GB2366353A

GB2366353A - Flow control device

Info

Publication number: GB2366353A
Application number: GB0020805A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Stanley Johnson
Original assignee: IMI Cornelius Inc
Current assignee: Cornelius Inc
Priority date: 2000-08-23
Filing date: 2000-08-23
Publication date: 2002-03-06
Also published as: GB0020805D0

Abstract

A flow control device comprises an insert 12 mounted in a housing 10 for controlling the flow rate of a fluid to a dispense nozzle 16. The insert 12 is moveable to vary the area of a tapered slot 20 in communication with an inlet passageway 24 connectable to a source of a fluid for adjusting the flow rate of the fluid delivered to an outlet passageway 18 of the nozzle 16. The insert 12 is positioned upstream of the nozzle 16 preferably to be inaccessible in the assembled device and is pre-set during installation to provide a required flow rate. Insert 12 may be of right cylindrical shape and fit in passageway 24 sufficiently tightly to prevent leakage. The position of insert 12 may be varied by rotation, which may be aided by slot 22. The nozzle may be a post-mix beverage nozzle with concentrate and diluent passageways, the concentrate passageway may contain insert 12. Sensors may be provided in the passageways to adjust the flow rates.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1> FLOW CONTROL DEVICE This invention relates to a flow control device and is particularly concerned to provide a device suitable for use in a beverage dispense apparatus, although it need not be limited thereto. For convenience, however, the invention will be more particularly described below with reference to a beverage dispense apparatus for post-mix beverages.

Post-mix beverages comprise a diluted concentrate, e.g. a syrup or cola, in which the concentrate is mixed with a diluent, usually water, at the point of dispense.

Different dispense sales outlets often require different speeds of dispense, i.e. from a relatively slow dispense rate to a relatively fast dispense rate, and so it is an object of the invention to provide a dispense valve that can readily be set to provide a range of flow rates.

Accordingly the invention provides in one aspect a fluid flow control device, the device comprising a housing with a passageway, the passageway communicating through an orifice in a wall of the housing to an inlet connectable to a source of the fluid and having an outlet end connectable to a nozzle, and an insert in the passageway upstream of the nozzle, the insert having a wall surrounding a central chamber, a slot through the insert wall communicating with the orifice to provide a fluid flow channel from the inlet through the insert chamber to the nozzle, the slot having a tapering shape whereby movement of the position of the insert relative to the housing increases or decreases the area of the slot in communication with the orifice.

The housing passageway and the insert may conveniently be of right cylindrical shape, i.e. the insert may be annular, the insert being a

sufficiently tight fit within the housing to prevent fluid leakage but its position being adjustable by rotation relative to the housing passageway.

Conveniently the outlet end of the insert may be provided with a slot or slots whereby it may be rotated when in position in the passageway by means of, for example, a screwdriver.

When the nozzle is in position, the insert may conveniently be hidden from view and inaccessible. Removal of the nozzle then allows access to the insert for adjustment or cleaning.

The position of the nozzle relative to the orifice may be adjusted to the correct position for a particular sales outlet, e.g. a bar, caf & or restaurant, according to the desired flow rate at that outlet and to the beverage to be dispensed.

Where the beverage is a post-mix beverage, the nozzle may be a mixing nozzle and the flow of both a concentrate and a diluent may be arranged into the nozzle. The flow passage for the concentrate preferably includes the adjustable insert and the flow passage for the diluent may be a conventional flow passage, which may conveniently be incorporated in the same housing.

Thus, in another aspect, the invention provides a post-mix beverage dispense apparatus, the apparatus comprising a concentrate flow passage and a diluent flow passage, both passages leading to a mixing nozzle from which the beverage can be dispensed, the concentrate flow passage including a passageway through a housing, the passageway communicating through an orifice in a wall of the housing to an inlet connectable to a source of the concentrate and having an outlet end connectable to the nozzle, and an insert in the passageway upstream of the nozzle, the insert having a wall surrounding a central chamber, a

slot through the insert wall communicating with the orifice to provide the concentrate flow passage from the inlet through the insert to the nozzle, the slot having a tapering shape whereby movement of the position of the insert relative to the housing increases or decreases the area of the slot in communication with the orifice.

