US2522898A - Sirup valve assembly for beverage dispensers - Google Patents

Description

P 1950 F. E.SANBORN 2,522,898

SIRUP VALVE ASSEMBLY FOR BEVERAGE DISPENSERS Filed Nov. 22, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 19, 1950 F. E. SANBORN SIRUP VALVE ASSEMBLY FOR BEVERAGE DISPENSERS Filed Nov. 22, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ram 5 Patented Sept. 19, 1950 SIRUP VALVE ASSEMBLY FOR BEVERAGE DISPENSERS Frank E. Sanborn, Chicago, 111., assignor to The Dole Valve Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application November 22, 1946, Serial No. 711,490

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in valves of the type used in drink-dispenser machines, and more particularly to the type of valves used to control the flow of syrup which is to be mixed with a carbonated liquid in the preparation of a carbonated beverage. In the preparation of a beverage in which a carbonated liquid is mixed with a flavoring syrup, it is highly desirable that the correct proportions of the two ingredients be maintained in each drink in order to insure the uniformity of taste of the drink. It is, therefore, important that the amount of syrup introduced into the glass with the carbonated liquid be accurately measured. It is further desirable that the syrup be introduced into the glass as soon as possible so that the stream of incoming carbonated liquid will have a chance to thoroughly mix it.

In order to accomplish the contemporaneous operations of introducing the metered amount of syrup and the carbonated liquid into the glass by actuating one handle mechanism, it is expedicnt that the pressure of the incoming carbonated liquid actuate the syrup valve means to cause the syrup to flow into the glass.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a syrup valve means which will accurately measure the amount of syrup to be introduced with each glass of carbonated beverage.

It is another object of this invention to provide means for aiding the liquid syrup to quickly flow from the syrup measuring chamber.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a positive seating valve means which. will prevent further entrance of syrup into the syrup chamber.

It is another and further object of this invention to provide means for mixing a carbonated liquid with a flavorin syrup in which the fluid pressure of the carbonated liquid is employed to open the syrup valve. Another object of the present invention is to provide a syrup valve mechanism of novel construction which is economical to manufacture and which is efiicient and effective in use.

In accordance with the general features of my invention there is provided a syrup tank having a telescoping cup-like orifice member which,

when subjected to the pressure of a carbonated liquid with which the syrup is to be mixed, moves downwardly to first shut off the main tank from the cup-like member thus entrapping a fixed amount therein, and then to open the exit port to allow the syrup. to leave the cuplikemember. i

Another feature of this invention is the provision of a vent line connected to the metering chamber which permits the rapid flow of syrup from the chamber.

A further feature of this invention is the provision of a valve member having beveled edges which contact the valve seat to very efficiently shut off the incoming syrup from the syrup chamber.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description of the annexed sheets of drawings.

On the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevational view, partly in section' and partly broken away, of a drink dispenser unit in which is incorporated a syrup valve means embodying the features of my invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view, partly in section and partly broken away, of a dispenser head unit showing the syrup valve in a position to permit the discharge of syrup from a syrup chamber; and

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of a drink dispenser unit particularly showing the connection between the cooling block and the dispenser head assembly.

In Figure 1 is illustrated a drink dispenser unit of the type in which the valve means of my invention is particularly suited to be used. This dispenser unit comprises essentially an insulated casing ll, an operating handle mechanism 2, a dispenser head assembly 14, a carbonated liquid release valve assembly 31, and a cooling block assembly 45.

In a drink dispenser unit, the dispenser head assembly is that part of the unit at which the carbonated liquid and the flavoring syrup are brought together for discharge from a common nozzle into a glass. The dispenser head assembly 14 shown in Figure 2 comprises a syrup chamber I6, a syrup valve means 2|, a passageway 33 for the carbonated liquid, and a nozzle portion 21. In practice, when the handle mechanism I2 is pulled down from its vertical position, it actuates a plunger in the carbonated liquid release valve assembly 31 which permits the carbonated liquid to enter the passageway 33. As the carbonated liquid flows through the passageway 33, it contacts the syrup-valve actuating mechanism causing a metered amount of syrup to be discharged for mixing with the carbonated liquid.

