US2556180A - Swivel intake for dispensing pumps - Google Patents

Description

June 12, 1951 A 91 3 7 Z9 9472 A'WM, ..-1 4

W. F. HAMILTON ETAL SWIVEL INTAKE `FOR DISPENSING PUMPS Filed Aug. 31, 1945 Patented `lune 12, 1951 UNITED STATES rATENT orifice SWIVEL INTAKE FOR DISPENSING PUMPS William F. Hamilton, Altadena, and Melvin F. 'Georgia Jr., Los Angeles, Calii., assignors to Frederick M. Turnbull, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application August 31, 1945, serial No. 613,790

'10 Claims. (Cl. Z22- 376) Oui` invention relates,y in general, to devices for removing fluids from containers and, more specifically, to a swivel intake device which is particularly adapted for employment in small containers and which is lrotatable by gravitational action in response to inclinations of the container from the vertical, whereby an intake port is always disposed substantially adjacent the lowermost peripheral portion of the base wall of the container. l

, Various gravity-responsive devices have been proposed for continuously submerging an intake ,port to remove the last increment of iluid from a container. However, none of these devices has been completely satisfactory, particularly when employed in small circular containers having an inside diameter of not greater than approximately three inches. The employment of a flexible intake tube has proven impractical for such small containers, because the intake tube is frequently too inflexible to bend to the desired extent when subjected to the action of the relatively small activating forces involved. Moreover, since the intake end of sucha flexible tube describes an arc when the container is inclined from the vertical, the intake end is disposed a substantial .distance from the base wall of the container when 'the container is in an inclined position, even though the intake end may be disposed substan- Vtially adjacent the base wall when the container is in an upright position. Various attempts ,to provide a swivel tube in such small containers have been made but have not been commercially successful for numerous reasons, among which is the relatively large f rictional force which must be overcome to permit rotation of the Swivel tube about the longitudinal axis of the container. The forces required to rotate the swivel tube have always been too large toinsure reliable operation of prior devices.

In view of the foregoing considerations, a primary object of our invention is the provision of a simple, practical, and reliable swivel intake device which is particularly adapted for employment in small containers having an internal diameter of less than approximately three inches. A related object is the provision of a swivel device wherein the frictional forces resisting rotation are reduced to such an extent that free rotation of the device relative to the container is always assured. Another related object is the provision of a swivel device wherein the rotational forces are always adequate to overcome the resistance offered by the frictional forces involved. The intake port of a swivel intake device constructed in accordance with these objects oi our invention may be designed to remain disposed substantially adjacent the lowermost peripheral portion of the base wall of the container during its movement to permit removal vof the last increment of uid therefrom.

We contemplate the provision of a swivel intake device including intakermeans having an intake port adapted to be disposed substantially adjacent the intersection of the base wall and Aperipheral wall of the container, the intake means being carried by bearing means and being rotatable relative thereto about a bearing axis which preferably substantially coincides with the longitudinal axis of the container. An object of our invention is the provision of intake means including a tubular longitudinal member and a tubular lateral member which cooperate to define a lluid passage communicating with the interior of the container through the intake port. A related object is the provision of a swivel device wherein the longitudinal member is journalled in a bearing member and is rotatable relative thereto about a bearing axis.

An important object oi' our invention is the provision of a bearing member having a bearing length which is substantially greater than the bearing diameter thereof to reduce the frictional forces tending to bind the longitudinal member of the intake means in the bearing member.

Another important object, as to the preferred embodiment, is to provide the lateral member of the intake means with a weight disposed substantially adjacentY the outer end thereof to increase the rotational forces acting `on the intake means, the weight beingdesigned to permit disposing the intake port at the outer end of the lateral member'substantially adjacent the intersection of the base wall and peripheral wall of the container.

Still another object, concerning one embodiment of the invention, is the provision of intake means including a weight having a center of gravity which is disposed above the central axis of the intake port and, in some instances, in a plane normal to and intersecting the bearing axis intermediate the ends of the bearing to reduce any tendency of the longitudinal member to bind in the bearing member. Another object is to provide a substantially U-shaped swivel intake means providing a portion journalled to move about the bearing axis.

Another object is to provide supporting means, usually a fluid-conducting means, for removably retaining the swivel intake device in the 3 container so that the bearing axis substantially coincides with the longitudinal axis of the container.

A further object of our invention is the provision of supporting means including pumping means for discharging uid from the container, the swivel intake device being carried bythe lower end of the structure comprising the pump ing means.

An additional important object is to provide a swivel intake device which is adapted for sealing engagement with the pumping structure or fluid-conducting means to prevent the entry oi' air when the sealing means is not submerged in the uid.

