US20050028436A1

US20050028436A1 - Fluid mixing method and apparatus

Info

Publication number: US20050028436A1
Application number: US10/887,479
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles Gantzer
Original assignee: Viking Ind Products Inc
Current assignee: Viking Ind Products Inc
Priority date: 2003-07-09
Filing date: 2004-07-08
Publication date: 2005-02-10

Abstract

An apparatus and method for mixing fuel and oil, to achieve a desired mixture ratio, includes calculating a required number of fuel units, to be mixed with a predetermined volume of oil, for achieving the desired mixture ratio, as a function of calculation terms including the desired mixture ratio and an arbitrarily selected correlation number correlating the predetermined volume of oil to the desired mixture ratio. The required number of fuel units is thus calculated without the use of a calculation term equaling the predetermined volume of oil, thereby facilitating accurate mixing of even custom mixture ratios with simple calculations that can be done mentally.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/485,812, filed Jul. 9, 2003.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to mixing two or more liquids, and more particularly relates to a method and apparatus for mixing fluids such as fuel and oil for engines that require accurately mixed oil and gasoline or other fuels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The mixing of oil and gasoline is necessary for the proper operation of two-cycle and other engines. The relative amounts of fuel and oil are typically stated as a mixture ratio, relating the number of fuel units that would need to be mixed with a single unit of oil to achieve the desired mix ratios. The use of mixture ratios allows the proper mix to be prepared, no matter what system of units the fuel and oil are provided in, for example U.S. gallons, Imperial gallons, liters, etc.
In the past, commonly used mixture ratios have included ratios of 16:1; 32:1; 40:1 48: 1, etc. As new and improved lubricants have become available, which are generally more efficient and more expensive than the oils used in the past, higher mixture ratios of 98:1, 100:1, and even higher have become desirable.
Unfortunately, because not all engines require the same mixture ratios, and because the recommended shelf life of fuel mixtures is relatively short, on the order of a month or so, pre-mixed oil and gasoline products are generally not available. It is also desirable in some circumstances, such as during the break in period for a new engine, or under extremely cold or hot operating conditions, to vary the fuel mixture slightly to achieve optimum efficiency or life of the engine.
Generally speaking, therefore, the fuel mixture for such engines is custom mixed in relatively small quantities of a few gallons at a time. While it would seem to be a relatively easy and straightforward matter to provide a desired quantity of mixture by deciding on a desired fuel mixture, calculating and measuring out the required number of fuel and oil units and mixing them together, the process is complicated by several factors.
First, the system of measurement of fuel and oil may not lend itself well to convenient measuring and mixing. In a system of units based on the US gallon, for example, oil is typically supplied in units of fluid ounces, and the fuel is dispensed in gallons and decimal fractions of a gallon, making it necessary to perform mathematical conversions of gallons of fuel to fluid ounces of fuel, or fluid ounces of oil to decimal fractions of gallons, in order to conveniently measure out the right amounts of fuel and oil to achieve the desired mixture ratio. Particularly, if a high mixture ratio of say 100:1 were desired, mixing 100 gallons of fuel with 1 gallon of oil would result in 101 gallons of mixture being produced, and amount that would be highly impractical in all but the rarest of circumstances. Without having a calculator and conversion factors or table available, it can be almost impossible to mentally calculate the volumes of fuel and oil that are required for a desired mixture ratio with any degree of accuracy.
Compounding the problem of dealing with different fluid units and fractions, the oil may not be commercially available in packages containing a volume of oil that lends itself well to producing the desired quantity of mixture in a manageable volume. To produce a manageable volume of mixture, such as two to six gallons for example, a person doing the mixing must deal with fractions of a gallon, or very large numbers of ounces of fuel, in calculating the required amounts or fuel and oil and performing the mixing. Available measuring devices may not be calibrated in the required units, and will typically not provide the accuracy required, particularly for high mixture ratios where a small error in the amount of oil that is added can have a large effect on the ratio of the mixture.
To deal with the problems inherent in mixing fuel and oil, various methods and devices have been developed through the years. Some engines contain mechanical or electromechanical injectors, but these are expensive and their failure can lead to high repair costs. It is also typically difficult to change the mixture ratio provided by the injectors so that they can effectively and efficiently operate with improved lubricants.
For engines without oil injection systems, oil may be measured by hand to provide precise mixing. Typically, measuring cups are used to measure oil for two-cycle engines, which are messy to clean and not accurate. Oil has been provided in plastic two-cycle oil containers, with measurement indicators typically showing only four-ounce increments, making accurate measurement very difficult.
