GB2454565A

GB2454565A - Dispenser for measured quantities of liquid

Info

Publication number: GB2454565A
Application number: GB0819478A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Stuart White
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-10-26
Filing date: 2008-10-24
Publication date: 2009-05-13
Anticipated expiration: 2028-10-24
Also published as: GB2454565B; GB0819478D0; GB0721175D0

Abstract

A valve operating mechanism for and a flow control device for enabling the dispensing of predetermined amounts of a liquid, for example, alcoholic beverages. The valve operating mechanism controls the operation of physically spaced liquid inlet and outlet valves of the liquid flow control device and includes a main body 2 with a liquid receiving chamber/region, wherein the operating mechanism includes a lever 25, an inlet valve operating member, an outlet valve operating member and means for interlocking the sequence of operation of the inlet and outlet valves including the displacement of locating means carried by the inlet and outlet valves in associated L- shaped slots.

Description

LIQUID FLOW CONTIOL

or many reon I l r&juire1 to be able to monitor the flow of a liquid in ueh manner that measured amounts of the liquid may be discharged from a source/supply thereof into a specific receptacle.

It is known to provide arrangements for enabling the discharge of predetermined amounts of a liquid by means of apparatus including a chamber of specified volume for receiving the liquid from a supply, an inlet valve controlling the feed of the liquid from the supply to the chamber and an outlet valve for controlling the discharge of the liquid from the chamber. In practice, the inlet and outlet valves are operated in such sequences as to ensure that when liquid is entering the chamber the outlet valve is closed and to also ensure that when the outlet valve is opened to discharge liquid from the chamber the inlet valve is set to its closed condition.

In particular, in relation to the dispensing of alcoholic liquids such as spirits flow control devices are known which are required to be able to dispense precise amounts of spirits from, for example, a bottle into a glass.

With this form of dispensing device an important official requirement is that the customer must be able to see that the liquid receiving chamber is correctly filled from the supply thereof and also that the chamber is totally emptied following discharge of the liquid.

One consequence of this is that the dispensing devices/units historically have a transparent part to the chamber wall that enables the visual check of the content of the chamber, and also historically it has been the practice to site control mechanisms for the inlet and outlet valves within the chamber.

The locating of such mechanisms within the liquid receiving chamber can in practice result in residue formation which in turn can result in an incorrect amount of liquid being dispensed during a liquid dispensing operation and can in the case of alcoholic liquids lead to jamming and sticking of the mechanism..

It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid flow control devices/units.

Broadly, according to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a valve operating mechanism for controlling operation of physically spaced liquid inlet and outlet valves of a liquid flow control device including a main body with a liquid receiving chamber/region, wherein the operating mechanism includes an inlet valve operating member, an outlet valve operating member and means for interlocking the sequence of operation of the inlet and outlet valves including the displacement of locating means carried by the inlet and outlet valves in associated Lshaped slots A further aspect of the invention provides valve operating mechanism for ::. *, controlling operation of physically spaced liquid inlet and outlet valves of a liquid flow control device including a main body with a liquid receiving

I IS

chamber/region, wherein the operating mechanism includes an inlet valve 1* . . * operating member, and wherein an outlet valve operating member with each said s. 20 operating member coupled to a common actuating element by way of a pin * engaging in an associated L shaped slot having a main limb and a shorter limb transverse thereto said slots being so provided on said main body that their shorter limbs face away from each other, the arrangement being such that when a pin of one valve is engaged in the main limb of its associated slot, the pin of the other valve is engaged in the shorter limb of its associated slot.

Preferably the mechanism is such that the actuating element is resiliently loaded to such position that the mechanism has a rest position in which the liquid inlet valve is maintained open open and the outlet valve is closed.

Conveniently when the pins associated with the L shaped slot are moved to a position in which the pin is able to enter into the sorter length limb of the actuating element is so displaced as to drive the pin into the shorter limb thereby to lock the associated valve in its closed position.

Preferably, wherein the operating mechanism includes an inlet valve operating member, an outlet valve operating member interlocking the sequence of operation of the valves in such maimer as to prevent both valves being open to liquid flow at the same time.

In a particular construction the actuating arm is resiliently loaded to such position that the mechanism has a rest position in which the liquid inlet valve is maintained open open and the outlet valve is closed.

