LV11307B - Gas cylinder coupling and weighing mechanism for a carbonated drink dispenser - Google Patents

Description

LV 11307

GAS CYLINDER COUPLING AND WEIGHING MECHANISM FOR A CARBONATED DRINK DISPENSER

This invention relates to apparatus useful in a carbonated drink dispenser in general, and more particularly to a mechanism for vveighing the contents of a gas cylinder for such dispenser. US Patent 4,520,950 discloses an in-home drink dispenser vvhich includes a source of concentrate, e.g. syrup, a carbonator vvhich is filed with ice and vvater and a carbon dioxide tank for supplying carbon dioxide to carbonate the vvater in the tank. In such an in-home drink dispenser, it is, of course, important to know how much carbonated vvater is left and also how much carbon dioxide is left. Knovving when one is about to run out of carbon dioxide is of great importance, particularly vvhere a cylinder is not immediately on hand. The carbonator can be refilled with vvater and ice; hovvever, if one runs out of carbon dioxide, at a time when the supplier is not open for business, it may be necessary to wait, possibly over a vveekend, to get a nevv cylinder. Thus, the need for an indication of this Ievel is particularly important. US Patent 2,009,768 discloses a mechanism for vveighing the contents of a gas cylinder vvherein the gas cylinder is suspended from a fitting and is hung on a pivotal bracket. The bracket is supported by a suspension device vvhich also carries a counter balance and vveighing arm. The mounting of the cylinder on the bracket tends to pivot the bracket in one direction on the suspension device, vvhilst the counter balance vveight tends to pivot the bracket in the other direction and there is no pivoting when the tvvo are in balance. As the contents of the gas cylinder are used up, in order to vveigh the remaining contents the user must reposition the balance arm until - 2 - balance is achieved at vvhich position the pointer indicates the remaining contents. This vveighing mechanism is not automatic in operation, and requires the constant adjustment of the balance arm by the user.

German Patent Specification 206627 on the other discloses a suspension device for a gas cylinder vvhich device defines a cradle in vvhich the cylinder sits. The cradle forms a parallelogram support linkage and a spring axe to move the linkage and hence the gas cylinder upwardly. The wait of the gas cylinder tends to urge the linkage downwardly and therefore a balance is achieved. As the cylinder contents are used up, so the linkage is moved upwardly under the spring axe, and a relatively fixed scale pointer moves in relation to a scale to indicate the residual contents of the cylinder.

In each of these arrangments there is a Progressive adjusting function with the Progressive utilisation of the cylinder contents.

The present invention seeks to provide a vveighing mechanism with an indicator whereby the user does not continuously have to keep a check upon the vveighing mechanism or to continuously operate the mechanism.

The present invention provides a mounting and vveighing mechanism for a gas cylinder comprising: (a) a first fitting, said first fitting comprising a cylindrical member containing a passage for conducting gas and having on the outside surface thereof means for engaging a second mating fitting of a gas cylinder such that the gas cylinder is suspended from said first fitting; and (b) a vveighing mechanism to vvhich said first fitting is attached including; means forming a rotatable Iever at the end of vvhich said first fitting is mounted; means for biasing said Iever upwardly against the downwardly acting vveight of said gas cylinder; and indicator means for indicating the relative positions of said second fitting as the cylinder empties, characterised in that said biassing means is effective to move said cylinder upwardly over a fraction of its vveight representing an almost empty condition of the cylinder.

