Portable Liquid Dispenser

Abstract

A portable liquid dispenser including a container is provided herein, the portable liquid dispenser having a deformable bag in which the liquid is stored and a valve for introducing air between the walls of the container and the deformable bag. Also provided are holes in an upper part of the container for letting liquid into and/or out of the bag, and a manometer arranged in the container to control a pressure of the fluid inside the bag. The device can be used, for example, as a portable shower that supplies water under pressure.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention describes a portable dispenser suitable for generating a flow of pressurised liquid without needing to use any energy source.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known that in order to generate a flow of liquid it is necessary to have a pressure difference between two points. The pressure difference is obtained by means of pumping groups that work with electric energy, but in places where there is no connection to the electrical grid the use of generators is necessary. Generators are difficult to transport and require the use of fuels.

It is also known that vessels for water must be sanitised, because bacteria and mould proliferate in the corners of the vessels, especially in damp environments.

Likewise, metal containers rust, depositing particles in the bottom of the container.

A person skilled in the art knows different means to achieve the seal in the vessels, such as for example threading, welding or screws.

The document closest to the invention is ES1098105 U which describes a device for accumulating pressurised fluid. The device comprises a sealed container with a deformable bag. The deformable bag contains a pressurised fluid and the container contains a pressurised gas housed between the walls of the device and the deformable bag.

The device described by ES1098105 U is suitable for obtaining a flow of liquid without any energy source. However, the use of the device can produce contaminated liquids or water when the deformable bag breaks. If the deformable bag were to break, the water would fall due to gravity to the bottom of the device, remaining accumulated. The accumulated water will produce the proliferation of microorganisms. Upon refilling the device, the clean water will be contaminated by the accumulated water.

The device of ES1098105U does not enable the replacement of the deformable bag.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The problem that the present invention solves is obtaining a flow of liquid without supplying energy and preventing the contamination in the liquid.

The solution found by the inventors is the dispenser described in the claims. The dispenser comprises a deformable bag that stores the pressurised liquid and a pressurised gas housed between the deformable bag and the wall of the dispenser. Furthermore, the dispenser is connected to a manometer that measures the pressure in the deformable bag.

The manometer prevents contamination in the tank, since a break in the deformable bag will produce a drop in pressure. The user will be able to replace the membrane and clean the dispenser.

In a preferred manner, the dispenser is a container with a threaded neck wherein the upper end of the deformable bag is trapped by the lid when the container is closed. This configuration optimises the seal of the container since the deformable bag acts as an O-ring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates the essential elements of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a top-down view of the lid and the deformable bag.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention described according to FIG. 1 comprises a portable dispenser made up of a sealed container (1) comprising:

• • a deformable bag (4) wherein the liquid is stored,
  • a valve (2) for introducing air between the walls of the container and the deformable bag,
  • at least one hole (5) for liquid inlet and outlet.
    wherein the container has a manometer (3) arranged to measure the pressure inside the deformable bag. The invention comprises the dispenser described by ES1098105 U, but a manometer has been coupled. The manometer enables it to be known if the deformable bag has broken, due to the drop in pressure, preventing the contamination of the bottom by the accumulation of the liquid.

The container can be manufactured from any material such as metal, fiberglass or plastic.

Additionally, the dispenser can couple heating means, handles, covers and other means known by a person skilled in the art.

The dispenser is suitable, for example, for vehicles, small cars, trailers, campsites, boats, humanitarian aid, etc. The dispenser is suitable for any liquid, especially for water.

Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

FIG. 2 shows the preferred embodiment of the invention. The container (1) has a threaded neck (6) that is closed with a lid (7). The upper portion of the deformable bag (4), according to FIG. 3, stays trapped by the lid (7) and the perimeter of the neck (6) acting as an O-ring.

The lid comprises 3 holes wherein the liquid outlet (8) is coupled with a diameter of ½ an inch, the liquid inlet (9) with a diameter of ½ an inch and the manometer (3) with a diameter of 4 an inch.

The container (1) is closed with the lid (7) and the deformable bag (4) acts as an O-ring. In the assembly line, an air pressure of 0.3 bar is introduced through the valve (2) into the volume created by the walls of the container (1) and the outside of the deformable bag (4). Subsequently, a flow of liquid at a pressure of 3-4 bar is introduced through the liquid inlet. When the vessel is full, the manometer will indicate this pressure on the inside of the deformable bag (4) which stores the liquid. The pressure will start to go down as the container empties.

If the deformable bag (4) breaks, the manometer (3) will detect a sudden drop in the pressure. The deformable bag (4) can be easily replaced by opening the threaded lid (7).

The liquid outlets can be, for example, a flexible tube with shut-off valves to regulate the flow of the outlet.

The dispenser described enables a flow of liquid at 3-4 bar to be obtained without an external energy source 30. Thus, for a 20-litre container a constant flow is obtained for 7-10 minutes. The dispenser described is also suitable for raising the liquid to a minimum height of 3 metres.

Preferably, the vessel is manufactured in high-density polyethylene and it is manufactured by means of blow moulding. The thickness of the walls is comprised between 6-8 millimetres.

The threaded lid (7) is manufactured by injection with high-density polyethylene. The use of high-density polyethylene prevents the corrosion of the vessels and the deformation of the vessels by the pressure variations.

Claims

1.-4. (canceled)

5. A portable dispenser including a sealed container, the portable dispenser comprising: a deformable bag inside the sealed container configured to store a pressurised liquid; a valve configured to introduce a pressurised gas between at least one wall of the sealed container and the deformable bag;

and at least one hole configured for the liquid to inlet and/or outlet;

wherein the sealed container includes a manometer configured to measure a pressure inside the deformable bag and the at least one hole of the sealed container comprises a threaded neck on which an end of an opening of the deformable bag is configured to be adjusted by being pressed, and a threaded lid is configured to be threaded onto the threaded neck of the sealed container leaving the open end of the deformable bag between the threaded neck and the threaded lid.

6. The dispenser according to claim 5 wherein the threaded lid comprises a hole for liquid outlet, a hole for liquid inlet and a hole configured to connect the manometer.

7. The dispenser according to claim 5 wherein the sealed container comprises a high-density polyethylene.