Even where oil is provided in containers of an appropriate volume, to simply be poured into a mixing container to be filled with a required volume of fuel, the entire net fluid volume of the oil container may not drain out into the mixing container. Some of the oil will adhere to the inside of the oil container, thereby producing a mixture ratio that is richer than desirable in fuel, which may not provide adequate lubrication of the engine, particularly at high mixture ratios such as 100:1 or higher.
Specialized containers or apparatuses have also been developed for mixing oil and gas at a predetermined ratio, such as the method and apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,406,995. Although these specialized containers can work well for their intended purpose over a range of predetermined mixture ratios, they are still prone to inaccuracy and cannot be used with any degree of accuracy for mixing fuel and oil in custom ratios that are different from the ones marked on the apparatus. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved method and apparatus for mixing oil with fuel to achieve a desired mixture ratio.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides an improved method and apparatus for mixing two or more fluids to achieve a desired mixture ratio, by calculating a required number of units of a first liquid to be mixed with a predetermined volume of a second liquid, for achieving the desired mixture ratio, as a function of calculation terms including the desired mixture ratio and an arbitrarily selected correlation number correlating the predetermined volume of the second liquid to the desired mixture ratio, to thereby allow the required number of units of the first liquid to be calculated without the use of a calculation term equaling the predetermined volume of the second liquid.
Where the fluids to be mixed include oil and fuel, the invention provides an improved apparatus and method for mixing fuel and oil to achieve a desired mixture ratio, by calculating a required number of fuel units to be mixed with a predetermined volume of oil, for achieving the desired mixture ratio, as a function of calculation terms including the desired mixture ratio and an arbitrarily selected correlation number correlating the predetermined volume of oil to the desired mixture ratio. The method and apparatus of the invention thereby allow the required number of fuel units to be calculated without the use of a calculation term equaling the predetermined volume of oil. The method and apparatus may also include adding the determined number of fuel units to the predetermined volume of oil.
In one form of the invention, the terms used in the function consist of the desired mixture ratio and the correlation number. The correlation number may be a positive, non-negative, whole number integer value. The function may consist of multiplying the desired mixture ratio by the correlation number, or alternatively dividing the desired mixture ratio by the correlation number. Preferably, a predetermined volume of oil is selected that is correlated to the desired mixture ratio by a correlation number which is readily mentally divisible into the desired mixture ratio to provide a quotient equal to the number of fuel units required.
The invention may include providing a table cross-referencing potential desired mixture ratios to required fuel unit quantities calculated by the function using the correlation number. The invention provides an advantage in that the predetermined volume of oil may be unknown at the time of calculating the required number of fuel units.
In one form of the invention, the predetermined volume of oil may be packaged in an oil container, which may include a packaging allowance volume of oil added to the predetermined volume of oil in the oil container, to thereby form combined contents of the oil container. Instructions may be provided for the manner in which the predetermined volume of oil portion of the combined contents of the oil container is to be transferred to a mixing vessel, to thereby facilitate delivery of the entire predetermined volume of oil to a mixing container. Mixing of the determined volume of fuel with the predetermined volume of oil may be conducted at a liquid fuel pump, where the pump includes a meter providing an indicated amount of liquid fuel pumped, and mixing further includes pumping the liquid pump and dispensing pumped liquid into the mixing vessel until the indicated amount equals the determined amount of fuel units and placing the amount of oil into the mixing vessel.
The liquid fuel may be dispensed into the mixing vessel after the predetermined amount of oil is placed into the storage vessel. The predetermined volume of oil may be packaged in an oil container, to provide contents of the oil container that are added to the mixing vessel. A packaging allowance of oil may be added to the contents of the oil container to form combined contents of the oil container. Instructions may be provided for transferring the predetermined volume of oil portion of the combined contents from the oil container into the missing vessel, and the predetermined volume of oil portion of the combined contents of the oil container may be transferred into the mixing vessel, in accordance with the provided instructions.
Where the fuel is gasoline, the mixing is preferably conducted at a gas pump with a meter providing an indicated amount of gasoline. Mixing may include pumping the gas and dispensing pumped gas into a mixing vessel until the indicated amount equals the determined amount of gas. By law and regulation, gasoline pumps at commercial gas stations are very accurate and precise. The present invention contemplates using the accuracy at the pump to achieve accuracy in the resulting gas to oil mixture ratio.
