Fluid dispensing apparatus and method
View Patent ↗A fluid dispenser and method of operating the same. The fluid dispenser can include a wheel driven by diluent passing along a flow path in the fluid dispenser. The wheel can be connected to a pump to pump fluid from a reservoir for dispense into the diluent. In some embodiments, the ratio of wheel rotations to pump cycles is selected to provide a desired and repeatable dilution ratio of concentrated fluid to diluent. The fluid dispenser can be portable and/or disposable, and in some embodiments is adapted for installation on an upper rim of a reservoir wall. Also, the fluid dispenser can be provided with a baffle limiting the velocity and impact of incoming diluent to the wheel driving the pump, thereby improving dosing accuracy of the dispenser in some embodiments.
1. A method of dispensing a fluid and diluent, the method comprising:
providing a housing through which diluent flows;
supporting the housing in an elevated position over a reservoir;
receiving a stream of free-flowing diluent falling from a diluent source toward and into the housing across an air gap between the diluent source and the housing;
turning a wheel with the diluent;
dispensing fluid from a chamber via power from the turning wheel;
mixing the dispensed fluid with the diluent; and
dispensing the diluent and the fluid from the housing into the reservoir.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein supporting the housing comprises supporting the housing upon a wall of the reservoir.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the stream of free-flowing diluent comprises receiving the stream of free-flowing diluent in a funnel.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein turning the wheel includes turning the wheel within the housing.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the stream is received through an inlet of the housing; and
mixing the dispensed fluid with the diluent occurs at least in part between the inlet and the wheel.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein mixing the dispensed fluid with the diluent comprises mixing the dispensed fluid within the diluent within the housing.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising pumping fluid from the chamber via power from the turning wheel.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising retaining the fluid within the chamber in the housing prior to dispensing the fluid.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising permanently sealing the chamber against user access from outside of the chamber.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising installing and securing the housing in the elevated position without the use of tools.
11. A method of dispensing a fluid and diluent, the method comprising:
receiving a stream of free-flowing diluent falling from a diluent source toward and into a funnel of the housing;
passing the diluent along a diluent flow path in the housing;
turning a wheel with the diluent;
dispensing fluid from a chamber via power from the turning wheel;
mixing the dispensed fluid and the diluent in the flow path inside the housing; and
dispensing the mixed fluid and diluent from the housing.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising supporting the housing in an elevated position over a reservoir.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein supporting the housing comprises supporting the housing upon a wall of the reservoir.
14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising installing and securing the housing in an elevated position without the use of tools.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein turning the wheel includes turning the wheel within the housing.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein:
the stream is received through an inlet of the housing; and
mixing the dispensed fluid with the diluent occurs at least in part between the inlet and the wheel.
17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising pumping fluid from the chamber via power from the turning wheel.
18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising retaining the fluid within the chamber in the housing prior to dispensing the fluid.
19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising permanently sealing the chamber against user access from outside of the chamber.