In a preferred arrangement the relationship of liquid inlet area available to liquid flow into the chamber/region to the chamber/region and the liquid outlet area available to liquid flow from the chamber/region lies in a square millimetre range of 85 to 115.

In particular the relationship is such that the inlet area is 92 square millimetres and the outlet area is 114 square millimetres.

In a preferred arrangement the mechanism is locally wholly outside the said chamber/region.

Broadly, according to a still further aspect of the invention a self contained liquid flow control device/unit includes a liquid receiving region having inlet and outlet valves for controlling the flow of liquid to and from the region, wherein arrangements/mechanisms associated with the control of the inlet and outlet valves are located totally externally of the region.

In a preferred application of the device/unit the latter is arranged for releasable connection to the neck of a bottle or other container from which it is required to dispense predetermined amounts of the bottle or container content.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how to carry the same into effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:-Figure 1 is a side view of an embodiment of a liquid flow control device/unit incorporating the concepts of the invention when arranged for mounting to the neck of a bottle to enable controlled dispensing of the content of the bottle the Figure illustrating the device/unit when in its rest' condition;.

Figure 2 is a side view of the device/unit of Figure 1 in which view the manual operating lever included in the view of Figure 1 has been removed; Figure 3 is an oblique view of the interior of the liquid receiving chamber of the device/unit of Figure 1; Figure 4 is an oblique view of device/unit of Figures 1 and 2, illustrating the valve control mechanisms of the device/unit.

Figure 5 is a part sectional side view of the device/unit as shown in Figures 1 and 2 and -.5-Figures 6 to 9 very schematically illustrate the relative positions of components of valve opening and closing mechanisms/arrangements at various stages in their operation..

Referring now to Figures 1 to 5, the device/unit 1 shown therein includes a main body 2 including an outer wall 3 and an inner wall 4 having as may be seen from Figure 2 curved side sections 5 and curved end sections 6 The central region 7 of the main body inside the inner wall sections 5 and 6 is dished downwards to form the lower part of a liquid receiving chamber 8 which as may be seen from Figure 5 enclosed by an outwardly belied cover 9. This cover 9 is transparent to allow viewing of the interior of the chamber.

The peripheral region of the outer wall 3 is provided with a circumscribing flange so positioned as to define from the outer wall an upstanding (as seen in Figures I and 2) circumscribing rib ii to which is mounted an assembly 12 for receiving and locating the chamber cover 9 When mounted the cover forms a hermetic seal with the mounting assembly 12 and thus the main body 2 of the device/unit..

As may be noted from Figure 3 the end sections 6 of the inner wall 4 are inwardly curved, the curvature being such as to define the positions where openings 13 in the main body are provided for locating inlet and outlet valves 14 and 15 respectively for the device/unit.

Each valve 14 and 15 comprises a flexible member 16 (Figures 4, 5) whose peripheral region 17 makes sealing contact with the periphery 18 of the associated valve opening 13 whereby it is not possible for liquid to enter or exit either of the openings. In operation the central region 19 of each valve member 16 is displaced relative to its peripheral region 17.

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As may be seen from Figure 5 the central region 19 of the flexible member 16 of the outlet valve 15 sealingly cooperates with an internal surface 20 located at the entrance region 21 of a liquid outlet tube/pipe 22 that extends in prolongation of the main body 2 Similarly the central region 19 of the valve member 16 forming the inlet valve 14 sealingly cooperates with a similar internal surface 58 located at the outlet end 59 of a liquid inlet tube/pipe 24 that extends in prolongation of the main body 2 in the opposite direction to the outlet pipe 22 The opening and closing of the valves 14 and 15 is effected by moving the central regions 19 of the flexible members 16 into firm contact with the associated sealing surfaces 20 and 58 and by moving the central regions 19 of the valve members 16 away from contact with such surfaces to open the valves.

By ensuring that the peripheral regions 17 of the valve members 16 are effectively sealed to the peripheral regions 18 of the associated openings 13 in the main body 2 liquid is confined to the interior of the chamber.

The construction and arrangement of the mechanism provided for operating the inlet and outlet valves 14 and 15 will now be considered in greater detail particularly in relation to Figures 1 to 5, and more particularly to Figures 4 and 5.

