AU773441B2 - Dosing device for a fluid dispenser - Google Patents

Description

WO 01/77003 PCT/GB01/01285 DOSING DEVICE FOR A FLUID DISPENSER The present invention concerns dispensers for dispensing measured amounts of fluid. There was a need for a mechanically-operated spirit dispenser providing the complementary safeguards that it cannot be operated unless a full measure of spirits is available, that once a dispense has been triggered it cannot be stopped, and that there is 100% correlation between operation of the dispensing mechanism and measures dispensed. This need, which is well known, remains unmet either by dispensers of my design or made to the designs of third parties.

Third parties currently supply electromechanical spirit dispensers which do provide the safeguards described at and above; but they use electronic sensing and switching means. See, for example, the ETN4 spirit dispenser from Australia. Such dispensers are, in comparison with mechanically operated dispensers, expensive to manufacture and have the disadvantage of requiring a power source at the point of installation.

Also, they have proved to be unreliable in service.

In UK Patent GB 2286384, there is described a fluid dispenser with two opposing chambers of pre-determined volume, each with a single port, with each port sequentially opened and closed by the rotation of a WO 01/77003 PCT/GB01/01285 2 central rotating trigger-driven valve. At each successive operation of the trigger, the valve rotated, allowing a measure of liquid from a bottle reservoir to flow through a port into one chamber and the measure of liquid with which the other chamber had been earlier charged to be dispensed through a port to a spout.

However, the force causing the rotation of the valve in this prior specification derived from the force applied to the trigger. The rotational resistance of the valve was high and required a force on. the trigger which was much greater than was acceptable to users.

Accordingly, the design did not meet the market need.

It is a concern of the present invention to provide reliable, mechanical, as opposed to electromechanical, spiritdispenser incorporating the safeguards described above, the operation of which meets the needs of the market and which can be manufactured at modest cost.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a fluid dispenser for dispensing accurately measured volumes of fluid, the dispenser comprising a pair of chambers for holding spirit to be dispensed and located in either side of a central input conduit the upper end of which can be connected to a supply of spirit to be dispensed, each chamber having an inlet port through which spirit to be dispensed can flow into the WO 01177003 PCT/GB01I/01285 3 chamber from the central conduit and an outlet port through which spirit can flow from the chamber into a central dispensing spout coaxial with and in operation beneath the input conduit, each port having an associated valve which is biassed into a closed position so as to prevent either ingress of spirit into the chamber or egress of spirit from the chamber in accordance with the function of the valve, the dispenser further comprising a spindle member carrying means cooperating with the respective pairs of inlet and outlet valves so that rotation of the spindle causes the outlet valve of a full chamber of spirit to open and its inlet valve to close and the inlet valve of the other chamber to open and its outlet valve to close, a trigger mechanism for rotating the spindle; means for locking the trigger-mechanism if the dispenser does not hold sufficient fluid to enable the required measure to be dispensed, and a lock for preventing return movement of the trigger mechanism once a dispense has commenced.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood two embodiments thereof will be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a general isometric view of a spirit dispenser made in accordance with the present invention; WO 01/77003 PCT/GB01/01285 4 Figure 2. shows a cutaway view of the neck of the dispenser with an Interlock mechanism; Figure 3 is a isometric view of the principal components of the spirit dispenser showing, separately, the casing and the valve and cam sub-components; Figure 4 shows a schematic of a cross section of the device; Figure 5 provides a simplified cross sectional views of the dispenser at successive stages in the dispense cycle; Figure 6 is a general isometric view of an alternative embodiment of a dispenser made in accordance with the present invention; Figure 7 gives a cress-sectional view of the dispenser of Figure 6; Figure 8a and 8b give isometric views of the trigger means; Figure 9 shows a cut-away isometric neck of the dispenser showing an Interlock mechanism; Figure 10 provides a simplified cross sectional view of the dispenser of the alternative embodiment at successive stages in the dispense cycle; and Figures 11A to 11D show a ratchet mechanism.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings this figure shows the general. configuration of a spirit WO 01/77003 PCT/GB01/01285 dispenser. Twin opposing chambers (1 and la) are alternatively charged from bottle reservoir 3 and emptied through spout 4 at each operating cycle of the dispenser.

The operating cycle is controlled by trigger 5 which operates in the direction of the arrow A. Through conventional gear means within the drive housing 2, each complete operation of the trigger- causes the central hollow spindle 6 to rotate through 1800 in the direction of the solid arrow. Known means (for example the system of ratchets described in Patent Application No GB 9805657.5) are incorporated in the trigger mechanism to ensure that the spindle cannot be rotated in the reverse direction.