In accordance with the preferred arrangement of the present invention, the fitting to vvhich the gas cylinder is attached is supported rotatably vvithin a hood, the hood forming a Iever vvhich is biased upwardly. The hood rotates on a shaft supported in a bracket vvhich is attached to a wall of the dispenser. Springs act betvveen the bracket and the hood to bias the hood upwardly. A mechanism, including a planar member, vvhich is guided in a curved Slot, maintains the first fitting in a pre-determined position so that in any position the user can easily insert a gas cylinder onto the first fitting vvithout difficulty. The planar member vvhich is guided and vvhich maintains the first fitting in - 3 - - 3 - LV 11307 said pre-determined position is also provided with indicators visible through a window to indicate the degree of the fullness of the cylinder. A full cylinder will act against the spring and pull the hood al! the way down. As the cylinder is used up, the hood will begin to move upwardly until, when the cylinder is completely empty, the good will be fully up. In accordance with the present invention, the spring is adapted to begin moving the gas cy!inder upward only over the last part of the supply, e.g. the last ten percent. Thus, as soon as movement starts the user knows that he is getting near the end of his supply. A cylindrical member which engages the first fitting is formed with a pair of arms. The arms are aligned with axial slots vvhich are used for engaging the pins on the first fitting when locking the two fittings together. By aligning the arms with the axial slots, the user is given a guide and knovvs exactly how to line up the gas cylinder to insert it onto the first fitting. Preferably, on the hood, there are alignment markings and an arrovv, indicating to the user the direction in vvhich to rotate the handles or arms so as to lock the cylindrical member and, therefore, the CO2 cylinder in place. In the illustrated embodiment, there are holes at the ends of the arms through vvhich a finger can be inserted to hold the gas cylinder. A cover is also placed over this fitting for decorative and protective purposes. The cover has a tear-away tab on the top to allovv access to the cylindrical member and fitting vvhen attaching to the probe fitting. The tab cover, hovvever, provides protection during shipping and remains in place until the cylinder is to be used.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an in-home drink dispenser in vvhich the mechanism of the present invention may be used.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 shovving the door to the carbonator compartment and CO2 compartment opened.

Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the elements attached to the top of the CO2 cylinder.

Fig. 3A, 3B and 3C are vievvs to illustrate operation of the thin probe.

Fig. 4 is an elevation vievv partially in cross section shovving the manner in vvhich the CO2 assembly is attached to a probe fitting in vvhich is incorporated a regulator and also shovvs part of the vveighing mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a perspective vievv shovving the cylindrical member vvhich permits attachment to the probe fitting of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an exp!oded vievv of the vveighing mechanism of the present invention. - 4 -

Figs. 7 and 8 are elevation views, partially in cross section and partially in phantom shovving the operation of the weighing mechanism, Fig. 7 shovving the weight mechanism with an empty cylinder and Fig. 8 shovving the vveighing mechanism with a full cylinder.

Figs. 1 and 2 are perspective views of the in-home drink dispenser in vvhich the mechanism of the present invention may be used. Fig. 1 shovvs the drink dispenser 11 with its doors closed. Fig. 2 shovvs the dispenser 11 vvith its carbonator door 13 and CO2 compartment door 15 opened, and the CO2 cartridge 17 and carbonator tank 18 removed. Also visible in Fig. 2 is the syrup cartridge 19. The CO2 cylinder 17 has a cover 23 for ease in handling and also for mounting into the machine in a manner to be desribed belovv.

Figs. 3-5 illustrate the cover assembly for the carbon dioxide cylinder 17 and its connection to a regulator vvhich also acts as a vveighing mechanism. Referring to Fig. 3, over the end of the gas cylinder 17 there is placed an O-ring seal 701. Next a member 703, vvhich has an inner vvasher-like portion, is placed over the neck section 704 of cylinder 17, and held in place by a flange on threaded fitting 705 threaded into the threads 707 in the neck section of the cylinder 17. The fitting 705 contains a check valve vvhich is operated vvhen an appropriate pin or probe is inserted into its opening 709. The pin and valve opening arrangement are shovvn in Figs. 3A, 3B and 3C, and referring to these figurēs, the fitting 705 is shovvn as having the opening 709 vvhich leads to a chamber 709A containing a valve bail 709B vvhich is urged by a spring 709C against a seat at the end of opening709. The bail 709B therefore prevents the escape of carbon dioxide through the opening 709. The member 713 vvhich operates the valve bail 709B and vvhich is described hereinafter is also shovvn, and this member is provided vvith a slender probe 731A vvhich, vvhen the members 731 and 705 are brought together, enters the opening 709 as shovvm in Fig. 3B and unseats the bail 709B allovving carbon dioxide to flow from the carbon dioxide cylinder. An O-ring seal 709D in the opening 709 engages the vvall of the probe 731A to prevent escape of gas passed the said seal 709B vvhen the bail 709B is unseated as shovvn.

As shovvn in Fig. 3C, the probe 731A is provided vvith a small bore 731B vvhich is offset relative to the centre line of the probe so that the bail 709B vvill not in fact block the bore 731B through vvhich the gas has to escape in order to enter the dispenser.

