Dispensing apparatus for a fluid

Abstract

A dispensing apparatus is proposed for a fluid having a supply tank ( 2 ) for the fluid which has an outlet ( 4 ) which can be connected to a pressure line ( 5 ) for the fluid (F), and having a rotary pump ( 3 ) which has a rotor ( 31 ) for conveying the fluid (F) into the pressure line, with the rotor ( 31 ) for the mixing of the fluid being arranged directly in the outlet ( 4 ) of the supply tank ( 2 ).

1 - 15 . (canceled)  
   
   
       16 : A dispensing apparatus for a fluid comprising a supply tank for the fluid having an outlet, a pressure line between the outlet and an inlet into the tank, a rotor disposed in the outlet in a space fluidly connected with the pressure line for causing a flow of pressurized fluid through the pressure line towards the inlet of the tank and for simultaneously mixing fluid in the tank, and an electric drive for rotating the rotor comprising a stator arranged about a portion of the rotor which magnetically journals the rotor in a contact-free manner relative to the stator and causes rotation of the rotor when electric current is applied to the stator.  
   
   
       17 : A method of dispensing a fluid from a tank having an inlet and an outlet comprising placing a rotor in the outlet, surrounding a portion of the rotor with a stator, magnetically journaling the rotor in the stator in a contact-free manner, electrically energizing the stator to thereby rotate the rotor while the rotor is journaled in a contact-free manner, and using the rotor to induce a flow of pressurized fluid from the outlet to the inlet of the tank.  
   
   
       18 : A method of dispensing a fluid from a tank having an inlet and an outlet comprising providing an electric motor having a rotor and a stator surrounding the rotor, placing the rotor in the outlet, magnetically journaling the rotor in the stator, energizing the motor to rotate the rotor while it is magnetically journaled in the stator, and with the rotating rotor inducing a pressurized fluid flow from the outlet to the inlet of the tank.  
   
   
       19 : A method according to  claim 18  including mixing the fluid in the tank with the rotor.  
   
   
       20 : A method for regulating the pressure in a fluid conduit between an outlet and an inlet of a tank holding a fluid comprising providing an electrically driven pump including a rotor and a stator surrounding a portion of the rotor, magnetically positioning and journaling the rotor in the stator in a contact-free manner, placing the rotor in the outlet in a space fluidly connected to the conduit, energizing the stator to rotate the rotor at a sufficiently low speed at which a pressure in the fluid flowing into the conduit is approximately proportional to the square of the speed of the rotor, establishing a relationship between the speed of the rotor and the pressure of the fluid in the pressure conduit over a range of rotor speeds at which the fluid pressure on a discharge side of the rotor is approximately proportional to the square of the rotor speed, operating the pump to transfer fluid from the outlet to the inlet, and setting a desired pressure for the fluid flowing in the conduit by rotating the rotor at a speed at which the fluid pressure is at the desired pressure.  
   
   
       21 : A method for determining a physical property of a fluid in a tank having an outlet and an inlet and a conduit connecting the outlet and the inlet comprising providing an electrically driven pump having a rotor and a stator, the rotor being magnetically supported and journaled relative to the stator in a contact-free manner, placing the rotor in the outlet so that the rotor induces a pressurized fluid flow through the conduit from the outlet to the inlet when the rotor rotates, electrically energizing the motor to rotate the rotor at a low speed at which a pressure of the fluid in the conduit is approximately proportional to the square of the speed of the rotor, measuring a torque generated by the motor to rotate the rotor, and from the measured torque determining the physical property of the fluid.  
   
   
       22 : A method according to  claim 21  wherein measuring the torque comprises measuring an electric current consumed by the motor.  
   
   
       23 : A method according to  claim 21  wherein the physical property comprises a viscosity of the fluid.  
   
   
       24 : A method according to  claim 21  wherein the physical property comprises a density of the fluid.  
   
   
       25 : A method according to  claim 21  wherein the fluid comprises a plurality of fluid components, and wherein the physical property is a mixing ratio of the plurality of fluids in the tank.  
   
   
       26 : A method according to  claim 21  including maintaining a constant fluid level in the tank during measuring the torque.  
   
   
       27 : A method according to  claim 26  including mixing the fluid in the tank with the rotor to maintain a substantially homogeneous fluid mixture in the tank.