ANDERSON DAVID (US)
| FR2313971A1 | 1977-01-07 | |||
| DE3105890A1 | 1982-09-09 | |||
| EP0313384A1 | 1989-04-26 | |||
| US3847565A | 1974-11-12 | |||
| FR1281877A | 1962-01-19 | |||
| GB902523A | 1962-08-01 |
| 1. | : What is claimed is: A constant ratio mixing device for dispensing first and second liquids therefrom for mixing thereof in a predetermined constant ratio, comprising: a device body, the device body having a first inlet line for connecting to a source of the first liquid and a second inlet line for connecting to a source of the second liquid, a first outlet line and a second outlet line in the device body, a first gear housing cavity in the device body providing fluid. communication between the first inlet and first outlet lines and a second gear housing cavity in the device body providing. fluid communication between the second inlet and second outlet lines, a first matched pair of gears enmeshed together and rotatively secured within the first cavity and a second matched pair of gears enmeshed together and rotatively secured within the second cavity and one gear of each gear pair connected to a common rotating shaft for providing common rotation of the gear pairs, and rotation of the gear pairs providing for flow of the first and second components from the sources thereof through the respective gear cavities and respective outlet lines for dispensing from the outlet lines and mixing thereof, and the gear pairs of different size so that the first and second liquids are dispensed from the outlet lines in the SUBSTITUTE SHEET predetermined ratio as a function of the size of the gear pairs relative to each other. |
| 2. | The device as defined in claim 1, and the gear pairs comprising oval gears. |
| 3. | The device as defined in claim 2, and the gears of each gear pair of the same oval shape and circumference and where the gear pairs vary as to size with respect to the thickness thereof. *. |
| 4. | The device as defined in claim 1, and the device body including first and second valve means for regulating the flow of the first and second liquids there through from the sources thereof and through their respective inlet lines, gear cavities and outlet lines. |
| 5. | The device as defined in claim 3, and the first and second valves located in the first and second outlet lines respectively. |
| 6. | The device as defined in claim 1, and the first and second outlet iines terminating in a common nozzle for simultaneous dispensing there from of the first and second liquids. |
| 7. | A constant ratio mixing device for dispensing first and second liquids therefrom for mixing thereof in a predetermined constant ratio, comprising: a main device body, the device body having a first inlet line for connecting to a source of the first liquid and a second inlet line for connecting to a source of the second liquid, a first outlet line and a second outlet line in the device body, a device body portion having a first gear housing cavity therein and a second gear housing cavity therein, the first and second gear cavities providing for fluid communication between first body portion inlet and outlet lines and second body portion inlet and outlet lines respectively, of the body portion, and the body portion releasably securable to the device body wherein the first inlet and outlet lines are releasably and fluidly securable to the body portion first inlet and outlet lines respectively and the second inlet and outlet lines are releasably securable to the body portion second inlet and outlet lines respectively, a first matched pair of gears enmeshed together and rotatively secured within the first cavity and a second matched pair of gears enmeshed together and rotatively secured within the second cavity and one gear of each gear pair connected to a common rotating shaft for providing common rotation of the gear pairs,'and rotation of the gear pairs providing for flow of the first and second fluids from the sources thereof through the respective first and second main body inlets lines, body portion inlet lines, gear cavities, body portion outlet lines and main body outlet lines respectively for dispensing from the main body outlet lines and mixing thereof, and the gear pairs of different size so that the first and SUBSTITUTESHEET second liquids are dispensed from the outlet lines in the predetermined ratio as a function of the size of the gear pairs relative to each other. |
| 8. | The device as defined in claim 7, and the gear pairs comprising oval gears. |
| 9. | The device as defined in claim 8, and the gears of each gear pair of the same oval shape and circumference and where the gear pairs vary as to size with respect to the thickness thereof. |
| 10. | The device as defined in claim 7, and the device main body including first and second valve means for regulating the flow of the first and second liquids there through from the sources thereof and through their respective inlet lines, gear cavities and outlet lines. |
| 11. | The device as defined in claim 10, and the first and second valves located in the first and second main body outlet lines respectively. |
| 12. | The device as defined in claim 7, and the main body first and second outlet lines terminating in a common nozzle for simultaneous dispensing there from of the first and second liquids. SUBSTITUTESHEET . |