The operating mechanism includes an operating lever 25 that includes a short main section 26 from which extends two side by side limbs 27 whose free ends 28 are bridged by a pin 29 whose opposite ends 30 project outwardly of the limb ends 28 so that each pin end 30 is able to engage in an L shaped slot 31 formed in an adjacent part 32 of the formation of the outer wall 3. in the vicinity of the outlet valve 15. With the orientation of the device/unit 1 as shown in the Figures the L-form, is visually inverted.

The pin 29 is so positioned in the outer wall 3 that it is axially directed transverse to the length of the main body 2 and is centrally located relative to the valve opening. 13 of the outlet valve.

The main stem 33 of the L is inclined slightly rearwards relative to the main body.

whilst the base 34 of the L form extends away from the outlet valve 14 of the main body 2 It is important to note that the transition of the slot from the main stem 33 and the base 34 is a smooth rounded transition.

The pin 29 also pivotally engages in appropriate bores 35 provided in the ends 36 of the legs 37 of a U shaped element 38 having a rectangular cross part 39 from which the legs 37 project that is connected to the central region 19 of the flexible valve member 16. The surface of this cross part 39 that faces the valve member 16 when connected thereto is profiled to have a surface shape conforming to the shape of the entrance region 21 of the outlet pipe/tube 22 so that when the valve member 16 moved to its closed position (shown in Figure 2) a liquid tight seal is produced between the flexible valve member 16 and the entrance to the liquid outlet pipe/tube.22 and when central regon 19 of the valve 16 is moved away from the entrance to the pipe/tube the flexible member 16 of the outlet valve is set in its valve open position thereby to allow passage of liquid from the chamber 8..

At this point it is convenient to bear in mind that when ever liquid is required to fill a chamber or to be discharged from a chamber it is necessary to provide an air venting facility.

In relation to the embodiment of the device/unit shown in the Figures an air vent is provided in the cover 9 and comprises a short tube 42 extending from the cover 9. The free end 43 of the tube cooperates with an air vent control member 44 that is serves to control the opening and closing of the air vent tube end 43.

This control member 44 comprises a bracket 45 of U form of which the base 46 thereof abuts tube end 43 when closing the air vent whilst the legs 47 of the of the bracket 45 project through slots 48 provided in the main body 2 so that the ends of legs 47 can be engaged with a pivot pin 49 that is mounted in a pair of lugs 50 (Figure 4) projecting from the wall structure 4.

As may be seen from Figure 4 a further pair of lugstlimbs 51 project in prolongation of the lever main body 25 in the direction opposite to the previously mentioned limbs An L shaped slot 52 is formed each each such lug/limb 51.

The main stem 53 of the L shaped slot is inclined slightly rearwards relatively to the main body. 2 whilst the base 54 of the L shape extends away from the inlet valve 14 of the main body 2 It is important to note that the transition of the slot from the main stem 53 and the base 54 is a smooth rounded transition.

A pin 55 engages in the Lshaped slots 52 that are provided in the limbs of the main body.. The main stem 53 of the slot is inclined slightly rearwards relative to the main body. whilst the base 54 of the L form extends away from the inlet valve 14 of the main body 2 It is important to note that the transition zone of the slot from the main stem 53 and the base 54 is a smooth rounded transition.

The pin 55 also engages in L-shaped slots 56 provided in the outer wall 4 adjacent to the inlet end of the main body. the form of these slots 56 is similar to that of the slots 52 and are positioned so that the slots can overlap. These slots 52 and 56 are of the opposite hand to the slots 31 previously discussed.

This pin 55 mounts an operating member 57 for actuating the valve operating member 17 associated with the inlet vale 14 of the device/unit The construction and mode of operation of the member 57 is similar to that discussed in relation to the outlet valve operating member 38. As will be understood this valve operating member 57 will be cooperating with the shaped sealing surface 58 at the liquid inlet end 59 of the inlet pipe/tube 24.

The operating lever 25 is resiliently loaded by a toggle type spring (not shown) of which one end hooks over the pin 49 centrally along the length thereof and whose other end hooks over a further pin (not shown) mounted to the lever main body intermediate its ends closer to the lever main body than to the positions of the pins 49 and 55.

