WO1988008308A1

WO1988008308A1 - Fluid dispenser

Info

Publication number: WO1988008308A1
Application number: PCT/AU1988/000125
Authority: WO
Inventors: Donald James Catchpoole
Original assignee: The Commonwealth Industrial Gases Limited
Priority date: 1987-04-29
Filing date: 1988-04-29
Publication date: 1988-11-03

Abstract

The present invention pertains to an apparatus for dispensing fluids at a constant rate over a period of time. The apparatus comprises a container adapted to hold a charge of fluid to be dispensed, a wick extending from within the container to the exterior of it through a wick passage piercing a wall of the container, a means for maintaining atmospheric air pressure within the container as the fluid is dispensed, and a support means for securing the container above or beside a target onto or into which the fluid is to be dispensed. The wick passage is such that the wick inside it is compressed to regulate the flow of the fluid through the passage at a predetermined rate.

Description

TITLE: FLUID DISPENSER

This invention provides a dispenser used for dispensing fluids. Although the dispenser herein described relates to dispensing disinfectant at a constant rate onto putrefying material disposed of in a sanitary bin it will be realized that such a dispenser can be used for other functions, for example in a controlled experimental environmert wherein nutrient is to be added to a soil compound to promote the growth of a plant, or, in fact, in any situation where a controlled flow of fluid is required over a period of time.

BACKGROUND ART

In Ladies Washrooms where sanitary bins are often found for the disposal of used sanitary pads, or the like, it is usual to dispose of the contents of the bin every month or so and therefore to prevent bacterial growth and pungent odour it is necessary to disinfect the bins continually throughout the maintenance period.

Other apparatus are available for dispensing disinfectant into such bins, for example, a lid operated pump or aerosol can. However these examples of the prior art are complex, expensive and liable to mal-function. This being the case, it is at times simpler to pour large amounts of disinfectant into the bins at each monthly service but this process in itself is not a solution because throughout the next maintenance period the disinfectant will not maintain its concentration and therefore will not remain as effective in reducing bacterial growth and pungent odour as is desired.

It is therefore an object of this invention to at least ameliorate the above discussed disadvantages by providing a dispenser that dispenses a fluid at a constant rate on a continuous basis throughout a specified maintenance period.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect, this invention consists in a dispenser comprising a container adapted to hold a charge of fluid to be dispensed, a wick extending from within the container to the exterior thereof through a wick passage piercing a wall of said container, means to maintain atmospheric air pressure about said fluid in said container as said fluid is dispensed therefrom and support means to secure said dispenser above or beside a target onto or into which said fluid is to be dispensed; said wick passage being such that the wick therein is compressed to regulate flow through the passage along the wick at a pre-determined rate.

Preferably the atmospheric pressure is maintained about the fluid to be dispensed by providing a sealed, collapsible container, such as a bladder, which maintains equal pressure on the inside and outside of the container.

An alternative means of equalizing pressure is to provide a vent in the container allowing air movement into the container, thereby preventing pressure differentials from developing across the walls of the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Prefered embodiment of the invention will be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 represents an embodiment of a dispenser according to the invention.

Figure la is a representation of a side view of the dispenser of Figure 1.

Figure 2 is a second embodiment of a dispenser according to the invention.

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the lower end of the dispenser of figure 2. PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In Figure 1, the dispenser comprises a sealed, collapsible bladder (1) containing fluid (2) to be' dispensed via the wick (3) . The bladder is filled via the fill point (4) to a pre-determined level marked by a fill mark (5) . When ready for use, the wick and surrounding bladder is cut at the cut point (6). In use, as the fluid is dispensed via the wick (3), the sealed collapsible bladder (1) compresses, thus maintaining atmospheric pressure inside the bladder.

The wick (3) is preferably produced such that it is integral with the bladder (1).

With reference to Figures 2 and 3, a dispenser (11) comprises a container (12) to hold a charge of fluid, a wick (13) which extends from within the container (12) to the exterior passing through a wick passage (14) piercing a lid (15) of the container (12). The primary function of the wick passage (14) is to compress the wick as it passes through the lid (15) of the container (12). The compression of the wick (13) aids in regulating the flow of fluid along the passage and thereby maintains a predetermined rate of flow.

An aspirator tube (16) also passing through the lid (15), extending the full length of the container (12), may be used to bleed atmospheric air into the container thereby equalising the air pressure in the space above the fluid in the container with the external atmosphere. The wick passage (14) and aspirator tube (16) are held firmly in place within the lid (15) by utilizing an interference fit and a glue compound (17), washer or other sealant.

To maintain the dispenser in a correct orientation above waste material disposed of in a sanitary bin a hanger (18) is provided which grasps the container (12) at or adjacent to lid (15) and near the base of the container (12) and then is hung over the side of a bin wall (19).

According to the invention if the dispenser is used to sanitize sanitary bins as found in Ladies Washrooms, a controlled flow of disinfectant can be maintained throughout the entire maintenance period.

Experiments with the dispenser have shown that a constant rate of 500 ml per month of disinfectant can be maintained. This volume of disinfectant delivered in this fashion is sufficient to prevent bacterial growth and pungent odour.

In further embodiments provision is made whereby the wick passage (14) and the aspirator tube (16) become an integral whole with the lid (15), that is the lid (15), the wick passage (14) and aspirator tube (16) are moulded into a one piece moulding.

In another embodiment the container (12) could be relatively based and shallow rather than tall and deep so as to minimize the change in head of the fluid as it flows from the container.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art containers may be altered in external shape and internal shape to an extent which may be readily determined by experiment without departing from the scope hereof.

Claims

CLAIMS : - :

1. A dispenser for dispensing fluid at a constant rate comprising a container adapted to hold a charge of fluid to be dispensed, a wick extending from within the container to the exterior thereof through a wick passage piercinjg a wall of the said container, means to maintain atmospheric pressure about said fluid in said container as said fluid is dispensed therefrom and support means to secure said dispenser above or beside a target onto or into which said fluid is to be dispensed; said wick passage being such that the wick therein is compressed to regulate flow through the passage along the wick at a predetermined rate.

2. A dispenser as defined by claim 1, wherein the container adapted to hold a charge of fluid to be dispensed comprises a collapsible, flexible bladder.

3. A dispenser according to claim 2 wherein the bladder is made from plastic.

4. A dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the container adapted to hold a charge of fluid to be dispensed comprises a solid container further containing an air vent to equalize pressure inside the container with the atmosphere external to the container.

5. A dispenser according to any one of the previous claims wherein the wick is integral with the container.