The characteristic of the probe 731A is that it is of small diameter compared to conventional probe connections as used for carbon dioxide - 5 - - 5 - LV 11307 cylinders. Usually these probe connections require the assistance of mechanical advantage device to enable the cylinders to be connected to the dispensers, vvhereas in the case of the present arrangement, the probe is of such small diameter that connection can take place by the application of manual force. Typically, the probe diameter may be of the order of 1/8th inch for use with a gas cylinder of vvhich the internai pressure is of the order of 800 Ibs per square inch. With this arrangement, a force of only 10 Ibs is required in order to connect the gas cylinder to the fitting 731, but it is vvithin the scope of this invention to use cylinder probes of different diameter depending upon the internai pressure of the gas cylinder, but optimally one should aim for providing an arrangement vvherein a coupling force of the order of 10 Ibs is ali that is required in order to couple the cylinder to the fitting.

Member 703 contains a Central cylindrical portion 711 with two arms 713 at the ends of vvhich rings 715 are formed as finger grips. As best seen from Fig.5, on the inside of the cylindrical portion 711 are formed two diametrically opposed axially extending slots 719 vvhich lead to circumferentially extending locking slots 720. These are also shovvn in Fig. 4. A cover 23 is snapped over the member 703 to give the cylinder the finished appearance illustrated in Fig. 2. The cover is snapped so as to enclose the top of the cylinder 17 as vvell as the member 703 and includes side parts 721 vvith openings 723 vvhich align vvith the openings 715 formed in the arms 713 of member 703. These openings permit a finger grip for ease in handling of the cylinder. The cover 23 contains a tear-away top portion 725 vvith a tab 727 provided to tear off the cover to permit ease of access to the fitting 709.

The handles 713 or 721 also act as an alignment means. As can be seen from Fig. 5, the axial slots 719 are aligned vvith the handle 721. Thus, vvhen inserting the gas cylinder on to regulator assembly 729 vvhich has a mating fitting 731 vvith projections 733 thereon, for engaging in the slots 719 and 720, the handles can be used for alignment purposes. The user simply lines up the handles vvith the pins 733 and then rotates the handles 721 until they are in a predetermined position in vvhich the cylinder is locked in place against the fitting 731. The fitting 731 includes the hollovv probe 731A (not shovvn in Fig. 4) vvhich fits in and seals vvithin the opening 709 and opens the valve therein to permit the flow of carbon dioxide through the regulator and into the rest of the system.

The regulator is also shovvn in Fig. 6 vvhich is an exploded vievv of the regulator and vveighing assembly. The fitting 731 of the regulator 729 vvith its pins 733 is visible at the bottom of Fig. 6. A shaft 735 extends out from both - 6 - ends of the regulator. Shaft 735 on the left hand side contains a flat 737. A member 739 to be described in more detail belovv is placed over this end of the shaft 735. The vvhole assembly, generally indicated as 740 is inserted into a hood 741 containing holes 743 on each side thereof for accepting the shaft 735. The shaft 735 on the left hand side is held in place. In a cylindrical recess 745 attached to the regulator 729 by means of a cotter or split pin 747. Thus, after the shaft 735 on the right hand side is inserted through its hole 743, the recess 745 is aligned with the hole 743 on the left and the shaft 735 on the left hand side inserted and secured in place with cotter or split pin 747. Thereafter the member 739 can be placed over the end of the shaft 735. The hood 741 has a brim 749 containing thereon indicia 751 and 753 along with arrovvs 755. The indicia indicate to the user the proper alignment for the handles 721 in the position vvhere the bottle is inserted and the position where it is locked in place. The hood 741 is held in an assembly 757. This assembly Includes a U-shaped bracket 759 having holes 761 in its base for mounting vvithin the gas cy!inder compartment of the dispenser. Extending through the two legs of this U-shaped bracket 759 is a shaft 763. At each end of the shaft is a spring 765. This is a coil spring containing arms 767 and 769 each of vvhich are bent at their ends so as to have a portion parallel to the axis of the spring. The portion 767 contains an axially extending portion 771 and portion 769 contains an axially extending portion 773. Portion 771 engages in one of a plurality of holes 775 in the arm of the bracket 759. The bracket 759 encloses the rear portion of the hood 741 with the shaft 763 extending through the opening 777 and the inwardly extending portion 773 engaging in holes 779. Thus, hood 741 rolates on shaft 763 and is biased upwardly by springs 765.

Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate the manner in vvhich the vveighing mechanism operates. The previously mentioned member 739 comprises a planar member containing an arcuate slot 781 therein. The Slot 781 slidably engages a pin 782 provided on the inside of one of the vvalls of the cylinder compartment vvhich is adjacent to the planar member 739. Its purpose is to maintain the axis of the fitting 731 vertical ir respective of the rotation of the hood 741. Fig. 7 shovvs the hood 741 rotated upwardly, corresponding to an empty bottle or no bottle in place. Fig. 8 illustrates the hood 741 rotated downwardly vvith a full bottle In place. It vvill be recognized, that the ločus of shaft 735 moving betvveen the positions of Figs. 8 and 9 vvill exhibit curved motion and, vvere it not for the slot 781 and pin 782 and the rigid connection of the member739 to the shaft 735, vvhich in turn is rigidly connected to the - 7 - - 7 - LV 11307 regulator 729 and thus to the fitting 731, rotation of the regulator 729 and fitting 731 vvould take place. It is important that the axis of the fitting 731 be maintained vertical so that CO2 bottles can be easily removed and inserted. The springs 765, thus, tend to bias the cover 741 upwardly into the position shovvn in Fig. 7. The weight of a full CO2 cylinder acts against this biasing action to bring the cover downward to the position shovvn in Fig. 8. The biasing force of the spring 765 may be changed based on the users selection of the various holes 775 is bracket 759.

The member 739 performs a second function, the function of an indicator. At the bottom of the member 739 are painted two areas 783 and 785. Area 783 is painted green, for example, and area 785 is painted red. A vievving window 787 is provided in the drink dispenser housing through vvhich the painted areas 783 and 785 can be observed. With a full bottle, one looks through the vievving vvindovv 787 and sees the green area 783. As the bottle begins to empty, the red area 785 begins to appear until, vvhen ali red, the bottle is essentially empty. Preferably, the biasing force of the springs 765 is such that they operate only over the last ten percent of carbon dioxide in the bottle. That is to say, only vvhen the bottle is, for example, 10 percent full vvill the bottle become light enough so that the spring begins to move the cover 741 upwardly. This gives a better indication at the end of supply than vvould a linear system vvhich vvould be difficult to calibrate. LV 11307

CLAIMS 1. A mounting and vveighing mechanism for a gas cylinder (7) comprising: (a) a first fitting (731), said first (731) fitting comprising a cylindrical member (731) containing a passage for conducting gas and having on the outside surface thereof means (733) for engaging a second mating fitting (703) of a gas cylinder (17) such that the gas cylinder (17) is suspended from said first fitting (731); and (b) a vveighing mechanism (740, 741, 757) to vvhich said first fitting is attached including: means forming a rotatable Iever (741) at the end of vvhich said first fitting (731) is mounted; means (773) for biasing said Iever (741) upward!y against the downwardly acting vveight of said gas cylinder (17); and indicator means (783, 785, 787) for indicating the relative positions of said second fitting (731) as the cylinder (17) empties, characterised in that said biassing means (773) is effective to move said cylinder (17) upwardly over a fraction of its vveight representing an almost empty condition of the cylinder (17). 2. A mechanism according to claim 1,characterised in that said indicator means (783, 785, 787) includes a planar member (739) vvhich hangs from said Iever (741) and by means (729) for mounting said first fitting (731) to said Iever (741) in such a way that said planar member (739) is maintained vertical as said Iever (741) rotates. 3. A mechanism according to claim 2characterised in that said Iever (741) comprises: a hood (741) having a top and side vvalls, a rounded front vvall and a brim (749) extending therefrom, holes (743) formed in said side vvalls near said front vvall; a shaft (735) extending from each side of said first fitting (731) passing through said holes (743) in said side vvalls whereby said first fitting (731) is rotatable with respect to said hood (741); and means (737) for maintaining said first fitting (731) such that said planar member (739) is vertical by bringing about relative rotation betvveen said first fitting (731) and said hood (741) as said hood (741) rotates. 4. A mechanism according to claim 3, characterised in that said means biasing comprises: a U-shaped bracket (757) having a base (759) and two extending arms, said base (759) mounted to a vertical wall, a hole formed in each arm; a shaft (763) passing through said holes, said side vvalls of said hood having holes (777) at the rear thereof through which said shaft (763) passes, said hood (741) thereby being rotatable on said shaft (763); and at least one spring acting (773) betvveen said arm of said bracket and said hood (741) biasing said hood (741) upwardly. 5. A mechanism according to claim 5, characterised in that the biasing force of said spring (773) is such as to be effective to move said gas cylinder (17) upwardly only over a fraction of its vveight. 6. A mechanism according to claim 5, characterised in that said fraction is about one-tenth. 7. A mechanism according to claim 6, characterised in that said means maintaining said planar member (739) vertical comprises: means coupling said member (739) at one end to one end of said shaft (735) extending from said first fitting (731), said planar member having a curver Slot (781) therein; a vvall formed parallel to said planar member; and a pin (782) extending from said vvall and slidably engaging said planar member curver slot (781), guiding said planar member (739) so that it remains vertical as said hood (741) rotates, whereby said planar member (739) will also remain vertical. 8. A mechanism according to Claim 7, characterised in that said indication means includes a vievving hole (787) and said planar member (739) contains colour coded areas (783, 785) vievvable through said vievving LV 11307 hole (787) such that the position of said planar member (739) and thus the vveight of said gas cylinder (17) wili be indicated. 9. A mechanism according to claim l.characterised bya regulator (729) formed integrally with said first fitting.

