U.S. patent application number 11/205710 was filed with the patent office on 2006-07-20 for dosing valve with flow rate sensor for a beverage dispenser.
Invention is credited to Linda Barker, Paul Barker, Keith James Heyes, Martin Stanley Johnson, Steven Maulder, Phillip Andrew Simmons.
Application Number | 20060157504 11/205710 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 10853013 |
Filed Date | 2006-07-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060157504 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Barker; Paul ; et
al. |
July 20, 2006 |
Dosing valve with flow rate sensor for a beverage dispenser
Abstract
A beverage dispenser to provide a plurality of different
flavours with accurate mixing control comprises a housing (40, 42,
44) containing a diluent valve (46A, 46B) and at least two
concentrate valves (48A, B, C, D), each valve having its own inlet
(12) and outlet (14), characterised in that all the outlets (14)
lead to a single dispense nozzle (50A, B, C), a flow rate sensor
(16) is provided for each valve, the flow rate sensors (16) being
connected to a controller (54), and a setting mechanism (52A, B, C,
D, E, F) is provided to open and close each valve, the controller
(54) operating the setting mechanisms whereby one concentrate valve
and the diluent valve may be opened to dispense a particular
beverage and, in response to the sensed flow rates through those
opened valves, controlling the degree of opening of those valves to
achieve a predetermined diluent to concentrate ratio for the
beverage mixture in the dispense nozzle (50A, B, C).
Inventors: |
Barker; Paul; (Evesham,
GB) ; Barker; Linda; (Evesham, GB) ; Heyes;
Keith James; (Barnt Green, GB) ; Johnson; Martin
Stanley; (Leamington Spa, GB) ; Maulder; Steven;
(Redditch, GB) ; Simmons; Phillip Andrew;
(Alcester, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PYLE & PIONTEK
221 N. LASELLE STREET
SUITE 850
CHICAGO
IL
60601
US
|
Family ID: |
10853013 |
Appl. No.: |
11/205710 |
Filed: |
August 17, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09980912 |
Jun 30, 2003 |
6962270 |
|
|
PCT/GB00/01732 |
May 5, 2000 |
|
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11205710 |
Aug 17, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
222/129.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G05D 11/132
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/129.1 |
International
Class: |
B67D 5/56 20060101
B67D005/56 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 8, 1999 |
GB |
GB9910607.2 |
Claims
1-15. (canceled)
16. A beverage dispenser comprising; a dispense nozzle; a diluent
valve for fluid coupling a supply of diluent for flow to said
dispense nozzle; at least two concentrate valves, each having for
fluid coupling an associated supply of concentrate to said dispense
nozzle; a controller; a plurality of fluid flow sensing means, each
for sensing fluid flow through an associated one of said valves and
each coupled to said controller for providing to said controller
indications of fluid flow through said valves; and a plurality of
valve operating means, each controllable to progressively operate
an associated one of said valves between a valve closed position
and a valve open position and all positions therebetween to provide
selected fluid flows through said valves, said controller being
coupled to said plurality of valve operating means to control the
same to progressively operate said diluent valve and a selected one
of said concentrate valves to deliver flows of diluent and
concentrate to said dispense nozzle, said controller, in response
to indications of the sensed flows of concentrate and diluent
through the operated valves, controlling at least one of said valve
operating means associated with the operated valves in accordance
with diluent to concentrate fluid flow ratios to be delivered
through the operated valves to said dispense nozzle.
17. A beverage dispenser as in claim 16, wherein said controller,
in response to indications of the sensed fluid flows through the
operated valves, controls said valve operating means associated
with each of the operated valves to control fluid flows through the
operated valves in accordance with diluent to concentrate fluid
flows to be delivered to said dispense nozzle.
18. A beverage dispenser as in claim 16, wherein said controller,
in response to indications of the sensed fluid flows through the
operated valves, controls said valve operating means associated
with said diluent valve to control diluent flow through said
diluent valve in accordance with diluent to concentrate fluid flow
ratios to be delivered to said dispense nozzle.
19. A beverage dispenser as in claim 16, wherein said controller,
in response to indications of the sensed fluid flows through the
operated valves, controls said valve operating means associated
with said operated concentrate valve to control concentrate flow
through said operated concentrate valve in accordance with diluent
to concentrate fluid flow ratios to be delivered to said dispense
nozzle.
20. A beverage dispenser as in claim 16, wherein said plurality of
fluid flow sensing means comprises a plurality of fluid flow rate
sensing means.
21. A beverage dispenser as in claim 16, wherein said plurality of
fluid flow sensing means comprises a plurality of fluid volumetric
flow sensing means
22. A beverage dispenser as in claim 16, wherein at least one of
said plurality of valve operating means comprises a stepper
motor.
