GB2176266A - Selective valve for beverage dispensing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The valve is for use with dosing valves of beverage dispensing apparatus and is characterised in that the valve housing (1) is elongated and defines a female frusto-conical receiving cavity (9), in that a male frusto-conical selection cylinder (10) is rotatably mounted therein, in that a number of intake connections (5) are provided at one axial position and spaced around the housing, in that an outlet connection (7) extends from the housing at a different axial position, and in that the selection cylinder has a passage (13) which by rotation to an appropriate position connects a required inlet connection to the outlet connection, whilst blocking the other inlet connections, whereby different fluids can be selected for passage through the valve, to an intake connection of an associated dosing valve. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Selective valve for beverage dispensing apparatus The present invention relates to a selective valve for use with dosing valves of "pre-mix" and "post-mix" beverage dispensing apparatus, or other apparatus with similar functions.

According to this invention, such a selective valve is characterised in that the valve housing is elongated and defines a female cylindrical and frusto-conical receiving cavity, in that a male frusto-conical selection cylinder is rotatably mounted therein, in that a number of intake connections are provided at one axial position which are spaced radially around the housing, in that an outlet connection extends radially from the housing at a different axial position, and in that the selection cylinder has a passage which by rotation to an appropriate position connects a required inlet connection to the outlet connection, whilst blocking the other inlet connection(s), whereby different fluids can be selected for passage through the valve, eg for different flavours of soft drinks and juices.

The selective multi-service valve provided by the invention is of simple and efficient design and can be made of various materials and constructed to various dimensions. It is simple to assemble and can be adapted to the dosing valves of "premix", "post-mix" or similar apparatus by means of suitable connections and without recourse to specialized- labour in assembling or dismantling it, or for repair or cleaning purposes. Acting directly with the dosing valves of "pre-mix", "post-mix" or similar apparatus, it enables each of the said valves to operate with a number of different types of beverage, eg four, comprising two flavours, each with gas and without gas, without any of the beverages affecting any of the others.

At the same time, the selective multi-service valve, when fitted with the dosing valves, enables these latter to be designed as relatively simple valves compared with the complicated dosing valves at present in use in the aforementioned apparatus, thus substantially reducing the maintenance operations required on the said dosing valves as a result of obstructions and also enabling an entire range of nonalcholic beverages to be prepared, such as cooling drinks, soft drinks, reconstituted juices, whole-fruit juices, including natural juices, which so far cannot be processed in the dosing valves of the aforementioned apparatus, in which beverages can only be produced from homogeneous preparations of syrups.Finally, as the selective multi-service valve can use water, the pressure and temperature of the latter, used in the apparatus equipped with the said valve enable the dosing valves of the "pre-mix" or "post-mix" apparatus to be kept clean and cool, ensuring a better quality and mixture for the beverages produced with these valves.

In order that the invention be readily understood, one embodiment of selective valve will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of the selective valve, Figure 2 is a section along A-A, Figure 3 is an elevation, and Figure 4 is a cut-away view in perspective showing how the selective valve operates.

As may be seen from the drawings, the multi-selective valve comprises a housing, the external shape of which is cylindrical towards its two ends 2, with a central part 3 which is rectangular. The rectangular part 3 has three openings through its wall to which are connected respective intake connections in the form of sockets 4, 5 and 6, each for connection to a different fluid source. These inlet sockets are in axial alignment and spaced radially around the casing wall. An outlet socket 7 is also provided at a different axial location towards one end of the housing as shown.

Internally, the housing 1 is generally cylindri cal and tapers from one end for about twothirds of its length, where an internal transverse wall 8 is provided, to define a frusto-conical female receiving cavity 9 for a separate frusto-conical male selection cylinder 10 described hereinafter.

Inside the other end of the housing 2 is an outlet chamber 11, through which passes an outlet pipe 12, said pipe having an inlet end 1 2a which extends axially from the transverse wall 8 and being bent so that its outlet end 1 2b extends radially through the casing wall, to which the outlet socket 7 is attached.

The aforementioned selection cylinder 10 is sized to be rotatably fitted in the cavity 10, and has a bent pipe 13 at its inner end which has an inlet end 13a in alignment with the axial position of the sockets 4 to 6 and an outlet end 13b aligned with inlet end 12a of the outlet pipe 12. The selection cylinder 10 is rotated by a control shaft 14 which in its turn can be actuated manually or automatically. Thus, by suitable rotation of the selection cylinder 10, a required fluid can be fed via the respective intake socket 4, 5 or 6 and conveyed separately through the pipes 13 and 12 to the outlet connection socket 7. It will be appreciated that, whilst connected with a respective intake socket 4, 5 or 6, the selection cylinder 10 blocks the remaining intake sockets.

