Beverage dispensing valve

• US 5,607,083 A
• Filed: 05/01/1995
• Issued: 03/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IMI Cornelius Incorporated (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: IMI Cornelius Incorporated (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Henry, Paul J., Mertes, William G., Vogel, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson, Gregory L.
• Application Number:
  US08/122,602
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 222/129.1-129.4, 222/564, 239/590.5
• US Class Current: 222/129.1
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0044 for mixing inside the dispensing nozzle
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0048 with baffles
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/005 with means for converging streams
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0085 electro-mechanical
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/12 Flow or pressure control devices or systems , e.g. valves, gas pressure control, level control in storage containers

Abstract

A post-mix beverage dispensing valve is shown that provides for assembly thereof substantially manually. This easy assembly is provided for by a plurality of snap fitting component structures. A nozzle is also shown that provides for higher flow rates. Lever operated and electronic operated embodiments of the valve are also shown. The valve is also particularly designed to provide for an electronic switch/control module separate from the valve housing cover. The valve further includes improved banjo valves and accompanying seat structures to provide for increased fluid flow and for fluid flow that is less turbulent.

Claims

1. A post-mix beverage dispensing valve, comprising:

a main valve body having a rear end for releasable connecting to sources of liquid beverage components, and a front end opposite therefrom, the main body having a plurality of beverage channels extending there through from the rear end to a nozzle adjacent the front end, and the main body having a banjo valve in each channel, and the main body having means for snap fitting securing of a solenoid thereto, the solenoid for operating the banjo valves so that the beverage components can flow from the sources thereof to the nozzle for dispensing therefrom into a suitable container;

a base plate for snap fitting securing to a bottom surface of the main body;

a housing cover for slideable engaging with the base plate;

an access cover for snap fitting engaging with the base plate and the housing cover for forming an interlocking cover around the main body.

2. The valve as defined in claim 1, and the base plate having a hole having a pivotal support for receiving a lever arm for pivotal suspending of the arm from the base plate, and the main body having a switch receiving pocket for snap fitting receiving of a valve operating switch therein, and the switch contacted by the arm for operating the solenoid.

3. The valve as defined in claim 2, and including a flow control unit for controlling the flow of each beverage component and the control unit releasably securable to the beverage channels of the main body.

4. The valve as defined in claim 1, and the solenoid secured to the main body on the front end thereof and positioned thereon above the base plate so that an electronics retaining space is formed between the solenoid and the base plate.

5. The valve as defined in claim 4, and the base plate having means for releasably retaining an electronics drawer in the electronics retaining space, the drawer for holding an electronic circuit, the circuit connected to the solenoid and an electrical power source for controlling the operation of the valve.

6. The valve as defined in claim 5, and the circuit being of the portion control type and the drawer having a front surface for retaining a plurality of drink size selection switches thereon, and the access cover adapted to retain the drawer in the retaining space, to permit easy access to and operation of the size selection switches and to permit removal thereof from the base plate and housing cover without requiring removal of the drawer and associated circuit from the electronics retaining space.

7. A banjo valve retaining cavity formed within a valve body for retaining a banjo valve therein, the banjo valve having an operating button, a sealing ring around the button and a flexible bridge securing the button to the ring and an operating arm secured within the button, and the button having an external perimeter surface and the ring having an internal perimeter surface, and the ring and button perimeter surfaces spaced from each other and defining an annular space them between, and the button further having a flat seating surface, and the valve body having an inlet channel in fluid communication with a proximal end of the valve cavity and an outlet channel in fluid communication with a distal end of the valve cavity, and the inlet channel connectable to a source of a liquid, the valve cavity comprising:

complimentary ring retaining grooves in the proximal and distal cavities for sealably retaining the banjo valve ring therein;

the proximal cavity end having a fiat seating surface extending around the outlet channel for cooperating with the fiat seating surface of the button, and the proximal cavity end having a smooth concave surface extending around the proximal cavity seating surface externally thereof, and the concave surface having a width extending substantially from the ring internal perimeter surface to the button external perimeter surface.