Figure 2 provides a cutaway view of the neck of the dispenser, showing an interlock mechanism which prevents rotation of the central spindle 6 when the amount of liquid available is less than required for a full measure. In Figure 2 only the top part of central spindle 6 is visible, its relationship to the whole conveniently being seen by reference to Figure 3b. In Figure 2, a float 7 is shown both in situ and, for clarity, separately. This float is free to move vertically within the chamber as defined by the top of the body (which is separately drawn in Figure 3a) and cap 8. The base of the float is hollow (making the whole WO 01/77003 PCT/GB01/01285 6 component buoyant), with twin side lugs, 9 and The vertical fin 10 aids fluid flow and provides means of manually releasing the float during the washing process.

When fluid fills the chamber formed by body and cap, the float rises so that-the twin lugs are above the top of the neck of rotating spindle 6. When the said chamber is empty of fluid, the float falls so that the twin side lugs 9 and 9' interlock with the stops 11 and 11' set in the neck rotating spindle 6, thus preventing its rotation. The float has the additional function of enabling the dispenser to be dismounted and inverted when it is required to replace an empty bottle as the upper frusto-conical end 9" of the float will act as a seal preventing loss of any fluid remaining in the dispenser.

Fig 3b shows the spindle assembly, incorporating two cams 12 and 13. The spindle assembly and cams are driven to rotate by a mechanism to be described hereinafter in the direction of the hollow arrow in Figure 1. The two cams operate the four valves 14, 15, 16 and 17 which are mounted so as to cooperate with ports 18, 19, 20 and 21 in the body shown in Figure 3a. Blind holes 22 and 23 provide housings for magnets which may, using a wellknown technique, be used to trigger a sensor device 100.

This device can be a Hall effect device which provides an electronic signal on a coaxial cable 101 suitable for use WO 01/77003 PCT/GB01/01285 7 with a known EPOS System.

Figure 4 shows the four valves 14, 15, 16 and 17 are held against ports 18, 19, 20 and 21 by springs 24, 26 and 27 (which springs are, for clarity, not shown in Figure 3).

Figure 5 shows the sequence of valve positions in the operating cycle as driven by the cams on.the rotating spindle. In Figure 5a, valve 14 is open, thus allowing chamber 1 to be filled with fluid. Valve 16 is also open, thus allowing fluid which, in an earlier cycle, had been in .chamber la, to flow out through spout 4. In Figure 5b, all valves are closed, thus retaining fluid in chamber 1 ready for later dispensing. Figure illustrates the valve positions just after the start of the dispense process; both valves 15 and 17 are partly open, thus allowing fluid to enter chamber la (through valve 15) and be dispensed (through valve 17 and spout Figure 5d shows the position of the valves once the central spindle has been rotated through 1800. This is the mirror Image of the arrangement shown in Figure A further depression of the trigger will rotate the spindle through a further 1800 thus repeating the dispense cycle in mirror image.

Referring now to Figure 6 of the drawings this figure shows the general configuration of an alternative WO 01/77003 PCT/GB01/01285 8 embodiment of a spirit dispenser. Twin opposing chambers 28 and 29 are alternately charged from bottle reservoir and emptied through spout 31 at each operating cycle of the dispenser. The operating cycle is initiated by twisting trigger 32 clockwise and -anti-clockwise alternately.

The cross sectional view from Figure 7 shows two shuttle components 33 and 34. Each shuttle component is supported by a pair of sliding bearings 35, 36, 37 and 38 and passes freely through ports 39, 40, 41 and 42 so that the shuttle can move back and forth in the direction of its axis. The fit between slide bearings and shuttle are such as to maintain orientation of the shuttle so that the plane in which the rectangular slot 43 lies in the same orientation as the plane through which a rocker leaver 44 moves. Valves 45, 46, 47 and 48 are fixed at each end of shuttle. The valves support seals which, when compliantly held against their respective ports, prevent fluid flowing through those ports. As, by virtue of the length of the shuttle, the seals on each shuttle are further apart than the distance between the related ports, only one port may be closed at any one time.

The position of shuttles relative to the ports disclosed is determined By a rocker lever 44 which is more clearly shown in Figure 8 (in which, for clarity, WO 01/77003 PCT/GB01/01285 9 supporting bearing 35, 36, 37 and 38 have been partially omitted). The rocker lever is supported by and pivots about pin 49. Trigger 32 is free to twist in either direction. Lugs 50 and 51 on the trigger engage with lever 44 so that, when the trigger is twisted in one direction, the rocker lever and the shuttle are driven to the positions shown in Figure 8a and, when twisted in the other direction, to the position shown in Figure 8b, which is anchored on the centre line if the dispenser at point 53 and on the upper half of the lever, ensures that the rocker lever, when not being moved by the trigger, is compliantly held at either end of its freedom of travel (in which positions. one of the ports is closed to the passage of liquid).

Figure 9 provides a cutaway view of the neck of the dispenser of the alternative embodiment, showing an interlock mechanism which prevents the movement of lever 44 when the amount of liquid available is less than required for a full measure. In Figure 9, a float 54 is free to move vertically within the chamber in which it is housed. The base of the float is hollow (making the component buoyant), with a downwardly extending lug When the chamber surrounding the float is empty of fluid, the float falls so that lug 55 engages with a complementary lug 56 on rocking lever 44, thus preventing WO 01/77003 PCT/GB01/01285 movement of the rocking lever. When the said chamber is filled with fluid, the float rises so that the Lugs and 56 do not engage, thus allowing free movement of the rocking lever.

