U.S. patent number 3,880,330 [Application Number 05/403,723] was granted by the patent office on 1975-04-29 for liquid dispensing system and receptacle therefor.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Diverse Venture Corporation. Invention is credited to Jeffrey Alan Leas, Vernon E. Leas.
United States Patent |
3,880,330 |
Leas , et al. |
April 29, 1975 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Liquid dispensing system and receptacle therefor
Abstract
The system includes a plurality of receptacles serially
connected one to the other between a gas pressure source, for
example air or CO.sub.2 under pressure, and a dispensing faucet.
Each receptacle includes a cup-shaped body having a cover with an
opening. In one form, a valve member is slidably mounted in the
opening. The member has a pair of discrete side-by-side passages
terminating at their upper ends in a funnel which receives the neck
of a bottle inverted over the receptacle. The passages terminate at
their lower ends in inclined laterally projecting passageways. The
valve member is movable from a first normally closed position into
a second valve open position by downward pressure on the inverted
bottle which is maintained by a leaf spring bearing against the
bottom of the inverted bottle. Gas under pressure flows through one
of the passages into the bottle and liquid under pressure flows
through the other passage into the receptacle for communication
with the dispensing faucet. In another form, a transition member
comprised of a resilient stopper having a pair of axially extending
passages and a pair of oppositely directed frustoconical surfaces
is interposed between each inverted container and the opening in
the cover of the corresponding receptacle. The container neck and
the margins about the receptacle opening seal about the respective
frustoconical surfaces whereby liquid under pressure is directed
solely into the receptacle. A check valve is interposed between
each pair of serially connected receptacles to prevent reverse
flow. The serially connected receptacles are provided for
dispensing different liquids. Valves provide measured pours of
liquid from the faucets. The quantity of liquid dispensed for each
pour can be selected among a number of predetermined quantities.
Counters are provided for counting each measured pour.
Inventors: |
Leas; Vernon E. (Phoenix,
AZ), Leas; Jeffrey Alan (Phoenix, AZ) |
Assignee: |
Diverse Venture Corporation
(Phoenix, AZ)
|
Family
ID: |
26950656 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/403,723 |
Filed: |
October 4, 1973 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
264611 |
Jun 24, 1972 |
3768701 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/136;
285/334.4; 222/400.7 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B67D
1/0084 (20130101); B67D 1/04 (20130101); B67D
1/0006 (20130101); B67D 2001/0818 (20130101); B67D
2001/0493 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B67D
1/00 (20060101); B67D 1/04 (20060101); B67d
005/54 () |
Field of
Search: |
;222/129,129.1,129.3,129.4,132,135,136,145,153,181,185,394,399,400.5,400.7,400.8
;137/206,207,212 ;285/109,137R,334.2,334.4,334.3 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Reeves; Robert B.
Assistant Examiner: Martin; Larry H.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: LeBlanc & Shur
Parent Case Text
This application is a continuation-in-part of our prior application
Ser. No. 264,611 filed June 24, 1972 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,768,701,
the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.
Claims
What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters
Patent is:
1. Apparatus for dispensing liquids from a plurality of inverted
liquid containers comprising; a plurality of liquid receptacles,
each of said receptacles having an inlet for receiving liquid from
an inverted liquid container, means carried by each of said
receptacles for sealing between said receptacle and the inverted
liquid container and having a passage enabling the liquid from each
container to flow into the corresponding receptacle, means
connecting said receptacles in series one with the other for
communicating liquid successively through said receptacles, a
source of gas under pressure, means coupling said gas source to a
first of said serially connected receptacles for pressurizing the
liquid in said receptacles and the inverted containers, a
dispensing faucet, means coupling the last serially connected
receptacle to said faucet for dispensing liquid under pressure from
the serially connected receptacles and enabling the containers to
be successively emptied starting with the container emptying into
said first receptacle, and a plurality of check valves respectively
carried by the portions of said connecting means between next
adjacent serially connected pairs of receptacles whereby back flow
of liquid between the serially connected receptacles is
precluded.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said receptacles
has an inlet port and an outlet port, said connecting means
including a plurality of fluid conduits, each said fluid conduit
connecting between the outlet port of a receptacle and the inlet
port of a next serially connected receptacle for flowing liquid
sequentially through said receptacles in a direction toward said
faucet.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said receptacles
has an inlet port and an outlet port located at an elevation below
said inlet port, said connecting means including conduits
connecting at respective opposite ends with the outlet ports and
inlet ports of the serially connected receptacles, the check valve
being carried by said receptacle and located at said outlet
port.
4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said check valve
comprises a ball, a valve seat about said outlet port and a ball
support, said ball being normally spaced from said seat on said
support to enable outflow of liquid from the receptacle through its
outlet port past said check valve, and being movable in response to
back pressure into sealing engagement against said seat to preclude
inflow of liquid into said receptacle through its oulet port.
5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each said sealing means
includes a member formed of resilient material for sealing about
the outlet of the container and the opening into said
receptacle.
6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said member is elongated
and has a second passage therethrough, said passage extending in
the direction of the long axis of said member and lying in
side-by-side, substantially parallel relation one to the other.
7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein each said member has
side-by-side inlets at one end thereof for flow of liquid from the
associated container through the passages into the receptacle, the
margins of the member defining each of said inlets being axially
spaced one from the other whereby substantially the entirety of the
liquid in the containers flows through said inlets and said
passages.
8. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said member is elongated
and has at least one generally frustoconically shaped, axially
extending, external surface for sealing engagement about the outlet
of the inverted container or the inlet to said receptacle.
9. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said member is elongated
and has a pair of axially spaced, and extending, generally
frustoconically shaped external surfaces for respective sealing
engagement with the outlet of the inverted container and the inlet
to said receptacle.