Still other objects of the invention reside in the provision of a swivel intake and bearing therefor formed of an inert or non-corrodable material, such as a thermosetting or thermoplastic resin, to avoid contamination of the fluid and insure a long-lived, free-acting journal for the 'swivel intake structure. The invention also contemplates that the journalling surfaces be formed of the same material or materials having vsubstantially the same thermal coemcient of expansion and substantially the same, if any, tendency to swell in the presence of fluids.

The `foregoing and various other objects and advantages of our invention may be realized by means of the vexemplary embodiments thereof described in detail hereinafter and shown in the 'accompanying drawing.

Referring to the drawing, which is intended as illustrative only;

Fig. l is a sectional view, considerably enlarged, villustrating an application of one embodiment of our invention to "a jetting device;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional View, taken as indicated by the -line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View illustrating another 'embodiment fof Vour invention;

`Fig. 4 is a Vsectional view, taken 'as indicated by 'the line `44 of Fig. 3; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are views illustrating the operation of our invention.

LReferring particularly to Fig. 1, our invention 'will be Vconsidered in connection with a jetting device In for convenience in effecting a disclo- A'sure thereof, it being understood, however, that we do not Vintend tobe limited to the particular application shown. The jetting device I0 is particularly adapted for employment as a nasal Inedic'ator -to discharge a jet of a vliquid medicament into the -upper part of the nasal cavity. VThe 'details of the jetting device I0 are more fully described in the copending application of Frederick M. Turnbull Yand William F. Hamilton,

Serial-No. 610,310, filed August 11, 1945., now Patent No. 2,434,875, issued yAugust 115, 1947.

The jetting device IU is removably disposed in a relatively small container II having an internal diameter of vapproiri'mately one inch, more or less, and is centrally retained therein b5 means of a removable cover I2 in threaded engagement with the fcon-tai'ner, the longitudinal axis of the jetting device lsubstantially coinciding with the Alongitudinal axis A-A of the container. Briefly, the jetting device Ill includes pumping means I3 for discharging and conveying fluid from the container II, :the pumping means comprising a 4pump barrel I4 having an intake valve assembly 'I6 therein. The pumping means I3 includes a reciprocable tubular actuating member 'I 'I providing a 'piston slidable in the pump barrel It and being urged upward by a 4 spring I8, the actuating member being guided by a retaining member I9. The actuating member I'I includes a head 2l having a valve assembly 22 therein and is provided with a discharge orifice 23. The orifice 23 is shown as being adapted for producing a needle-like jet of uid but may also be designed for producing a diverging stream or an atomized spray, if desired. In operation, the container II may be held in the palm of a users hand and the actuating member I'I may be reciprocated relative to the container by grasping the head 2l with the thumb and/or fingers of the hand to discharge a jet'of iiuid through the orifice 23, as more fully described in the aforesaid copending application.

Generally stated, the present invention includes a swivel intake device 25 which may be applied to the jetting device I0 and serves as an intake for the pumping means I3, fluid being conveyed from the container II through the swivel device, pump barrel I4, actuating member Il, and head 2'I. The swivel device 2-5 includes bearing means 23 and 'swivel'intake means v2'I, the bearing means being carried by the pump barrel I 4, which serves as supporting means therefor, as will be described in detail hereinafter.

The bear-ing means 26 provides a bearing axis B-B which preferably substantially coincides 'with the longitudinal kaxis A-A of the container Il, the intake means 21 being rotatable about the bearing axis by rotational, primarily gravitationaL forces in response to inclinations of the container relative to the vertical. The intake means 21 includes a llongitudinal tubular portion 'or member v28 and a lateral tubular portion or jmember 29 which cooperate to define a ud passage 3I 'having an intake port 32, the longitudinal member extending into the bearing vmeans 326 and being rotatable relative thereto about the bearing axis B-B. The intake port 32 is preferably located at the extreme outer end of the lateral member 29 to permitdisposing the intake fport substantially adjacent the intersection of the 'base Wall 33 and peripheral wall 34 of the container I I. A weight 35 may be carried by the vlateral member 2Q near vits outer end to increase 'the rotational `forces applied to the intake means 21 in response to -inclinations of the longitudi- -nal airis A-'-A"of the lcontainer II relative to the vertical, whereby the intake port 32 moves to remain disposed substantially adjacent the lowlermo'st peripheral portion of the base wall 33 of the container f'II when the device is inclined as #suggested in Figs. 5 and 6. The swivel device 25 Yis preferably provided with sealing means 36 for Yproviding a fluidtight seal between the intake means 121 and `the pump barrel I4 to prevent the entry of air -into the pumping means I3 when the Y'sealing means is not completely submerged in iiuid.

