GB2208224A

GB2208224A - Dispensing valve for drinks; mixing two liquids

Info

Publication number: GB2208224A
Application number: GB8817038A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard James Breed
Original assignee: Whitlenge Drink Equipment Ltd
Current assignee: Welbilt Halesowen Ltd
Priority date: 1987-07-18
Filing date: 1988-07-18
Publication date: 1989-03-15
Also published as: GB8817038D0; GB8717005D0

Abstract

A dispensing valve for dispensing drinks comprising a mixing means wherein first and second liquids are mixed and discharged from an outlet, a first conduit 51 to feed the first liquid to the mixing means and a second conduit 52 to feed the second liquid to the mixing means 60, valve means 29, 40 to control passage of the liquid along the conduits and flow control means to control the relative proportion of said liquids flowing along said conduits wherein a flow control means 21 is provided for one only of said conduits and the mixing means comprises a mixing chamber disposed upstream of the outlet, the conduits discharging into the mixing chamber. An anti-swirl baffle 65 may be associated with the outlet and extend transversely of the outlet to divide the outlet into two separate passages. The valve arrangement may be produced by removing a control means from a known valve with two such means and replacing it by a spigot 36. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: "Dispensing Valve" Description of Invention This invention relates to a dispensing valve and more particularly to a dispensing valve for dispensing drinks of the kind, hereinafter referred as the kind specified, comprising a mixing means wherein first and second liquids are mixed and discharged from an outlet, a first conduit to feed the first liquid to the mixing means and a second conduit to feed the second liquid to the mixing means, valve means to control passage of the liquid along the conduits and flow control means to control the relative proportion of said liquids flowing along said conduits.

Hitherto a dispensing valve of the kind specified has been provided with a separate flow control means for each conduit. However where the second liquid is a concentrate containing solid material such as the pulp of a fruit, clogging occurs in the flow control and valve means areas. The result is that the consistency of the finished drink gradually deteriorates since the amount of concentrate passing through the second conduit diminishes and eventually a complete blockage of the second conduit occurs.

An object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing valve whereby the above mentioned problem is overcome or is reduced.

According to one aspect of the present invention we provide a dispensing valve of the kind specified wherein a flow control means is provided for one only of said conduits.

The mixing means may comprise a mixing chamber disposed upstream of the outlet, the conduits discharging into the mixing chamber.

According to another aspect of the present invention we provide a dispensing valve of the kind specified wherein the mixing means comprises a mixing chamber disposed upstream of the outlet, the conduits discharging into the mixing chamber.

According to the one aspect of the invention or said other aspect of the invention, we provide an anti-swirl baffle associated with the outlet.

According to another aspect of the present invention we provide a dispensing valve of the kind specified having an anti swirl baffle associated with the outlet.

The baffle may extend transversly of the outlet and divide the outlet into two separate, or substantially separate, passages.

According to another aspect of the present invention, we provide a method of converting a dispensing valve of the kind specified and having a flow control means for each of said conduits comprising the step of removing the flow control means from the second conduit and replacing it by a sealing means to seal an opening in the second conduit which was previously occupied by a part of the flow control means.

According to another aspect of the present invention, we provide a method of converting a dispensing valve of the kind specified wherein the outlet is disposed at one end of a discharge nozzle by which the first and second liquids are mixed, comprising the step of disposing within said nozzle a member providing a mixing chamber at one end thereof and having, extending from the mixing chamber, an elongate outlet member, the mixing chamber of the member being constructed and arranged to receive the discharge from both of said conduits.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: FIGURE I is a diagrammatic side elevation of a dispensing valve embodying the invention; FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic partly exploded perspective view of the dispensing valve of Figure I with a cover omitted; and FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic exploded perspective view of the valve of Figure I.

Referring to the drawings a dispensing valve 10 comprises a body 11 to which is attached, by screws 12 a nozzle assembly 13.

