Multi-fluid flow control device

• US 5,449,023 A
• Filed: 08/12/1994
• Issued: 09/12/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert K. Cleland
• Original Assignee: Robert L. Cleland
• Inventors: Boettcher, William C., Cleland, Robert K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hepperle, Stephen M.
• Application Number:
  US08/289,543
• Time in Patent Office: 396 Days
• Field of Search: 137/597, 137/607, 137/595, 137/625.49, 137/625.5, 137/630.2, 137/630.22, 137/625.46
• US Class Current: 137/597
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/07 Cleaning beverage-dispensing apparatus B67D1/0834, B67D1/0837 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86879 Reciprocating valve unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8704 First valve actuates second valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87249 Multiple inlet with multiple outlet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87692 With common valve operator

Abstract

A multi-fluid flow control device comprising an elongate horizontal body with front and rear ends, a fluid-conducting chamber in the rear end portion of the body, fluid inlet and outlet openings communicating with the chamber, an elongate bore in the body between the chamber and the front end thereof, and, water inlet and outlet ports communicating with the bore; an elongate valve part with front and rear ends and a transverse water transfer passage with laterally opening upstream and downstream ends and slidably engaged in the bore and shiftable longitudinally therein from a rear position where the upstream and downstream ends of the passage register with the inlet and outlet ports to direct water entering the inlet port out through the outlet port and a forward position where said ends of the passage are out of register with said ports and water entering the inlet port is directed rearwardly through the bore in and into the chamber; a central opening in the valve part between the front end thereof and the passage therein, an elongate valve stem with front and rear ends threadedly engaged in the central opening and having a valve head at its rear end to enter the passage and a manually engageable operating knob at its rear end.

Claims

1. A multi-fluid flow control device comprising an elongate body with front and rear ends, oppositely disposed upper and lower sides and oppositely disposed lateral sides, a liquid conducting chamber within the rear portion of the body, liquid inlet and outlet openings entering the exterior of the body and communicating with the chamber, means to connect the liquid inlet and outlet openings with liquid supply and delivery means, an elongate bore opening entering the front end of the body and communicating with the chamber, water inlet and outlet ports entering sides of the body and communicating with the bore opening between the ends thereof, means to connect the inlet and outlet ports with a water supply means and with a water delivery means, an elongate valve part with front and rear ends and a water transfer passage with upstream and downstream ends between its ends, front and rear seals carried by the valve part forward and rearward of the water transfer passage and sealing between the valve part and the bore opening, said valve part is shiftable longitudinally in the bore opening between a rear position where the rear seal is positioned in the bore opening between the chamber and the water inlet and outlet ports and the upstream and downstream ends of the passage are aligned with the inlet and outlet ports and a forward position where the ends of the passage are out of alignment with the water inlet and outlet ports and the rear seal is positioned forward of the water inlet port and communication is established between the water inlet port and the chamber through that portion of the bore opening between the inlet port and the chamber.

2. The multi-fluid flow control device set forth in claim 1 wherein the liquid inlet opening in the body is defined by an upwardly opening socket;

a liquid supply including a container having a depending discharge spout entered into the socket opening and a normally closed check valve in the spout; and

, a check valve actuating means including parts pivotally carried by the body and engageable with and between the check valve and the valve part and operating to move the check valve from its normal closed position to an open position when the valve part is in its rear position.

3. The multi-fluid flow control device set forth in claim 2 wherein the check valve includes a vertically moveable valve member accessible at the lower end of the spout, said check valve actuating means includes a crank pivotally carried by the body and including a first forwardly moveable arm engageable with the rear end of the valve part and a second upwardly moveable arm engageable with the valve member.

4. The multi-fluid flow control device set forth in claim 1 that further includes metering valve means to meter the flow of water flowing through the transfer passage, said metering valve means includes a valve seat in the transfer passage, an elongate central opening entering the forward end of the valve part and communicating with the transfer passage, an elongate valve stem with a central threaded portion threadedly engaged in the central opening and having a valve head at its rear end moveable longitudinally of the central opening and into and out of engagement in the passage and with the valve seat therein.

5. The multi-fluid flow control device set forth in claim 4 wherein the front end of the valve part has a radially outwardly projecting manually engageable handle forward of the front end of the body, and wherein the forward end of the stem has an operating knob that occurs forward of the handle.

6. The multi-fluid flow control device set forth in claim 5 that further includes an annular seal between the valve stem and the central opening forward of the transfer passage and valve head.

7. The multi-fluid flow control device set forth in claim 5 that further includes an annular seal between the valve stem and the central opening forward of the transfer passage and valve head;

the liquid inlet opening in the body defines a socket opening;

a liquid supply including a container having a discharge spout entered into the socket opening, a normally closed check valve in the spout; and

, a check valve actuating means including parts pivotally carried by the body and engageable with and between the check valve and the valve part and operating to move the check valve from its normal closed position to an open position when the valve part is in its rear position.

8. The multi-fluid flow control device set forth in claim 5 that further includes an annular seal between the valve stem and the central opening forward of the transfer passage and valve head;

the liquid inlet opening in the body defines a socket opening;

a liquid supply including a container having an elongate discharge spout with an axially opening end portion entered into the socket opening and a normally closed check valve in the spout; and

, a check valve actuating means including parts pivotally carried by the body and engageable with and between the check valve and the valve part and operating to move the check valve from its normal closed position to an open position when the valve part is in its rear position;

the check valve includes a valve member movable axially within and accessible at the open end of the spout, said check valve actuating means includes a crank pivotally carried by the body and including a first forwardly and rearwardly moveable arm engageable with the rear end of the valve part and a second arm movable axially relative to the spout and engageable with the valve member.