| 13. | A constant ratio beverage dispensing valve for dispensing first and second liquids therefrom in a predetermined constant ratio, comprising: a valve body, the valve body having a first inlet line for connecting to a source of the first liquid and a second inlet line for connecting to a source of the second liquid, a first outlet line and a second outlet line, the first and second outlet lines terminating in and in fluid communication with a dispensing nozzle, a first gear housing cavity providing fluid communication between the first inlet and first outlet lines and a second gear housing cavity providing fluid communication between the second inlet and second outlet lines, a first matched pair of gears enmeshed together and rotatively secured within the first cavity and a second matched pair of gears enmeshed together and rotatively secured within the second cavity and one gear of each gear pair connected to a common rotating shaft for providing common rotation of the gear pairs, and rotation of the gear pairs providing for flow of the first and second components from the sources thereof through the respective inlet lines, gear cavities and outlet lines for dispensing out of the nozzle, the device body including first and second valve means for regulating the flow of the first and second liquids there through from the sources thereof to the nozzle for dispensing there from, and the gear pairs of different size so that the first and second liquids are dispensed from the nozzle in the SUBSTITUTE predetermined ratio as a function of the size of the gear pairs relative to each other. |
| 14. | The device as defined in claim 13, and the gear pairs comprising oval gears. |
| 15. | The device as defined in claim 14, and the gears of each gear pair of the same oval shape and circumference and where the gear pairs vary as to size with respect to the thickness thereof. |
| 16. | The device as defined in claim 13, and the first and second valves located in the first and second outlet lines respectively. |
| 17. | The device as defined in claim 16, and the first and second valves solenoid operated. |
| 18. | A constant ratio beverage dispensing valve for dispensing first and second liquids therefrom in a predetermined constant ratio, comprising: a valve body, the valve body having a first inlet line for connecting to a source of the first liquid and a second inlet line for connecting to a source of the second liquid, a first outlet line and a second outlet line, the first and second outlet lines terminating in and in fluid communication with a dispensing nozzle, SUBSTITUTE SHEET a first gear housing cavity providing fluid communication between the first inlet and first outlet lines and a second gear housing cavity providing fluid communication between the second inlet and second outlet lines, a first matched pair of oval gears enmeshed together and rotatively secured within the first cavity and a second matched pair of oval gears enmeshed together and rotatively secured within the second cavity and one gear of each gear pair connected to a common rotating shaft for providing common rotation of the gear pairs, and rotation of the gear pairs providing for flow of the first and second components from the sources thereof through the respective inlet lines, gear cavities and outlet lines for dispensing out of the nozzle, the device body including first and second valve means for regulating the flow of the first and second liquids there through from the sources thereof to the nozzle for dispensing there from, and the gear pairs of different size so that the first and second liquids are dispensed from the nozzle in the predetermined ratio as a function of the size of the gear pairs relative to each other. |
| 19. | The device as defined in claim 18, and the gears of each gear pair of the same oval shape and circumference and where the gear pairs vary as to size with respect to the thickness thereof. SUBSTITUTE SHEET . |
| 20. | The device as defined in claim 18, and the first and second valves located in the first and second outlet lines respectively. |
| 21. | The device as defined in claim 20, and the first and second valves solenoid operated. |
| 22. | A constant ratio beverage dispensing valve for dispensing carbonated water and a syrup therefrom in a predetermined constant ratio, comprising: • a valve body, the valve body having a first inlet line for connecting to a pressurized source of the carbonated water and a second inlet line for connecting to a source of the syrup, a first outlet line and a second outlet line, the first and second outlet lines terminating in and in fluid communication with a dispensing nozzle, a first gear housing cavity providing fluid communication between the first inlet and first outlet lines and a second gear housing cavity providing fluid communication between the second inlet and second outlet lines, a first matched pair of oval gears enmeshed together and rotatively secured within the first cavity and a second matched pair of oval gears enmeshed together and rotatively secured within the second cavity and one gear of each gear pair connected to a common rotating shaft for providing common rotation of the gear pairs and wherein the pressurized carbonated water providing the force for the rotation of both gear pairs so that the carbonated water and the syrup flow SUBSTITUTE SHEET from the sources thereof through the respective inlet lines, gear cavities and outlet lines for dispensing out of the nozzle, the device body including first and second valve means for regulating the flow of the first and second liquids there through from the sources thereof to the nozzle for dispensing there from, and the gear pairs of different size so that the first and second liquids are dispensed from the nozzle in the predetermined ratio as a function of the size of the gear pairs relative to each other. |