`WhenY employed as 1an 'intake for the yjetting device jIl), the swivel-device 2'5 is preferably carried'by'thepump'barrel I4 which serves as a supporting means therefor. AsV best'shown in Fig. 1r, the pump bar-rel I4 may be provided with a depending vfluid-conducting member 3l having a c'ounterbore '38 therein, vthe bearing means 26 being disposed in the 4counterbore and forming with the member 31 a fluid-conducting structure. 'The bearing Ameans 26 preferably comprises a journal bearing member 4i] which may be inserted in and frictionally retained or adhered in the counterbore 38, 'although it will be understood that the bearing member Ymay be secured tothe pumpba'rrell 4 by othermeans withdisplaced 'from the vertical.

but departing from the spirit of the invention. The bearing member 40 includes an annular ange 4I which abuts and may be adhered to thev end face 42 of the depending member 31 of the pump barrel I4 to limit the insertion of the bearing member into the counterbore 38, thereby providinga space between base wall 43 of the counterbore and end face 44 of the bearing member. The longitudinal tubular member 28 extends into and is rotatably journalled and, to some extent, slidably journalled in the bearing member 40, be ing retained therein by an annular ring 46 which is disposed in the space between the base wall 43 of the counterbore 38 and the end face 44 of the bearing member. The annular ring 46 may be adhered to, deformed from, or otherwise secured to the longitudinal member 28 and is adapted to engage the end face 44 of the bearing member 4D to retain the longitudinal member therein.

It should be noted that the bearing length of the bearing member 40, which is indicated by the dimension 41, is substantially greater than the bearing diameter thereof, as indicated by the dimension 48. This feature tends to. prevent binding of the longitudinal member 28 in the bearingy member 48, thereby reducing the frictional forces tending to resist swivelling of the intakemeans 21 .about the bearing axis B-B.

In this embodiment, the longitudinal and lateral tubular members 23 and 29 are formed integrally and are provided with axial bores 50 and I therein, respectively, which communicate with each other to define the fiuid passage 3|, the intake port 32 being defined by the extreme outer end of the bore 5I. The weight 35 is preferably secured to the lateral member 29 substantially adjacent the intake port 32 at the extreme outer .end thereof so that rgravitational forces acting on the weight when the container is inclined will increase the rotational force acting on the n- -take means 21 to overcome frictional forces re- ;sisting rotation thereof.

The weight 35 is provided with a hole 52 there in which receives the lateral member 29, the weight being adhered to the lateral member in vthe particular construction shown. As best vproviding a face 53 which conforms to the shape of, and moves closely adjacent, the base wall 33 of the container II, thereby permitting the lateral member 29 to be disposed only a short dis-- ytancefrom the base wall. This construction permits removal of substantially the last increment of fluid from the container II since the weight '35 insures that the intake port 32 is always disposed substantially adjacent the lowermost peripheral portion of the base wall 33 of the con-- tailler;

Such aconstruction provides one embodiment of a substantially U-shaped intake structure and permits the center of gravity of the weight 35 to be disposed above the axis of the lateral member 29, ythese being constructional features which have been found desirable in insuring the desired free swinging and absence of binding of the lswivel intake means 21 when the axis A-A is In fact, it is within the contemplation of the invention to extend the weight 35 upwardly a further distance, vn until its center of gravity lies horizontally opposite some portion of the bearing 26, Yas suggested in the embodiment of Fig. 3.

Whenever the swivel device 25 is used in conjunction with a pumping structure or any other fluid-conducting member or structure in which a temporary or prolonged pressure difference may exist between the interior and exteriorV thereof, it is very desirable to employ the sealing means 35 to prevent leakage of air should the container be nearly empty or inverted to such extent as to expose the journalling junction of the bearing 26 and longitudinal member 28 to the air present in the container when only partially lled with fluid. The preferred sealing means includes mating and relatively rotatable sealing sur-faces, respectively on or secured to the fluid-conducting member 31 and the swivel intake means 21 and preferably extending outward with respect to the axis A-A. The sealing means should not exert large frictional forces on the swivel intake means 21 but should permit it to swing freely under the action of the rotational 'forces present While still maintaining an effective seal.

The preferred sealing means 38 includes an annular sealing ring 55 which may be adhered to, formed integrally with, or otherwise secured to the longitudinal m-ember 28, the aforesaid sealing surfaces comprising a radially diposed surface 55 of the annular ring 55, which surface is adapted for sealing engagement with a radially disposed end surface 51 of the bearing member 48 when these surfaces are brought together,` as when the container I I is inclined more than approximately to prevent the entry ofifair into the pumping means I3. The longitudinal member 28 is slidable to a small extent in the'bearing member 4@ along the bearing axis B-B to permit displacement of the sealing surface 56 -into close proximity to or engagement with the#` sealing surface 51. The bearing diameter 48 of the bearing member 43 is slightly larger than the' diameter of the longitudinal member 28 to provide clearance therebetween of the approximate order of magnitude of 0.003 inches, for example, thus permitting the free swinging of the swivel-intake means and a small amount of free longitudinal movement thereof, as above described.