10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said frustoconical
surfaces extend in opposite axial directions and have their larger
diameter portions adjacent one another.
11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the base of the
frustoconical surface which seals about the outlet of the inverted
container is larger in diameter than the base of the frustoconical
surface which seals about the inlet to the receptacle whereby the
first mentioned base overhangs the second mentioned base when said
member is interposed between the inverted container and the
receptacle.
Description
The present invention relates to a liquid dispensing system and
particularly relates to a system for dispensing liquid from a
plurality of serially connected receptacles, each of which receives
liquid from an associated replaceable liquid container, to the
receptacles for receiving the liquid from the containers, and to
the transition members located between each container and its
associated receptacle.
As employed herein, the term "liquid" applies to beverages, such as
liquor, soda and the like although the dispensing system hereof and
receptacles therefor will be described specifically in terms of
dispensing liquor. Also, the term "container" refers herein to any
type of container for liquid although the following description at
times refers to bottles in connection with dispensing liquor.
Automatic liquor dispensing systems have been proposed and
constructed in the past. Certain such systems provide a plurality
of inverted bottles disposed such that the liquor flows into a
common reservoir or manifold. The liquor then flows from the
reservoir to a measuring chamber which is adjustable to provide a
selected measure of drink. A counter is sometimes provided for
counting the number of measured drinks dispensed. A system of this
type is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,598,287. Another system
utilizes a common manifold which is inclined and on which a
plurality of, relatively elevated, inerted bottles are mounted for
emptying into the manifold. The manifold is coupled at one end to a
gas pressure source and at its other end to a dispensing faucet and
the bottles are emptied sequentially. Such system is disclosed in
U.S. Pat. No. 3,647,118. Other systems for dispensing liquor and
the like are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,305,132; 3,428,218;
3,341,078; 3,386,621; 2,634,023; 2,531,755; 3,580,425; 2,808,178;
3,119,485; 3,170,698; and 3,193,143. These systems, however, have
various disadvantages in construction, mode of operation and
result. Certain such disadvantages include their relatively complex
construction, high cost, lack of foolproof methods for controlling
liquor inventory and/or controlling the size of the pour, lack of
capability for readily expanding system capacity as dictated by the
changing needs of the dispensing establishment, inability to be
readily and easily installed in existing restaurants, bars and the
like, the significant space required for such installations, the
requirement in certain systems for applying special flow adapters
to the bottles before the bottles can be integrated into the system
and the bottle breakage caused by pressure shocks.
The present invention provides a novel and improved liquid
dispensing system which eliminates and/or minimizes many of the
foregoing and other disadvantages associated with prior dispensing
systems and provides a novel and improved liquor dispensing system
having various advantages in construction, mode of operation and
result in comparison with such prior systems. Principally, the
present invention provides a dispensing system wherein a large
number of liquid containers, i.e., bottles of liquor, can be
serially connected one to the other and dispensed through a faucet
under pressure. More specifically, the present invention provides a
system comprised of a plurality of serially connected receptables
for dispensing like liquid under pressure from a plurality of
inverted liquid containers, each receptacle having a single liquid
container coupled thereto for flowing its liquid contents into such
receptacle and subsequent serially connected receptacles. The
receptacles are serially connected between a source of gas under
pressure and the dispensing faucet. The gas may comprise air,
CO.sub.2 or the like, hereinafter referred to generally as gas. For
dispensing other types of liquid, an additional one or more sets of
like serially connected receptacles are provided and connected
between a gas pressure source and one or more associated faucets.
It is a particular feature hereof that the receptacles lie at a
common elevation while simultaneously the containers are
sequentially emptied staring with the container nearest the gas
source.
In one embodiment hereof, each receptacle comprises a generally
bowl-shaped member having a side gas inlet port and a liquid outlet
port at its bottom. A cover is secured to the bowl and has an
opening in which is slidably mounted a poppet. A spring between the
receptacle and poppet biases the poppet into a first valve closed
position. The poppet has a pair of discrete passages therethrough
which terminate at their upper ends in a flexible funnel for
receiving liquid from the inverted containers. The lower end of the
poppet terminates in a frustoconical surface which bears, in the
valve closed position, against a like valve surface carried by the
cover. The lower ends of the passages terminate in laterally
outwardly inclined passageways above the frustoconical valve
surface. When the bottle is inverted and the bottle neck is
disposed in the funnel, downward pressure on the bottle moves the
valve to an open position permitting gas under pressure to flow up
through one of the passages into the bottle and liquid from the
bottle to flow downwardly through the other passage into the
receptacle. By using inclined outlet passageways at the bottom of
the poppet, air locks are eliminated an sequential emptying of the
containes is provided.
A further feature of this invention, particularly useful in the
foregoing described system, provides a novel funnel which serves to
avoid spillage upon inversion of the bottl and provides a
substantial seal about the inverted bottle neck to prevent
contamination of the liquid. Moreover, this unique funnel receives
the bottle neck without any adaptation of the bottle or need to
provide it with a flow control device.
A further feature hereof, and particularly useful with the
foregoing described system, includes the provision of a floating
suspension for the inverted bottles whereby shock waves propagated
by dispensing from the pressurized system are absorbed in the
system. This is significant because bottles mounted rigidly in a
pressurized dispensing system sometimes break at their weakest
points, i.e., about the bottle neck. This bottle breakage is
believed to be caused by shock waves propagated through the system
upon dispensing liquid therefrom and which shock waves cause
stresses on the rigidly mounted bottles beyond their breaking
point. To preclude such breakage in the above described system,
each inverted bottle is mounted between the spring biased poppet at
its lower end and a resilient leaf spring at its upper end.