In addition, an embodiment may further be directed to selecting the storage vessel for containing the predetermined volume of oil and determining how much extra oil the storage vessel retains after the amount of oil is poured out of the container via gravity. The amount contained in the storage vessel may include a first amount of oil in the container that is a multiple of 3.2 ounces and a second correction amount of oil. Using this aspect of the invention, one can achieve even better precision and accuracy in the mixture ratio.
Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an oil container with a label including information and instructions disposed thereon, in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic depiction of a method for arbitrarily selecting a correlation number according to the invention; and
FIG. 3 is an enlarged removed view of the label shown in FIG. 1.
While the invention will be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to those embodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus 10 for mixing fuel and oil to achieve a desired mixture ratio. The apparatus 10 of the exemplary embodiment includes an oil container 12 containing a predetermined volume of oil 14 (as indicated by dashed line 14) for mixing with a required number of fuel units, for achieving the desired mixture ratio.
The predetermined volume of oil 14 is calculated as a function of calculation terms including the desired mixture ratio and an arbitrarily selected correlation number. The correlation number correlates the predetermined volume of oil 14 to the desired mixture ratio, to thereby allow the required number of fuel units to be calculated without the use of a calculation term equaling the predetermined volume of oil 14. The term “arbitrarily selected,” as used herein, is intended to convey its commonly defined connotation to indicate that the selection of the correlation number is totally dependent upon individual discretion, preference or convenience, rather than by necessity or the intrinsic nature of the oil or fuel, and is not fixed by any physical law.
In the exemplary embodiment, the function will include only the desired mix ratio and the correlation number as calculation terms. In other embodiments of the invention, however, other functions and terms may be utilized within the scope of the appended claims.
FIG. 2 illustrates one method 16 by which the correlation number and predetermined volume of oil 14 may be selected. As shown in box 18, a range of desired mix ratios is selected. A range of desired mixing container sizes is also selected, as shown in box 20. The correlation number is then arbitrarily selected, as shown at box 22.
In general, it will be desirable to select a correlation number which can be readily utilized as a calculation term in the function, for multiplying the desired mixture ratio by the correlation number, or for dividing the desired mixture ratio by the correlation number. It is particularly desirable to select a correlation number that facilitates mentally multiplying or dividing the mixture ratio, to calculate the required number of fuel units. In this regard, it is particularly desirable, but not required, to select a correlation number that is a positive, non-negative, whole number integer value, such as 5, 10, 20, 24, 25, 30, etc.
In this regard, it can be advantageous to select a correlation number that is evenly divisible into one or more of the mixture ratios in the desired range of mixture ratios. For mixture ratios in the range of 50:1 to 150: 1, for example, it might be desired to utilize a correlation number of 25, so that when a desired mixture ratio such as 50: 1, 75:1, 100:1, 125:1, or 150:1 is divided by the correlation number, the number of fuel units are even numbers of US gallons, i.e. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 gallons respectively. It will be understood, however, that one of the advantages provided by the invention is that the correlation number can be used to conveniently calculate the fuel units required for achieving any desired mix ratio, and is not limited to mixture ratios that are evenly divisible by the correlation ratio, or mixture ratios that yield even numbers of fuel units.
Once the correlation number is selected, the predetermined volume of oil 14 is calculated, as shown at box 24 in FIG. 2, for the standard unit of measurement selected for the fuel units, by dividing the standard unit of fuel by the correlation number. For example, where US gallons are to be used, a correlation number of 25 would yield a predetermined oil volume of {fraction (1/25)}^thof a US gallon of oil, or 5.12 U.S. fluid ounces (128 fluid oz/US gallon, divided by 25).
As shown at box 26, the selected values and ranges are then checked by calculating the fuel units required for the selected range of mixture ratios, using the selected correlation number and one or more mixture ratios within the selected range of mixture ratios. As shown at decision diamond 28, if the selected correlation number yields a number of fuel units that could be held within a mixing container, together with the calculated predetermined volume of oil 14 as determined in box 24, for all mixture ratios within the selected range of desired mixing container sizes, the selection process for the correlation number is ended. If not, the process is iterated, as shown in FIG. 2, until an acceptable combination of a correlation number and a related predetermined volume of oil 14 are established.
Once the predetermined volume of oil 14 and the correlation number are established, it is an easy matter to calculate the number of fuel units required for achieving any desired mixture ratio using the correlation number and the desired mixture ratio. It may also be desirable in some embodiments of the invention to provide a table cross-referencing potential desired mixture ratios to required fuel unit quantities calculated by the function using the correlation number, as shown below in Table 1.