It should be noted that the annular sealing ring 55 may be permanently disposed so close to the bearing flange 4I that the sealing surfaces 56 and 51 are continuously in sealing engagement with each other regardless of the inclination of the container II, the term sealing engagement comprehending actual surface engagement or separation of the surfaces 56 and 51 by a thin film of the fluid which acts as a lubricant. However, this construction results in increased friction which may be undesirable for some applications, and the longitudinally slidable arrange,- ment, mentioned in the preceding paragraph, is preferred, particularly in systems in which the pressure inside the pump or fluid-conducting mem-ber is or becomes less than the external pressure as the pressure differential will tend to move the sealing surfaces into engagement to better the sealing action when most needed and as this arrangement forms, in effect, a sealing means actuated in part by pressure diierentials thereacross. v It should also be noted, however, that, by eliminating the annular sealing ring 55, the desired sealing engagement between the intake means 21 and the pump barrel Hlm-ay be obtained by the engagement of the end surface 58 7 bf the retaining ring 45 with the base wall 43 of the 'counterbore 38. This construction is also embraced by our invention.

When the container I I is tipped as indicated in Fig. 5, the swivel device permits removal of substantially all of the fluid from the container by the jetting device I0, the intake port 32 being below the level 59 of the fluid therein even though only a small amount of fluid remains in the container. Also, the sealing action described above prevents entry of air into the pumping structure.

Also, if the container II is only partially filled and is employed in a partially inverted position .as shown in Fig. 6, the intake port 32 remains below the level S3 of the fluid therein to permit normal intake of fluid. Also, the sealing means 3E prevents the entry of air into the pumping means I3 when the container II is partially inverted as shown in Fig. 6, thereby permitting normal operation of the pumping means.

The iiuid in the container II provides a seal between the intake means 21 and the pump barrel I4 until the fluid level recedes to expose the innermost end of the pump barrel to the air in the container. Any large amount of air drawn into the pumping means I3 may adversely affect the operation thereof to a certain extent, and it is desirable to prevent this entry of air when the iiuid recedes to the levels indicated at 59 and 33 in Figs. 5 and 6 or when the container is upright but practically empty. In this connec tion, sealing means of the types described above have been found to be very effective. It should be understood, however, that the journalling surfaces of the longitudinal member 28 and the bearing member provide a partial seal which is sufficient for many uses of the swivel device 25, particularly as these journalling surfaces are separated by a minute film of the fluid, and the added friction incurred by sealing engagement of the sealing surfaces 56 and 51, even though small, may sometimes be eliminated.

In practice, it is very desirable that the container itself and all elements within the container be formed of a material non-reactive with the fluid to prevent contamination of the uid, corrosion of the bearing or sealing surfaces, and to prevent the presence of reaction products which might interfere with the free swinging of the swivel intake means 21 or the desired sealing action. Thus, it is desirable to employ inert or non-corrodable materials in this connection, preferably a thermosetting or thermoplastic resin. Further, it is usually desirable that the .bearing 26 and the longitudinal member 23 be l formed of the same material or of materials having substantially the same thermal coefficient of expansion and substantially the same, if any, tendency to swell in the presence of the fluid, thereby aiding in preventing any tendency to bind or interfere with the free swinging of the swivel intake means 21. A preferred material for the bearing 26 and longitudinal member 28 'is polyvinyl chloride-acetate but other mateg the Weight 35 be also formed of a plastic mate; rial of the aforesaid type, even though the density of such plastic material is not as high as most metals. In practice, we find that no large mass of plastic material is needed in the weight 35 to insure the aforesaid swinging action, particularly in view of the bearing design employed, and it is possible in some instances to dispense with the Weight 35 and rely upon the mass of lateral member 29 to swing the swivel intake means 21 about the bearing axis B-B, particu-l larly if the walls of the lateral member are relatively thick or if it is made of a material of relatively greater density.

In assembling the device hereinbefore described, the bearing member 40 is disposed around the longitudinal member 28 and retained between the rings 46 and 55 before the swivel device is attached to the pumping structure. The bearing is then pressed into or adhered Within the :duid-conducting member 31, the flange 4I insuring proper positioning. The entire assembly is then inclined with respect to the axis of the container and slipped thereinto, be:

ing retained in proper central position by tightening the cover l2. A film of the uid in the container acts as a lubricant for the journalling surfaces and is also present between the sealing surfaces to reduce friction and facilitate the desired sealing action.

The embodiment of our invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4 includes a swivel device 10 which is similar to the swivel device 25. The device 10 includes bearing means 1I having intake means 12 rotatably mounted therein, the intake means including a longitudinal tubular member 13 and lateral tubular member 14 which cooperate to define a fluid passage 15 having an intake port 11. The lateral member 14 is provided with a weight 18 and cooperates with the bearing means 1l to define sealing means 19 for providing a substantially fluid-tight seal between the intake means 12 and the pump barrel I4.