Accordingly, both the poppet and inverted bottle are suspended
between a pair of springs which absorb substantially the entirety
of the energy of any shock wave propagated through the pressurized
system.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the receptacles
are similary serially connected one to the other and pressurized
from a suitable gas source. In this embodiment, however, a check
valve is interposed in each flow passage between next adjacent
pairs of serially connected receptacles. In one form, the check
valve is located in the flexible conduit interconnecting the outlet
port of one receptacle and the inlet port of the next serially
connected receptacle. In another form, the outlet port for each
receptacle is provided with a normally open ball check valve. In
both forms, the check valves serve to prevent reverse flow of
liquid from one receptacle to one or more prior serially connected
receptacles. In this manner, the empty containers can be replaced
with full containers while reverse flow of liquid into the empty
receptacles is prevented. The containers can be replaced with the
gas supply system either on or off. In either event, liquid from
the full containers can be continuously dispensed for a limited
period of time while the containers are being replaced due to the
residual pressure remaining in the system.
A further feature hereof and particularly for use in conjunction
with the foregoing described system provides for a transition
element interconnecting each container outlet and the associated
inlet port in the cover of the receptacle. Particularly, the
transition element includes an elongated member having a pair of
axially extending side-by-side passages and a pair of frustoconical
shaped outer surfaces extending in opposite axial directions. When
the transition element is interposed between the container and its
corresponding receptacle, one of the frustoconical surfaces seals
about the container outlet while the other frustoconical surface
seals about the inlet port in the cover of the receptacle whereby
liquid from the container is directed solely into the receptacle.
The dual passages permit gas to flow into the container as liquid
flows out of the container and into the receptacle. Furthermore, by
utilizing a transistion element of this configuration, the element
fits all standard sizes of liquor containers, the dispensing of
liquor from various sizes of liquor bottles being one of the
commerical uses for the present invention. Further, by providing a
larger diameter upper frustoconical surface in comparison with the
diameter of the lower frustoconical surface, transition element
overlies the inlet port to the receptacle whereby foreign objects
are prevented from inadvertently entering the receptacle.
In utilizing either of the foregoing described systems to describe
different liquids, the sets of plural receptacles communicate with
respective dispensing faucets via valves. The valves are
solenoid-actuated and may be maintained in an open condition for
selected intervals of time whereby the quantity of fluid dispensed
through each faucet is known and measured. Switching apparatus is
provided to open the solenoids for a longer or shorter interval to
provide an over or under measured pour as compared with a standard
or regular pour. Also, the dispensing faucets may be located either
in a flexible hose with drink selector buttons and the over and
under selector switch carried by the hose head or on a fixed
support attached to a counter, bar or the like.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to
provide a novel and improves liquid dispensing system.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel
and improved liquid dispensing system and receptacles therefor
wherein the receptacles are serially connected one to the other and
lie either at different or common elevations whereby, upon
application of gas under pressure, liquid in inverted containers
flowing into the receptacles is dispensed sequentially from the
containers starting with the container closest the gas pressure
source.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a
novel and improved liquid dispensing system and receptacles
therefor which are economical in construction, readily adapted to
existing counter or bar-type facilities, inexpensively constructed,
and capable of being utilized by relatively unskilled labor.
It is a related object of the present invention to provide a novel
and improved liquid dispensing system and receptacles therefor
which provides effective inventory control and prevents dispensing
of uncounted drinks.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel
and improved dispensing system wherein the capacity of the system
may be reaidly and easily increased or decreased as desired to meet
the changing needs of the dispensing establishment simply by adding
or removing one or more of the receptacles which form a part of the
system hereof.
It is a still further related object of the present invention to
provide a novel and improved liquid dispensing system wherein the
liquid containers or bottles are mounted for movement on an elastic
suspension system whereby breakage of the bottles due to the
propagation of shock waves through the pressurized system is
eliminated.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a
novel and improved dispensing system and receptacles therefor
wherein each receptacle is provided with a novel no-spill funnel
for connection with the liquid containers and wherein the
containers do not require specialized equipment, such as stoppers
and the like, preliminary to their attachment and use in the
present dispensing system.
It is a related object of the present invention to provide a novel
and improved pressurized system for dispensing liquid from serially
connected containers and having a check valve interposed in the
flow passages between next adjacent serially connected containers
to prevent reverse flow of liquid upon removal of one or more of
the containers.
It is another related object of the present invention to provide a
novel and improved transition element for coupling an inverted
liquid container and a manifold or receptacle therefor whereby the
transition element adapts the receptacle to receive liquid from
bottles of a variety of conventional sizes and permits
pressurization of the liquid in the container and the flow of
liquid therefrom into the receptacle.
These and further objects and advantages of the present invention
will become more apparent upon reference to the following
specification, appended claims and drawings wherein:
Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of one form of a dispensing
system constructed in accordance with the present invention and
particularly illustrating plural sets of dispensers, each set
containing a plurality of serially connected receptacles;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective illustration of either
dispensing system hereof mounted for use behind a counter or
bar;
FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 and illustrating a further form
of dispensing head;
FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of one of the receptacles
illustrated in FIG. 1 and illustrating the valve therefor in a
closed position;
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 on a reduced scale and
illustrating the valve in an open position;
FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the poppet for the valve;
FIG. 6a is a cross-sectional view thereof taken about on line
6a--6a in FIG. 6;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side-elevational view of the mounting for
the receptacle and liquid container;
FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken about
on line 8--8 in FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration of a bottle being applied to the
funnel at the top of the receptacle;
FIG. 10 is a schematic illustration of a portion of an electrical
circuit employed with the dispensing system hereof;
FIG. 11 is a schematic illustration of a dispensing system
constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of a portion of
the flow passage between each receptacle and illustrating a check
valve therefor with parts broken out and in cross section;
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view thereof taken generally about on
line 13--13 in FIG. 12;
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a transition element for use with
the dispensing system illustrated in FIG. 11;
FIG. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view
illustrating the transition member interposed between an inverted
container and receptacle;
FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view thereof taken about on line
16--16 in FIG. 15;
FIG. 17 is a schematic illustration of a plurality of receptacles
similarly as illustrated in FIG. 11 and utilizing the check valve
illustrated in FIG. 18;
FIG. 18 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the
outlet port of one of the receptacles illustrated in FIG. 17;
FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view thereof taken generally about on
line 19--19 in FIG. 18; and
FIG. 20 is a schematic illustration of a still further form of a
dispensing system constructed in accordance with the present
invention.
