GB2180917A - Electro-mechanical rotary valve - Google Patents

Abstract

An electromechanical rotary valve which can be installed in any public house enables the publican to connect three barrels of beer and a gas cylinder, to the dispensing point, thus ensuring a continuous supply until all three barrels are empty. The rotary valve initially connects the first barrel B1 with the gas cylinder G and the dispensing outlet. When the barrel B1 is empty, an associated float in a chamber FC closes an electric circuit to drive the valve. A micro-switch tripped by a cam on the valve shaft stops the valve in a position which connects the second barrel B2 to the outlet and the gas cylinder. This process is repeated when the second barrel is empty. The cycle may be automatically repeated. A simple push button bleeding mechanism is provided for easy and economical removal of froth and air from the system. An indicator light positioned either on the barrel or at the dispensing point shows which barrel is empty. As the valve only requires power during the switching operation from one barrel to another, very little current is consumed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Electro mechanical rotary valve This invention relates to an automatic valve which enablesthreebarrelsto be connected to an output.

The device will automatically transfer the contents of each container in turn to the output point. It will also ensure the cutting off of the gas supply as each containeris emptied.

This is an electro mechanical device consisting of a motor driven rotary valve, which has electrical switching and sensory devices which enable itto function as in para 1.

As an example:-Three beer barrels and a gas cylinderarecoupled upasfollows. (see sheet 1) Pipes from barrels B1, B2, B3 are connected to thevalve inlets No: 4,5 and 6, via is float chambers over each barrel.

Shown as 'FC' on sheet 1.

Valve outlet pipes No. 1,2, and 3 are connected to the output line.

Provision for bleeding each lines from barrel to valve is made by providing solenoid valves shown on sheet No. 1 as SV Nos. 1,3 and 5.

To provide gas for bleeding purposes solenoid valves 2,4 and 6 allow gas to enter barrels. The solenoid valves are therefore in pairsforeach barrel.

The operation is as follows, To bleed output of barrel No. 1 solenoid No. 5 opens and solenoid No. 6 provides the gas. Similarly 3 and 4 provideforbarrel No. 2 and solenoid valves 1 and 2 provide for barrel No3.

To operate valve, place auto swith to 'OFF' position.

Switch on main switch.

Carry out bleeding procedure by pressing bell push buttons 1,2,3foreach barrel respectively.

Now change auto switch to 'ON' position.

Thevalvewill now start rotating and will stop when the borings in the rotor connect inlet No. 4to outlet No. 1 for beer, and inlet 'A' to gas outlet 'D'.

The rotaryvalvewill remain in this position until the supply in barrel No. 1 is exhausted. Thiswill causethefloatin the float chamber (see sheet 4) to desend and make contact with the contact points provided in the chamber. This will switch on the thyresi sterandallowtherelaytoswitch on the motorand cause the valve to rotate (see sheet 6).

The valve will rotate till cam No. 1 reaches micro switch No. 1 (sheet 5 position 2) which stops the rotation. The valve is now connected to barrel No. 2.

Valve inlet No. 5 and Outlet No. 2 are lined up for beer, and gas inlet B and outlet E are similarly connected.

When barrel No. 2 is exhausted,float in thefioat chamber of barrel No. 2 will desend and once more switch on the thyresistor No. 2 which in turn will energisethe relay and switch on the motor. The valve will again rotate till Cam No. 1 reaches micro switch No.2 (sheet 5 position 3) and stops with the valve connecting Beer inlet No. 6 and outlet No. 3, gas inlet C and gas oulet F. Barrel No. 3 is now connected.

When Barrel No. 3 is exhausted, the float in float chamber above Barrel 3 drops and switches on thyre sistor No. 3 which in turin energisesthe relay and causes the valve to rotate till the cam No. 1 reaches micro switch No. 3 (see sheet5, position 4) this cuts offthe power to the micro switches operated by cam No. 1 (see sheet 5). Micro switch No. 4 operated by Cam No. II now switches on power and allowsthe rotorto carry on turning till Cam No. 1. reachesthe supply position on barrel No. 1 again.

N.B. If Auto switch is left in the 'OFF' position the valve switches off on barrel No. 3 being emptied.