In order that the syrup may be gravity fed to member ll there is provided a cylindrical recess lie and a second cylindrical recess lid is pro-, vided inside the recess llc. As a means of securing the carbonated liquid release valve mechanism 3? to the dispenser head, a port He is provided at one side of the body member ll. Adjacent port He is a passageway llg which leadsto the carbonated liquid passage 33. At the inner central portion of the member ll there is provided a cylindrical aperture ll Disposed in the aperture llf for sliding movement therein is a cup-like hollow member it which forms the lower portion of a metering chamber. A passageway I80 through which the syrup may leave the metering chamber is provided in the lower wall of the member l8. On the under side of the member it ther is disposed a boss I8b which provides a seat for a cylindrical extension member 19 depending therefrom.

In order to prevent any foreign matter or congealed syrup irorn passing down through the dispenser head, there is provided a strainer assemby 22.- This assembly comprises a cylindrical strainer member 22a supported on the surface lid of the member H, a strainer cover 2% and an adapter 220 by which the strainer member 20a is secured to the cover 2%.- Centrally disposed on the cover 26b is a cylindrical aperture 2001.

In this invention i have provided a novel valve means 2| including a substantially cylindrical central member 22 which is adapted at its lower end 22a to be seated on the outlet orifice I80 of the cup-like member it. To allow air to enter the chamber and thus expedite the discharge of syrup therefrom I have provided a cylindrical passageway 22b in the member 22. Passageway 22b connects with a lower horizontal passageway 220 which opens into the syrupmeasuring chamber. At the upper end of the member 22 there is provided a cylindrical opening 22d in which is positioned a tube 23. As best seen in Figure 1, the tube 23 extends to the top of the syrup chamber l6 thus providing a means of allowing air to enter the syrup-measuring chamber.

In this invention I have provided a valve 24 having a lower outer beveled edge 240, which is adapted to be seated on the upper surface of the member ill.

Disposed immediately below the valve 24 and abutting the lower surface thereof is a centering member 25 having a plurality of downwardly extending arms 25a. Both the valve 24 and the centering member 25 are securely held in a groove 22a of the member 22 by outwardly extending shoulders 22 f. The centering member 25 is adapted to slide up and down in the cup-like member l8 and, since it is rigidly secured to member 22, it will tend to center the low-er plunger portion 22a of the member 22 in the orifice I80 of the member 13 through which the syrup is discharged.

For the purpose of providing a channel through which the carbonated liquid may pass through of: passageway 33.

the dispenser head, there is provided a cylindrical member 26 which is suitably secured as by a press fit to the lower end of member l8. Due to the fact that at the lower end of the member l8 there is an enlarged annular ring portion lBd against which the cylinder member 26 will be supported, there is formed immediately above this section between the member 26 and the reduced outer wall of member [8 the lower portion A spiral groove [So on the outer surface of the ring portion i803 connects thepassageway 33 with the upper nozzle opening and causes the carbonated liquid to enter the nozzle in a spiral path. On the outer surfaceof' -the; cylindrical member 26 there is an annular ring portion 26a.

In order to prevent the carbonated liquid from working up along the outer wall of the member [8 intothe syrup chamber there is provided a seal ring 28 which is disposed in the annular recess l'ld ofthe base member ll. This seal ring permits the member IS to slide up and down thereon without permitting the carbonated liquid to. pass along the contact surface.

As'best seen in Figure 2; the nozzle assembly 2! comprises a cylindrical positioning member 29 into which is threaded an adapter member 30. An annular recess 3lla-on theinner surface of member 30 provides a guide surface-for the travel of the cylindrical member 26- and. also provides a seat for member 26 when the valve mechanism is in its discharge position. There is further provided-in the adapter-30 a lower annular recess 30b intowhich is-pressed a nozzle 3i. A seal ring 32 is disposed between the nozzle member 3i and the adapter 3|! to. prevent passage of carbonated liquid at this joint.

