PUMP FOR DISPENSING MEASURED LIQUIDS IN A CONSISTENT PROPORTIONAL AMOUNT

Abstract

A pump that dispenses measured liquids in a consistent proportional amount includes a plurality of cylinders, a plunger associated with each cylinder and a lever operatively connected to each plunger. Each of the cylinders is connected to a container having a chemical by an input tube. Each cylinder is also connected to a single outlet tube via a plurality of outlet tubes. The cylinders are sized and positioned to dispense a consistent proportional mixture regardless of the length of stroke of the handle.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed toward a pump. More specifically, and without limitation, this invention relates to a pump that dispenses measured liquids in a consistent proportional amount regardless of the length of stroke of a handle.

Equipment and chemicals used for decontamination and disinfection of residences, business offices, industrial spaces, shipping facilities, food plants, health care offices, schools and the like are known in the art. With the outbreak of Covid-19, the need for disinfection are greater than ever before in order to provide a safe, virus-free work and home environment for employees and families.

The product DECON7 (D7) is a powerful and effective decontaminant, disinfectant, sanitizer, cleaner and deodorizer for a multitude of applications in various industries. D7 is a patented, EPA registered disinfectant, surface sanitizer, deodorizer and chemical cleaner having a multi-part aqueous solution including hydrogen peroxide and an advanced four-chain quaternary ammonia formulation, making it practical for food production environments, public safety and military situations.

The process of making D7 is time consuming, labor intensive, and requires safety precautions. Before mixing one must wear a protective apron, googles and gloves. Then, using measuring cups, to make one gallon of mixture, forty-nine fluid ounces of a first part is measured and poured into a mixing bucket. Then forty-nine fluid ounces of a second part is measured and poured into the mixing bucket, followed by two fluid ounces of a third part being measured and poured into the mixing bucket. Using a stirring stick, the mixture in the mixing bucket is stirred for fifteen to twenty seconds and then the mixture is poured into a dispensing device. Finally, the measuring cups, the mixing bucket and the stirring stick are washed. While the process produces a mixture having the correct proportion of the different parts, a better way is desired.

Accordingly, an objective of the present invention is to provide a pump that dispenses measured liquids in a consistent and proportional amount.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a pump that mixes and dispenses multiple chemicals in a safe and easy manner.

These and other objectives will be apparent to those skilled in the art based upon the following written description, drawings and claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A pump for dispensing measured liquids in a consistent proportional amount includes a plurality of cylinders where each cylinder has a plunger that extends into and is disposed within the cylinder. Operatively connected to the plungers is a lever having one or more elongated members. The cylinders are disposed within a housing and the lever extends through a side wall in the housing.

Each of the cylinders is connected to a container having a chemical by an input tube. Each of the cylinders is also connected to an output tube which extend to and are connected to a single output tube. The single output tube is connected to a dispensing device.

The cylinders are sized and positioned such that when the lever is moved in one direction chemical from the containers is drawn into the cylinders via the input tubes. When the lever is moved in the opposite direction the chemical is drawn into the output tubes and flows to the single output tube to the dispensing device. Based upon the size and position of the cylinders the pump dispenses measured liquids in a consistent proportional amount regardless of the length of the stroke of the lever.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pump; and

FIG. 2 is a front view of a pump.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the figures a pump 10 includes a plurality of cylinders 12, and preferably three cylinders operatively connected to a lever 14. More specifically, the lever 14 is pivotally connected to a plurality of plungers 16 at one end and each plunger 16 extends into and is slidably received within each cylinder 12. The lever 14 is of any size, shape, and structure and in one example has two elongated members 18 that extend in parallel spaced relation and have a handle 19 that is connected to and extends between the members 18 at one end. Preferably, the pump 10 is disposed within a housing 22 having a back wall 24, side walls 26, and a door 28 opposite the back wall that is hingedly connected to one of the side walls 26. Also, one of the side walls 26 has one or more slots 30 through which the elongated member(s) 18 extend. The lever 14 is pivotally connected to the housing 22 at one end.

A plurality of input tubes 32 extend through a side wall 26 and are connected to one end of the cylinders 12. An output tube 34 is connected to each of the cylinders 12 at one end and to a single output tube 36 at the other end. The single output tube 36 extends through the side wall 26. Each of the input tubes 32 are also connected to a container 38, such as a bottle, that contains a chemical. The single output tube 36 is connected to a dispensing device 40 such as a nozzle or the like. The cylinders 12 are of different sizes and positioned along the elongated members 18 so that they draw in and dispense an amount of chemical that corresponds to a desired proportion for a mixture of the different chemicals. The input tubes 34 and output tube 36 have check valves 20 that control the flow of fluid based upon the stroke of the cylinder 12.

In operation, the pump is activated by moving the lever 14 from a first position to a second position which causes the plunger 16 to draw different chemicals from the different containers 38 into different cylinders 12 via the input tubes 32. The check valve 20 on the output tube 36 prevents flow to the outlet tube 36. The movement of the lever 14 calibrates the volume in each cylinder 12 and the check valves 20 keep the cylinders 12 primed and capable to work as pumps. Each container 38 is connected to a cylinder 12 having a size that corresponds to a predetermined percentage of a mixture. For example, if there are three containers 38 and the predetermined mixture is 49:49:2, then two of the cylinders 12 are twice as large as the third. As such, not only based upon the size, but also the position of the cylinder 12, the amount of chemical drawn into the two larger cylinders 12 is twice as much as in the third cylinder. When the lever 14 is moved from the second position to the first position chemicals are drawn out of the cylinder 12 by the plunger and into the output tubes 34. The check valve 20 on the inlet tube 34 prevents flow back through the inlet tube 34. The amount of chemical dispensed from the cylinder is based upon the size and position of the cylinders 12. In the example above, twice as much chemical would be dispensed from the two cylinders 12 as compared to the third cylinder 12. The chemicals then flow through output tubes 34 to the single output tube 36 where the chemicals are mixed at their desired proportion and the mixture flows through the single output tube 36 to the dispensing device 40.

Accordingly, a pump 10 has been provided that dispenses multiple measured liquids in a consistent proportional amount regardless of the length of the stroke of the lever, and improves upon the art.

From the above discussion and accompanying figures and claims it will be appreciated that the pump 10 offers many advantages over the prior art. It will be appreciated further by those skilled in the art that other various modifications could be made to the device without parting from the spirit and scope of this invention. All such modifications and changes fall within the scope of the claims and are intended to be covered thereby. It should be understood that the examples and embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and that various modifications or changes in the light thereof will be suggested to persons skilled in the art and are to be included in the spirit and purview of this application.

Claims

1. A pump comprising:

a plurality of cylinders;

a plurality of plungers wherein one of the plurality of plungers extends into each of the plurality of cylinders;

a lever pivotally connected to the plungers;

wherein the cylinders are sized and positioned to dispense measured liquids in a consistent proportional amount based upon a length of stroke of the lever.

2. The pump of claim 1 further comprising a pair of check valves disposed within each of the plurality of cylinders.

3. The pump of claim 1 wherein the plurality of cylinders are disposed within a housing and the lever extends through a side wall in the housing.

4. The pump of claim 1 wherein the lever has one or more elongated members.

5. The pump of claim 1 wherein an input tube is connected to each of the plurality of cylinders at one end and to a container having a chemical at the opposite end.

6. The pump of claim 1 wherein an output tube is connected to each of the plurality of cylinders at one end and to a single output tube at the opposite end.

7. The pump of claim 6 wherein the single output tube is connected to a dispensing device.