Table 1, below, shows an exemplary chart for a predetermined oil volume of 5.12 US fluid ounces.

TABLE 1


Ratio	US Gal	Imperial Gallons	Liters

150:1	6	5	22.71
125:1	5	4.16	18.93
100:1	4	3.33	15.14
75:1	3	2.50	11.35
50:1	2	1.67	7.57
40:1	1.60	1.33	6.05
32:1	1.40	1.07	4.85
24:1	0.96	0.80	3.63
16:1	0.60	0.53	2.42
12:1	0.48	0.40	1.82
Custom	R/25 = USG	R/30 = IG	R/6.605 = L

It will be noted that Table 1 includes a tabulation of fuel units for a number of mixture ratios, and correlation numbers for calculating a custom mixture ratio, for several different measurement systems using the same predetermined volume of oil 14. In other embodiments of the invention, it may be desirable to select a single correlation number which can be used for calculating fuel units required in two or more systems of measurement.
Table 2 provides a second exemplary embodiment of a table, according to the invention, having different mixture ratios, and correlation numbers than those shown in Table 1. Table 2, below, shows an exemplary chart for a predetermined volume of oil equal to 6.4 US fluid ounces.

TABLE 2

Ratio US Gal Imperial Gallons Liters

96:1 4.80 4.00 18.00

48:1 2.40 2.00 9.00

40:1 2.00 1.66 7.50

32:1 1.60 1.33 6.00

24:1 1.20 1.00 4.50

16:1 0.80 0.66 3.00

Custom R/20 R/24 R/5.33
Table 2 illustrates that the predetermined volume of oil 14 may be selected to have a convenient volume for a particular standard unit of measurement related to the unit of fluid that will be used for the fuel units. For example, packaging the predetermined volume of oil 14 in increments of 3.2 fluid ounces, 6.4 fluid ounces, or 12.8 fluid ounces might prove to be practical where the U.S. system of measurement is used, because the US system includes a gallon equal to 128 fluid ounces, and the increments listed are evenly divisible into 128. If Imperial gallons are to be used, however, it might be more convenient to package the oil in 8.0 Imperial fluid ounce units, because the Imperial gallon has 160 Imperial fluid ounces.
As will be understood from the description above, however, that one of the advantages provided by the invention is that it is not necessary to use predetermined volumes of oil that are evenly divisible into the unit of measure selected for the fuel units. Once the correlation number is established, the actual volume selected for the predetermined volume becomes essentially irrelevant to calculating the number of fuel units required. A person can calculate the number of fuel units required for a desired mixture ratio, and accurately mix the required number of units of fuel with the predetermined volume of oil with no knowledge of the predetermined volume of oil.
In accordance with the invention, the predetermined volume of oil 14 is preferably packaged in an oil container, such as the oil container 12 shown in FIG. 1. The contents of the oil container 14 can then simply be poured into a mixing vessel, along with the calculated number of fuel units, to provide the desired mixture ratio. Preferably, the mixing is conducted at a liquid fuel pump having a meter providing an indicated amount of liquid fuel pumped, with the mixing being carried out by pumping the liquid pump and dispensing fuel into the mixing vessel until the indicated amount equals the determined amount of fuel units, and placing the amount of oil into the receiving vessel. If the predetermined volume of oil 14 is poured into the mixing vessel part way through the process of adding the required number of fuel units, the process of pumping the remainder of fuel into the mixing vessel will help to mix the oil with the fuel.
By providing packages of oil containing only the predetermined volume of oil 14, the mixing process is greatly facilitated and no waste is generated, as in the past, by having to measure out a quantity of oil from a larger container. When oil must be poured from a larger container, there is almost always some amount of oil left over that will either be discarded, or which must be poured into another container, creating waste and the potential for environmental pollution.
