Dispensing meter for fluid dispensing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11078069-B2
Application number	US-201815777362-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 22, 2018
Priority date	Sep 15, 2017
Publication date	Aug 3, 2021
Grant date	Aug 3, 2021

Abstract

A handheld fluid meter includes a cartridge valve controlling the flow of fluid through the handheld meter. The cartridge valve includes a valve cartridge and a valve stem disposed within the valve cartridge. The cartridge valve guides the valve stem and provides the only sealing surface for the dynamic seals and control seal disposed on the valve stem. The handheld meter dispenses through a nozzle, which includes an overmolded stem tip that generates a laminar fluid flow as the fluid exits the nozzle. The overmolded stem tip is a compliant material. The handheld fluid meter includes circuitry configured to invert the orientation of a visual output provided by a display of the handheld fluid meter to facilitate installation of the handheld fluid meter for use in an oil bar application.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A control valve for a handheld fluid meter, the control valve comprising:
a valve cartridge comprising:
a cartridge body extending along an axis and having a first portion and a second portion, the cartridge body including a first circumferential groove in the first portion and a second circumferential groove in the second portion;
a radial inlet extending through the first portion into the first circumferential groove;
a radial outlet extending through the second portion into the second circumferential groove; and
a control seat disposed about an interior of the cartridge body and axially between the first circumferential groove and the second circumferential groove; and

a valve stem disposed partially within the valve cartridge and configured to move axially relative to the valve cartridge, the valve stem comprising:
an upper portion disposed within the first end, the upper portion including an annular control seal groove;
a lower portion disposed within the second end, the lower portion including an actuating tip extending out of the second end of the valve cartridge;
an elongate portion extending between and connecting the upper portion and the lower portion; and
a control seal disposed in the control seal groove;

wherein the control seal configured to be engaged with the control seat at a location disposed axially between the first circumferential groove and the second circumferential groove with the valve stem in a closed state; and
wherein the control seal is annularly disengaged from the control seat and from the cartridge body with the valve stem in an open state;
wherein the control seal is disposed axially between the radial inlet and the control seat with the valve stem in a modulated position of the open state.

2. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the control seat includes a control seat radius formed such that the control seal engages the control seat radius prior to engaging a remainder of the control seat as the valve stem transitions to the closed state.

3. The valve of claim 2 , wherein the control seal comprises an o-ring.

4. The valve of claim 3 , wherein a ratio of the control seat radius to a cross-sectional radius of the control seal is between 1:2 and 1:10, inclusive.

5. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the upper portion further comprises:
a throttling portion extending towards the lower portion from the control seal groove;
wherein an annular flowpath is formed between the throttling portion and the control seat; and
wherein a length of the annular flowpath varies as the valve stem transitions between a fully open position and a fully closed position.

6. The valve of claim 5 , wherein the throttling portion is axially offset from the control seat groove with the valve stem in the fully open position, and wherein the control seal is at least partially disposed above the radial inlet with the valve stem in the fully open position.

7. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the control seal groove includes a dovetail extending into the upper portion, the dovetail formed on a downstream side of the control seal groove.

8. The valve of claim 7 , wherein a ratio of a cross-sectional diameter of the control seal to a width of the dovetail groove is between 1:0.9 and 1:1.1.

9. The valve of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first dynamic seal groove extending into the upper portion, the first dynamic seal groove disposed axially between a distal end of the upper portion and the control seal groove;
a first dynamic seal disposed in the first dynamic seal groove;
a second dynamic seal groove extending into the lower portion; and
a second dynamic seal disposed in the second dynamic seal groove.

10. The valve of claim 9 , wherein the first dynamic seal includes an annular projection extending from the first dynamic seal and engaging the first end of the valve cartridge.

11. The valve of claim 9 , wherein the upper portion has a first diameter and the lower portion has a second diameter, the first diameter matching the second diameter.

12. The valve of claim 1 , further comprising:
a valve cap attached to and enclosing an end of the first portion of the valve cartridge.

13. The valve of claim 12 , further comprising:
a valve spring disposed in the valve cartridge between the valve cap and the valve stem, the valve spring extending into a bore of the valve stem;
wherein the valve spring is configured to bias the valve stem towards the closed state.

14. A handheld fluid meter comprising:
a meter body;
a fluid inlet extending into the meter body;
a valve chamber formed in the meter body, the valve chamber comprising:
a first chamber circumferential groove formed on the meter body; and
a second chamber circumferential groove formed on the meter body;

a valve inlet extending between and fluidly connecting the fluid inlet and the first circumferential groove;
a valve outlet extending downstream out of the valve chamber from the second circumferential groove;
a valve disposed in the valve chamber, the valve comprising:
a valve cartridge mounted to the meter body at a location within the valve chamber, the valve cartridge comprising:
a cartridge body extending between a first end and a second end, the cartridge body including a first interior circumferential groove formed on an interior surface of the cartridge body and a second interior circumferential groove in formed on the interior surface;
a radial inlet extending through the first end between a first circumferential flow passage and the first interior circumferential groove, wherein the first circumferential flow passage is defined between the first chamber circumferential groove and the cartridge body;
a radial outlet extending through the second end between a second circumferential flow passage and the second interior circumferential groove, the second circumferential flow passage defined by the second chamber circumferential groove and the cartridge body; and
a control seat extending radially inward from the interior surface of the cartridge body between the first interior circumferential groove and the second interior circumferential groove;

a valve stem disposed in the valve cartridge, the valve stem comprising:
an upper portion disposed within the first end, the upper portion including an annular control seal groove, wherein the upper portion extends through an upstream chamber defined between the first interior circumferential groove and the valve stem;
a lower portion disposed within the second end, the lower portion including an actuating tip extending out of the second end of the valve cartridge, wherein the lower portion extends through a downstream chamber defined between the second interior circumferential groove and the valve stem;
an elongate portion extending between and connecting the upper portion and the lower portion; and
a control seal disposed in the control seal groove, the control seal configured to be engaged with the control seat with the valve stem in a closed position and to be disengaged from the control seat with the valve stem in an open position.

15. The handheld fluid meter of claim 14 , further comprising:
a trigger control mechanism mounted to and extending through the meter body;
a trigger connected to the trigger control mechanism at a pivot point, the trigger configured to mechanically drive the valve stem between the closed position and the open position; and
a removable trigger guard attached to the meter body and enclosing the pivot point, such that the pivot point exposed with the pinch guard detached from the meter body;
wherein the t

Assignees

• Graco Minnesota Inc

Inventors

• Bloom Michael E
• Bauck Mark L
• Ebben James R
• Lorden David J
• Kahler Bradley G
• Kuschel Anthony J

Classifications

• B67D7/425

  including components powered by electricity or light · CPC title

• B67D7/426

  including means for displaying information, e.g. for advertising (B67D7/425 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01F22/00

  Methods or apparatus for measuring volume of fluids or fluent solid material, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• G01F15/005

  Valves (valves in general F16K) · CPC title

• G01F15/00 Primary

  Details of, or accessories for, apparatus of groups G01F1/00 - G01F13/00 insofar as such details or appliances are not adapted to particular types of such apparatus · CPC title