Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of metering and dispensing fluids which comprises progressing at a substantially constant rate a column of the fluid through a tube, injecting at timed intervals successive portions of gas seriatim into successive portions of said column of fluid to form bubbles spaced along the length of said columm so that fluid flows from an outlet opening of the tube as separated portions of uniform magnitude determined by said rate and said intervals.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of metering and dispensing fluids which comprises progressing at a substantially constant rate a column of the fluid through a tube, injecting at timed intervals successive portions of gas seriatim into successive portions of said column of fluid to form bubbles spaced along the length of said columm so that fluid flows from an outlet opening of the tube as separated portions of uniform magnitude determined by said rate and said intervals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method of metering and dispensing fluids as defined in claim 1 in which said bubbles emerging from said outlet opening urge said portions of fluid away from said outlet openings and said portions are collected in a medium for preserving the separateness of said portions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method of metering and dispensing fluids as defined in claim 2 in which said portions of gas are injected centrally of said column and in volume and at a pressure to extend substantially symmetrically outward toward the walls of said tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method of metering and dispensing fluids according to claim 3 wherein the conserving medium is a single portion container.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
97 words
A method of metering and dispensing fluids according to claim 4 wherein the fluid is a paste and in which said container has an open end and a closed end, said container is drawn over said tube with the outlet opening of said tube adjacent the closed end of said container, said fluid paste is forced into said container and pushes said closed end down, said gas-bubbles are spaced to form fluid paste portions having the volume desired in said container, and said bubbles emerging from said outlet opening urging filled containers away from said outlet opening.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method of metering and dispensing fluids according to claim 1 wherein the fluid is a melted thermoplastic substance, and the gas is injected in heated state.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method of metering and dispensing fluids according to claim 6 wherein the fluid is a melted pressure sensitive hot melt adhesive.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method of metering and dispensing fluids according to claim 1 wherein the tube is vertically disposed and the fluid is progressed downwardly through the tube by means of a pump, the output of which can be varied to vary the rate of flow of the fluid through the tube.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method of metering and dispensing fluids according to claim 1 wherein the gas-bubbles are supplied from a dosing device capable of delivering gas-bubbles at a desired pressure and volume, and at a selected frequency.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
97 words
A device for metering and dispensing fluids comprising a tube through which a fluid is progressed, an outlet at the end of the tube through which the fluid may be dispensed, means for progressing a column of fluid through the tube to establish a substantially constant rate of flow to the outlet and means for injecting at timed intervals successive portions of gas into the tube to form bubbles spaced along the length of said column to separate the fluid dispensed from the outlet of the tube into metered portions determined by said rate and said intervals.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
97 words
A device for metering and dispensing fluids comprising a tube through which a fluid is progressed, an outlet at the end of the tube through which the fluid may be dispensed, means for progressing a column of fluid through the tube to establish a substantially constant rate of flow to the outlet and means for injecting at timed intervals successive portions of gas into the tube to form bubbles spaced along the length of said column to separate the fluid dispensed from the outlet of the tube into metered portions determined by said rate and said intervals.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device for metering and dispensing fluids according to claim 10 comprising means for selectively controlling the frequency of injection of the gas to control the spacing of said bubbles.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device for metering and dispensing fluids according to claim 11 comprising means for selectively controlling the volume and pressure of injection of the gas to form bubbles extending substantially to fill a cross section of said tube.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device for metering and dispensing fluids according to claim 12 comprising an injector nozzle located coaxially within the tube, through which the gas-bubbles are injected.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device for metering and dispensing fluids according to claim 13 wherein the outlet to the tube comprises a nozzle portion of reduced bore as compared with the bore of the tube.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device for metering and dispensing fluids according to claim 14 wherein the outlet to the tube is formed with a sharp inner edge arranged at right angles to the tube axis.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device for metering and dispensing fluids according to claim 13 comprising at least one group of annularly arranged nozzles disposed coaxially around the tube-outlet, for the feed of gas obliquely downwards into the path of metered portions of fluid passing from the tube-outlet.