No matter how the oil is packaged, however, where it must be poured out of an oil container, some amount of oil residue will be left inside of the oil container clinging to the walls of the container. This oil residue left in the container results in the mixture ratio being slightly richer than calculated. For high mixture ratios, in particular, or where close control of custom mixtures is required or desired, this causes an undesirable inaccuracy in the mixing process. To alleviate this problem, in the exemplary embodiment, a packaging allowance volume of oil 32, as shown by dashed lines in FIG. 1, is added to the predetermined volume of oil in the oil container 12, to thereby form combined contents of the oil container 12, and instructions are provided for the manner in which the predetermined volume of oil 14 portion of the combined contents of the oil container 12 are to be transferred to a mixing vessel, to thereby facilitate delivery of the entire predetermined volume of oil to a mixing container.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, in the exemplary embodiment, the instructions for transferring the contents of the oil container 12 to a mixing vessel, along with a table including the correlation numbers, and instructions for calculating the required number of fuel units using the correlation number, are provided in the form of a label 30 attached to the fuel container 12. It should be noted that, although the label 30 states a net value for the predetermined volume of oil 14, it is not necessary to the practice of the invention that either the predetermined volume of oil or the combined contents of the oil container be specified on the label 30.
The foregoing description of various embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise embodiments disclosed. Numerous modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings.
Specifically, although the examples provided herein are directed to mixing two fluids, in the form of oil and fuel, those having skill in the art will readily recognize that the methods and apparatus of the invention may be utilized for mixing two or more liquids of other types, such as sprays for crops. In crop spraying, mixture ratios such as 640:1 are often used, and it is also common practice to mix three or more liquids to achieve the final mixture to be sprayed on the crops. The invention may also be practiced for mixing yet other liquids, such as cleaning compounds.
In other embodiments of the invention, for example, a storage vessel (e.g. a bottle, can, bag or other suitable vessel) can be adapted to hold two-cycle oil that can be mixed with liquid fuel, e.g. gasoline, to obtain a mixture of at least two fluids of positive viscosity. The storage vessel in the embodiment described above is shown as a plastic bottle, but the storage vessel can be of spherical, conical or virtually an unlimited number of shapes.
In some embodiments of the invention, the mixing of gasoline and oil is facilitated by providing an oil storage vessel with an amount of oil that is a multiple of about 3.2 ounces. By providing the amount of oil in a multiple of about 3.2 ounces, waste is reduced by ensuring that the entire quantity of oil is used for an oil mixture. The entire quantity of oil is correlated to possible mixture ratios that are easily determined. Specifically, determining how much gasoline to add to the mixture is facilitated by requiring only a simple division determination using the mixture ratio as the numerator and a multiple of five as the denominator. A user can divide the mixture ratio without needing assistance tools, or can use assistance tools such as a calculator or a division chart. A method for facilitating mixing a gasoline and oil for two cycle engines includes opening an enclosed storage vessel having an amount of oil that is contained in the storage vessel, the amount of oil being in a multiple of about 3.2 ounces. The method further includes determining a mixture ratio for a desired gasoline and oil mixture, and dividing the mixture ratio by a whole number that is a multiple of five to determine the amount of gasoline to be mixed with the oil. Advantageously, the multiple of five is correlated to the contained amount of oil, thereby preventing waste and facilitating the mixture. In addition to preventing waste, the environment benefits by having less oil waste.
The method also includes mixing the amount of oil with the determined amount of gasoline. In one embodiment the mixture is mixed at a gasoline pump, thereby providing accurate measurement. For example, the pump can have a meter providing an indicated amount of gasoline pumped, so that mixing further comprises pumping the gasoline pump and dispensing pumped gasoline into a vessel that receives the amount of oil until the indicated amount equals the determined amount of gasoline. This uses the accuracy of the pump to obtain a very accurate mixture of gas and oil.
The method can be performed by a user via dividing the multiple of five independent of consulting an assistance device such as a calculator, chart or the like because the quotient is purposefully made easy due to the amount of oil contained in the storage vessel. This is particularly easy if the denominator is ten (ie. for a 12.8 ounce oil bottle) since all one needs to do is move the decimal point one position.
