. Another hose connects the invention to a garden tap which when turned on will cause the unit to function.

In another form of configuration, a garden sprinkler is connected to the dispenser and is used to distribute liquid fertiliser onto lawns.

In another embodiment, the dispenser can be used as a hand held unit by attaching a conventional variable spray 4 4 nozzle to the output connector giving better spray patterns than current devices. The dispenser can be constructed by the use of ultra violet resistant plastic and brass components.

The embodiments of the invention can also be used with r" soaker hoses and with variable garden nozzles eithsr attached directly to outlet 29 or by way of an intermediate flexible 4* *4 hose.

Conveniently the assembly can be operated through a water timer.

The above describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications obvious to those skilled in the art can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

For exanple the dispenser can be used to dispense other chemicals for garden use, such as treatments for flowers, bushes and the like against insect infestation.

Claims (4)

1. A dispenser for a water-soluble or water-miscible product, said dispenser comprising inlet connection means adapted to receive a supply of water under pressure; an outlet connection means in fluid communication with said inlet connection means and also in fluid communication with a source of said water-soluble or water-miscible product whereby water received in said inlet connection means has mixed with it product from said source prior to ejection of said water from said outlet connection means, and wherein the source of product comprises a chamber having a movable wall whereby the volume of the chamber is reduced as the wall moves in a first direction and is increased as the wall moves in a second (opposite direction); said chamber adapted to urge product in said chamber to mix with said water as said volume of said chamber is reduced; and wherein the movable wall is urged in said first direction by water pressure of said supply of water; wherein the movable wall comprises a slidable seal within said chamber; and wherein an elongate extension rod is attached to said movable wall, the rod being of sufficient length to protrude at least partially through an apertire in said chamber whereby the length of said rod which protrudes from said chamber provides an indication of the volume of said chamber.

2. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inlet means is connected in fluid communication with said outlet means by way of a through-pipe, said pipe being in fluid V communication near its inlet end with an outer surface of said movable wall; and in fluid communication with said chamber near its outlet end.

3. A dispenser as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and further including a control valve which regulates the degree of fluid communication in both instances.

4. A dispenser substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 3. DATED this 18th day of February, 1994. RAYMOND SVETOMIR STANIC Patent Attorney for the Applicant: PETER MAXWELL ASSOCIATES. a a. e* a. ABSTRACT A dispenser for water-soluble or water-miscible product, particularly liquid product. In one form the dispenser 20 comprises a dispenser chamber assembly 33 in liquid communication with a through- pipe 21 in a manner whereby incoming water into through-pipe 21 is primarily diricted to exit from the other end of the through-pipe 21, but with the water pressure from the incoming water being utilised to force product in the dispenser chamber assembly 33 into the water stream in through-pipe 21 so as to be mixed therewith. The dispenser assembly 20 provides a convenient, S portable arrangement for dispensing water-soluble or water- miscible product such as liquid fertiliser by use of a domestic water supply or the like. e* o* S. 5555