| 23. | The device as defined in claim 22, and the gears of each gear pair of the same oval shape and circumference and where the gear pairs vary as to size with respect to the thickness thereof. |
| 24. | The device as defined in claim 22, and the first and second valves located in the first and second outlet lines respectively. |
| 25. | The device as defined in claim 24, and the first and second valves solenoid operated. |
| 26. | A constant ratio beverage dispensing valve for dispensing carbonated water and a syrup therefrom in a predetermined constant ratio, comprising: a main valve body, the valve body having a first inlet line for connecting to a pressurized source of the carbonated water SUBSTITUTE SHEET and a second inlet line for'connecting to a source of the syrup, a first outlet line and a second outlet line in the main valve body, the first and second outlet lines terminating in and in fluid communication with a dispensing nozzle secured to the main valve body, a valve body portion having a first gear housing cavity therein and a second gear housing cavity therein, the first and second gear cavities providing for fluid communication between body portion first inlet and outlet lines and body portion second inlet and outlet lines respectively, of the body portion, and the body portion releasably securable to the main valve body wherein the valve body first inlet and outlet lines are releasably and fluidly securable to the body portion first inlet and outlet lines respectively and the valve body second inlet and outlet lines are releasably securable to the body portion second inlet and outlet lines respectively, a first matched pair of oval gears enmeshed together and rotatively secured within the first cavity and a second matched pair of oval gears enmeshed together and rotatively secured within the second cavity and one gear of each gear pair connected to a common rotating shaft for providing common rotation of the gear pairs and wherein the pressurized carbonated water providing the force for the rotation of both gear pairs so that the carbonated water and the syrup flow from the sources thereof through the respective first and second main valve body inlet lines, body portion inlet lines, gear cavities, body portion outlet lines and main valve body SUBSTITUTE SHEET outlet lines respectively to the nozzle for dispensing there from, the main valve body including first and second valve means for regulating the flow of the carbonated water and syrup there through from the sources thereof to the nozzle for dispensing there from, and the gear pairs of different size so that the first and second liquids are dispensed from the nozzle in the predetermined ratio as a function of the size of the gear pairs relative to each other. |
| 27. | The device as defined in claim 26, and the gears of each gear pair of the same oval shape and circumference and where the gear pairs vary as to size with respect to the thickness thereof. |
| 28. | The device as defined in claim 26, and the first and second valves located in the first and second outlet lines respectively. |
| 29. | The device as defined in claim 28, and the first and second valves solenoid operated. |
| 30. | A constant ratio postmix beverage dispensing valve, comprising: A valve body, the valve body having first and second beverage component channels extending there through, each channel providing for communication with sources of first and second beverage components, SUBSTITUTE SHEET a first gear pair in fluid communication with the first beverage component channel and a second gear pair in fluid communication with the second beverage component channel, one gear of each gear pair secured to a common drive shaft, each gear pair rotating within a separate fluid cavity, and the gear pairs and their respective cavities sized to provide for the desired volume ratio between the first and second beverage components. |
| 31. | The constant ratio beverage valve is defined in claim 30, and one of the beverage components pressurized for providing pumping of the other beverage component. |
| 32. | The constant ratio dispensing valve as defined in claim 30, and, further including drive means secured to the common drive shaft for providing pumping of both beverage components. |
| 33. | The constant ratio beverage valve as defined in claim 30, and one of the beverage channels including a flow control downstream from the gear pair associated therewith for controlling the rate of flow of fluid there through. |
| 34. | The constant ratio valve as defined in claim 30, and the gear pairs held within a gear pump body and the gear pump body releasably securable to the valve body. |
| 35. | The constant ratio beverage valve as defined in claim 30, and the gear pairs being oval gears. |
BACKGROUND:
Field of the Invention.
