Dispenser and pressure/vacuum converting machine
First Claim
1. A pressure/vacuum converting machine for converting an input force from an expandable bladder into at least one pneumatic actuation force, the converting machine comprising a pressure vessel adapted to receive at least a portion of the bladder therein and defining a gas volume not occupied by the bladder within the vessel, the gas volume of the pressure vessel decreasing as the bladder expands thereby increasing the gas pressure in the gas volume, a pneumatic actuator in fluid communication with the gas volume of the pressure vessel such that pressure in the gas volume drives operation of the pneumatic actuator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pressure/vacuum converting machine converts a positive fluid pressure input into positive and negative fluid pressure outputs. The machine also stores energy from the positive fluid pressure input for driving additional fluid pressure outputs. In one application, the pressure/vacuum converter forms a part of a dispensing machine which employs the pressure of water delivered to the machine into positive and negative air pressures used to dispense a beverage.
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Citations
43 Claims
- 1. A pressure/vacuum converting machine for converting an input force from an expandable bladder into at least one pneumatic actuation force, the converting machine comprising a pressure vessel adapted to receive at least a portion of the bladder therein and defining a gas volume not occupied by the bladder within the vessel, the gas volume of the pressure vessel decreasing as the bladder expands thereby increasing the gas pressure in the gas volume, a pneumatic actuator in fluid communication with the gas volume of the pressure vessel such that pressure in the gas volume drives operation of the pneumatic actuator.
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22. A fluent material dispenser powered by fluent material from a source of fluent material under pressure to act upon a flexible container to dispense fluent material used to power the dispenser, the fluent material dispenser comprising:
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a first pressure vessel sized and shaped to receive a first portion of the flexible container therein in sealing relation with the flexible container first portion;
a second pressure vessel sized and shaped to receive a second portion of the flexible container therein in sealing relation with the flexible container second portion to define a gas volume within the second pressure vessel;
a valve for selectively connecting the second portion of the flexible container to the source of fluent material under pressure such that the second portion is capable of expanding into the second pressure vessel to reduce the gas volume and increase the gas pressure in the second pressure vessel;
a pneumatic actuator in fluid communication with the gas volume of the second pressure vessel and adapted for employing energy from the increased gas pressure caused by expansion of the second portion into the second pressure vessel to deflect the first portion and move fluent material within the first portion, and to store energy to act on the second portion of the flexible container to displace fluent material therefrom when the valve is closed whereby fluent material is dispensed. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method for dispensing fluent material using the pressure of fluent material from a source of fluent material under pressure, the method comprising:
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admitting fluent material under pressure into an elastic first bladder such that the first bladder expands in volume;
converting expansion of the elastic bladder into positive gas pressure;
driving a pneumatic actuator with the positive gas pressure to effect one of expansion and compression of an elastic second bladder to move fluent material within the second bladder;
storing energy from the positive gas pressure;
shutting off admission of fluent material under pressure into the first bladder;
driving the pneumatic actuator with the stored energy to compress the first bladder and to effect the other of expansion and compression of the second bladder for use in dispensing fluent material. - View Dependent Claims (38)
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- 39. A pneumatic valve system comprising a valve including a cylinder and a piston biased to one of a valve open position and a valve closed position, a pneumatic actuator in fluid communication with the valve for applying at least one of a positive and negative pressure to the valve, the actuator being connected to the valve to move the piston against its bias to the other of the valve open and valve closed positions upon application of said one pressure.
Specification