8. The valve cavity as defined in claim 7, and the proximal cavity end having an enlarged portion extending from the inlet channel to the ring groove thereof, and the enlarged portion having a smooth arcuate surface.

9. A beverage dispensing valve, comprising:

a main valve body having a rear end for releasable connecting to sources of liquid beverage components, and a front end opposite therefrom, the main body having one or more beverage channels extending there through from the rear end to a nozzle extending from a bottom end of the main body, and the main body having valve means in each one or more channel,

valve operating means for operating the one or more valve means to open and close so that the beverage components can flow from the sources thereof to the nozzle for dispensing therefrom into a suitable container,

a base plate for snap fitting securing to the bottom end of the main body,

a housing cover for slideable engaging with the base plate,

an access cover for snap fitting engaging with the base plate adjacent to and along the main body front end and the base plate, housing cover and access cover forming an interlocking valve cover defining a substantially closed interior volume extending around the main body.

10. The valve as defined in claim 9, and the base plate having a hole having a pivotal support for receiving a lever arm for pivotal suspending of the arm from the base plate, and the main body having a switch receiving pocket for snap fitting receiving of a valve operating switch therein, and the switch contacted by the arm for operating the solenoid.

11. The valve as defined in claim 9, and including a flow control unit for controlling the flow of each beverage component and the control unit manually releasably securable to the one or more beverage channels of the main body.

12. The valve as defined in claim 9, and the base plate having means for slidably retaining an electronics drawer along a top surface thereof, the drawer for holding an electronic circuit, the circuit connected to the solenoid and an electrical power source for controlling the operation of the valve operating means.

13. The valve as defined in claim 9, and the base plate having means for slidably retaining an electronics drawer along a top surface thereof, the drawer for holding an electronic circuit, the circuit connected to the solenoid and an electrical power source for controlling the operation of the valve operating means and the electronics drawer receivable on the base plate top surface prior to the interlocking of the access cover with the base plate and housing cover for retaining the electronics drawer within the interior volume of the interlocking valve cover.

14. The valve as defined in claim 13, and the electronics drawer having a front surface for retaining one or more user operable switches for providing inputs to the electronic control, and the electronics drawer front surface substantially adjacent to and co-extensive with a front surface of the access cover wherein the access cover front surface has a recess area having a perimeter substantially coextensive with and slightly overlapping of a perimeter of the electronics drawer front surface for retaining and substantially sealing the electronics drawer within the interlocking valve cover interior volume while permitting direct user access to the one or more switches.

15. The valve as defined in claim 9, and the valve operating means comprising a solenoid and the valve main body have means for snap fitting retaining of the solenoid.

16. The valve as defined in claim 15, and the base plate having a hole having a pivotal support for receiving a lever arm for pivotal suspending of the arm from the base plate, and the main body having a switch receiving pocket for snap fitting receiving of a valve operating switch therein, and the switch contacted by the arm for operating the solenoid.

17. The valve as defined in claim 16, and including a flow control unit for controlling the flow of each beverage component and the control unit manually releasably securable to the one or more beverage channels of the main body.

18. The valve as defined in claim 17, and the base plate having means for slidably retaining an electronics drawer along a top surface thereof, the drawer for holding an electronic circuit, the circuit connected to the solenoid and an electrical power source for controlling the operation of the valve operating means.

19. The valve as defined in claim 17, and the base plate having means for slidably retaining an electronics drawer along a top surface thereof, the drawer for holding an electronic circuit, the circuit connected to the solenoid and an electrical power source for controlling the operation of the valve operating means and the electronics drawer receivable on the base plate top surface prior to the interlocking of the access cover with the base plate and housing cover for retaining the electronics drawer within the interior volume of the interlocking valve cover.

20. The valve as defined in claim 19, and the electronics drawer having a front surface for retaining one or more user operable switches for providing inputs to the electronic control, and the electronics drawer front surface substantially adjacent to and co-extensive with a front surface of the access cover wherein the access cover front surface has a recess area having a perimeter substantially coextensive with and slightly overlapping of a perimeter of the electronics drawer front surface for retaining and substantially sealing the electronics drawer within the interlocking valve cover interior volume while permitting direct user access to the one or more switches.