The present invention relates generally to post-mix beverage dispensing valves and, in particular, to post-mix beverage dispensing valves that automatically maintain the proper ratio of two beverage components.
Background of the Invention.
Post-mix beverage dispensing valves that provide for the proper ratioing of a mixture of, for example, carbonated water and syrup to produce a dispensed beverage, are well known in the art. Such prior art valves generally consist of a valve body having separate channels there through for the delivery of beverage constituents separately to a valve mechanism for ultimate delivery through a mixing nozzle to a suitable receptacle. To provide for the proper beverage mixture, post- mix beverage dispensing valves of this type include flow controls in each of the beverage constituent lines. The flow controls are generally of the piston, needle valve or flow washer type. When properly adjusted, such flow controls maintain the desired ratio or brix quite well. However, it has been found that differences in ambient temperature, the delivery pressures of the drink constituents and mechanical
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wear of the flow controls can contribute to an improperly mixed drink.
A mechanical approach to automatic brix control is known wherein double acting pistons are linked together so they operate simultaneously. The proper ratio is maintained whereby the volumes of the pistons are at the desired ratio, typically five to one for a mixture of carbonated water and syrup. In this manner, five volumes of water and one volume of syrup are pumped for each stroke of the pistons in each direction. This approach works relatively well when large volumes of- for example, water and syrup are mixed. Difficulties have been experienced with respect to reduction in size sufficient to fit within the dimensions of a typical post-mix dispensing valve. In addition, such a system has proven to be expensive to manufacture.
Other automatic ratioing approaches have been proposed wherein the ambient temperature and/or pressures of the beverage constituents are independently monitored and adjusted accordingly. However, such systems suffer primarily from complexity and high cost.
Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to have a post- mix beverage dispensing valve that automatically maintains the desired ratio of beverage constituents and that is easy and inexpensive to manufacture and operate.
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Summary of the Invention.
The present invention is a post-mix beverage dispensing valve that automatically maintains the desired ratio between two beverage components. The present invention includes a valve body having a pair of beverage constituent fluid pathways extending there through from an attachment end to a valve end. Pallet valves are provided and operated by a single solenoid for delivering the beverage constituents simultaneously to a beverage nozzle wherein they are mixed and dispensed into a suitable receptacle. A gear pump is releasably secured to the valve main body and includes a pair of water and syrup inlets and a corresponding pair of water and syrup outlets. The water inlet and outlet thereof are in fluid communication with the water channel extending through the main valve body. Likewise, the syrup inlet and outlet are in fluid flow communication with the syrup channel. The gear pump includes two pairs of elliptical or oval gears. The syrup inlet and outlet channels are in fluid communication with one pair of syrup gears, and the carbonated water inlet and outlet channels are in fluid communication with the remaining pair of carbonated water gears. One of the gears from each set is connected to a keyed to a rotating axle and each of the remaining gears are free to rotate on a fixed shaft. Each gear pair rotates in it's own housing, fluidly separate from the other gear pair.
In operation, pressurized carbonated water is provided to the carbonated water inlet and is delivered centrally of the two carbonated water gears for providing rotating thereof. The carbonated water then flows out the carbonated water outlet to the carbonated water channel for delivery to the pallet valve mechanism. It can be understood that, as one of the gears of each set is on a common rotating shaft, the pressurized carbonated water provides for the driving force for the syrup gear pair. The gear pairs are dimensioned such that, for each revolution of the gear pairs, five volumes of water are delivered to the valve nozzle for each one volume of syrup. It can now be appreciated that the present invention automatically provides for the proper ratio between the carbonated water and syrup by virtue of the dimensioning of the gear pairs. Moreover, such ratio is maintained regardless of the rotation rate of the gear pairs. In addition, as the syrup gears act as a pump, it is not necessary to pressurize the syrup for the delivery thereof to the valve.