Referring now to the drawings, particularly to FIG. 1, there is
illustrated a liquid dispensing system constructed in accordance
with one form of the present invention and comprising a plurality
of receptacles generally indicated 10 adatped to receive liquid
from inverted liquid containers generally indicated 12.
Predetermined numbers of receptacles 10, six being illustrated, are
serially connected one to the other to form plural dispensing sets
or groups of serially connected receptacles, for example, groups A,
B and C as illustrated with only the containers of group A and
bottoms of the inverted containers of group C being illustrated.
Particularly, each set of receptacles has a first receptacle 10a
connected via a conduit 14 to a source of gas, i.e., air, CO.sub.2
or the like, under pressure, intermediate receptacles 10b-10e
serially connected one to the other and to the first and last
serially connected receptacles 10a and 10f respectively via
conduits 16, and a last serially connected receptacle 10f connected
via a conduit 20 to a dispensing faucet. Each wall of a receptacle
and an inlet port 24 through the side wall of the next serially
connected receptacle for communicating liquid from that receptacle
into such next serially connected receptacle. Accordingly, with the
foregoing described arrangement, the liquid in each container 12
flows into its associated receptacle for flow to succesive serially
connected receptacles and and to the dispensing faucet. While the
containers 12 in each set of receptacles contain like liquids, the
liquid containers in the other sets may contain like or unlike
liquids, as desired. For example, the liquid containers in one
dispensing set may contain gin while the liquid containers in
another dispensing set may contain vodka whereby gin or vodka can
be selectively dispensed from the two dispensing sets in a manner
as set forth hereinafter.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the dispensing systems hereof may be
employed behind a counter, bar or the like. For example, as
illustrated in FIG. 2, there is disclosed a cabinet 24 in which the
dispensing sets, for example those illustrated in FIG. 1 or FIG.
11, hereof can be disposed for dispensing the various types of the
most commonly asked-for drinks. As illustrated, six conduits 26
emerge from cabinet 24 and it will be appreciated that six
dispensing sets are mounted in cabinet 24. The various liquids from
the containers within cabinet 24 flow through conduits 26 into a
valve block which houses a solenoid actuated valve for each conduit
26. The valves are normally closed and each valve is opened in
response to actuation of a corresponding liquid dispensing switch
indicated 30a-30f. Upon opening a selected valve within valve block
28 by actuation of a selected one of switches 30a-30f, liquid from
the desired dispensing set flows through a discrete conduit, not
shown, within a conduit housing or sleeve 32 for delivery to a
faucet below the selected switch. It will be appreciated that
sleeve 32 contains as many conduits as there are conduits 26. Each
valve is maintained in its open condition for a predetermined time
interval whereby a measured quantity of liquid is dispensed from
each dispensing set upon actuation of the appropriate selector
switch.
Also mounted under the counter is a quantity selector switch 36 by
which different measures of any one pour can be provided. For
example, it is oftentimes desirable to provide a measured pour,
i.e., a one and one-half ounce shot, in a quantity greater than a
normal or regular pour, i.e., a one ounce shot. Also, it is
sometimes desired to provide a smaller measured pour, i.e., a three
quarter ounce shot, in comparison with the quantity provided in a
normal or regular pour. By actuating the quantity selector switch
36 as hereinafter set forth these over or under pours can be
effected. Further, counters are provided, for example in a box 38
below the counter recording the number of each pour in each of the
regular, over or under pours. In this manner, exact knowledge of
the quantity of liquid dispensed by the dispensing system hereof at
any desired time is provided.
Referring to FIG. 3, the manifold carried on the counter top in
FIG. 2 may be replaced by a flexible hose 40 mounting a nozzle head
42. The nozzle head 42 mounts a plurality of buttons or switches 44
for selecting the desired liquid from any one of the dispensing
sets connected thereto similarly as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.
The conduits for the respective dispensing sets are carried through
the hose 40 and terminate in individual faucets in the nozzle head
42. Also, quantity selector switches or buttons are provided on the
nozzle head and, when actuated in conjunction with a selected
drink, provide for a measured pour either over or under in
comparison with a regular pour, as hereinafter more particularly
described.
Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, there is illustrated in detail a
receptacle 10 utilized in the dispensing system hereof. Each
receptacle comprises a bowl-shaped body 50 having an open upper end
surrounded by an outwardly projecting flange 52, and a nipple 54 at
the bottom of the bowl and defining the opening through liquid
outlet port 22. A pair of nipples 58 and 60 are provided through a
side wall of body 50 adjacent its open upper end. Nipple 58 defines
the openings through inlet port 24 and is adapted for connection
with conduit 22. Nipple 60 defines an opening for mounting a low
liquid level sensor. A further opening 62 is provided in the side
wall of bowl 50 adjacent its bottom and mounts a suitable sensor
for indicating that the receptacle is empty.
