US Patent 7175397 Effervescent gas bleeder apparatus

A diaphragm metering pump suitable for metering an effervescent gas. The pump has a pump head with a product chamber having an inlet end with a one-way inlet valve and an outlet end with a one-way outlet valve. A displaceable diaphragm member defines a boundary of the product chamber. The diaphragm member is capable of being reciprocated to cause pumping displacements. A discharge side is disposed downstream from the outlet valve. A passageway is disposed in fluid communication between the discharge side and the product chamber. A valve is disposed in the passageway. The valve is opened intermittently to allow liquid to re-enter the product chamber in an amount effective to purge gas from the product chamber to prevent loss of prime.