1. Afullyautomatic rotaryvalvewhich allows the connecting ofthree beer barrels to an outlet point and transfers supply from each barrel in turn.

2. Provides a simple bleeding mechanism to rid the system ofairandfroth.

3. Power (electricity) is used only whilst switch ing overthe barrels. No current is used till a barrel is empty.

4. The gays supply is cut off from the barrel as soon as it is emptied.

5. As the valve turns only 60 degrees at atime there is littlewearandtear.

6. Indication of a empty barrel is by means of an L.E.D. This can be positioned at the barrel or at the dispensing point.

7. A dual cam system allows automatic or manual control by means of a auto switch.

8. Since three barrels are connected a continuous supply is assured.

9. An electronic system is used for indicating an empty barrel.

10. An empty barrel can bechangedwhilethe valve is in operation.

11. Wastage is keptto a minimum during the bleeding operation.

12. The system can be used forotherpurposes than for beer distribution.

13. Multiple units ofthe valve can be utilised if necessary.

List drawings 1) Layout Sheet No. 1 2) Longitudinal cross section of valve Sheet No. 2 3) Details of elements and seals Sheet No. 3 4) Details of float chambers Sheet No. 4 5) Positions of cams Sheet No. 5 6) Circuit diagram Sheet No. 6 Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: *(a) Claims 1-13 above have been deleted or textually amended.

*(b) New ortextually amended claims have been filed as follows: Claims 1-13 1. An apparatusfordelivering liquidsfrom one or more containers to a common delivery point consist ing ofarotaryvalvewith suitable pipeline con- nections and sensing and switching devices which allows change overfrom one containerto another in sequence and utilises a pressurising agent such as

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

Claims (12)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Electro mechanical rotary valve This invention relates to an automatic valve which enablesthreebarrelsto be connected to an output. The device will automatically transfer the contents of each container in turn to the output point. It will also ensure the cutting off of the gas supply as each containeris emptied. This is an electro mechanical device consisting of a motor driven rotary valve, which has electrical switching and sensory devices which enable itto function as in para 1. As an example:-Three beer barrels and a gas cylinderarecoupled upasfollows. (see sheet 1) Pipes from barrels B1, B2, B3 are connected to thevalve inlets No: 4,5 and 6, via is float chambers over each barrel. Shown as 'FC' on sheet 1. Valve outlet pipes No. 1,2, and 3 are connected to the output line. Provision for bleeding each lines from barrel to valve is made by providing solenoid valves shown on sheet No. 1 as SV Nos. 1,3 and 5. To provide gas for bleeding purposes solenoid valves 2,4 and 6 allow gas to enter barrels. The solenoid valves are therefore in pairsforeach barrel. The operation is as follows, To bleed output of barrel No. 1 solenoid No. 5 opens and solenoid No. 6 provides the gas. Similarly 3 and 4 provideforbarrel No. 2 and solenoid valves 1 and 2 provide for barrel No3. To operate valve, place auto swith to 'OFF' position. Switch on main switch. Carry out bleeding procedure by pressing bell push buttons 1,2,3foreach barrel respectively. Now change auto switch to 'ON' position. Thevalvewill now start rotating and will stop when the borings in the rotor connect inlet No. 4to outlet No. 1 for beer, and inlet 'A' to gas outlet 'D'. The rotaryvalvewill remain in this position until the supply in barrel No. 1 is exhausted. Thiswill causethefloatin the float chamber (see sheet 4) to desend and make contact with the contact points provided in the chamber. This will switch on the thyresi sterandallowtherelaytoswitch on the motorand cause the valve to rotate (see sheet 6). The valve will rotate till cam No. 1 reaches micro switch No. 1 (sheet 5 position 2) which stops the rotation. The valve is now connected to barrel No. 2. Valve inlet No. 5 and Outlet No. 2 are lined up for beer, and gas inlet B and outlet E are similarly connected. When barrel No. 2 is exhausted,float in thefioat chamber of barrel No. 2 will desend and once more switch on the thyresistor No. 2 which in turn will energisethe relay and switch on the motor. The valve will again rotate till Cam No. 1 reaches micro switch No.2 (sheet 5 position 3) and stops with the valve connecting Beer inlet No. 6 and outlet No. 3, gas inlet C and gas oulet F. Barrel No. 3 is now connected. When Barrel No. 3 is exhausted, the float in float chamber above Barrel 3 drops and switches on thyre sistor No. 3 which in turin energisesthe relay and causes the valve to rotate till the cam No. 1 reaches micro switch No. 3 (see sheet5, position 4) this cuts offthe power to the micro switches operated by cam No. 1 (see sheet 5). Micro switch No. 4 operated by Cam No. II now switches on power and allowsthe rotorto carry on turning till Cam No. 1. reachesthe supply position on barrel No. 1 again. N.B. If Auto switch is left in the 'OFF' position the valve switches off on barrel No. 3 being emptied. CLAIMS