The body 11 is made as a moulding in a suitable synthetic plastics material and is preferably transparent although if desired the body may be made in any suitable material. The body 11 comprises a first generally cylindrical chamber 20 in which is received a flow control means the upper end of which comprises a boss 22 having an enlarged diameter lower part 24 in which is received an O-ring 23 in sealing engagement with the wall of the chamber 20. A smaller diameter part 25 extends through a top closure plate 26, secured to the body by screws 26a, which engages with a shoulder between the parts 24 and 25 to retain the flow control means within the chamber 20.

An adjustment member 27 extends outwardly through the boss 25 and can be manually rotated to adjust the flow rate of a first liquid passing through the chamber 20. The chamber 20 is provided with an inlet, not shown, and an outlet 28 which communicates with a first valve means 29 housed within a first cover member 30 secured to the body I I by screws 31.

The body II provides a similar cylindrical second chamber 32 which is of a dimension to receive a flow control means similar to the means 21 received in the chamber 20 but in accordance with the present invention no such flow control means is provided but instead a closure member 33 having a enlarged diameter part 34 provided with an O-ring 35 for sealing engagement with the wall of the chamber 32 in a similar manner to the sealing ring 23 previously described. The closure member 33 has a shank 36 which extends to the bottom of the chamber 20 and is of a length so that a shoulder between the enlarged diameter part 34 and a smaller diameter part 37 similar to the part 25 of the boss 22 is clamped by the plate 26.The shank 36 does not obstruct passage of second liquid through the chamber 32 but reduces the volume of the chamber 32 to minimise the amount of second liquid which stands in the chamber 32.The chamber 32 is provided with an inlet 38 and an outlet 39 which extends to a second valve means 40 housed within a cover 41.

The valve means 29 and 40 are of similar construction and are operated by a lever 42 adapted to be pivoted in a clockwise direction as seen in the Figures when a cup, glass or other receptacle is positioned beneath the nozzle assembly 13 as hereinafter to be described. The lever 42 pivots about a pivot axis 43 and has a transverse lug 44 which engages levers 45 also mounted for rotation about the pivot axis 43 which engage operating arms 46 of the valve means 29, 40 so that the valves are opened when the lever 42 is pivoted in a clockwise direction. A leaf spring assembly 47 is clamped between the covers 30, 41 and the nozzle assembly 13 and act on the arms 46 so as normally to bias the valves to a closed position. The nozzle assembly 1 3 comprises a generally angle shaped member 50 made, for example, as a moulding in suitable material such as a synthetic plastics and having a first upstanding hollow rib 51 and a second hollow rib 52 having upstream ends which communicate with outlets 53, 54 of the cover members 30, 41 respectively. The passage provided by the rib 51 terminates in a generally helically shaped part and discharges downwardly and generally tangentially into a mixing chamber 60. The passage provided by the rib 52 discharges vertically downwardly into the chamber 60 and the second liquid is thus mixed with the first liquid by virtue of being swirled around the chamber 60 by the tangential entry of the first liquid.

The mixing chamber is provided in a mixing chamber member 61 having a generally cylindrical compartment at its upper end which provides the chamber 60 and a downwardly depending tubular nozzle part 62 of cylindrical internal and external configuration. The member 61 is disposed within a generally frusto concial nozzle element 63 which is secured to the underside of the member 50. A generally T-shaped anti-swirl element 64 is disposed within the member 61 so that the shank 65 lies within the central passage of the tubular part 62 and divides the passage thereof into two separate or substantially separate parts since the part 65 extends substantially wholly diametrically of the passage in the tubular part 62. The head part 66 is disposed within the chamber 60.The lateral extent of the head part 66 is such that swirling within the chamber is not inhibited at least to the extent of inhibiting satisfactory mixing.