23. A beverage dispenser as in claim 18, wherein at least one of
said stepper motors are of the pulsed, magnetically driven
type.
24. A beverage dispenser as in claim 16, wherein at least one of
said plurality of valve operating means comprises a proportional
solenoid actuator.
25. A beverage dispenser as in claim 16, wherein at least one of
said plurality of valve operating means comprises a diaphragm
operated mechanism.
26. A beverage dispenser as in claim 16, wherein said plurality of
valve operating means comprises the sole means for operating said
diluent and concentrate valves.
27. A beverage dispenser as in claim 16, wherein each said diluent
and concentrate valve includes a fluid flow passage and a flow
control member movable in said fluid flow passage from a first
position in which the valve is fully closed to a second position in
which the valve is fully open and to all positions therebetween,
said flow control member progressively controlling the degree of
opening of the valve to flow of fluid therethrough as it moves from
said first to said second position, said plurality of valve
operating means each being coupled to the flow control member of
its associated valve for moving the flow control member to provide
selected fluid flows through said valves.
28. A beverage dispenser as in claim 27, wherein each said diluent
and concentrate valve includes one or more grooves in its fluid
flow passage that have a cross-sectional area that decreases in a
downstream direction along the flow passage, said plurality of
valve operating means, when moving a flow control member of a
valve, causing fluid to flow through the one or more grooves in the
flow passage and controlling the flow of fluid through the valve by
adjustably controlling the cross-sectional area of the one or more
grooves through which fluid flows.
29. A beverage dispenser as in claim 28, wherein said at least one
groove is of tapering V-shape.
30. A beverage dispenser as in claim 16, wherein at least one of
said plurality of fluid flow sensing means comprises a flow
turbine.
31. A beverage dispenser as in claim 16, wherein said fluid flow
sensing means for said at least two concentrate valves comprises
flow turbines.
32. A beverage dispenser as in claim 16, wherein said flow sensing
means for said diluent valve comprises a flow turbine.
33. A beverage dispenser as in claim 16, wherein each of said fluid
flow sensing means comprises a flow turbine.
34. A beverage dispenser as in claim 16, wherein at least one of
said diluent and concentrate valves comprises a housing having an
inlet, an outlet, a fluid flow passageway extending between said
inlet and outlet, and a closure member adjustably movable in said
passageway by the associated valve operating means from a first
position of said closure member in which said valve is closed to a
second position in which said valve is open and to all positions
therebetween to control, by movement of said closure member, the
degree of opening of said valve.
35. A beverage dispenser as in claim 34, wherein in said first
position said closure member engages a wall of said passageway to
seal said passageway and one of said wall of said passageway and
said closure member define at least one groove having a transverse
cross-sectional area that decreases in the downstream direction,
whereby movement of said closure member from said first position
toward said second position opens a cross-sectional flow area
through said at least one groove that increases in accordance with
the extent of movement of said closure member.
36. A beverage dispenser as in claim 35, wherein said at least one
groove is of tapering V-shape.
37. A beverage dispenser as in claim 16, wherein at least one of
said diluent and concentrate valves comprises a housing having an
inlet, an outlet, a passageway between said inlet and outlet, a
seat in said passageway and a poppet adjustably movable in said
passageway by said associated valve operating means from a first
position in which said poppet is moved against said seat and said
valve is closed to a second position in which said poppet is moved
away from said seat and said valve is open and to all positions
therebetween to control the degree of opening of said valve.
38. A beverage dispenser as in claim 16, wherein said at least two
concentrate valves comprise at least four concentrate valves and
including a second diluent valve, said plurality of fluid flow
sensing means sensing fluid flow through said second diluent valve
and said plurality of valve operating means operating said second
diluent valve, said controller progressively operating a selected
one of said diluent valves and a selected one of said concentrate
valves to deliver flows of diluent and concentrate to said dispense
nozzle.
39. A beverage dispensing system, comprising: diluent and
concentrate supply lines; and a flow control assembly for
connection with supplies of diluent and concentrate: connections
for connecting with said diluent and concentrate supply lines, a
first valve for controlling the flow rate of the diluent, a second
valve for controlling the flow rate of the concentrate selected
from among a plurality of concentrates, means for identifying the
selected concentrate, a first sensor used to determine an actual
flow rate of the diluent from said first valve, a second sensor
used to determine an actual flow rate of the concentrate from said
second valve, and a controller for controlling said first and
second valves based on an identification of the selected
concentrate and information received from said first and second
sensors, wherein based on an identification of the selected
concentrate, said controller determines a concentrate flow rate of
the selected concentrate and a ratio of the flow rates of the
diluent and concentrate, thereby determining a diluent flow rate of
the diluent, said controller controlling said first valve to
dispense the diluent at the diluent flow rate and controlling said
second valve to dispense the concentrate at the concentrate flow
rate.