The valve means-2t is returned to its normal closed positionby a coil spring 34 which is disposed about the cylindrical member 26 and is adapted to act on thelower surface of the projection 26a of member 26. The spring 34*rests at its lower end on the upper surface of adapter member 30.

It is important that no airbeallowed toreach the carbonated liquid at anypoint before it is discharged into the nozzle. This would cause the carbonated liquid to emerge in a fiat, uncarbonated condition.- There is therefore disposed between the positioning member 29 and the cylindrical member 26 a seal ring- 35 which prevents the possibility'of air leaking out through the spring chamber to mix -with the carbonated liquid.

As is best seen in Figure 1, when-the dispenser head assembly is positioned in the casingof the dispenser unit,- it is necessary that there be a seal to prevent-the liquid coolant from leaking past'the dispenser head; For this purpose, a seal ring 36 is disposed-in the outer wall of the positioning member 30.

The carbonated liquid is introduced into the dispenser headby means of a release valve assembly 31 which includes-an outer-body'member- 38 suitably secured in the openin We of thebase member ll. A, substantially cylindrical chamber 38a is centrallydisposedinside the mem ber 38. A valve seat-member 39 is rigidly secured relative to the body member 38 -having a central aperture therethrough which serves as a guide for a plunger 40. Disposed in grooveson the outer surface of plunger! is a sealing member 4| and a sealing member housing 42. plunger 40. is-normally urged outwardly .by the action of a coil spring 43 acting on:the -hous-= The ing 42. Thus the housing 42 and the sealing member 4|are normally pressed down on the valve seat 39. When the plunger 40 is pushed inwardly as shown in Figure 2, the member 4| and the housing 42 are removed from the seat 39 and a port 40a is uncovered. Thus the carbonated liquid which has entered chamber 38 of valve assembly 31 by means of a tube 44 leading from the cooling block 45 (Figure 3) enters a central passageway 40b of the plunger 40 through the port 40a and is directed by the passageway Hg of" member H to the passage 33 which leads to the nozzle.

In its normalposition, the valve means of my inventionis positioned as indicated in Figure 1, with the cup-like member l8 urged upwardly by the spring 34. It is to be noted that, in its upward movement, the member I8 telescopes around the centering member 25 until the lower end 22a of the center member 22 rests in the orifice I80 of the member l8. Further upward movement will cause the valve assembly 2| to move upwardly bodily, thus pushing the valve 24 off its seat on the member Syrup will now flow into the cup-like member 18 through the strainer member 20a and completely fill the chamber.

When it is desired to draw a drink, the handle I2 is pulled down. This handle, actin through suitable mechanism, forces the plunger 40 inwardly, allowing the carbonated liquid to enter the passage 40b, pass through the opening 1g, and enter the upper part of the passage 33. In this upper part of the passage 33 the carbonated liquid under pressure comes in contact with the upper flat surface of the cylindrical member 26, and, by acting on this surface, forces the member 26 downwardly. The cup-like member [8, being secured to member 26, also moves downwardly. As the member l8 moves downwardly, the valve assembly 2|, which was being held off its seat by the action of member I8, also moves downwardly and its beveled edge 24a immediately comes to rest on the valve seat of member l'l. At this point, the downward movement of the valve assembly 2| stops and, as the member IB continues its descent, the lower end 22a of the plunger 22 is removed from its seat in the orifice I80 and the syrup is permitted to flow out of the orifice.