A blind hole 57 in rocking lever 44 provides a housing for a magnet which may, using a well-known technique, be used to trigger an externally mounted Hall effect device (not illustrated), thus providing an electronic signal suitable for use with EPOS systems.

Successive operation of the trigger provides an operating cycle illustrated in Figure 10. In Figure port 39 is open, thus allowing chamber 28 to be filled with fluid, Valve 48 is also open, thus allowing fluid which in an earlier cycle, had been in chamber 29, to flow out through spout 31. In this position, fluid in chamber 28 is retained ready for later dispensation.

Figure 10b illustrates the valve positions at the instant during a dispensing operation when the shuttles are starting to be moved by the operation of the trigger and rocking lever: both valves 46 and 48 are partly open, thus allowing fluid to start to enter chamber 29 (through valve 46) and be dispensed (through valve 48 and spout 31). If all four vales remained open, fluid entering through port 40 would flow straight through to port 42, giving an uncontrolled dispense. However, the fit of the WO 01177003 PCT/GB01/01285 11 vales 46 in Ports 40 is such that the valves 45-48 will not move under fluid pressure alone. No movement of the shuttles occurs until the rocker 44 reaches the opposing end of slot 43. At this point spring 52 drives the system quickly and irreversibly towards the position shown in Figure 10c so that all four valves are open only for an instant (and for much less time than would allow through flow) Figure 10c shows the position of the shuttles once the movement of the trigger has been completed and the measure dispensed through spout 31 into glass 58. This is the mirror image of the arrangement shown in Figure 10a. A further twist of the trigger in the opposite direction will shift the shuttles through the position shown in Figure 10b to the position shown in Figure 10, thus repeating the dispense cycle in mirror image.

Referring now to Figure 11A there is shown the rotating means 113 which provides trigger 5 with its ability to rotate the spindle. The trigger 5 is essentially a downwardly projecting extension which moves between two limits and is held at the forward position by spring 116. A cog 117 is concentrically fixed to the lower part of the revolving spindle. A rack 118 is mounted on the trigger 5 via a pivot 119 which allows the rack to move in the horizontal plane. The rack WO 01/77003 PCT/GB1/01285 12 incorporates a leaf spring 120 which bears against peg 121 so as to bias the rack 118 towards cog 117. A compliant flange 122 is fixed to the rack at 123 so as to deflect under pressure towards the cog but be rigid under pressure away from the cog. The dimensions of the cog 117 and the rack 118 are such as to cause the spindle 6 to rotate exactly half a revolution on each successive operation of the trigger 5. If pressure on the trigger is withdrawn before half a turn is completed, spring 116 is prevented from turning the housing 6 in the reverse direction by the general friction and rack 118 is prevented from disengaging by means of peg 121. If pressure is withdrawn from the trigger 5 after a half turn has been completed, as shown in the last illustration in figure 11, the rack is no longer prevented from disengaging from the cog by peg 124 so allowing, firstly, trigger 5 to be pulled back by the spring 116 and, secondly, rack 118 to return to its original position (with compliant flange 122 lifting the rack over peg 124 in this direction only). By preventing return of the trigger dispensing once started cannot be interrupted.

It will be appreciated that at successive half revolutions of the spindle 6, the chambers are initially charged with liquid and then discharged with the full WO 01/77003 PCTIGBO1/01285 measure always discharged once the discharge process has been triggered.

Claims (5)

1. 2. A dispenser according to claim i, wherein the spindle is coaxial with the input conduit and the dispensing spout is rotatable about its axis by said trigger mechanism, the trigger mechanism being arranged so that one complete rotation of the spindle opens the outlet port of one chamber and opens the inlet port of the other chamber, the spring biassing causing the opened valves to close.
2. 3. A dispenser according to claim 2 and wherein the lock means include a ratchet -mechanism whereby the spindle can only be rotated in one direction by the trigger mechanism.
3. 4. A dispenser according to claim 3 wherein there are two chambers arranged symmetrically around the spindle, the arrangement being such that when a bottle is mounted on the dispenser the spindle is coaxial with the neck of the bottle. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the WO 01177003 PCT/GB01/01285 16 spindle is transverse to the central conduit and is linked to respective parts of the valves by sliding joints which in operation turn the rotary movement of the spindle into linear motion.
4. 6. A dispenser according to any preceding claim and including a float member which when the dispenser is full of fluid allows the spindle to be rotated, but which prevents rotation of the spindle if lack of fluid in the dispenser causes the float member to sink a predetermined distance.
5. 7. A dispenser according to any preceding claim and including magnets movable with the spindle for triggering an external sensor providing an output signal suitable for EPOS system.