Body 50 is closed at its upper end by a cover 68 having a lateral
flange 70 and an upwardly extending central boss 72 defining a
central opening 74 into body 50. The body 50 is internally stepped
at its uper end as at 76 to provide a seat for an O-ring seal 78.
The cover 68 is secured to body 50 by screws 76 engaging between
flanges 70 and 52 with the O-ring 78 sealing between cover 68 and
body 50 when the former is secured to the latter.
Slideably mounted in opening 74 is a poppet 80. Poppet 80
terminates at its upper end in a reduced diameter externally
threaded end 82. The lower end of poppet 80 terminates in an
outwardly flared skirt or frustoconical surface 84. An annular
groove 86 is provided in skirt 84 for receiving an O-ring seal 88.
In the valve closed position, seal 88 seals about a frustoconical
surface 90 formed about the bottom of opening 70. A pair of axially
spaced grooves 92 and 94 are provided about poppet 80 and receive
sealing rings 96 and 98 for sealing about the walls of boss 72
defining opening 74. A pair of passages 100 and 102 are provided in
axially extending side-by-side relation one to the other through
poppet 80. The lower ends 104 and 106 of passages 100 and 102,
respectively, are outwardly inclined and open through the side
walls of poppet 80 above skirt 84 as indicated at 108 in FIG. 6.
The passages 100 and 102, as indicated in FIG. 6a, are
substantially D-shaped in cross-section with the flat walls thereof
in back-to-back relation one to the other. Body 50 carries a
conical spring 110. The upper end of spring 110 engages in a
recessed seat 112 in the lower end of poppet 80 and its lower end
engages against the bottom wall of body 50. Spring 110 biases
poppet 80 into a normally valve closed position with the O-ring 88
sealing about the valve seat 90 to preclude communication between
body 50 and passages 100 and 102.
A collar 120 having an internally threaded central opening is
threadedly received about the reduced diameter end 82 of poppet 80.
An O-ring seal 122 is provided between the collar and a shoulder on
poppet 80. The collar mounts an upstanding funnel 124 having side
walls 126 which flare outwardly terminating at their upper ends in
a wall 128 inclined to the horizontal. Wall 128 has a central
opening 130. The inner walls of funnel 124 slope inwardly toward
the top of poppet 80 and provide a flexible surface against which
the lip of an inverted bottle seals. A screen 132 is carried on top
of poppet 88 and within the lower opening 134 of funnel 124. The
funnel 124 is integrally secured to the collar 120.
A bracket for mounting the receptacles and maintaining each liquid
container in an inverted position for flowing liquid therefrom
through the funnel into the passages of poppet 80 and into the
associated receptacle 10 is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8.
Particularly, an annular bracket 140 encompasses body 50 below
flange 52 and is suitably secured to a wall or other support
structure as by screws 154. The bracket 140 includes an
intermediate portion 156 between the wall and the receptacle and
which portion is rectangular in cross-section as illustrated in
FIG. 8 having vertically registering slots 158 and 160 through its
opposite upper and lower walls. An upright bracket 162 formed of
elongated flat spring steel is receivable in the openings 158 and
160. Bracket 162 has ratchet teeth 164 along one side thereof which
cooperated with a spring biased detent 166. Detent 166 comprises a
pin 167 having a knob 168 and receivable through a side wall of
intermediate bracket portion 156. Pin 167 terminates in a scarfed
end 170 and carries washer 171 adjacent its scarfed end. A spring
172 encompasses pin 167 between the side wall of bracket 156 and
washer 171 to bias the scarfed end of pin 167 into engagement with
ratchet teeth 164 whereby upright bracket 152 can be maintained in
selected vertical position relative to the receptacles. The upper
end of bracket 162 terminates in a laterally projecting leaf spring
178 having a generally sinuous configuration. The lowermost portion
of leaf spring 178 is aligned over the receptacle. It will be
appreciated that a bottle can be maintained in an inverted position
between spring 178 and the receptacle with the bottle neck disposed
within funnel 124.
In order to couple the bottle to the funnel so that liquid will
flow into the receptacle, a side wall of the flexible funnel is
flexed such that upper wall 128 obtains a substantially vertical
orientation. The bottle is tipped such that its open end is
received within the opening 130 and before the liquid flows out of
the bottle. Once the bottle neck is received within opening 130,
the bottle can be fully inverted over the receptacle with the
funnel returning substantially to its normal position. The diameter
of opening 130 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the neck of
the smallest bottle usable with the system such that a substantial
seal about the bottle neck is formed. Downward pressure on the
bottle engages the lip of the bottle neck against the inside wall
of the funnel and about the openings through poppet 80. Further
downward pressure on the bottle displaces poppet 80 downwardly
against the bias of spring 110 thereby providing a through passage
from the bottle into the receptacle via passages 100 and 102 and
passageways 104 and 106. Downward movement of the poppet 80 is
limited by the engagement of the underside of collar 120 with the
upper end of boss 72. The inverted bottle is, of course, slipped
under the leaf spring 178. Spring 178 retains the bottle in its
inverted position with the poppet valve in the open position and
against the bias of spring 110.
The previously described mountings for the inverted bottles
elastically support the bottles between the leaf spring 178 and the
poppet spring 110. Accordingly, the bottles are not rigidly mounted
to the receptacles but rather are mounted for movement relative
thereto. This is significant since any shock waves propagated
through the pressurized system are absorbed by the elastic
mountings provided by springs 110 and 178. The bottles are thereby
prevented from breakage caused by any such shock waves.
