GB2297312A

GB2297312A - A liquid dispenser

Info

Publication number: GB2297312A
Application number: GB9501778A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edward Charles Rees
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-01-30
Filing date: 1995-01-30
Publication date: 1996-07-31
Anticipated expiration: 2015-01-30
Also published as: GB9501778D0; GB2297312B

Description

LIQUID DISPENSER This invention relates to liquid dispensers and more particularly to liquid dispensers arranged to provide an accurate predetermined volume of a potable liquid.

Liquid dispensers are known which are arranged to provide an accurate predetermined volume of liquid when a valve lever is operated manually or by pressure from a glass or other fluid container pushed upwardly. A sight glass, held in a frame and fitted with an inlet and an outlet valve, is filled under the action of gravity from a mounted inverted bottle or other container. When the valve lever is raised the outlet valve is opened and the fluid in the sight glass discharges under gravity into a glass or other fluid container; on release of the lever outlet valve closes and the sight glass refills through the inlet valve.

Liquid dispensers of this type are described in GB-A-O 455 347 and GB-A-O 725 784. Such liquid dispensers are widely used for dispensing potable liquids, such as alcoholic beverages, in licensed establishments. The volumes dispensed in such places are strictly defined by legislation and the liquid dispensers used are subject to stringent checks. In order to ensure accurate delivery of the required amount of liquid a snap action valve system is commonly used that ensures that the filling of the sight glass, whose capacity represents the volume to be dispensed, with liquid and discharge of liquid from the sight glass cannot occur simultaneously.

The present invention provides a method of detecting the operation of a liquid dispenser of the above type and for providing control signals to a variety of devices in accordance with such operation. The method imposes no restrictions on the operation of the liquid dispenser so that the volume of liquid dispensed is unaffected.

According to the present invention there is provided a liquid dispenser of the type arranged to provide an accurate predetermined volume of liquid when a valve lever is operated, characterised in that the dispenser or its associated fluid source or mounting includes detection means adapted to sense the sound or vibration wave generated by the dispenser when a liquid discharge takes place and provide a corresponding electrical signal.

The detection means may be attached to the frame of the liquid dispenser, a bottle or other fluid source fitted to the dispenser or the mounting device for the dispenser and associated fluid source. The detection means is prefer adhesive attached to the frame of the liquid dispenser to ensure good transmission of the sound or vibration that occurs when liquid is dispensed.

The detection means is preferably an acoustic detector such as a piezo element. The piezo element may by of any type such as rochelle salt crystals, quartz crystals or ceramic piezo elements. Such devices generate an electrical output when distorted or strained such as when subject to acoustic waves or vibration. The output signal may be taken directly from the detection means or, more preferably, after amplification and/or buffering to as to reduce distortion and attenutation by the leads carrying the signal. The piezo elements require no power supplies and may be easily attached to the frame, or other parts of the dispenser and associated mount, by means of an adhesive substance such as an epoxy resin or cyanoacrylate adhesive.

The output signals will comprise some noise and background sound signals with large pulses produced whenever liquid is dispensed. The electrical signals from the dispenser are transmitted by wires in conventional mannner to a receiving device designed to respond to the signals in according to their chosen function. The pulses produced by operation of the dispenser may be separated from the unwanted signals by filtering, limiting and/or pulse shaping to provide a single high amplitude pulse whenever the liquid dispenser is operated.

The output signals, after the above described processing, may be used for a variety of purposes. They may be used to to operate electronic or elctro-mechanical counters to provide a tally of the number of operations of the dispenser and, by calculation, the volume of liquid dispensed. Where a charge is made for the dispensed liquid the tally may be used as an audit check on the till takings. When the dispenser is not in use the signals may be used to generate alarm signals giving a warning that unauthorised use is taking place.

In licensed establishments the output signals may be used to iniatiate operation of an advertising announciator or, after a certain sequence of operations, provide a prize.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood one form thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a liquid dispenser according to the invention, and Figure 2 is a side view of the liquid dispenser shown in Figure 1.

A liquid dispenser, see Figure 1, consists of a sight glass 1 having an accurately determined fluid capacity held in a frame 2. The glass 1 may be filled through an inlet pipe 3 surrounded by a cork gasket 4. The gasket 4 provides a a fluid tight seal when the inlet pipe 3 is inserted into the neck of a bottle or similar fluid container (not shown). The glass 1 is emptied through an outlet pipe 5.

Fluid flow through the inlet and outlet pipes 3 and 5 is controlled by valves, not shown, operable by a lever 6 having an operating boss 7 below the glass 1. The lever 6 is operated by pushing the boss 7 rearwardly. Operation of the dispenser causes the outlet valve to release the fluid in the glass and involves a spring assisted snap action generating sound and vibration waves. These are detected by a sensor 8 shown attached to the frame 2. The location of the sensor is not critical but is usually on the frame 2 in a position not clearly visible from the front. The sensor 8 is a ceramic bimorph type which is comparatively resistant to moist environments. Where continuous use is intended for a long period of time the sensor and its adhesive if preferable protected by one or more layers of protective varnish of a layer of a thixotropic encasulating resin.

In many situations it may be desirable to sense the operation of a plurality of liquid dispensers such as a set located in a saloon bar. In such a situation to avoid a proliferation of leads to the receiving device the outputs from each dispenser may be fed to a multiplexor which transmits the signals from the various dispensers along a single pair of wires, coaxial cable or radio link to a receiving device. Such an arrangement can provide continuous monitoring of a busy bar and enable cellar staff to anticipate the replacement of bottles.

It is customary to mount bottles fitted with liquid dispensers in a mounting frame attached to a shelf. In many cases the detection means will operate satisfactorily when fitted to the mounting frame.

Claims

1. A liquid dispenser of the type arranged to provide an accurate predetermined volume of liquid when a valve lever is operated. characterised in that the dispenser or its associated fluid source or mounting includes detection means adapted to sense the sound or vibration wave generated by the dispenser when a liquid discharge takes place and provide a corresponding electrical signal

2. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the detection means is attached to the liquid dispenser.

3. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that tne detection means is attached to a bottle or other fluid source fitted to the dispenser.

4. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the detection means is attached to the mounting for the dispenser and associated fluid source.

5. The liquid dispenser as claimed in any of the preceding claims characterised in that the detection means is attached to the liquid dispenser. its associated fluid source or mounting by means of an adhesive substance.

6. Tne liquid dispenser as claimed in any of the preceding claims characterised in that the detection means is a piezo element which generates an electrical signal when subjected to acoustic waves or vibration.

7. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 6. characterised in that electrical pulse signals produced by operation of the dispenser are separated from unwanted electrical signals by filtering. limiting and/or pulse shaping to provide a single high amplitude electrical pulse whenever the liquid dispenser is operated.

8. The liquid dispenser as claimed in any of the preceding claims characterised in that the electrical signals are used to operate electro-mechanical counters to provide a tally of the number of operations of the dispenser and. by calculation. the volume of liquid dispensed.

ihe liquid dispenser as claimed in any of the preceding claims characterised in that the electrical signals are used to iniatiate operation ot an advertising announciator or. atter a certain sequence of operations. provide a prize.

8. Liquid dispensers as claimed in claim 1 and as herein described.

9. Liquid dispensers as herein described with reference to the accomapnying drawings.