GB1590477A - Devices for dispensing measured quantities of liquid - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO DEVICES FOR DISPENSING MEASURED QUANTITIES OF LIQUID (71) We, ROBERT GEORGE DIsDELL and ANTHONY WILLIAM GREEN, both British Subjects of 1 Wheatcroft Close, Chasetown, Walsall and 16 Warren Road, Chasetown, Walsall, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to me and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement::- This invention relates to devices for dis- pensing measured quantities of liquid, particularly of the kind (hereinafter referred to as being of the kind specified) adapted to be secured to the neck of an inverted bottle, and comprising a transparent chamber into which a liquid flows from the bottle, the device comprising release means which, consequent upon engagement by hand or by the rim of a container such as a glass, causes a predetermined quantity of liquid to flow from the chamber into the container, whilst preventing flow of liquid from the bottle into the chamber. Such devices are known in the art as "Optics" (Reg. Trade Mark).

A conventional device of the kind specified comprises a transparent housing defining the chamber which, in use, is in communication with an inverted bottle of liquid via an inlet or port, and an outlet nozzle extending downwardly from the housing.

By lifting a pressure arm of the release means, valve mechanism thereof is moved firstly to close the port, and immediately subsequently to open an air inlet opening into an upper part of the chamber. As air flows into the chamber, liquid therein is allowed to flow through the outlet nozzle and into a container positioned thereunder.

On completion of such flow, the arm is released, closing the air inlet and opening the port, liquid flowing from the bottle into the chamber as the air therein bubbles into the inverted bottle.

Such devices are conventionally complicated in their construction, and are conventionally constructed from large number of parts. This causes them to be expensive, and/or liable to break down.

Alternatively, or in addition, it is difficult to alter the optic to cause it to dispense a different quantity of liquid.

It is one of the various objects of this invention to provide a device for dispensing a measured quantity of liquid, which overcomes one or both the disadvantages set out above.

This invention provides a device of the kind specified, wherein the chamber is provided by a housing, and the release means comprises a piston assembly movable in the chamber; and wherein the device comprises an inlet through which liquid may flow into the chamber; an outlet through which liquid may flow from the chamber; and a valve assembly carried by the piston assembly; the valve assembly being urged into a first position relative to the piston assembly in which it closes the outlet, and which when the piston assembly is moved in the chamber during the performance of a dispensing operation is moved to close the inlet, and which consequent upon continued movement of the piston assembly moves relative to the piston assembly to open the outlet to allow the piston assembly to cause liquid to flow from the chamber through the outlet.

In the use of the device, the device is connected to an inverted bottle of liquid to be dispensed. Preferably, the piston assembly is spring-urged into a lowermost position, in which the volume of the chamber, as defined by the housing and the piston assembly, is at a maximum.

Conveniently, the valve assembly is mounted on the piston assembly, and is spring-urged into its first position in which a part of the valve assembly engages a valve seat bounding the outlet, to close the outlet.

In carrying out a dispensing operation, initial movement of the piston assembly, as may conveniently be effected by movement of a pressure arm connected to the piston assembly, causes a part of the valve assembly to be carried into engagement with a valve seat bounding the inlet to close the inlet. During continued movement of the piston assembly, the valve assembly is main tained stationary, whilst the piston assembly is moved, against the action of a spring urging the valve assembly to its first position, to cause a further part of the valve assembly to separate from the outlet. Thus, said continued movement of the piston assembly causes liquid to be forced from the chamber, and to flow through the outlet, preferably issuing from an outlet nozzle of the piston assembly.

Thus, the quantity of liquid dispensed by the piston assembly is dependent upon that volume of the chamber swept by the piston subsequent to engagement of valve assembly with the inlet. Thus, the quantity of liquid dispensed may be altered by alteration of the valve assembly. This may be effected by substitution of the existing valve assembly for a different valve assembly, or may be effected by the provision, on the valve assembly, of means to vary the time at which said valve part closes the inlet.

There will now be given a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of a device which is a preferred embodiment of this invention.

It is to be appreciated that this device has been selected to illustrate this invention by way of example.

In the accompanying drawings: FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view of the device; FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view thereof, taken along the lines II-II of Figure 1.

The device which is the preferred embodiment of this invention is specifically a device of the kind specified, and is for use in dispensing measured quantities of liquid, particularly alcoholic beverages contained in a bottle. The device comprises a generally cylindrical housing 2 of the "Perspex" (Reg. Trade Mark) or the like transparent material. Secured over the housing 2 is a cover 6, said housing and cover defining a chamber 4, the contents of which are visible through the transparent housing.