The inlet, not shown, chamber 20, flow control means 21 outlet 28, valve means 29, cover 53 and hollow rib 51 together comprise a first conduit for passage of a first liquid through the dispensing valve whilst the inlet 38, chamber 32, outlet 39, valve means 40, cover 41 and hollow rib 52 comprise a second conduit for a second liquid to flow through the dispensing valve means.

The inlets to the chambers 20, 32 are arranged to fits into a supply fitting 70 to which the liquids to be dispensed are fed from a bulk supply.

In the present example the first liquid is water and the second liquid is a fruit juice concentrate containing pulp. The first and second liquids are connected to the fitting 70 and a suitable driving means such as carbon dioxide gas or a pump or, in the case of a water supply, mains pressure is applied to the liquids. The liquids are thereby caused to flow through the first and second conduits when the valve means 20, 40 are opened by the lever 42.

By virtue of providing a flow control means for the water only and no obstruction to the passage of pulp containing concentrate through the second conduit, clogging of the second conduit does not occur. The flow control means 21 in the water supply is adjusted in relation to the flow rate of the second liquid as determined by the driving means so as to provide the desired proportion between the first and second liquids. For example one part of concentrate to five parts of water. The concentrate and water are mixed in the chamber 60 and the anti-swirl device 64 ensures that the mixture is poured smoothly into a glass, cup or other receptacle.

The dispensing valve described hereinbefore is similar to a dispensing valve already in use which can be converted to provide a dispensing valve embodying the invention by removing a flow control means similar to the flow control means 21 which is normally disposed in the chamber 32 and replacing it by the closure means 33 described hereinbefore.

Such a previous dispensing valve has not been provided with the member 61 but instead a syrup tube extending from the end of the hollow rib 52 has been provided within the nozzle 63 to a position slightly above the lower end thereof so that mixing occurs at the exit from the nozzle 63 as a result of the generally helical flow of the first liquid down the nozzle 63 and at the exit therefrom entraining the generally vertical flow of the second liquid and causing mixing during passage to and in the glass, cup, or other receptacle.

To convert such a known dispensing valve to a valve embodying the present invention the nozzle 63 is disassembled from the member 50 the syrup tube removed and the member 61 disposed within the member 63 which is then reassembled to the member 50. The dimensions of the external part of the container 6 I are such that it is a good fit within the nozzle 63 adjacent the upper end'thereof so that the element 61 is retained in position and the external diameter of the tube 62 is such that it is a good clearance fit in the outlet opening 66 of the nozzle member 63.

A decorative cover is preferable provided as shown in Figure 1. If desired the valve means may be electrically operated instead of mechanically by means of the lever 42.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

I. A dispensing valve of the kind specified wherein a flow control means is provided for one only of said conduits.
2. A valve according to Claim I wherein the mixing means comprises a mixing chamber disposed upstream of the outlet, the conduits discharging into the mixing chamber.
3. A dispensing valve of the kind specified wherein the mixing means comprises a mixing chamber disposed upstream of the outlet, the conduits discharging into the mixing chamber.
4. A dispensing valve according to any one of the preceding claims having an anti-swirl baffle associated with the outlet.
5. A dispensing valve of the kind specified having an anti-swirl baffle associated with the outlet.
6. A valve according to Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein the baffle extends transversely of the outlet and divides the outlet into two separate, or substantially separate, passages.
7. A method of converting a dispensing valve of the kind specified and having a flow control means for each of said conduits comprising the step of removing the flow control means from the second conduit and replacing it by a sealing means to seal an opening in the second conduit, which was previously occupied by a part of the flow control means.
8. A method of converting a dispensing valve of the kind specified wherein the outlet is disposed at one end of a discharge nozzle by which the first and second liquids are mixed, comprising the step of disposing within said nozzle a member providing a mixing chamber at one end thereof and having, extending from the mixing chamber, an elongate outlet member, the mixing chamber of the member being constructed and arranged to relieve the discharge from both of said conduits.
9. A dispensing valve substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
10. A method of converting a dispensing valve of the kind specified substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

I. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.