Apparatus and method for dispensing high-viscosity liquid

Abstract

The present invention relates to apparatus and method for re-circulating high viscosity liquids. The apparatus comprises a recirculating probe coupled to a fluid storage and dispensing vessel by a connector, and the recirculating probe comprises: (a) a dip tube defining an output flow path; (b) an output port; (c) a recirculating port; and (d) a return flow path. The output flow path and the return flow path preferably have substantially equal cross-sectional areas, which reduce or eliminate the unbalance between the discharge pressure in the output line and that in the re-circulation line, and prevent premature wearing-out of the dispensing/recirculating pump. The output flow path and the return flow path can also be concentric to each other, which not only maximizes the effective flow area for both output and return flow paths within the limited cross-sectional area of the opening of the fluid vessel, but also avoids liquid turbulence and/or formation of air bubbles caused by free-fall drip introduction of the re-circulated liquid that is commonly observed in conventional recirculating probe designs.