As indicated above, the diluent flow passage may conveniently pass through the same housing to the nozzle.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention sensors in the concentrate and diluent flow passages are used to monitor flow during a beverage dispense. The sensors are connected to a controller which can operate actuators to adjust flow through either or both passages as required to maintain the desired flow rate and the desired concentrate to diluent ratio.

Preferably, the concentrate flow rate is monitored and the diluent flow rate is adjusted according to the sensed concentrate rates in order to provide the desired ratio. In other words, the concentrate flow rate is the master to the diluent slave flow rate.

It will, therefore, be appreciated that the adjustable device of the invention enables a nominal concentrate flow rate to be set up as required by appropriate adjustment of the position of the insert and then the sensing and control system can be used to fine tune the flow rates to ensure an accurate dispense of the correct ratio of concentrate to diluent.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only in which: Figure 1 is an exploded view of a device of the invention suitable for use in a post-mix beverage dispense apparatus;

Figure 2 is a sectional view through the device of Figure I showing the concentrate inlet; and Figure 3 is another sectional view through the device of Figure I showing the diluent inlet.

In the drawings a housing 10 has a recess to contain insert 12 which has a central chamber 14 communicating with a corresponding passageway 18 in a nozzle 16.

The insert has a tapered slot 20 in its wall and the insert can be rotated, by means of its drive slot 22, within the housing recess so that a greater or lesser area of the tapered slot 20 can be in line and communication with concentrate inlet passageway 24.

As shown the housing recess is stepped at 26 to receive the smaller diameter insert 12 at its upper end and a larger diameter hollow stem 26 of nozzle 16 immediately beneath the insert. Thus insert 12 must be adjusted to the desired position for the required concentrate flow rate after the insertion into the housing recess but before insertion of stem 26 of the nozzle.

The diluent (water) inlet 28 is visible in Figure 3.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A fluid flow control device, the device comprising a housing with a passageway, the passageway communicating through an orifice in a wall of the housing to an inlet connectable to a source of the fluid and having an outlet end connectable to a nozzle, and an insert in the passageway upstream of the nozzle, the insert having a wall surrounding a central chamber, a slot through the insert wall communicating with the orifice to provide a fluid flow channel from the inlet through the insert chamber to the nozzle, the slot having a tapering shape whereby movement of the position of the insert relative to the housing increases or decreases the area of the slot in communication with the orifice. 2. A fluid flow control device according to Claim 1, in which the housing passageway and the insert are of right cylindrical shape, the insert being a sufficiently tight fit within the housing to prevent fluid leakage and its position being adjustable by rotation relative to the housing passageway. 3. A fluid flow control device according to Claim I or 2, in which the outlet end of the insert is provided with a slot whereby it may be rotated when in position in the passageway. 4. A fluid flov; control device according to any preceding claim, in which the nozzle is a mixing nozzle for a post-mix beverage and flow passages for both a concentrate and a diluent are arranged into the nozzle. 6. A fluid flow control device according to Claim 5, in which the concentrate flow passage includes the insert.

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7. A fluid flow control device according to Claim 5 or 6, in which sensors in the concentrate and diluent flow passages monitor flow during a dispense of the beverage, the sensors being connected to a controller which can operate actuators to adjust the flow through either or both passages. 8. A fluid flow control device according to Claim 7, in which the concentrate flow rate is monitored and the diluent flow rate is adjusted according to the sensed concentrate flow rates to provide the desired concentrate to diluent ratio. 9. A post-mix beverage dispense apparatus, the apparatus comprising a concentrate flow passage and a diluent flow passage, both passages leading to a mixing nozzle from which the beverage can be dispensed, the concentrate flow passage including a passageway through a housing, the passageway communicating through an orifice in a wall of the housing to an inlet connectable to a source of the concentrate and having an outlet end connectable to the nozzle, and an insert in the passageway upstream of the nozzle, the insert having a wall surrounding a central chamber, a slot through the insert wall communicating with the orifice to provide the concentrate flow passage from the inlet through the insert to the nozzle, the slot having a tapering shape whereby movement of the position of the insert relative to the housing increases or decreases the area of the slot in communication with the orifice.