Dispenser for controlling fluid flow and a method of controlling fluid flow
An inline dispersal valve that can be used with or without a base. One embodiment includes a rotatable member that is rotatable from a fluid stream obstructing condition to an out-of-the-way condition to prevent fluid diversion into the dispersal valve. Another embodiment includes a lever handle for quickly setting the amount of fluid being diverted into the inline dispersal valve. Another embodiment includes an indicator that can be viewed from a position above the inline dispersal valve. Another embodiment includes a cap that can be secured or removed without the aid of tools. Another embodiment includes a clip that allows one to disassemble the inline dispersal valve for servicing. Another embodiment includes a dispensing valve that can be reversed and still properly divert fluid into a dispersant chamber. Another embodiment includes an inline dispersal valve with a bleed valve positioned to allow one to bring the air volume in the dispersant chamber to the proper level.
1. A dispenser for controlling a fluid flow therein comprising:
a housing;
a fluid port located in the housing;
a rotatable member for opening and closing the fluid port, said rotatable member includes a fluid deflecting surface located thereon, the fluid deflecting surface displaceable into a lumen of a conduit of the housing to divert at least a portion of a fluid flowing in the conduit to flow through a chamber of the housing before returning to the conduit and displaceable out of the lumen in the conduit to form a portion of the conduit to direct fluid flowing through the conduit without diverting fluid into the chamber in the housing to thereby create a no flow condition through the chamber; and
a lever arm handle extending radially outward from the rotatable member to facilitate ease in rotation of the rotatable member, said lever arm handle extending radially outward so a force for moving the rotatable member in a direction to close the fluid port requires a circumferential force on the lever arm handle and a force for moving the rotatable member in an opposite direction to open the fluid port requires a circumferential force on the lever arm handle.
2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the lever arm handle includes a finger grasping region having a shape that conforms to the natural curvature of a user's hand.
3. The dispenser of claim 1 including a fluid port indicator located on a portion of the lever arm handle, the fluid port indicator visible from a position above the housing to enable a user to select a fluid port setting from the position above the housing by rotation of the rotatable member via the lever arm handle.
4. The dispenser of claim 3 wherein the fluid port indicator includes a marker for allowing the user to precisely adjust the fluid port setting.
5. A lever handle for metering dispensing of an inline dispenser valve comprising:
a rotatable member having a cylindrical surface mateable with a cylindrical receptacle of a housing for rotatably opening and closing a fluid port of the housing; and
a lever arm extending radially outward from the rotatable member to facilitate ease in rotation of the rotatable member, the lever arm extending in a tangential direction on one side of the lever arm so a force for moving the rotatable member in a direction to close the fluid port requires a circumferential force on the lever arm and a force for moving the rotatable member in an opposite direction to open the fluid port requires both a radial force and a circumferential force on the lever arm, said rotatable member includes a fluid deflecting surface located thereon, the fluid deflecting surface displaceable into a lumen of a conduit of the housing to divert at least a portion of a fluid flowing in the conduit to flow through a chamber of the housing before returning to the conduit and displaceable out of the lumen in the conduit to form a portion of the conduit to direct fluids through the conduit without diverting fluid into the chamber in the housing to thereby create a no flow condition through the chamber.
6. The lever handle of claim 5 wherein the lever arm includes a finger-grasping region having a shape that conforms to the natural curvature of a user's hand.
7. The lever handle of claim 6 including a fluid port indicator located on a portion of the lever arm, the fluid port indicator visible from a position above the housing to enable a user to select a fluid port setting from the position above the housing by rotation of the rotatable member via the lever arm.
8. The lever handle of claim 7 wherein the fluid port indicator includes a pointer for allowing the user to precisely adjust the fluid port setting.
9. A method for controlling a fluid flow through a dispenser comprising the steps of:
directing a fluid stream through a fluid conduit of an inline dispersal valve housing;
moving a rotatable member in a direction to open a fluid port of inline dispersal valve housing by moving the rotatable member having a fluid deflecting surface in a direction to open the fluid port of inline dispersal valve housing while simultaneously displacing the fluid deflecting surface into a lumen of the conduit of the inline dispersal valve housing to divert at least the portion of the fluid stream flowing through the conduit to flow through a chamber of the housing before returning to the conduit to allow for at least a portion of the fluid stream flowing through the conduit to flow through the fluid port into a chamber of the inline dispersal valve housing before returning to the conduit to thereby dispense a portion of the dispersant supported by the chamber into the conduit; and
moving the rotatable member in an opposite direction to close the fluid port to thereby create a no flow condition through the chamber.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of moving the rotatable member in the opposite direction to close the fluid port comprises moving a the rotatable member in the opposite direction to close the fluid port while simultaneously displacing the fluid deflecting surface out of the lumen of the conduit to form a portion of the conduit to direct fluid flowing through the conduit without diverting fluid into the chamber of the housing to thereby create a no flow condition through the chamber.
11. The method of claim 9 including the step of moving a lever arm handle extending from the rotatable member to facilitate ease in movement of the rotatable member in opening and closing the fluid port.
12. The method of claim 9 including the step of selecting a fluid port setting from a position above the housing by moving the rotatable member via the lever arm handle while viewing a fluid port indicator located on a portion of the lever arm handle.