40. A beverage dispensing system as in claim 39, said first valve
including a first valve member for controlling the flow rate of the
diluent, said second valve including a second valve member for
controlling the flow rate of the concentrate, said controller
moving said first and second valve members between valve closed
positions and valve open positions and all positions therebetween
based on information from said first and second sensors, wherein
based on an identification of the selected concentrate, said
controller determines a concentrate flow rate of the selected
concentrate and a ratio of the flow rates of the diluent and
concentrate, thereby determining a diluent flow rate of the
diluent, said controller controlling said first valve member to
dispense the diluent at the diluent flow rate and controlling said
second valve member to dispense the concentrate at the concentrate
flow rate.
41. Apparatus for dispensing a beverage, comprising: means for
flowing diluent to a dispensing nozzle; means for flowing
concentrate to said dispensing nozzle; means for sensing the flows
of the diluent and concentrate to said dispensing nozzle; and
means, responsive to said sensing means, for controlling the flow
of at least one of the diluent and concentrate for all flows of the
same from zero flow to a maximum flow and all flows therebetween,
to control the ratio of the flows of diluent and concentrate to
said dispensing nozzle.
42. Apparatus as in claim 41, wherein said means for controlling
the flow of at least one of the diluent and concentrate controls
the flow of the diluent.
43. Apparatus as in claim 41, wherein said means for controlling
the flow of at least one of the diluent and concentrate controls
the flow of the concentrate.
44. Apparatus as in claim 41, wherein said means for controlling
the flow of at least one of the diluent and concentrate controls
the flow of both the diluent and concentrate.
45. Apparatus as in claim 41, wherein said means for flowing
diluent to said dispensing nozzle comprises means for flowing one
of at least two diluents to said dispensing nozzle and said means
for flowing concentrate to said dispensing nozzle comprises means
for flowing one of at least four concentrates to said dispensing
nozzle.
46. A method of dispensing a beverage, comprising the steps of:
flowing diluent to a dispense nozzle; flowing concentrate to the
dispense nozzle; sensing the flows of diluent and concentrate to
the dispense nozzle; controlling, in response to said sensing step,
at least one of said flowing steps for all flows of diluent and
concentrate progressively from a zero flow to a maximum flow and
all flows therebetween to provide a desired flow ratio of diluent
and concentrate to the dispense nozzle.
47. A method as in claim 46, wherein said controlling step controls
the flow of the diluent to the dispense nozzle.
48. A method as in claim 46, wherein said controlling step controls
the flow of the concentrate to the dispense nozzle.
49. A method as in claim 46, wherein said controlling step controls
the flow of both diluent and concentrate to the dispense
nozzle.
50. A method as in claim 46, wherein said step of flowing diluent
flows a selected one of two diluents to the dispense nozzle and
said step of flowing concentrate flows a selected one of at least
four concentrates to the dispense nozzle.
51. A method as in claim 46, wherein said flowing diluent step
comprises flowing diluent through a diluent valve to the dispense
nozzle, said flowing concentrate step comprises flowing concentrate
through a concentrate valve to the dispense nozzle, said sensing
step comprises sensing the flows of diluent and concentrate through
the diluent and concentrate valves, and said controlling step
comprises controlling, in response to said sensing step, a flow
path through at least one of the diluent and concentrate valves
progressively for all flows through the valve from zero flow to a
maximum flow and all flows therebetween to control the ratio of the
flows of diluent and concentrate to the dispensing nozzle.
52. A method as in claim 51, wherein said controlling step controls
the flow path through the diluent valve.
53. A method as in claim 51, wherein said controlling step controls
the flow path through the concentrate valve.
54. A method as in claim 51, wherein said controlling step controls
the flow path through each of the diluent and concentrate
valves.
55. A method as in claim 46, wherein said sensing step senses the
actual flow rates of diluent and concentrate to the dispense
nozzle.
56. A method of dispensing a beverage, comprising the steps of:
fluid coupling diluent through a diluent valve to a dispense
nozzle; fluid coupling concentrate through at least two concentrate
valves to the dispense nozzle; sensing fluid flows through each of
the diluent and concentrate valves; coupling a plurality of valve
operators to individual associated ones of the diluent and
concentrate valves to operate the valves progressively to all
states between a first state in which the valve is closed position
and a second state in which the valve is fully open; controlling
the valve operators to operate the diluent valve and a selected one
of the concentrate valves to flow diluent and concentrate to the
dispense nozzle and, in response to said sensing step, controlling
at least one of the valve operators associated with the operated
valves to control the flow of fluid through the associated valve in
accordance with and to provide a target diluent to concentrate flow
ratio to be flowed to the dispense nozzle.