The bearing means 1I includes a bearing member 8| which provides a bearingaxis E-E that substantially coincides with the longitudinal axis A--A of the container Il. The bearing member 8! is adhered in or frictionally retained in the counterbore 38 of the fluid-conducting member 31 depending from the pump barrel I4, as before,`and an annular flange 82, integral with the bearing member 8|, limits insertion thereof into the counter-bore. The bearing length 83 of the bearing member 8| is preferably substantially greater than the bearing diameter 84. thereof to prevent binding, as previously discussed in connection with the description of the swivel device 25.

The tubular longitudinal member 13 is journalled in the bearing member l8| and either it or the gearing member is provided with Va shallow annular groove 36 to define a pair of spaced bearing surfaces `81 located adjacent opposite ends `of the bearing axis E-E- The smaller, spaced bearing surfaces 81 tend to reduce friction between the longitudinal member 13 and the bearing member v8l and, if desired, can be incorporated in the embodiment of Fig. l. The longitudinal member 13 is retained in the bearing member 8l by an annular ring or flange y88 which is formed integrally with the longitudinal member, or which is deformed therefrom `after the bearing member 8| surrounds the longitudinal tubular member 13, or which is suitably adhered to the longitudinal member. This ange 88 provides a surface engageable with an end face 89 of the bearing member 8|.

The longitudinal member 13 is shown as extending into an opening 9| in the upper wall of the'lateral. member 14 and is suitably secured thereto after the bearing member `8| is in place around the longitudinal member 13, this vconstruction permitting the ange 88 'to be molded integrally with the longitudinal member. Alternatively, however, it should be clear that the longitudinal and lateral members 13 and 14 may be integrally formed, in which case the ring or -flange 88 is deformed from the longitudinal member or adhered thereto after the bearing member ylil is in position. The longitudinal and lateral members 13 and 14 are provided -with intersecting axial bores or passages 92 and 93 therein, respectively, which cooperate to dene the fluid passage 15, the inner end of the passage 93 in the lateral member` being sealed with a plug 94 or being otherwise closed.

In this embodiment, the weight 18 is formed integrally with the lateral member. 14, the configuration of the weight being adapted to permit locating the intake port 11 substantially adjacent the intersection of the base wall 33 and peripheral wall 34 of the container Il. The center of gravity of the weight 18 is shown as being opposite the bearing member 8|, being disposed in a plane normal to and interconnecting the bearing 'axis E-E, the length of the bearing axis being vconsidered equal to the bearing length 83. This construction is sometimes desirable as tending to reduce 4binding of the longitudinal member 13 in the bearing member 8|, as previously described.

The lateral member 14 in this embodiment is provided with a flat sealing vsurface 91 thereon which extends outward from the axis A-A and engages a similar end surface 98 of the bearing member I8| to define the sealing means 19. The surfaces 91 and 98 may, if desired, be continuously in such close proximity as to provide a continuous seal between the intake means 12 and the pump barrel I 4, thereby preventing the entry of air into the pumping means I3 for any position of the container Il'.V Although this construction increases somewhat the friction resisting rotation of the intake means 12, the mass of the weight 1.8 may be made adequ-ate to provide sufficiently large rotational forces to overcome such friction. Usually, however, a small amount of longitudinal play is provided, as in the previous embodiment, the surfaces 91 and 98 being brought into sealing relationship by tipping the container or by pressure differentials inside and outsidel the fluid-conducting member 31.

The swivel devices and 10 provide a simple and reliable means for removing fluid from the container l I. The concept of relatively journalling the swivel intake means 21 or 12 and the bearing lmembers 48 or 8l when these bearing members have a bearing length that is substantially greater than the bearing diameter thereof minimizes binding and thereby materially reduces the frictional forces tending to resist swivelling of the intake means. The provision of weighted intake means 21 and 12 increases the rotational forces available for rotating the intake means and insures free swivelling thereof for any inclination of the container Il even if the inclination of the container from the vertical is small. The centers of gravity of the weights and 18, respectively, may be suitably located relative to the bearingaxes B-B or E-E to prevent binding and further to reduce friction. Thus, the center of gravity of the weights 35 or 18, or the mean centers of gravity of the weights 35 or 18 and their associated intake means 21 or 12, may be located in planes normal to and intersecting the bearing axes B-B or E-E. The centers of gravity may be located in planes normal to and bisecting the bearing axes forA various applications of our invention, if desired.

Our invention is particularly adapted for em,- ployment in small containers such as are used for medicaments, perfumes, etc., containers of this nature frequently being less than three inches in diameter. The effectiveness and reliability of our invention have been demonstrated satisfactorily when applied to containers having an inside diameter of only one inch or less.

