Funnel having movable valve assembly

Abstract

A funnel having a stopper valve member for delivering a flowable material to a vessel. The funnel has an upper open bowl and a lower delivery tube having a fluid outlet. The valve member is arranged to move from an upper position inserted into the fluid outlet for stopping flow through said funnel to a position out of the tube outlet to permit generally unimpeded flow. Curved shoulders are provided within the bowl to induce a vortex flow on the material received by the funnel. The stopper valve is mounted on a resiliently mounted rod capable of being manually flexed downward and upward to move the stopper valve.

1 . A funnel assembly having a fluid control device for delivering flowable materials to a vessel comprising
 an upper open bowl having an interior chamber for receiving flowable materials and lower outlet port,   a lower delivery tube affixed to said bowl in fluid communication with said outlet port,   said lower delivery tube having a lower fluid outlet,   a valve assembly having a valve member being mounted for movement in and out of said lower tube through said lower fluid outlet,   said valve member being moveable between an upper position for stopping flow through said fluid outlet and a lower position for generally permitting unrestricted flow through flow through said lower fluid outlet.   
   
   
       2 . The funnel according to  claim 1  wherein said valve assembly includes a rod extending from said bowl downwardly into said lower tube terminating with an end portion positioned adjacent said lower outlet, said valve member being mounted on said end portion of said rod adjacent said lower position, said rod acting to move said valve member between said upper and lower position. 
   
   
       3 . The funnel according to  claim 2  wherein said rod is resiliently supported by said bowl. 
   
   
       4 . The funnel according to  claim 3  wherein said valve assembly includes a flexible member affixed to said bowl and to said rod. 
   
   
       5 . The funnel according to  claim 4  wherein said flexible member includes a flexible center core and at least one flexible arm attached to said bowl and said central core, said at least one arm and said core being capable of manually flexed to move said rod. 
   
   
       6 . The funnel according to  claim 5  wherein said flexible member includes a plurality of flexible arms affixed to said bowl and center core, said flexible member having resilient memory to maintain the rod in fixed position at said first and second position of the valve assembly in absence of a manual force being applied to said rod. 
   
   
       7 . The funnel according to  claim 5  wherein said valve assembly includes a handle affixed to said rod and said flexible member for manually moving said rod in an upward and downward direction. 
   
   
       8 . The funnel according to  claim 5  wherein said plurality of arms extend through holes provide on said bowl, said arms having rings protruding exteriorly of said bowl for hanging the funnel when not in use. 
   
   
       9 . The funnel according to  claim 1  wherein said valve member is formed with a external configuration to control the rate of flow through said fluid outlet at positions of said valve member between said upper position and said lower position. 
   
   
       10 . The funnel according to  claim 9  wherein said external configuration is a frusto-conical shape. 
   
   
       11 . The funnel according to  claim 9  where said chamber of said bowl includes a plurality of curved shoulders to induce a vortex flow on the flowable material received in said chamber of said bowl. 
   
   
       12 . The funnel according to  claim 11  wherein said lower tube includes spaced exterior ribs to permit flow from the vessel while flowable material is being delivered to the vessel. 
   
   
       13 . A funnel assembly having a fluid control device for delivering a flowable material to a vessel comprising
 an upper open bowl having an interior chamber for receiving flowable materials and a lower outlet port,   a lower delivery tube affixed to said bowl in fluid communication with said outlet port,   said lower delivery tube having a lower fluid outlet,   a valve assembly having a valve member being mounted for movement in and out of said lower tube through said lower fluid outlet,   said valve member being moveable between an upper position for stopping flow through said fluid outlet and a lower position for generally permitting unrestricted flow through flow through said lower fluid outlet, and   said chamber of said bowl includes a plurality of curved shoulders to induce a vortex flow on the flowable material received in said chamber of said bowl.   
   
   
       14 . The funnel according to  claim 13  wherein said shoulders are symmetrically arranged in said bowl. 
   
   
       15 . The funnel according to  claim 14  wherein said shoulders extend from the top of said bowl to the outlet port of said bowl. 
   
   
       16 . The funnel according to  claim 14  wherein said tubes have vertical external ribs.