In another embodiment, however, the dividing is done using a chart, such as Table 2 above. Such a chart may be attached to the storage vessel shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, printed directly on the storage vessel, or separated but associated with the storage vessel (e.g. on packaging or a separate chart).
Tables 1 and 2 illustrate mixing guides for pouring oil directly from a storage vessel without using a measuring cup, in accordance with the invention. Table 2 indicates a plurality of ratios between the at least two fluids required for a plurality of mixtures and the correlated fraction for each of the ratios. For facilitating a mix of gasoline and oil for two cycle engines, an embodiment includes opening a storage vessel having an amount of oil that is contained in the storage vessel in a multiple of about 3.2 ounces and preparing the mix. Specifically, the mix can be prepared by locating a mixture ratio associated with the storage vessel, matching the mixture ratio to a correlated amount of gasoline in gallons to be added, the correlated amount having been predetermined by dividing the mixture ratio by a whole number which is a multiple of 5, and mixing the amount of oil with the determined amount of gasoline.
The predetermined correlated amount is illustrated on the chart showing the mixture ratio divided by the whole number and multiples. The chart can be configured to correlate the mixture ratio to the determined amount of gasoline and include a plurality of different mixture ratios and corresponding determined amounts of gasoline. For example, the chart can include the ratios and measurements in the same manner as shown in Tables 1 and 2.
In embodiments, with or without the chart, the predetermined volume of oil can be 6.4 ounces and the whole number can be 20. Alternatively, the predetermined volume of oil can be 12.8 ounces and the whole number can be 10. One of ordinary skill in the art, with the benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other multiples of 3.2 and multiples of 5 and 10 can be determined and are within the scope of this disclosure.
Also, in some embodiments, the amount of oil in the storage vessel can be determined by determining how much extra oil the storage vessel retains after the amount of oil is poured out of the storage vessel via gravity, and adding to a first amount of oil in the storage vessel which is a multiple of 3.2 ounces a correction amount of oil, also referenced herein as the packaging allowance volume of oil, to account for the retained extra oil. In some bottles, it has been found that about a 1-3% error can result due to natural retention of oil in the bottle or can after it is poured out to the dripping point. What a supplier puts into an oil can is not what the eventual user gets out of the oil can. As a result, the phrase “about” is used herein to allow for some deviation in the numbers which is anticipated by a preferred embodiment the invention.
One method for determining oil retention is to measure the specific gravity of oil, weigh a container, add a specific amount of oil to the container and weigh that, then pour the oil out of the container (at a desired temperature and at a desired manner e.g. to dripping point and at a selected temperature), then the weight of the container is weighed again to determine how much oil was retained. In this manner, this extra amount can be added over and above the 3.2 ounce multiple to compensate oil that is not mixed but retained in the can. Other possible methods include scraping the oil with a spatula after pouring to determine how much oil is left in a can.
In practicing this additional accuracy aspect of the invention, the storage vessel should be associated with instructions for pouring the first fluid, including how to tilt the storage vessel to precisely account for the added amount, and when to stop pouring (e.g. at the drip stage or after so many drips). Further, the instructions account for a temperature of the first fluid, an amount of time for tilting the storage vessel and an angle for the tilt. By following the instructions, the delivery of the first fluid can be accurate within approximately 0.5 percent.
All references cited herein, including patents, patent applications and publications are hereby incorporated in their entireties by reference.
The embodiments discussed were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.