Brief Description of the Drawings.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention can be understood by reference to the following detailed description, which refers to the following figures, wherein:
Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the present invention. Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view along lines 2-2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view along lines 3-3 of Fig. 1.
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Fig. 4 shows a cross-sectional view along lines 4-4. of Fig.
2.
Fig. 5 shows a top surface view of a flow control cavity plug.
Detailed Description
As seen by referring to the various figures, the present invention is generally designated by the number 10. Valve 10 includes a main valve body 12 and valve housing or cover 13. Valve body 12 includes an inlet water channel 14 having a inlet orifice 16 for fluid communication with a pressurized source of carbonated water (not shown) . Valve body 12 further includes a carbonated water out channel 17 and a flow control cavity 18 having a flow control plug 19 releasably inserted therein. As seen by also referring to Fig. 5, plug 19 includes a pair of O-rings 20 and a top surface 21 having a groove 22 formed therein. Valve body 12 includes a seat 23 for retaining a flow washer 24. In a similar manner, body 12 includes a syrup inlet channel 26 having an orifice 28 for communication with a source of syrup (not shown) . Valve body 12 further includes a syrup outlet channel 30 and a syrup flow control cavity 32. It will be understood that cavity 32 also includes a plug 19 as previously described, and may optionally include a flow control means, as will be described in greater detail below. Channel 30 provides for fluid communication from cavity 32 to a syrup pallet valve 34.
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A solenoid 36 ' is secured to valve body 12 and includes a operating rod 38. .. A valve operating arm 40 is pivotally secured to valve body 12 and provides for contact with pallet valve arms 42. Pallet valves 24 and 34 are secured between valve body 12 and a valve block 44. Valve block 44, as is known in the art, includes separate seats upon which the pallet valves operate for delivery of carbonated water and syrup to a nozzle 50. Nozzle 50 is secured to a lower plate
52 and includes a diffuser 54 therein for the mixing of the de¬ carbonated water and syrup prior to dispensing into a suitable receptacle. In the present embodiment, plate 52 is secured to body 12 by a plurality of screws (not shown) and serves to hold block 44 securely there between.
Valve 10 includes a releasably mounted gear ratioing pump 60. Pump 60 is manufactured by Xolox, Inc. of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and consists primarily of five separate sections: a carbonated water flow section 62, a carbonated water gear pump housing section 64, a spacer section 66, a syrup gear pump housing section 68, and a syrup flow section 70. These five sections are held together by a plurality of screws 72, and are sealed from each other by O-rings 74 extending through oval shaped grooves 75. Section 62 includes a carbonated water inlet channel 76 having a gear housing delivery orifice 78. In a similar manner, section 62 includes a carbonated water outlet channel 82 having a housing outlet orifice 84. Section 62 includes a carbonated water inlet leg 88 and a carbonated water outlet leg 90. Gear section 64 includes a
ET
figure-eight shaped pumping cavity 92 and a pair of oval carbonated water gears 94a and 94b. Gear 94a is keyed to a drive shaft 96 extending between and rotatively secured to sections 62 and 70. Gear 94b freely rotates around a fixed shaft 98 extending between sections 62 and 70. Gear section 68 includes a figure-eight shaped syrup pumping cavity 100 and includes a pair of syrup gears 102a and 102b therein. Gear 102a is fixedly secured to shaft 96 and gear 102b freely rotates round fixed shaft 98. Spacer section 66 includes a seal 104 for preventing fluid communication along shaft 96 between either of cavities 92 or 100. Housing section 70 iε similar in structure and function as section 62 and includes a syrup inlet channel 106 terminating with a syrup cavity orifice 108. Section 70 also includes a syrup outlet channel 112 having a syrup pumping outlet cavity orifice (not shown). It will be appreciated by those of skill that the placement of the syrup cavity outlet orifice is the same as that with orifice 78. Also, as with section 62, pump section 70 includes a pair of legs and, specifically, a syrup inlet leg 116 and outlet leg 118.
