It is known to provide an apparatus having a chamber in which a constant level of fluid is maintained, such that the chamber may be emptied, from time to time, to provide a supply of fluid.

One example of such an apparatus is a conventional water closet (WC) apparatus, wherein a pre-determined level of water is maintained in a cistern by supplying water to the cistern via a float valve, which replenishes the water in the cistern each time the cistern is emptied to flush a toilet bowl or urinal.

However, the float valve of a conventional WC apparatus will begin to discharge water into the cistern whilst the cistern is being emptied, so that the overall volume of water dispensed from the cistern during a flushing cycle will be determined by the relative rates of flow of water into and out of the cistern during the flushing cycle.

In order to effectively flush the interior of a bowl or urinal, the cistern of a WC is invariably emptied very quickly.

Thus, the effect of water flowing into the cistern via the float valve during the flushing period will be minimal and a similar volume of water will be dispensed each time the apparatus is operated.

However, it will be appreciated that were the same apparatus to be used to dispense water at a low or variable rate of flow, for example at a rate suitable for filling a bucket or watering can, the effect of water flowing into the emptying cistern would have a far more significant effect on the overall volume of water discharged, such that a different volume of water might be dispensed each time the apparatus is operated.

I have now devised an arrangement which overcomes the

limitations of existing apparatus for accumulating and subsequently dispensing a volume of fluid.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an apparatus comprising adjacent first and second chambers which communicate via a connecting aperture at their interface, and means for supplying the first chamber with fluid to a pre-determined level, the second chamber being rotatable about a horizontal axis: from a first position, wherein the connecting aperture is lowered below said pre-determined level, to fill the second chamber to said pre-determined level, and wherein an outlet aperture in the wall of the second chamber is raised above said pre-determined level; to a second position, wherein the connecting aperture is raised above said pre-determined level, to isolate the fluid in the second chamber from the fluid in the first chamber, and wherein the outlet aperture of the second chamber is lowered below the level of the fluid therein, to discharge fluid from the second chamber; via an intermediate position, wherein the connecting aperture is raised above said pre-determined level and the outlet aperture of the second chamber is raised above the level of the fluid therein, to prevent fluid from flowing directly between the connecting aperture and the outlet aperture of the second chamber.

The apparatus may thus be used as a convenient means for accumulating and subsequently dispensing an accurate volume of fluid, wherein the volume of fluid dispensed is substantially unaffected by variations in the rates of flow of fluid into and out of the apparatus.

The fluid may, for example, comprise a liquid material or a solid material in a powdered or granular form.

In a first embodiment of the present invention, the second chamber is arranged such that the level of fluid therein remains at said pre-determined level as the chamber is rotated

from said first position to said second position.

Preferably the fluid supplying means comprise a float valve disposed within the chamber.

Preferably, the first and second chambers are provided within a rotatable drum.

The first and second chambers may lie respectively radially inside of and outside of a dividing wall which extends axially of the drum, about its axis. In this case, the connecting aperture preferably comprises an aperture in the dividing wall and the outlet of the second chamber comprises an aperture in the exterior side wall or, to one side of the axis of the drum, in the end wall of the drum or in the side wall of an outlet conduit extending partly along the axis of the drum, the two apertures being angularly displaced from one another about the axis of the drum. Most preferably the connecting and outlet apertures lie substantially on opposite sides of the axis of the drum.

Alternatively, the first and second chambers may lie respectively on either side of a dividing wall extending transversely of the drum. In this case, the connecting aperture preferably comprises an aperture in the dividing wall, to one side of the axis of the drum, and the outlet aperture of the second chamber comprises an aperture in the exterior side wall or, to one side of the axis of the drum, in the end wall of the drum, or in the side wall of an outlet conduit extending partly along the axis of the drum, the two apertures being angularly displaced from one another about the axis of the drum. Most preferably the connecting and outlet apertures lie substantially on opposite sides of the axis of the drum.

In a second embodiment of the present invention, the second chamber is arranged such that the level of fluid therein is raised as the chamber is rotated from said first position to said second position.

Preferably the second chamber is arranged such that the level of fluid is raised above its axis of rotation, with the

outlet of the second chamber channelling fluid along the axis of rotation.

Preferably, the first and second chambers are provided within a rotatable drum.

The first and second chambers preferably lie respectively radially inside of and outside of a dividing wall which extends axially of the drum, about its axis. In this case, the connecting aperture preferably comprises an aperture in the dividing wall and fluid flowing from the outlet of the second chamber is channelled out of the drum along the axis of the drum. Most preferably the connecting and outlet apertures lie substantially on opposite sides of the axis of the drum.

Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a fluid dispensing apparatus comprising a chamber rotatable about a horizontal axis and a float valve disposed within the chamber for supplying fluid to the chamber, the apparatus being arranged such that the float of the valve is normally free to rise and fall to maintain a pre-determined level of fluid within the chamber, but is supported by an isolated body of fluid within the chamber as the chamber is rotated to discharge fluid therefrom.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of examples only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 and 2 are sectional front and side elevations respectively of a first embodiment of fluid dispensing apparatus in accordance with the present invention; Figure 3 is a sectional front elevation of the drum portion of a second embodiment, of apparatus; Figures 4 and 5 are sectional front and side views respectively of the drum portion of a third embodiment of apparatus; and Figure 6 is a cut-away, exploded perspective view of a fourth embodiment of apparatus.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, a

cylindrical drum 2 is shown mounted to a support frame 3 for rotation about a horizontal axis A. The drum 2 comprises an inner chamber 4 and an outer chamber 6, which are separated from one another by a cylindrical dividing wall 8.

A float valve 10 provides a supply of water to the inner chamber 4 via a conduit 12 which extends into the drum 2 at one end, along the axis A of the drum.

Respective apertures 14,16 are formed in the dividing wall 8 and in the side wall 18 of the drum 2 such that, as the drum 2 is rotated clockwise about its axis A, from the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, the aperture 18 in the wall of the drum 2 will first drop below the level of the water contained in the outer chamber 6, thereby allowing the outer chamber 6 to empty.

As the outer chamber 6 is emptied, a body of water remains isolated within the inner chamber 4, which supports the float 20 of the valve 10, thereby holding the valve closed.

Continued rotation of the drum 2 will eventually cause the aperture 14 in the dividing wall 8 to drop below the level of the water isolated within the inner chamber 4, thereby allowing water to escape from the inner chamber 4 to refill the outer chamber 6.

Figure 3 shows a modified form of drum, wherein a plurality of vanes 22 extend radially outwards between the dividing wall 8 and the side wall of the drum 2 to form a plurality of outer chambers 6, each having a respective outlet aperture 18.

As this drum is rotated, each of the outer chambers 6 is filled in turn, via the inner chamber 4, and then isolated from the inner chamber 4 as its respective contents are discharged.

Figures 4 and 5 shows a third embodiment of drum, which is divided into first and second compartments 24,26 by a dividing wall 28 which extends transversely of the drum.

The two compartments 24,26 communicate via an aperture

30 in the dividing wall 28 which is offset to one side of the axis A of the drum. A further aperture 32 is formed in the side wall of the second chamber 26, on the opposite side of the axis A, such that, as the drum is rotated clockwise about its axis A, from the position shown in Figures 4 and 5, the aperture 32 in the side wall of the drum will drop below the level of the water contained in the second chamber 26, thereby allowing that chamber to empty.

As the second chamber 26 is emptied, a body of water remains isolated within the first chamber 24, which supports the float 34 of a float valve 36, thereby holding the valve closed.

Continued rotation of the drum will eventually cause the aperture 30 in the dividing wall 28 to drop below the level of the water isolated within the first chamber 24, thereby allowing water to pass between the two chambers 24,26 to refill the second chamber 26.

Figure 6 shows a further embodiment of drum, omitting the side-wall of the drum, wherein a float valve (not shown), disposed within an inner chamber 38 of the drum, provides a supply of water to that chamber.

Respective apertures 40,42 are formed between the inner chamber 38 and two outer chambers 44,46, disposed on either side of a pair of radially-extending vanes 48,50. Further respective apertures 52,54 are formed between each of the outer chambers 44,46 and an outlet conduit 56, which extends partly along the axis of the drum.

The various apertures 40,42,52,54 are arranged such that, in the position shown in Figure 6, the outer chamber 46 will partially fill with water via the aperture 42. If the drum is then rotated about its axis in a clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow 58 in Figure 6, the level of the aperture 54 will eventually descend below the level of the water in the outer chamber 46 to allow water to drain from the chamber 46 via the conduit 56.

The position of the float valve within the inner chamber 38, and thus the maximum level to which the outer chamber 46 will fill on each rotation of the drum, is preferably chosen such that, through a small angular range during the rotation of the drum, the levels of both of the apertures 42 and 54 will lie above the level of the water in the outer chamber 46 (thereby isolating a body of water within that chamber).

The various apparatus thus described provide convenient means for accumulating and subsequently dispensing an accurate volume of fluid, wherein the volume of fluid dispensed is substantially unaffected by variations in the rates of flow of fluid into and out of the apparatus.