When the receptacles are utilized in the dispensing sytem hereof
illustrated in FIG. 1, they are serially connected one with the
other in the manner previously described. Also, the bottles are
inverted and clamped between the receptacles and the leaf spring
178 as previously described with the liquid flowing from the
bottles into the associated receptacles. When the gas source is
connected to the first of the serially connected receptacles, the
gas enters one of the passages 100 or 102 by entering the
corresponding passageway 104 or 106 and passes upwardly through the
poppet valve into the bottle. The gas pressurized the remaining
liquid in the bottle and drives it downwardly through the other of
the passages and passageways into the receptacle.
It is a feature of the present invention that the receptacles and
bottles may be maintained at a common elevation with the bottles
emptying sequentially starting with the bottle closest to the gas
source with the remaining bottles emptying successively thereafter
in a direction toward the faucet. Previously, it has been believed
that the bottles and receptacles must be inclined relative to one
another with the gas source being applied to the highest bottle and
the faucet connected to the lowest bottle of the serially connected
bottles. However, it has been found that, with the unique valve
design hereof, successful dispensing can be obtained with the
receptacles and bottles at a common or dissimilar elevation. Among
other advantages, bottles at a common elevation facilitate
installation of the dispensing system hereof where limited space is
available.
It will be appreciated that when one or more of the bottles are
emptied, they can be replaced with full bottles without
interrupting the operation of the dispensing system. To accomplish
this, the empty bottle is first canted from below the leaf spring
and the bottle neck is then withdrawn from the funnel. After the
bottle is removed, spring 110 displaces poppet 80 into the valve
closed position with O-ring 88 sealing against valve seat 90.
Consequently, gas flowing into that receptacle will merely flow
through it and into the next serially connected receptacle(s) with
the system continuing to operate and dispense liquid from the
remaining unemptied bottles. A fresh full bottle may then be
applied to the receptacle in the manner previously set forth
herein.
It will be further appreciated that the unique funnel hereof
accommodates the bottle necks of the variously different sized
bottles. For example, the funnel is both flexible and resilient
whereby the funnel opening is adapted for sealing engagement about
the neck of a quart bottle as well as about the neck of a half
gallon bottle, the funnel opening being about one inch in diameter
for accommodating the full range of presently available bottle
sizes.
Referring now to FIG. 9, there is disclosed an electrical circuit
for use in the dispensing system hereof and particularly for use in
operating the solenoid actuated valves contained in valve box 28,
the counter within box 39, and the over and under pour switch 36.
For dispensing various kinds of liquids, there is provided an
electrical circuit as will now be described. Connected on one side
of a 120 volt 60 Hz source, there is provided an line 200 connected
with a three-position switch 202. The contacts 204, 206, and 208 of
the switch 202 connect with time delay switches TDS-1, TDS-2, and
TDS-3, respectively. These time delay switches are, in turn,
coupled from a common line 217 to the various solenoid coils
216a-216f via respective lines 218a-218f and respective selector
switches 30a-30f. The other side of coils 216a-216f are connected
via a line 222 to the other side of the AC source. In each of the
parallel lines connecting between the time delay switches and the
common line 217, there is provided a pulse counter PC-1, PC-2, and
PC-3, respectively.
It will be appreciated that six selector switches and six coils are
specifically described and illustrated and that a greater or lesser
number of such switches and corresponding coils may be provided
depending upon the number of kinds of drinks it is desired to
serve. However, the most common types of drinks served number six
or less and therefore an electrical circuit usable with six kinds
of drinks is preferred.
In operation, a selected one of selector switches 30a-30f is closed
to energize the corresponding solenoid coil 216a-216f through one
of the time delay switches TDS-1, TDS-2, or TDS-3. The
three-position switch is normally biased into a central position in
electrical contact with contact 206 whereby the selected solenoid
coil of solenoid coils 216a-216f is thus energized for a
predetermined time sufficient to provide a regular size pour, i.e.,
a one ounce shot. Consequently, the bartender need only close the
selector switch indicative of the type of liquid to be dispersed,
i.e., either moving the selected handle of handles 30r-30f as
illustrated in FIG. 2 or pressing the appropriate button on the
nozzle head in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, to dispense a
predetermined quantity of a selected liquid. Further, it will be
noted that, upon a selected one of switches 30a-30f, the pulse
counter PC-2 associated with the line through contact 206 and time
delay switch TDS-2 is energized to record the drink dispensed. In
the event that an over or under sized pour is required, the
bartender closes the selected on and off switches 30a-30f and also
moves the three-position switich to the selected contact 204 or 208
thereby energizing a selected time delay switch TDS-1 or TDS-3. In
this manner, the valve is held open a longer or shorter period of
time as required to dispense the oversize or undersize drink. The
oversize or undersize pour is likewise recorded on the appropriate
counter PC-1 or PC-3. The three-position switch, as noted
previously, is biased such that upon its release, it will return to
the central position and into electrical contact with contact 206,
whereby the next pour will be of regular size. It will be
appreciated that the time delay switches TDS-1, TDS-2 and TDS-3 may
each comprise a switch whrein flow of current through the switch
causes the switch to open after a predetermined time interval. The
switch returns to its normally closed position once that time cycle
is completed and whereat it is again ready to conduct current.
It will be appreciated that the three pulse counters serve the
entire system whereby the total number of measured pours dispensed,
of whatever kind of liquid, would be recorded as the sum of the
counts on the three pulse counters. It will be noted, however, that
an additional counter can be located in each line 218a-218f whereby
the total number of measured pours from each set of serially
connected receptacles can be recorded.
It will be appreciated that the receptacle disclosed in the
foregoing described embodiment may be utilized individually. That
is, the inlet port of a receptacle can be connected to the gas
pressure source and its outlet port connected directly to the
dispensing faucet. In this manner, dispensing of measured and
counted drinks from a single bottle is also obtained.