It will be appreciated that such a selective multi-service valve has the following advantages: (1) When connected to one intake socket of associated dosing valves of "post-mix" apparatus, two (or more) different flavours can be selected for the type of drink dispensed, e.g.

cooling drinks, soft drinks, natural juices.

(2) When connected to another of the intake sockets of the dosing valves of the "post-mix" apparatus or to the intake socket of "pre-mix" apparatus, two different types of water can be selected, with gas and without gas, the water to be already mixed, in the mixing chamber of the dosing valve of the "post-mix" apparatus, with the syrup, natural juice, whole-fruit juice or concentrated juice, in such a way as to produce the beverage required.

(3) With the described embodiment the required fluid is simply selected by aligning the pipe 13 of the selection cylinder 10 to one of the inlet sockets 4 to 6 (see Fig. 4) so that the selected fluid is conveyed through the outlet socket 7 which in turn is connected to an intake socket of an associated dosing valve of the "post-mix" or "pre-mix" apparatus.

(4) The valve may have an intake socket 5 (see Fig. 4) connected to the water of the "post-mix" or "pre-mix" apparatus, so that by utilizing the said water and its pressure, the selective multi-service valve itself and also the associated dosing valve can be cleaned whenever the flavour of the fluids entering through the intake sockets 4 and 6 (see Fig.

4) has to be changed, and so that the pipes, ducts and chambers, whether of the actual selective multi-service valve or of the dosing valves of the "pre-mix" and "post-mix" apparatus will not be obstructed if the apparatus is used for the production of beverages from natural juices, whole-fruit juices or concentrated juices; such an advantage has been impossible to achieve hitherto owing to the solid and insoluble parts, pectinous and viscous substances and agglomerates present, which by adhering to the walls of the calibrated parts of the dosing valves prevent the correct closure of the valves and thus the accurate dosage of the beverages.

(5) The cleaning system discussed in (4) above prevents the internal parts of the valves, pipes, ducts, chambers, pulverizer and orifices from retaining considerable quantities of residual syrups, which otherwise, in conjunction with the humidity, oxygen and temperature, may provide the ideal medium for the development of micro-organisms (yeasts, moulds and microbes) particularly dangerous to health.

(6) The cleaning system discussed in (4) and (5) above, prevents the crystallization of syrups, juices or concentrates in the- internal parts of the dosing valves and of the selective valve itself, in order to prevent these impurities from causing gas to be released when the beverage is produced with aerated water, which produces foam and thus prevents the glass from being correctly filled, and in order thus to avoid losses and ensure a better quality for the beverages produced in apparatus in which the selective multi-service valve is used.

(7) By providing the intake socket 5 for connection to the water of the "pre-mix" or "post-mix" apparatus it is ensured that, by utilizing the temperature of the said water, all the internal parts of the dosing valves and of the actual selective multi-service valve can be properly cooled, so that the cooling of the valves will prevent the release of gas from the beverages produced, this gas being caused by the temperature difference between the fluids and the valves, with the consequent incomplete filling of the drinking vessels and formation of foam, and so that- non-uniformity in the quality of the beverages will be likewise avoided.

(8) By connecting the selection cylinder 10 with intake socket 5 in "post-mix" apparatus, depending upon the water temperature, it would be possible to produce frozen drinks or else, if desired by the operator, drinks at ambient temperature, while at the same time the said valve would enable either of two different flavours to be selected.

Claims (4)

1. A selective valve for use with dosing valves of "post-mix", "pre-mix" or similar apparatus, characterised in that the valve housing is elongated and defines a female cylindrical and frusto-conical receiving cavity, in that a male frusto-conical selection cylinder is rotatably mounted therein, in that a number of intake connections are provided at one axial position which are spaced radially around the housing, in that an outlet connection extends radially from the housing at a different axial position, and in that the selection cylinder has a passage which by rotation to an appropriate position connects a required inlet connection to the outlet connection, whilst blocking the other inlet connection(s), whereby different fluids can be selected for passage through the valve, to an intake connection of an associated dosing valve.

2. A selective valve according to Claim 1, characterised in that three intake connection are provided, one of which is adapted for connection to the water source of associated "post-mix" or "pre-mix" apparatus whereby the pressure and/or temperature of the water can be used to clean said selective valve and its associated dosing valve when required.

3. A selective valve constructed arranged and adapted for use substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

4. "Post-mix" or "pre-mix" dispensing apparatus comprising one or more dosing valves associated with one or more selection valves as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3.