While we have particularly illustrated embodiments in which the longitudinal member of the swivel intake means extends within and is journalled within the depending fluid-conducting member 31, it should be apparent that this construction -may be reversed without departing from the spirit of the invention. Also, the construction of the sealing means 3-5 or 19 may be modified to use only the end surfaces of the rings 46 or 8-8 to move in sealing relationship with the end surface of the bearing member and the end surface of the counterbore 38. So, also, such surfaces need not be strictly radial and the term outwardly-extending surf-aces is not limited thereto. Further, other types of sealing means can be used which increase their sealing action when the pressure differential is present.`

Thus, although we have described several embodiments of our invention and have suggested possible applications thereof, we do not intend to be limited to the specific disclosures contained herein since the fundamental concepts of our invention are susceptible to various other applications, and various changes, modifications, and substitutions may be incorporated in the embodiments disclosed withoutl departing from the spirit of the invention. We reserve the right, therefore, to all such applications and all such changes, modifications, and substitutions as properly come within the scope of our appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

l. In a device for removing fluid from a container, said container providing a longitudinal axis and including a base wall and a peripheral wall, the combination of: a fluid-conducting member and means for mounting same in said a container substantially coaxially with respect to said longitudinal axis; a swivel intake means including a longitudinal tubular member and a lateral tubular member interiorly communicating with and extending outwardly from said longitudinal tubular member, said lateral tubular member providing an intake port at its outerend; means for journalling said longitudinal tubular member relative to said fluid-conducting member for free rotation about said longitudinal axis and for limited longitudinal movement therebetween along said longitudinal axis, said means including a pair of movable shoulders rotatable with said longitudinal tubular member and providing movable surfaces spaced from each other along said longitudinal axis and a pair of stationary shoulders fixed relative to said fluid-conducting member and providing stationary surfaces, one pair of said stationary and movable surfaces coming into engagement upon inward movement of said longitudinal tubular member relative to said Huid-conducting member and the other pair of said movable stationary surfaces coming into engagement upon outward movement of said longitudinal tubular member relative to said iiuidconducting member, said mounting means retaining said intaken port disposed adjacent the intersection of said peripheral wall and said base wall whereby said lateral tubular member swings freely about said longitudinal axis in response to inclinations of said longitudinal axis from the vertical so that intake port moves to a position adjacent the lowermost peripheral portion of said base wall of said container upon said inclination and means for periodically increasing and decreasing the pressure in said fluid-conducting member' in suiiicient degree to move said swivel intake means bodily in a direction along said axis to alternately bring said pairs of surfaces into engagement.

2. In a swivel device for removing fluid from a container providing a longitudinal axis and including a base wall and a peripheral wall, the combination of: a fluid-conducting member; means for mounting said fluid-conducting member in said container substantially coaxially with said longitudinal axis; a bearing carried by said fluid-conducting member; a swivel intake means including a longitudinal tubular member journalled with respect to said bearing and a lateral tubular member interiorly communicating with and extending outwardly from said longitudinal tubular member, said lateral tubular member providing an intake port at its outer end; and weight means extending upward from said lateral tubular member to aid in swinging said swivel intake means when said longitudinal axis is inclined from the vertical to maintain said intake port at a position adjacent the lovfermost peripheral portion of said base wall, the center of gravity of said weight means being in a plane transverse to said longitudinal axis and positioned between the ends of said bearing, the length of said bearing measured parallel to said longitudinal axis being substantially greater than the diameter of its journalling surface.

3. A device for dispensing small accuratelymetered amounts of a liquid medicament from a small container providing a longitudinal axis and having a base wall intersected by said axis and a peripheral wall concentric with said axis, the diameter of said peripheral wall being in the neighborhood of one inch, which device includes: a pumping means for discharging accuratelymetered volumes of said medicament from said container, said pumping means being formed enl tirely of a resinous plastic material inert to said medicament, said pumping means providing a depending iluid-conducting member at its lower end through which said medicament is drawn into said pumping means, said pumping means periodically reducing the pressure in said fluidconducting member below the pressure on the medicament in the container to move an increment of medicament into the pumping means, said fluid-conducting member being concentric with said longitudinal axis; a bearing member carried by the lower end of said huid-conducting member and providing a journalling surface formed of a resinous plastic material, one of said members providing a stationary outwardly-extending sealing surface; a swivel intake means including a longitudinal tubular member and a lateral tubular member interiorly communicating therewith and extending outwardly therefrom to provide a passage means communicating with the interior of said fluid-conducting member, said longitudinal tubular member telescoping with said bearing. member and being journalled thereby for relative rotation and limited longitudinal movement along said longitudinal axis, said longitudinal tubular member being formed of a resinous plastic material and providing an outwardly-extending sealing surface disposed adjacent said stationary sealing surface and adapted to` move into sealing relationship therewith upon reduction in pressure in said duid-conducting member to impede entry of air into said fluid-conducting member when the medicament level in said container exposes said surfaces to the air within said container, the length of said bearing member measured parallel to said longitudinal axis being substantially greater than the diameter of said journalling surface; and weight means adjacent the outer portion ofv said lateral tubular member to aid in swinging said swivel intake means when said longitudinal axis is inclined from the vertical.