Referring now to another form of a liquid dispensing system
constructed in accordance with the present invention, there is
illustrated in FIG. 11 a plurality of receptacles generally
indicated 10' and which receptacles are adapted to receive liquid
from inverted liquid containers generally indicated 12'. As in the
previously described embodiment, a predetermined number of
receptacles 10' are serially connected one to the other, for
example by conduits 300, to form a group of serially connected
receptacles, it being appreciated that for dispensing other types
of liquids additional sets or groups of similarly serially
connected receptacles may be provided. Also, as in the previous
embodiment, the first serially connected receptacle 10a' is coupled
to an air manifold 302 by a conduit 304. The manifold in turn
connects with a source of gas under pressure 306 by a conduit 308
containing a shut-off valve 310 and a pressure regulator 312. Each
receptacle 10a'-10f' has an elevated inlet port 314 and an outlet
port 316 located at the bottom of the receptacle. The conduit 304
from the source of gas under pressure connects with the inlet port
314 of the first serially connected receptacle 10a' and the
conduits 300 serially connected the receptacles by connection at
one end with the outlet port of one receptacle and connection at
its opposite end with the inlet port 314 of the next serially
arranged receptacle. The outlet port 316 of the last receptacle 10
f' is provided with a conduit 318 for communicating liquid to a
dispensing faucet, not shown. The foregoing described receptacles
and their containers may, as in the previous embodiment, be
similarly disposed behind a counter, bar or the like as illustrated
in FIG. 2. Also, either the selector switches illustrated in FIG. 2
or the selector switches mounted on a hose as illustrated in FIG. 3
may be utilized to dispense liquid from the system illustrated in
FIG. 11 in like manner as previously described. Further, the
quantity selection and counter apparatus previously described in
connection with the first embodiment may also be utilized in
connection with this embodiment.
The receptacles 10a'-10f' are similar in construction to the
receptacles previously described and further description thereof is
believed unnecessary. Likewise, the cover 68' for the receptacles
of this embodiment is identical to the cover 68' described in the
preceding embodiment and further description thereof is also
believed unnecessary.
For purposes which will become clear, each conduit 300, which
provides a flow passage between adjacent serially connected
receptacles, is provided with a check valve designated 320.
Likewise conduits 304 and 318 are similarly provided with like
check valves 320. The check valve employed herein is illustrated in
detail in FIGS. 12 and 13. Specifically, the check valve includes a
cylindrical housing 322 open at one end to define an interior
cylindrical chamber 323 communicating with an axial passage 325 and
having a nipple 324 at its opposite end for connection with the
conduit 300. About the interior surface of housing 322 defining
chamber 323, there is provided a circumferentially extending groove
326 and a plurality of tapered ribs 328 for guiding a disc-like
seal 330 disposed in chamber 323 into sealing engagement against an
annular shoulder 332 at the base of chamber 323. Check valve 320
also includes a stem 334 having an axial passageway 335 and a
nipple 326 for connection with the conduit 300. Stem 334 has a
circumferentially extending rib 336 for engagement in the groove
326 whereby the housing 322 and stem 334 are secured one to the
other. The forward end of the stem terminates in a plurality of
axially projecting, circumferentially spaced, fingers 338 for
maintaining disc 330 spaced from the axial passage 335 through stem
334. Disc 330 is formed of resilient material, for example, a
closed cell plastic material. From the foregoing description, it
will be appreciated that disc 330 is movable axially between a
position seating against shoulder 332 thereby sealing passage 325
and the illustrated position providing for flow through the check
valve in the direction of the arrow, for example through passage
325 into chamber 323, about disc 330 and between fingers 338 into
passage 335. It will also be appreciated that back pressure will
cause the valve disc 330 to seat against the shoulder 332
preventing back flow of liquid through check valve 320.
In lieu of the check valve illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13, the
bottom of the receptacles 10a'-10f' may be provided with a ball
check valve, for example as illustrated in FIGS. 17-19.
Particularly, the lower outlet port 316 of the receptacle may
comprise a nipple 340 depending from the bottom wall of the
receptacle and defining an outlet passage 342 having an interior
tapered surface or seat 344. A ferrule 346 may be suitably secured
about nipple 340 for example by an epoxy adhesive. The lower end of
the ferrule defines a central passage 348 which terminates in an
internally threaded boss 350. A fitting 352 is threaded on ferrule
346 for connection with the conduit 300.
The base of ferrule 346 has a plurality of upstanding pins 354
circumferentially spaced about passage 348 which under normal
conditions of flow support a ball 356 in a manner to permit liquid
flow from the receptacle through passages 342, about ball 356,
between pins 354 and through passage 348 into the conduit 300. It
will be appreciated that attempted reverse flow of liquid into the
receptacle 10a' as illustrated in FIG. 18 causes ball 356 to rise
and seal against seat 344 whereby back flow is prevented.
Also, illustrated in FIG. 18 is a screen or wire mesh 357 disposed
in the bottom of the receptacle overlying passage 342. The screen
357 prevents flow of foreign objects, for example, bits of paper or
cork, into the flow passages of the dispensing system.
Referring back to FIGS. 14-16, a further feature of the present
invention provides for an elongated transition element interposed
between each inverted container and its corresponding receptacle.
This novel and unique transition element is provided to permit gas
under pressure to flow into the container and liquid under pressure
to flow from the container and into its corresponding receptacle
while maintaining such flow passages externally sealed, i.e.,
sealing the container to the receptacle. Moreover, the transition
element is particularly adapted to fit the various container sizes
utilized in the liquor industry, one of the industries in which the
present invention is intended for commercial use. The transition
element 360 is formed of a resilient material, for example neoprene
rubber, and has a pair of axially extending side-by-side passages
362 and 364. As illustrated in FIG. 16, these passages are
generally semi-cylindrical in cross section and enable flow of gas
under pressure into the container and flow of liquid from the
container into the receptacle.