Claims (9)

EN 11307 PATENT FORMULA 1. Gas cylinder coupling and weighing mechanism, comprising: a) a first assembly (731) having a cylindrical portion with a flow channel for the gas flow and on its outside - a second assembly of a gas cylinder (17) connecting component (733) (703) for hitching so that the gas cylinder (17) carats at the weighing mechanism (740, 741,757) of the first unit (731), with the attached first assembly and consists of: parts forming a rotating lever (741) at the end of which the first unit is mounted, the parts (773) for lifting the lever (741) up and down to the weight of the downstream gas cylinder (17), the relative position of the second knot (70) of the indicator (783, 785, 787) to the cylinder (17) characterized in that the heeling component (773) is capable of raising the cylinder (17) when only a portion of its weight is left indicating that the cylinder (17) is almost empty. A mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the indicator (783, 785, 787) consists of a flat element (739) hung on the lever (741) and has a component (729) on the first assembly ( 731) for mounting on the lever (741) so that, by rotating the lever (741), the flat element (739) is held vertically. 3. A mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that the lever (741) consists of: a lid (741) with up and side walls, a rounded front wall and a forward protruding edge (749), side openings (743) in the walls close to the front wall, the axle (735) pulled from both sides of the first node (731) through the openings (743) in the side walls, the first assembly (731) rotating relative to the lid (741), parts (737) which holding the first node (731) in such a position that the flat element (739) is vertical by means of the relative rotation between the first node (731) and the lid (741) by rotating the lid. 4. A mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that the hump assembly consists of: U-shaped bracket (757) with base (759) and two handles; (763) pulled through the openings, the lid (777) on the side walls of the side walls is at their rear, the lid (741) on the shaft (763) rotates, at least one spring (773) operating between the console handle and the lid (741), to roll up the lid. 5. A mechanism according to claim 4, characterized in that the spring (773) has a roll force that is capable of lifting the gas cylinder (17) up when only a portion of its weight is left. The mechanism of claim 5, wherein said weight portion is about 1/10. A mechanism according to claim 6, characterized in that the unit holding the flat element (739) vertically consists of: a component connecting one end of the element (739) with the axis (735) pulled through the first assembly (731), one end, a convex groove (781) formed in the flat element, walls formed parallel to the flat element, pins (782) protruding from the wall, sliding with the convex groove (781) of the flat element and driven by the flat element (739) so that it remains vertical when the lid is rotated, with the flat element (739) remaining vertical. 8. A mechanism according to claim 7, characterized in that the indicator has a box (787) and a flat element (739) - colored coded bands (783, 785) visible through the window (787) and indicating the flat element (739). ) and thus the weight of the gas cylinder (17). A mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a regulator (729) coupled to the first assembly.