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.

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.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pump; and

[0012] FIG. 2 is a front view of a pump.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] 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.

[0014] 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.

[0015] 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.

[0016] 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.

[0017] 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.