To ensure that the transition element 360 forms a seal between the
inverted container and the receptacle and also to provide a
transition element adapted to fit the various sizes of containers
in a specified industry, i.e., the liquor industry, the generally
cylindrical transition element 360 is provided with two
frustoconical external surfaces 366 and 368. Frustoconical surface
366 lies intermediate the length of transition element 360 and has
its diametrically larger base 370 directly contiguous to, and
particularly copolanar with the diametrically larger base 372 of
frustoconical surface 368. Since base 370 is larger in diameter
than base 372, there is provided a step along the outer surface of
member 360 which overlies the inlet port to the receptacle as
illustrated in FIG. 15 to prevent foreign objects from
inadvertently falling into the receptacle.
The forward end of frustoconical surface 368 terminates in a still
further, more shllow, furstoconical section 374, both surfaces 366
and 374 extending from their larger diameter bases in a like axial
direction. Frustoconical surface 368, however, extends from its
base 372 in the opposite axial direction. Thus it will be
appreciated that the outlet to the container may be received about
surface sections 374 and 366 with the section 366 serving to form a
seal about the margins of the outlet of the container. Also,
surface 368 is received in the inlet opening of the receptacle and
forms a seal therewith. Consequently, liquid from the container and
gas under pressure from the receptacle are permitted to flow in
opposite directions through the passages 362 and 366 without
leakage to the surrounding environment. The upper ends of the
passages 362 and 364 terminate in tapered openings 376 and 378,
respectively, with the central wall 380 between passages 362 and
364 serving as the extreme tip or upper edge of member 360. The
tapered openings 376 about the tip of element 360 serve to
facilitate insertion of the outlet of the container about the
member 360 as well as enable substantially the entirety of the
liquid contents of the container to flow into the receptacle
through the passages.
When the system components are arranged as illustrated in FIG. 11,
gas under pressure flows into the receptacles via the conduits 308,
304 and 300 and into the inverted containers mounted on top of the
corrsponding receptacles via at least one of the passages 362 and
364 of the transition element. Liquid in all of the containers
flows into the corresponding receptacles until each container and
its receptacle is pressurized, i.e., about eight pounds. Liquid can
then be withdrawn from the system by operation of the
solenoid-actuated valve controlling the flow of liquid from the
serially connected receptacles to the corresponding faucet. When
the valve is open and the liquid is drawn off, the flow progresses
serially from receptacle to receptacle to the faucet. Particularly,
the flow is such that the first of the serially connected
containers and receptacles, i.e., container 12a' and receptacle
10a' empties first with each succeeding container and receptacle
emptying thereafter in sequence.
To replace the empty containers with fresh full containers, each
empty container is canted or pulled off its transition element. A
new container is then placed on the transition element and the
spring biases the container downwardly onto the transition element
to maintain the seal therebetween. When a container has been
removed from the system, the check valve 320 and ball check valve
356, depending upon which type of check valve is employed, serves
to prevent backflow of liquid from succeeding receptacles. That is,
once the seal between an empty bottle and a receptacle is broken,
for example when a replacement bottle is required, the pressure in
that receptacle drops to zero causing the next succeeding check
valve to seal. The check valves thus serve to isolate the loaded
part of the system which is under pressure from the empty container
or containers preventing reverse flow. This also prevents
intermixing of the contents of the containers one with the other.
Further, the check valves serve to prevent possible overflow of the
receptacles on which the containers are being replaced because of
the liquid and air pressure in the loaded part of the system. Still
further, the check valves serve to retain pressure in the loaded
part of the system such that liquid can be continuously dispensed
for a limited period of time while reloading. It will be
appreciated that the change of the containers can be accomplished
either by shutting down the gas supply, for example by closing
valve 310, or can be accomplished with the gas supply on. It will
be appreciated that in the foregoing described system, all of the
containers may be at the same elevation although this is not
necessary to their operation. The containers may therefore be
located at different elevations. Also it will be appreciated that a
greater or lesser number of containers and receptacles than
illustrated may be utilized for dispensing any given liquid.
Referring now to FIG. 20, a single container dispensing system is
utilized wherein single containers of different liquids may be
dispensed. In this form, manifold 302b is coupled to the gas
pressure source 306b via the valve 310b and pressure regulator
312b. Manifold 302b has a plurality of outlet ports for
communicating gas under pressure to each of the discrete
receptacles connected thereto. For example, conduit 400 connects
manifold 302b to receptacle 10a" while a conduit 402 connects the
manifold 302b to a receptacle 10b". Each of the remaining
receptacles is similarly connected with the manifold. In each such
conduit 400, 402, etc., there is disposed a check valve 320" of the
type specifically illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13. In operation, the
gas under pressure flows through the manifold and through the
discrete conduits to the corresponding receptacles pressurizing the
liquid in the inverted containers associated therewith and in the
receptacles per se. The outlet ports 316" of the receptacles are
each connected by a discrete conduit to a separate dispensing
faucet. Thus, upon opening the valve controlling the faucet, liquid
flows from the associated receptacle and container to the faucet.
The check valves 320" serve to prevent back flow of liquid into the
gas manifold and contamination of both the liquid as well as the
manifold. It will be appreciated that the transition element 360
previously described in connection with FIGS. 14-16 is also
utilized in this latter dispensing system.
The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without
departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The
present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects
as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention
being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing
description, and all changes which come within the meaning and
range of equivalency of the claims are therefore to be embraced
therein.
* * * * *