The carbonated liquid entering by way of the member on its seat thus preventing further inflow of syrup to the measuring chamber. There is then entrapped in the measuring chamber a fixed charge of syrup and, as the valving member is further moved downwardly, it uncovers the orifice out of which the syrup is discharged into the nozzle. The syrup so discharged is sulficient to make one glass of a carbonated drink. Thus it is evident that every succeeding glass of the carbonated beverage will contain an equal concentration of syrup. The vent tube 23 permits the syrup to flow quickly from the syrupmeasuring chamber.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by thescope oi the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device for mixing a syrup with a carbonated liquid for dispensing a carbonated beverage, a casing, a syrup tank mounted in said casing having a base member resting thereon, a cup-like member adapted to receive syrup from said syrup tank and to slide within said base member between a closed and a discharge position, a discharge orifice in said cup-like member, a spring biasin said cup-like member to a closed position, pressure actuated means responsive to the pressure of the carbonated liquid for moving said cup-like member to a discharge position, valving means cooperating with said cup-like member to effect the opening and the closing of said discharge orifice including an upper valve movable downwardlyby gravity for restricting the flow of syrup to said cup-like member, a lower valve for covering and uncovering said discharge orifice, a vent tube communicating with said cuplike member and a centering unit having an arm contacting the inner wall of said cup-like member for guiding the travel of said first and second valves, said first and second valves being arranged in fixed relation to each other so that in their movement toward a discharge position said first valve will seat ahead of said second valve opening thereby metering a quantity of syrup before discharging it from said cup-like member, and valve-release means for controlling I the flow of carbonated liquid to said pressureactuated means whereby said carbonated liquid will cause said cup-like means to move toward discharge position first entrapping a metered amount of syrup in said cup-like means and then discharging the syrup into a nozzle for mixing with the carbonated liquid.

2. A device for mixing a syrup with a carbonated liquid for dispensing a carbonated beverage comprising a casing having a syrup tank mounted in an upper portion thereof, a mixing head housin mounted below said tank, a discharge head F slidable within said housing between upper and lower position, said discharge head including a cup-like member arranged to receive syrup from said tank, said tank including a port opening into said cup, a gravity-actuated port-closing member movable into port-closin position, said cup-like member having an opening in the face thereof, an elongated valve member rigidly secured to said port-closing member and projecting downwardly therefrom into proximity with said cup opening, said valve member being of such 1ength that said port-closing member is seated on said port to close the same and said cup openin is free from said valve member when said discharge head is in said lower position and said portclosing member is lifted off of said port and said cup member when said discharge head is in upper position, said discharge head also including.

a guide arm secured to said port-closing member and to said elongated valve being in contact with said cup-like member for guiding movement of said port-closing member and said valve for seating thereof, and a nozzle portion below said cup-like member into which the syrup flows when said cup opening is free from said valve member, and means for conducting a carbonated liquid into said nozzle portion, valve means for interrupting the flow of carbonated liquid to said nozzle portion and means responsive to the flow of carbonated liquid to said nozzle portion 7 for: moving said discharges. head. fromdtsisaid upper position to its said lower-position;

3. In a liquid and fluid mixing dispenser control head including asreceptaclefor containing augiven charge of liquid: to be mixed with the fluid and havinga discharge opening, fluid .pressure responsive plunger valve means extending into said receptacle and. cooperable with said opening including means bearing against and centered by the wallof .said receptacle for guidingthe plunger valvezmeans upon relative lengthwise. movement' as between same and the receptacle in themixingof the liquid and fluid and in the charging of the:receptacle with liquid.

4. In a liquid and fluidmixing dispenser control head including a receptacle for containing a givenncharge; of liquid. to be mixed with the fluid andhaving a; discharge opening; fluid pressure responsive plunger valve means extending intosaid; receptacle 1 and c'ooperablewith said opening including; means bearing against and centered by the Wall of said receptacle for guiding the plunger-valve means upon relative lengthwise movement as between sameand the receptacle', said plunger valve means carrying a vent tube in communication with the atmosphere for venting said receptacle.

FRANK E. SANBORN.

REFERTEN'CES' CITED Theifollowing referencesare of record inithe file of this patent:

UNITEDv STATES PATENTS Cramer .Nov. 23. 1948

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