An opening 11 extends through the cover, and is bounded on its inner side by a recessed seat 10. A hollow stem 8 extends upwardly from the cover, a central passage 9 of the stem being aligned with the opening 11 and providing, together with said opening 11, an inlet 9 which opens into the chamber 4. A support bracket 12 extends from the cover 6, whereby the device may be supported as desired.

Slidably mounted in the housing 2 is a piston assembly 14, a rubber gasket 15 providing a seal between the inner surface of the housing and the outer surface of a head 16 of the piston assembly. A stem 18 extends downwardly from the piston head, and is secured at its lower end to a pressure arm 20.

A short co-axial sleeve 22 extends upwardly from the pressure arm into an annular groove 24 provided by a base section 23 of the housing. A spring 25 located in said annular groove urges the pressure arm 20 downwardly, and carries the piston assembly 14 into a first position in which the head 16 is seated on an end face 3 of the housing.

The stem 18 of the piston assembly 14 defines a stepped outlet bore 19, an upper portion of the bore having a smaller diameter than a lower portion thereof, an annular outlet seat 26 being provided at the juncture of these two portions of the outlet bore.

The device comprises a valve assembly comprising a valve stem 30 which extends through, and which is slidably mounted within the upper portion of the outlet bore 19, a first valve head 32 being secured to an upper part of said valve stem, and a second valve head 36 being secured to a lower part of said stem beneath the seat 26. The valve assembly is urged into a first position, in which the valve head 36 sealingly engages the outlet seat 26, by a spring 34 acting between an underside of the valve head 32 and a seating 17 provided by the piston head 16.

In the use of the device, the hollow stem 8 is inserted through a cork C of a Bottle B, and the bottle is inverted. It may first be necessary to prime the device by filling the chamber 4 with liquid from the bottle.

At rest, the device is in the condition shown in Figure 1, in which the piston assembly is urged into its lowermost, or first position by the spring 24, and the valve assembly is urged into its first position, in which the valve head 36 sealingly engages the outlet seat 26, by the spring 34.

In the use of the device, a wine glass W or the like container is positioned under the pressure arm 20, and the pressure arm 20 is moved upwardly, either by pressure of the wine glass, or by finger pressure. As the pressure arm 20 is moved upwardly, the piston assembly 14 moves within the chamber 4: however, since the valve head 36 retains the outlet closed, no liquid is at this stage dispensed from the device, and the piston head forces some liquid back into the bottle, compressing air in the bottle B to a small extent. The valve head 32 is carried into engagement with the inlet seat 10, to close the inlet, and upon continued movement of the piston assembly, the seat 26 is separated from the head 36, and liquid is forced from the chamber 4 through the outlet bore 19 into the wine glass as the piston head 16 sweeps the chamber 4. For this purpose, the stem 30 of the piston is of cruciform cross-section (Figure 2).

Flow of liquid from the chamber 4 continues until the piston assembly is in its uppermost position, as determined by engagement of the piston head 16 either with the underside of the cover 6, or with the valve head 22. During this movement, air flows into the chamber beneath the piston head through one or more bleeds 40 extending into the chamber from the annular groove.

On release of the pressure arm 20, the piston assembly 14 is returned towards its first position, the valve head 32 remaining in engagement with seat 10 until the valve head 36 is engaged by the outlet seat 26.

During this movement, air flows through the outlet bore 19 into the upper part of the chamber 4. When the valve seat 26 engages the head 36, continued movement of the piston assembly 14 by the spring 24 causes the valve head 22 to separate from the inlet seat 10, allowing liquid to flow from the bottle B into the chamber 4 and relieving excess pressure in the bottle.

The device above described is constructed and manufactured from a relatively small number of parts, and is of an exceedingly robust construction, and is hence unlikely to malfunction. In addition, the positive feed of liquid from the chamber 4 into the container by upward pressure of the piston assembly 14 allows the device to be used more speedily than conventional devices, and/or with more viscous liquids.

In addition, should it be desired to change the quantity of liquid dispensed by operation of the device, the valve assembly may readily be removed, and replaced by a similar valve assembly, the stem of which is either longer or shorter than the stem removed. Since the quantity of liquid dispensed by the device is dependent upon the volume of the chamber 4 swept by the piston head 16 subsequent to engagement of the valve head 32 with the inlet seat 10, such change in the length of the valve stem 30 produces a consequent change in the quantity of liquid dispensed.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A device of the kind specified, wherein the chamber is provided by a housing, and the release means comprises a piston assembly movable in the chamber; and wherein the device comprises an inlet through which liquid may flow into the chamber; an outlet through which liquid may flow from the chamber; and a valve assembly carried by the piston assembly; the valve assembly being urged into a first position relative to the piston assembly in which it closes the outlet, and which when the piston assembly is moved in the chamber during the performance of a dispensing operation is moved to close the inlet, and which consequent upon continued movement of the piston assembly moves relative to the piston assembly to open the outlet to allow the piston assembly to cause liquid to flow from the chamber through the outlet.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the piston assembly is spring-urged into a lowermost position, in which the volume of the chamber, as defined by the housing and the piston assembly, is at the maximum.