It is well known that bottles containing liquids such a spirits and other alcoholic drinks are not infrequently supplied in other than cylindrical bottles of other shapes i.e., generally rectangular. Such none cylindrical bottle shapes require carefully orienting the bottle in a particular direction when being held in the hand in order to dispense its content by way of a pouring device...

In practice, this requirement can result in a pouring device/unit being, when in use, awkwardly positioned relative to the hand and liquid receiving receptacle, In order to avoid such difficulties it is proposed that the device/unit of the invention should be mountable to the bottle neck by way of a connection that enables the device/unit to be set at a particular orientation with respect to a bottle whist ensuring that the device/unit is finnly held in place..

Thus in the Figures 1 to 5 the device/unit of the invention is provided with a bottle connection nut 60 that is internally threaded at 61 for screwing onto the thread of a bottle not shown. The nut is rotatably mounted to the inlet valve end of the device/unit which latter includes a sleeve extension 62 surrounding the inlet end 59 of the tube/pipe 24 by a swivel connection including an sleeve extension 63 to the nut 60 that is slidable onto the sleeve extension 62 and is rotatable thereupon.

The nut is held in place by means of a C clip 64 which when fitted is such as to hold the nut 60 upon the device/unit sleeve extension 61. in such manner as to allow relative rotation between the nut 60 and the device/unit. Thus the nut is readily removable by removing the C clip.

A liquid seal is provided between the nut extension and the device/unit extension by way of an 0 ring 65.

In the case where the device/unit of the invention is intended to be mounted to the neck of a bottle whether hand held or suspended from a support whilst inverted the rest' position of the inlet and outlet valves is such that the inlet valve is open and the outlet valve is closed.

In other words in this rest' position liquid can dispense from the bottle to fill the chamber.

In this rest' position the resilient loading produced by the toggle spring ensures that the central region 19 of the outlet valve member 16 is pushed into sealing contact with the sealing surface 20 at the mouth of the outlet tube/pipe. When in this position the pin 29 located at the top of stem 33 of the L shaped slot 31 and in the base 34 of the slot.

To facilitate the understanding of the operation of the valves a horizontal reference line H and a vertical line V has been indicated in the Figures. 6 to 9.

In the rest' setting position the pin 29 is located on the vertical V and is positioned in the base 34 of the slot 33 so the the outlet valve 15 is closed. At the same time the pin 55 is positioned at bottom of the slot 53 so that the inlet valve 14 is open.

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As shown in the Figure 6 the slot 33 is inclined to the right of the vertical V and the slot 52 is inclined towards the left. In addition, the cutlet valve operating member is vertical whilst the inlet valve member tilts to the right.

On depressing the lever 25 towards the horizontal reference line H pressure is exerted against the resilient loading of the toggle spring. This action starts to move the pin 55 lengthways of the slots 52. Figure 7 illustrates the positions of the valves as the pin 55 engages with the transition zone between the stem and base of the slots 53. This action starts to close the inlet valve 14. At this position the outlet valve remains closed This setting is shown in Figure 7.

Further movement of the operating lever 25 moves the pin into the base 54 of each slot 55 to the position shown in Figure 8. At this point the inlet valve has been set to its closed position whilst the outlet valve remains closed with the pin 29 positioned in the transition zone between the base and stem of each slot 31.

in other words when the position shown in Figure 8 has been reached both the inlet and the outlet valves are closed.

Further movement of the lever 35 in conjunction with the forces exerted by the toggle spring causes the pin 55 to engage with the base of the slot 52 and the pin 29 to move to the bottom of the stem of the associated slots 31 and in so opens the outlet valve to enable any liquid in the chamber to discharge therefrom.

Further depression of the lever 25 in conjunction with the toggle spring action moves the pin 55 into the base 54 of the L shaped slot 52 and at the same to moves the pin 29 out from the base of the associated L shaped slot into the main part of the slot. The inlet valve prepares to close and the outlet valve prepares to open.

This setting of the valves remains until the lever 25 is released allowing the resilient loading of the lever 25 to return the lever from the position shown in Figure 9 to that shown in Figure 6.

During the above sequences of events the movements of the pin 55 causes the bracket 45 to displace from its initial setting to a position in which it opens the air vent to allow admission of air into the chamber during the discharge of liquid from the chamber and to close when the inlet valve is open As has been mentioned above the construction of the device/unit I of the invention provides a construction in which the liquid receiving chamber 5 is physically separate from the operating mechanism 8. so that there is no operating mechanism located within the chamber 8.