4. In a device for removing liquid from a container, said container providing a base wall and a peripheral wall, the combination of 2 a iiuidconducting structure providing a longitudinal axis and a bearing surface concentric therewith; means for mounting said fluid-conducting structure to extend in said container with said longitudinal axis substantially at right angles to said base wall; a swivel intake means including a longitudinal tubular member and a lateral tubular member secured to and interiorly communicating with and extending angularly outwardly from said longitudinal tubular member to form a substantially L-shaped passage means communicating between the interior of said iiuidconducting structure and a zone adjacent the junction of said base and peripheral walls', said longitudinal tubular member providing a bearing surface freely journalled relatively to said bearing surface of said fluid-conducting structurey to rotate freely relatively thereto and to move freely in a direction parallel to said axis in response to pressure differentials between the inside and outside of said fluid-conducting structure; means for periodically establishing pressure differentials between the inside and outside of said fluid-conducting structure to establish periodic flows of liquid through said passage means and to periodically move said longitudinal tubular member parallel to said axis in step with such pressure differentials; and sealing means responsive to such movement of said longitudinal tubular member relative to said fluid-conducting structure parallel to said axis for periodically forming a seal therebetween in step with the appearance of said pressure differentials to impede flow of air through said sealing means when the liquid level in said container is below said sealing means.

5. In a device for removing liquid from a container, said container providing a base wall and a peripheral wall, the combination of a uidconducting structure providing a longitudinal axis and a bearing surface concentric therewith; means for mounting said duid-conducting structure to extend in said container with said longitudinal axis substantially at right angles to said base wall; a swivel intake means including a longitudinal tubular member and a lateral tubular member secured to and interiorly communicating with and extending angularly outwardly from said longitudinal tubular member to form a substantially L-shaped passage means communicating between the interior of said ui'd- 13 conducting structure and a zone adjacent the junction of said base and peripheral walls, said longitudinal tubular member providing a lbearing surface freely journalled relative to said bearing surface of said fluid-conducting structure to rotate freely relative thereto and to Vmove freely in a direction parallel to said axis in response to pressure dierentials between the inside and outside of said fluid-conducting structure; means for periodically establishing pressure differentials between the inside and outside of said fluid-conducting structure to establish periodic flows of liquid through said passage means and to periodically move said longitudinally tubular member parallel to said axis in step with such pressure differentials; and a pressure-Operated sealing means actuated by said pressure differentials and by said movement of said longitudinal member relative to said fluid-conducting structure parallel to said axis for .periodically effecting a seal therebetween to impede entry of air from said container through said sealing means when the liquid level in said container is below said sealing means, said sealing means including a stationary smooth fiat surface carried by said fluid-conducting structure and a movable smooth flat surface turning and moving longitudinally with said longitudinal tubular member, said surfaces periodically moving together in sealing relationship upon occurrence of and in step with said pressure differentials and the resulting movement of said longitudinal tubular member relative to said fluid-conducting structure parallel to said axis.

' 6. In a'device for removing liquid from a container, said container providing' a base wall and a' peripheral wall, the combination of a fiuidconducting member and means for mounting same to extend in said container along the central axis thereof; a bearing member retained by i said fluid-conducting member and providing a bearing surface concentric with said axis, said bearing member providing end surfaces spaced from each other along said axis; a swivel intake means including a longitudinal tubular member and a lateral tubular member secured to and interiorly communicating with and extending angularly outwardly from said longitudinal tubular member vto form a substantially L-shaped passage means communicating between the in- :i

terior of said duid-conducting member and a zone adjacent the junction of said base and peripheral walls, said longitudinal tubular member providing a bearing surface freely journalled relative to said bearing surface of said bearing member for free relative rotational movement about said axis and for free relative longitudinal movement along said axis, said bearing surface of said longitudinal tubular member extending beyond said end surfaces of said bearing member; a pair of shoulders carried by said longitudinal tubular member at positions respectively beyond said end surfaces of said bearing member, said shoulders providing surfaces spaced from each other a distance slightly greater than the axial spacing of said end surfaces of said bearing member to move alternately into engagement with said end surfaces upon longitudinal movement of said longitudinal tubular member along said axis, one of said end surfaces and its corresponding shoulder surface being smooth surfaces extending outwardly relative to said axis to provide a sealing means for impeding flow of air therethrough when such surfaces are moved toward each other and into sealing relationship; and

means for periodically establishing pressure differentials between the inside of said fluid-conducting member and the Zone withinv said container exterior of said fluid-conducting member to establish periodic ows of liquid through said passage means and to effect said relative longitudinal movement between said longitudinal tubular member and vsaid fluid-'conducting member to bring said sealingl surfaces periodically into sealing engagement and prevent flow of air through said sealing means when a low liquid level in said container exposes said sealing means to the air within the container.