57. A method of dispensing a beverage, said method comprising the
steps of: selecting a concentrate from among plural concentrates;
determining a target ratio of diluent and concentrate flow rates
based on information corresponding to the selected concentrate;
determining an actual flow rate of the diluent; determining an
actual flow rate of the concentrate; controlling the actual flow
rates of the diluent and concentrate progressively for all flow
rates of the same from a zero flow rate to a maximum flow rate; and
if the actual flow rates of the diluent and the concentrate do not
satisfy the target ratio for diluent and concentrate flow rates,
controlling the actual flow rate of at least one of the diluent and
the concentrate to satisfy the target ratio.
58. A method as in claim 57, wherein said controlling step controls
the actual flow rate of the diluent to satisfy the target
ratio.
59. A method as in claim 57, wherein said controlling step controls
the actual flow rate of the concentrate to satisfy the target
ratio.
60. A method as in claim 57, wherein said controlling step controls
the actual flow rates of each of the diluent and concentrate to
satisfy the target ratio.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to means for the dispensing of
beverages. It is particularly concerned with means to provide a
plurality of different beverages at a single location.
[0002] It is well known to provide beverages by mixing a
concentrate, e.g. a fruit syrup, with a diluent, usually plain or
carbonated water, at the point of sale and, where it is desired to
offer a plurality of different flavours, the equipment required and
the control of the necessary mixing can be complicated and
expensive.
[0003] It is an object of the invention to provide a solution to
this problem whereby a plurality of flavours can be offered with
accurate mixing control at reasonable equipment cost.
[0004] Accordingly, the invention provides a beverage dispenser
comprising a housing containing a diluent valve and at least two
concentrate valves, each valve having its own inlet and outlet and
all the outlets leading to a single dispense nozzle, a flow rate
sensor for each valve, the flow rate sensors being connected to a
controller, and a setting mechanism to open and close each valve,
the control means operating the setting mechanisms whereby one
concentrate valve and the diluent valve may be opened to dispense a
particular beverage and, in response to the sensed flow rates
through those opened valves, controlling the degree of opening of
those valves to achieve a predetermined diluent to concentrate
ratio for the beverage mixture in the dispense nozzle.
[0005] Preferably the housing contains four concentrate valves,
each with its own inlet, outlet, flow rate sensor and setting
mechanism to open and close the valve.
[0006] Preferably the housing contains two diluent valves and the
two diluent lines may conveniently be one for plain water and one
for carbonated water. Thus in combination with the preferred
arrangement of four concentrate valves, a wide range of beverages
may be dispensed from the preferred housing.
[0007] The housing may conveniently be of a modular design whereby
several modules may be grouped together to provide a single
dispense unit having, for example, three modules, each providing a
wide choice of beverages as described above. These beverages may
all be different or some or all may be duplicated whereby two
identical beverages may be served at the same time. It will be
appreciated, therefore, that the grouping together of appropriate
modules can provide considerable flexibility of choice that can be
tailored to the needs of a particular sales outlet.
[0008] The flow rate sensors may be, for example, flow turbines,
and the sensors may measure flow rate directly or by calculation
from another property.
[0009] The setting mechanisms to set the valves to the desired
degree of opening are preferably stepper motors, e.g. of the
pulsed, magnetically driven type, but may, for example, be lever
mechanisms, proportional solenoid actuators or diaphragm operated
mechanisms.
[0010] The valves through which the concentrates and diluents pass
to reach the dispensing nozzle are preferably of the type described
and claimed in our international patent application publication no.
W099/29619. That international application describes and claims a
valve comprising a substantially rigid housing containing a
passageway between an inlet and an outlet of the valve, a closure
member movable in the passageway from a first position in which the
valve is fully closed to a second position in which the valve is
fully open, the closure member engaging the wall of the passageway
to seal the passageway, the wall of the passageway or the closure
member defining at least one groove, the groove having a transverse
cross-section that increases in area in the downstream or upstream
direction, whereby movement of the closure member from the first
position towards the second position opens a flow channel through
the groove. The groove(s) may be, for example, of tapering V-shape
and will, for convenience, hereafter be referred to as "V-grooves"
and the valves of this general type as "V-groove valves", although
it will be appreciated that the grooves may, if desired, have a
different tapering cross-section, e.g. of circular, rectangular or
other shape.