21. A beverage dispensing valve, comprising:

a main valve body having a rear end for releasable connecting to sources of liquid beverage components, and a front end opposite therefrom, the main body having one or more beverage channels extending there through from the rear end to a nozzle adjacent extending from a bottom end of the main body, and the main body having valve means in each one or more channel, and

a solenoid for operating the one or more valve means to open and close so that the beverage components can flow from the sources thereof to the nozzle for dispensing therefrom into a suitable container, and the valve main body have means for snap fitting retaining of the solenoid thereto.

22. The valve as defined in claim 21, and further including a base plate for snap fitting securing to the bottom end of the main body, and the base plate having a hole having a pivotal support for receiving a lever arm for pivotal suspending of the arm from the base plate, and the main body having a switch receiving pocket for snap fitting receiving of a valve operating switch therein, and the switch contacted by the arm for operating the solenoid.

23. The valve as defined in claim 22, and further including a housing cover for slideable engaging with the base plate,

an access cover for snap fitting engaging with the base plate and the housing cover for forming an interlocking cover defining a substantially closed interior volume extending around the main body.

24. The valve as defined in claim 23, and the base plate having means for slidably retaining an electronics drawer along a top surface thereof, the drawer for holding an electronic circuit, the circuit connected to the solenoid and an electrical power source for controlling the operation of the valve operating means and the electronics drawer receivable on the base plate top surface prior to the interlocking of the access cover with the base plate and housing cover for retaining the electronics drawer within the interior volume of the interlocking valve cover.

25. The valve as defined in claim 24, and the electronics drawer having a front surface for retaining one or more user operable switches for providing inputs to the electronic control, and the electronics drawer front surface substantially adjacent to and co-extensive with a front surface of the access cover wherein the access cover front surface has a recess area having a perimeter substantially coextensive with and slightly overlapping of a perimeter of the electronics drawer front surface for retaining and substantially sealing the electronics drawer within the interlocking valve cover interior volume while permitting direct user access to the one or more switches.

26. A beverage dispensing valve, comprising:

a main valve body having a rear end for releasable connecting to sources of liquid beverage components, and a front end opposite therefrom, the main body having one or more beverage channels extending there through from the rear end to a nozzle adjacent extending from a bottom end of the main body, and the main body having valve means in each one or more channel, and

a solenoid for operating the one or more valve means to open and close so that the beverage components can flow from the sources thereof to the nozzle for dispensing into a suitable container, and a base plate for snap fitting securing to the bottom end of the main body, and the base plate having a hole having a pivotal support for receiving a lever arm for pivotal suspending of the arm from the base plate, and the main body having a switch receiving pocket for snap fitting receiving of a valve operating switch therein, and the switch contacted by the arm for operating the solenoid.

27. The valve as defined in claim 26, and further including means for providing snap fitting retaining of the solenoid to the valve main body.

28. The valve as defined in claim 26, and further including a housing cover for slideable engaging with the base plate, and an access cover for snap fitting engaging with the base plate and the housing cover for forming an interlocking cover defining a substantially closed interior volume extending around the main body.

29. The valve as defined in claim 28, and the base plate having means for slidably retaining an electronics drawer along a top surface thereof, the drawer for holding an electronic circuit, the circuit connected to the solenoid and an electrical power source for controlling the operation of the valve operating means and the electronics drawer receivable on the base plate top surface prior to the interlocking of the access cover with the base plate and housing cover for retaining the electronics drawer within the interior volume of the interlocking valve cover.

30. The valve as defined in claim 29, and the electronics drawer having a front surface for retaining one or more user operable switches for providing inputs to the electronic control, and the electronics drawer front surface substantially adjacent to and co-extensive with a front surface of the access cover wherein the access cover front surface has a recess area having a perimeter substantially coextensive with and slightly overlapping of a perimeter of the electronics drawer from surface for retaining and substantially sealing the electronics drawer within the interlocking valve cover interior volume while permitting direct user access to the one or more switches.