',Y. In a device for removing liquid from acontainer, said container providing a base wall and a peripheral wall, the combination of a fluidconducting member and means for mounting same to extend along the central axis of said container at a position therewithin, said fluidi l conducting member providing anopen lower end; a separately-assembled swivel intake unit in'- cluding a bearing member of a size to be received and retained by said lower end of said fluidconducting member and a swivel intake means, said bearing member including a bearing surface and two end surfaces, said swivel intake means including a longitudinal tubular member journalled by said bearing surface for free rotation about said axisand for free longitudinal movement relative to said bearing along said axis, said longitudinal tubular member providing shoulfers spaced beyond said end surfaces of said bearing member and alternately engageable therewith to limit the degree of movement of said longitudinal tubular member along said axis, the lowermost of said shoulders providing a smooth sealing surface and the adjacent end surface of said bearing member providing a mating smooth sealing surface, said sealing surfaces moving into sealing engagement with each other upon upward movement of said longitudinal tubular member along said axis, said swivel intake means including also a lateral tubular member secured to and interiorly communicating with and extending outwardly from said longitudinal tubular member to provide an essentially L-shaped passage means communicating between the interior of said fluid-conducting member and a position adjacent the junction of said base wall and said peripheral wall; and means for periodically establishing a pressure differential between the interior of said fluid-conducting member and the space exterior thereof but within said container to periodically establish an interior pressure lower than such exterior pressure to draw liquid through said passage means and lift said swivel intake means to bring said sealing surfaces into sealing relationship and thereby prevent the movement of air between said sealing surfaces and into said huid-conducting member if the liquid level in said container is sufliciently low to expose said sealing surfaces to the air in said container.

8.Y A device as defined in claim 4 in which said bearing surface is formed by a bearing carried by said fluid-conducting structure, and in which said sealing means comprises a sealing surface on said bearing and a sealing surface on said swivel intake means, said surfaces periodically moving into sealing engagement with each other in step with the movement of said longitudinal tubular member relative to said fluid-conducting structure parallel to said axis.

9. In a swivel device for attachment to the open lower end of a duid-conducting member subject to changes in pressure as between the interior and exterior thereof, said swivel device including: a sleeve bearing member of a size to telescope with said open lower end of said fluidconducting member, the upper end of said sleeve bearing member providing a first sealing surface; a longitudinal tubular member movable upwardly into telescoping relationship with said sleeve bearing member and freely journalled by such bearing member to rotate and move longitudinally relative to such bearing member; means for limiting the degee of such longitudinal movement, said means including a ange disposed on said longitudinal tubular member at a position above said sealing surface and after said bearing member and said longitudinal member have been assembled in said telescoping relationship, said flange providing a second sealing surface substantially parallel to and movable into sealing engagement with said first sealing surface upon any downward movement of said longitudinal tubular member, said sealing surfaces moving into and out of engagement in response to said changes in pressure; and a lateral tubular member extending laterally from and in fixed angular relationship with said lower end of said longitudinal tubular member, saidv longitudinal and lateral tubular members providing a passage means for delivery of fluid to said fluid-conducting member.

10. In a swivel device for attachment to the open lower end of a uid-conducting member subject tochanges in pressure as between the interior and exterior thereof, said open lower endproviding a chamber bounded at its upper end by a shoulder, said swivel device including: a sleeve bearing member of a size to t snugly iny said chamber and providing an upper sealing 16 surface disposed a distance below said shoulder of said duid-conducting member to provide an annu-lar space therebetween; alongitudinal tubular member freely journalled by said sleeve bearing member to rotate within such bearing member and to move longitudinally relative to such bearing member in response to said changes inpressure, said longitudinal tubular member providing a ange extending in said annular space, said ange providing an upper sealing surface movable into and from sealing Contact with said shoulder of said uid-conducting member, said flange providing a lower sealing surface movable into and from sealing contact with said sealing surface of said sleeve bearingA member; and a lateral tubular member extending laterally from the lower end of said longitudinal tubular member, said longitudinal and lateral tubular members providing a passage means through which fluid is conducted to said iiuid-conducting member.

WILLIAM F. HAMILTON. MELVIN F. GEORGE', Jn.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent: v

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 56,004 Capewell July 3, 1866 152,332 Chamberlain June 23, 1874 1,735,784 Olson Nov. 12, 1929 1,830,295 Scott Nov. 3, 1931 1,915,343 Williams June 27, 1933 2,132,035 Leifold Oct. 4, 1938 2,219,178 Eagle Oct. 22, 1940

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