1. Afullyautomatic rotaryvalvewhich allows the connecting ofthree beer barrels to an outlet point and transfers supply from each barrel in turn.

2. Provides a simple bleeding mechanism to rid the system ofairandfroth.

3. Power (electricity) is used only whilst switch ing overthe barrels. No current is used till a barrel is empty.

4. The gays supply is cut off from the barrel as soon as it is emptied.

5. As the valve turns only 60 degrees at atime there is littlewearandtear.

6. Indication of a empty barrel is by means of an L.E.D. This can be positioned at the barrel or at the dispensing point.

7. A dual cam system allows automatic or manual control by means of a auto switch.

8. Since three barrels are connected a continuous supply is assured.

9. An electronic system is used for indicating an empty barrel.

10. An empty barrel can bechangedwhilethe valve is in operation.

11. Apparatusforcontrollingtheflowofliquid substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the text and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. Wastage is keptto a minimum during the bleeding operation.

12. The system can be used forotherpurposes than for beer distribution.

13. Multiple units ofthe valve can be utilised if necessary.

List drawings 1) Layout Sheet No.

1 2) Longitudinal cross section of valve Sheet No. 2 3) Details of elements and seals Sheet No. 3 4) Details of float chambers Sheet No. 4 5) Positions of cams Sheet No. 5 6) Circuit diagram Sheet No. 6 Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: *(a) Claims 1-13 above have been deleted or textually amended.

*(b) New ortextually amended claims have been filed as follows: Claims 1-13

1. An apparatusfordelivering liquidsfrom one or more containers to a common delivery point consist ing ofarotaryvalvewith suitable pipeline con- nections and sensing and switching devices which allows change overfrom one containerto another in sequence and utilises a pressurising agent such as gas.

2. The said valve (as in claim 1 )will connect each barrel to an outlet and also connect the gas inputto each barrel separately and cut off containers not in use.

3. The rotorofthe said valve (as in claim 1 ) has been drilled in pairs of ports set at suitable degrees apartsothatin rotating one beer line and one gas line are connected into the circuit at a time, in sequence.

4. The correct alignment of the rotor ports with the inlet and outlet ports for beer and gasisemsured by the spring loaded elements acting as plungers and seating themselves into counter sunk grooves on the rotor.

5. The valve (as in claim 1) has 6 inlet and 6 outlet elements set in pairs in the body of the valve. These elements consistof a tubular bodywith a flangeto accommodate a seal at one end and a spring to apply tension and is held in place by a union nut.

6. When the rotor of the said valve (as in claim 1 ) stops in position forthe first container, 2 inlet and 2 outlet elements descend by means of spring pres sureintothecountersunkportionsoftherotorand lockthe rotor into position ensuring a tightseal.

7. The seals uses in these elements are of silicon rubber or similar non toxic material.

8. The rotation ofthe valve rotor is caused by a motor connected by means ofageartrain and iscon- trolled through cams and micro switches which are triggered by sensing devices on each barrel.

9. The sensing devices consist of a free float in a cylindrical chamber with contact points which are closed by the float when the fluid level drops. This switches the thyristor on which in turn activates the relaywhich controlsthe motor and pump. It also switches on the indicatorto showthatthe barrel is empty.

10. A bleeding system is provided by means of push button controlled solenoid valves which enables a barrel to be replaced and the system bled even when the valve is in operation and does not in terruptthe flow from the other barrels.