Apparatus for making or dispensing drinks
First Claim
1. A device for discharging metered quantities of liquid concentrate comprising a housing having wall means defining a hollow interior, a flexible member dividing the interior of the housing into a first chamber and a second chamber, inlet valve means in communication with the first chamber for permitting flow of concentrate therethrough into the first chamber when the inlet valve means is open and the inlet valve being closeable to resist reverse flow of concentrate therethrough, outlet valve means in communication with the first chamber for discharging concentrate therefrom, and gas inlet means in communication with the second chamber for the supply of gas thereto for pressurization of said hollow interior to cause said flexible member to flex so as to discharge concentrate from the first chamber through said outlet valve means, said outlet valve means comprising an opening in a first portion of said wall means and a valve head carried by a second portion of said wall means, said first and second portions of said wall means being relatively movable for effecting relative movement of the valve head and the valve opening, and being resiliently biased to a first relative position in which the opening is closed by the valve head and being arranged to move in response to said pressurization to a second relative position in which the outlet valve means is open.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for producing carbonation flavoured drinks has a number of features. Water introduced to a water break from the mains supply holds a value open whilst the carbonation chamber is being filled. A concentrate supply includes a metering chamber into which concentrate flows under gravity and from which concentrate is discharged by gas pressure. The concentrate containers include means to indicate the type of concentrate therein and the degree of carbonation of water is controlled by detecting this indication. Change-over from one gas supply bottle to another is achieved utilising the pressure of the gas in the bottle to displace an element which effects the change-over. Concentrate in supply containers thereof is cooled by coolant used from cooling the carbonation chamber.
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Citations
11 Claims
- 1. A device for discharging metered quantities of liquid concentrate comprising a housing having wall means defining a hollow interior, a flexible member dividing the interior of the housing into a first chamber and a second chamber, inlet valve means in communication with the first chamber for permitting flow of concentrate therethrough into the first chamber when the inlet valve means is open and the inlet valve being closeable to resist reverse flow of concentrate therethrough, outlet valve means in communication with the first chamber for discharging concentrate therefrom, and gas inlet means in communication with the second chamber for the supply of gas thereto for pressurization of said hollow interior to cause said flexible member to flex so as to discharge concentrate from the first chamber through said outlet valve means, said outlet valve means comprising an opening in a first portion of said wall means and a valve head carried by a second portion of said wall means, said first and second portions of said wall means being relatively movable for effecting relative movement of the valve head and the valve opening, and being resiliently biased to a first relative position in which the opening is closed by the valve head and being arranged to move in response to said pressurization to a second relative position in which the outlet valve means is open.
Specification