3. A device according to one of claims 1 and 2 wherein the valve assembly is mounted on the piston assembly, and is spring-urged to its first position in which a part of the valve assembly engages a valve seat bounding the outlet, to close the outlet.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the outlet extends through a head of the piston assembly.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein the outlet comprises a passage extending through the piston assembly.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein the valve assembly extends through and is slidably mounted in the passage.

7. A device according to claim 6 wherein a stem portion of the valve assembly, located in the passage, is of cruciform crosssection.

8. A device according to claim 1, the construction and arrangement being such that, in carrying out a dispensing operation, initial movement of the piston assembly causes a part of the valve assembly to be carried into engagement with a valve seat bounding the inlet to close the inlet.

9. A device according to claim 8 wherein, during continued movement of the piston assembly, the valve assembly is maintained stationary, whilst the piston assembly is moved, against the action of a spring urging it to its first position, to cause a further part of the valve assembly to separate from the outlet.

10. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, the construction and arrangement being such that the quantity of liquid which is dispensed during an operation of the device may be altered by alteration of the valve assembly.

11. A device for dispensing measured quantities of liquid, construction and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (11)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. uppermost position, as determined by engagement of the piston head 16 either with the underside of the cover 6, or with the valve head 22. During this movement, air flows into the chamber beneath the piston head through one or more bleeds 40 extending into the chamber from the annular groove. On release of the pressure arm 20, the piston assembly 14 is returned towards its first position, the valve head 32 remaining in engagement with seat 10 until the valve head 36 is engaged by the outlet seat 26. During this movement, air flows through the outlet bore 19 into the upper part of the chamber 4. When the valve seat 26 engages the head 36, continued movement of the piston assembly 14 by the spring 24 causes the valve head 22 to separate from the inlet seat 10, allowing liquid to flow from the bottle B into the chamber 4 and relieving excess pressure in the bottle. The device above described is constructed and manufactured from a relatively small number of parts, and is of an exceedingly robust construction, and is hence unlikely to malfunction. In addition, the positive feed of liquid from the chamber 4 into the container by upward pressure of the piston assembly 14 allows the device to be used more speedily than conventional devices, and/or with more viscous liquids. In addition, should it be desired to change the quantity of liquid dispensed by operation of the device, the valve assembly may readily be removed, and replaced by a similar valve assembly, the stem of which is either longer or shorter than the stem removed. Since the quantity of liquid dispensed by the device is dependent upon the volume of the chamber 4 swept by the piston head 16 subsequent to engagement of the valve head 32 with the inlet seat 10, such change in the length of the valve stem 30 produces a consequent change in the quantity of liquid dispensed. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A device of the kind specified, wherein the chamber is provided by a housing, and the release means comprises a piston assembly movable in the chamber; and wherein the device comprises an inlet through which liquid may flow into the chamber; an outlet through which liquid may flow from the chamber; and a valve assembly carried by the piston assembly; the valve assembly being urged into a first position relative to the piston assembly in which it closes the outlet, and which when the piston assembly is moved in the chamber during the performance of a dispensing operation is moved to close the inlet, and which consequent upon continued movement of the piston assembly moves relative to the piston assembly to open the outlet to allow the piston assembly to cause liquid to flow from the chamber through the outlet.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the piston assembly is spring-urged into a lowermost position, in which the volume of the chamber, as defined by the housing and the piston assembly, is at the maximum.

3. A device according to one of claims 1 and 2 wherein the valve assembly is mounted on the piston assembly, and is spring-urged to its first position in which a part of the valve assembly engages a valve seat bounding the outlet, to close the outlet.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the outlet extends through a head of the piston assembly.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein the outlet comprises a passage extending through the piston assembly.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein the valve assembly extends through and is slidably mounted in the passage.

7. A device according to claim 6 wherein a stem portion of the valve assembly, located in the passage, is of cruciform crosssection.

8. A device according to claim 1, the construction and arrangement being such that, in carrying out a dispensing operation, initial movement of the piston assembly causes a part of the valve assembly to be carried into engagement with a valve seat bounding the inlet to close the inlet.

9. A device according to claim 8 wherein, during continued movement of the piston assembly, the valve assembly is maintained stationary, whilst the piston assembly is moved, against the action of a spring urging it to its first position, to cause a further part of the valve assembly to separate from the outlet.

10. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, the construction and arrangement being such that the quantity of liquid which is dispensed during an operation of the device may be altered by alteration of the valve assembly.

11. A device for dispensing measured quantities of liquid, construction and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.