[0011] The progressive increase or decrease in area of the groove
flow channels can produce excellent linear flow through these
V-groove valves, i.e. for a given pressure the flow rate is more
directly proportional to the valve position than for conventional
valves. This enables better control of the flow rate over the
entire operating range of the valve.
[0012] Moreover, we have found that the V-groove arrangement may
lead to reduced carbon dioxide "break out" from carbonated water so
that the carbonation level of the dispensed drink remains at a
satisfactory level. Thus a valve of this type is particularly
beneficial when used in the carbonated water supply of a housing of
the invention.
[0013] The concentrates, e. g. fruit syrups, are preferably cooled
prior to entry to the housing whereas in some conventional
arrangements syrup flow is monitored prior to cooling which
necessitates less desirable placement of the syrup module, thereby
adversely affecting the design of the equipment and its required
electronic controls. By monitoring the flow of the cold syrup we
can mount the complete syrup module in the housing, e.g. in a tower
dispense means, rather than having some of the syrup module housed
more remotely adjacent the cooling means.
[0014] The controller is preferably an electronic controller, e.g.
a microprocessor, and may be programmed to monitor the flow through
the valves in one of several ways in order to achieve the full
desired beverage mixture ratio at the dispense nozzle. For example,
the syrup flow rate may be monitored and used as the "control" rate
whereby the water flow rate is then adjusted accordingly.
Alternatively, the water flow rate may be monitored and used as the
"control" rate and the syrup flow rate adjusted accordingly. In
another alternative embodiment, the two aforesaid ways may in
effect be combined and both rates used to calculate ratios and
either or both flow rates adjusted accordingly.
[0015] Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of
example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in
which:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation in part section of a
valve for use in the invention; and
[0017] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing one specific arrangement
of the dispense means of the invention.
[0018] In FIG. 1 a valve body 10 contains a flow inlet 12 and
outlet 14. Liquid flowing through inlet 12 passes via a flow meter
turbine 16 and a passageway 18 to meet a central passageway 20
extending through the valve body at right angles to passageway 18.
Outlet 14 is a continuation of passageway 20.
[0019] A piston 22 extends in passageway 20 and carries at each of
its ends a seal 24, 26 to make sealing engagement with the
passageway wall. Above seal 24, piston 22 is connected via a
smaller diameter connecting rod 28 to the drive shaft 30 of a
stepper motor 32.
[0020] Between the junction of passageways 18 and 20 and outlet 14,
passageway 20 is connected to outlet 14 through the central bore of
a valve block 34. The block has a pair of V-grooves 36
diametrically opposed across its central bore and extending axially
of the bore. The grooves taper to the outlet end of the bore and
commence, i.e. at their wider end, at the far end of the valve
block away from the outlet.
[0021] When piston 22 is in its lowermost position as shown, it
completely closes off in conjunction with its seal 26, the central
bore of valve 34, thereby closing outlet 14 and preventing flow
through the valve. When the piston is raised by the stepper motor,
the valve 34 is opened to allow flow through the V-grooves. The
further the piston is raised the greater the degree of opening
through the grooves.
[0022] In FIG. 2 is shown a three module assembly in which each
module 40, 42, 44 contains two valves 46A, 46B for water, one
carbonated and one plain, and four valves 48A, 48B, 48C, 48D for
syrups. Each valve in a module outlets to a single dispense nozzle
50A, 50B or 50C. (The three modules are identical so that, for
clarity, not all parts of each module are labelled.).
[0023] Each valve, 46A, 46B, 48A, 48B, 48C, 48D is similar in
construction to the valve body described with reference to FIG. 1.
Thus each valve contains a flow meter turbine and is connected to a
stepper motor 52A, 52B, 52C, 52D, 52E, 52F to open and close the
valve. Each stepper motor and each flow meter is connected to the
pre-programmed control board 54. The system is powered by a 24
volts A.C. PSU 55. Other inputs to the control board 54 include an
installation means 56 to input data such as flow rates, dispensed
portion volumes and water/syrup ratios. This may be achieved by a
wire connection or a remote, e.g. infra red, means. A control panel
58 may include selection switches or press buttons for particular
beverages, e.g. by brand name, portion sizes, choice of still or
carbonated water and, if desired, a free flow option as an
alternative to predetermined portions.
[0024] If it is desired to add further flavourings or essences to
the dispensed beverages the modules are shown to contain two
optional essence valves 60A, 60B whose opening and closing are also
controlled by board 54.
[0025] The dispenser is advantageously designed whereby it consumes
energy only when the stepper motors are actually moving so that the
arrangement can enable more valves to be controlled for a given
power supply.
* * * * *