Legs 88, 90, 116 and 118 include narrowed end portions 120 and semicircular grooves 124. Portions 124 provide for securing cooperation with U-shaped rod 126 extending through a pair of bores 128 extending into main body portion 12. Legs 88, 90, 116 and 118 also include reduced diameter ends 129 for insertion through O-rings 130. O-rings 130 rest on seats 131 at the bottom of leg retaining orifices 132, 134, 135, and
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136. The manner of securing of pump 60 to valve body 12 can be understood whereby legs 88, 90, 116 and 118 are inserted into orifices 130, 132, 134, 136 respectively of body 12 whereby ends 120 thereof extend therein and provide for sealing engagement with O-rings 130. Pump 60 is then retained on valve body 12 by the insertion of rod 126 into cavities 128 for cooperating with leg grooves 124.
The operation of the present invention can be understood whereby operation of solenoid 36, through movement of rod 38, provides for simultaneous opening of pallet valves 24 and 34 by depression of the operating arms 42 thereof by arm 40. In this manner, the carbonated water and syrup can flow through valve body.12 for dispensing out of nozzle 50. Specifically, and as will be understood by those of skill, the pressurized carbonated water is allowed to flow through channels 14 and 76 for delivery into cavity 92 through inlet 78. The carbonated water thus causes the rotating of gears 94a and 94b, as it flows there around in each half of cavity 92 to orifice 80. The direction of rotation of gears 94a and b is indicated by arrows in Fig. 2. Carbonated water then flows down channel 82 for ultimate delivery into a suitable receptacle held below nozzle 50. As gear 94a is keyed to rotating shaft 96, which in turn is keyed to gear 102a, it will be understood that the pressure of the carbonated water also provides for the simultaneous rotating of gears 102a and 102b and, therefore, the pumping of the particular syrup. Thus, as gear pairs 94a, 94b, and 102a, 102b are proportioned so the desired ratio of
carbonated water and syrup is maintained, the proper ratio of the two beverage components will be continually delivered to the pallet valves. In the present invention, gears 94a and 94b have a large or elliptical diameter of approximately 1.5 cm and a width of approximately .6 cm. Thus, at a beverage dispensing flow rate of 1.5 oz. per second, gear pair 94a, 94b and 102a, 102b rotate at a speed of approximately 50 cycles per second (Hz). Washer 22 provides for maintaining the rotational speed of the gears at approximately 50 Hz. so that the desired flow rate is generally maintained. It will be appreciated that various flow control means can be used such as, a small orifice, a needle valve and so forth. Thus, the flow control represented by washer 24 does not provide for the ratioing of the two beverage components, but rather controls the rate of flow of the carbonated water, and therefor the syrup, through the valve. It can be understood that rounded groove 22 with valve body 12 forms a smooth passage for the carbonated water for minimizing any decarbonation thereof. Plug 19 is releasably secured between valve body 12 and plate 52 and allows for access to washer 24 so various flow washers can be used to allow for different flow regulation, as particular equipment or conditions may dictate.
Syrup flow space 32 can also include a flow regulating means such as a needle valve so the ratio between the syrup and carbonated water can be adjusted for a given gear pump architecture. In this manner, one gear pump could be used for a range of ratios of, for example, 4.5/1.0 to 5.5/1.0. It can
also be appreciated that gears 102a and b pump the syrup, and therefore, the syrup does not need to be pressurized. Thus, the present invention has particular utility with "bag-in-box" syrup systems.
It can be understood that as pump body 60 is quickly detachable from valve body 12, the ratio of the beverage constituents can also be altered by the complete interchanging of pump bodies wherein the internal dimensions with respect to gearing and gear cavities thereof are varied to provide for the different ratios, as required.
It will be apparent to those of skill that various changes or modifications can be made to the present invention without exceeding the inventive scope thereof. For example, a gear pump could be used that includes circular gears. Also, drive shaft 96 could be operated by drive means such as an electric motor to provide for the pumping of the beverage constituents.
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