Claims

1. A method for mixing fuel and oil to achieve a desired mixture ratio, the method comprising, calculating a required number of fuel units to be mixed with a predetermined volume of oil, for achieving the desired mixture ratio, as a function of calculation terms including the desired mixture ratio and an arbitrarily selected correlation number correlating the predetermined volume of oil to the desired mixture ratio, to thereby allow the required number of fuel units to be calculated without the use of a calculation term equaling the predetermined volume of oil.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the calculation terms used in the function consist of the desired mixture ratio and the correlation number.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the correlation number is a positive, non-negative, whole number integer value.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the function consists of multiplying the desired mixture ratio by the correlation number.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the function consists of dividing the desired mixture ratio by the correlation number.

6. The method of claim 1, further including selecting a predetermined volume of oil that is correlated to the desired mixture ratio by a correlation number which is readily mentally divisible into the desired mixture ratio to provide a quotient equal to the number of fuel units required.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the function consists of dividing the desired mixture ratio by the correlation number.

8. The method of claim 1, further including selecting a predetermined volume of oil that is correlated to the desired mixture ratio by a correlation number which can readily be mentally multiplied times the desired mixture ratio to provide a product equal to the number.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the correlation number is a positive, non-negative, whole number integer value.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a table cross-referencing potential desired mixture ratios to required fuel unit quantities calculated by the function using the correlation number.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined volume of oil is unknown at the time of calculating the required number of fuel units.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising adding the determined number of fuel units to the predetermined volume of oil.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising packaging the predetermined volume of oil in an oil container.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising adding a packaging allowance volume of oil to the predetermined volume of oil in the oil container, to thereby form combined contents of the oil container.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing instructions for the manner in which the predetermined volume of oil portion of the combined contents of the oil container are to be transferred to a mixing vessel, to thereby facilitate delivery of the entire predetermined volume of oil to a mixing container.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising mixing the predetermined volume of oil and the determined number of fuel units in a mixing vessel.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising conducting the mixing at a liquid fuel pump, the pump having a meter providing an indicated amount of liquid fuel pumped, wherein said mixing further comprises pumping the liquid pump and dispensing pumped liquid into the mixing vessel until the indicated amount equals the determined amount of fuel units and placing the amount of oil into the mixing vessel.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the liquid fuel is dispensed into the mixing vessel after the predetermined amount of oil is placed into the storage vessel.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising packaging the predetermined volume of oil in an oil container, to provide a contents of the oil container, and adding the contents of the oil container to the mixing vessel.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

adding a packaging allowance volume of oil to predetermined volume of oil in the oil container, to thereby form combined contents of the oil container;

providing instructions for transferring the predetermined volume of oil portion of the combined contents from the oil container into the missing vessel; and

transferring the predetermined volume of oil portion of the combined contents of oil container into the mixing vessel, in accordance with the provided instructions.

21. An apparatus for mixing fuel and oil to achieve a desired mixture ratio, the apparatus comprising:

an oil container containing a predetermined volume of oil for mixing with a required number of fuel units, for achieving the desired mixture ratio;

the predetermined volume of oil being calculated as a function of calculation terms including the desired mixture ratio and an arbitrarily selected correlation number correlating the predetermined volume of oil to the desired mixture ratio, to thereby allow the required number of fuel units to be calculated without the use of a calculation term equaling the predetermined volume of oil.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising instructions for calculating the required number of fuel units using the correlation number.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the correlation number is marked on the oil container.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a table cross-referencing potential desired mixture ratios to required fuel unit quantities calculated by the function using the correlation number.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the table includes required fuel unit quantities in two or more different standard units of measurement, for which the required number of fuel units is calculated using the same correlation number.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a packaging allowance volume of oil in addition to the predetermined volume of oil in the oil container, to thereby form combined contents of the oil container.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein neither the packaging volume of oil nor the combined contents of the oil container are specified.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising transfer instructions for the manner in which the predetermined volume of oil portion of the combined contents of the oil container are to be transferred to a mixing vessel, to thereby facilitate delivery of the entire predetermined volume of oil to a mixing container.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the transfer instructions are attached to the oil container.

30. A method for mixing fuel and oil to achieve a desired mixture ratio, the method comprising:

selecting two or more units of measurement in which it may be desirable to calculate a required number of fuel units to be mixed with a predetermined volume of oil, for achieving the desired mixture ratio; and

arbitrarily selecting a correlation number that can be used for calculating a required number of fuel units, in one or the other of the two units of measurement, to be mixed with a predetermined volume of oil, for achieving the desired mixture ratio, as a function of calculation terms including the desired mixture ratio and the arbitrarily selected correlation number;

the correlation number thereby correlating the predetermined volume of oil to the desired mixture ratio in such a manner that the required number of fuel units can be calculated in either or both of the selected units of measurement with the correlation number and without the use of a calculation term equaling the predetermined volume of oil.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising, providing a table cross-referencing potential desired mixture ratios to required fuel unit quantities as calculated by the function using the correlation number for both of the selected systems of units.

32. A method for mixing two or more fluids to achieve a desired mixture ratio, the method comprising, calculating a required number of units of a first liquid to be mixed with a predetermined volume of a second liquid, for achieving the desired mixture ratio, as a function of calculation terms including the desired mixture ratio and an arbitrarily selected correlation number correlating the predetermined volume of the second liquid to the desired mixture ratio, to thereby allow the required number of units of the first liquid to be calculated without the use of a calculation term equaling the predetermined volume of the second liquid.