This arrangement in practice means that there are less surfaces located in the chamber for liquid residues to settle or for liquid introduced into the chamber to be retained by surfaces that would have been associated with the presence of an mechanism.

As has been mentioned above the construction of the device/unit of the invention provides a construction in which the liquid receiving chamber 5 is physically separate from the operating mechanism 8. so that there is no operating mechanism located within the chamber.

20.In a preferred embodiment the shaping and the dimensional relations associated with the chamber are such that it is possible for a full chamber of liquid be dispensable from the chamber when the device/unit is inclined an appropriate pouring angle to the vertical..

This facilitates the dispensing of liquid from a hand held container such as a bottle.

A further practical advantage arising from the provision of a chamber as proposed in the Application is that the rate of chamber filling and dispensing satisfies official requirements A firther feature of the construction of the device/unit of the invention is that with the arrangement of the inlet and outlet valves as provided in the device/unit when used on the neck of a bottle is that the bottle is sealed from the air when the device/unit is in its rest position..

An additional constructional aspect of the device/unit is that the operating mechanism involves the use of a single control spring in spite of the required relatively complex movements involved during the actuation of the operating mechanism i.e., a compound movement involving a tilting action in conjunction with a lateral displacement with respect to the two sets of Lshaped slots.. * * * S

S *S.-S. * S

S p..

S S.

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Claims

1.. A valve operating mechanism for controlling operation of physically spaced liquid inlet and outlet valves of a liquid flow control device including a main body with a liquid receiving chamber/region, wherein the operating mechanism includes an inlet valve operating member, an outlet valve operating member and means for interlocking the sequence of operation of the inlet and outlet valves including the displacement of locating means carried by the inlet and outlet valves in associated shaped slots

2. A valve operating mechanism for controlling operation of physically spaced liquid inlet and outlet valves of a liquid flow control device including a main body with a liquid receiving chamber/region, wherein the operating mechanism includes an inlet valve operating member, and wherein an outlet valve operating member with each said operating member coupled to a common actuating element by way of a pin engaging in an associated L shaped slot having a main i limb and a shorter limb transverse thereto said slots being so provided on said main body that their shorter limbs face away from each other, the arrangement being such that when a pin of one valve is engaged in the main limb of its P...

: associated slot, the pin of the other valve is engaged in the shorter limb of its I...

associated slot. S. * .

3.. A valve operating mechanism as claimed in claim 1 or 2, and wherein the actuating element is resiliently loaded to such position that the mechanism has a rest position in which the liquid inlet valve is maintained open open and the outlet valve is closed.

4. A valve operating mechanism as claimed in claim 2 or 3, and wherein when the pins associated with the L shaped slot are moved to a position in which the pin is able to enter into the sorter length limb of the actuating element is so displaced as to drive the pin into the shorter limb thereby to lock the associated valve in its closed position.

5. . A valve operating mechanism as claimed in claim 2, 3, or 4, for controlling the operation of physically spaced liquid inlet and outlet valves of a liquid flow control device including a main body with a liquid receiving chamber/region, wherein the operating mechanism includes an inlet valve operating member, an outlet valve operating member interlocking the sequence of operation of the valves in such maimer as to prevent both valves being open to liquid flow at the same time.

6.. A valve operating mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, and wherein the actuating arm is resiliently loaded to such position that the mechanism has a rest position in which the liquid inlet valve is maintained open open and the outlet valve is closed.

7. A valve operating mechanism as claimed in any one of claims I to 6, and wherein the relationship of liquid inlet area available to liquid flow into the chamber/region to the chamber/region and the liquid outlet area available to liquid flow from the chamber/region lies in a square millimetre range of 85 to 115.

8, A valve operating mechanism as claimed in claim I to 6, wherein the relationship is such that the inlet area is 92 square millimetres and the outlet area is 114 square millimetres.

8. A valve operating mechanism as claimed in any one of the claims I to 7, wherein the mechanism is locally wholly outside the said chamber/region.

9. A valve operating mechanism as claimed in any one of the claims I to 8, when associated with a chamber adapted for releasable connection to the neck of a bottle/container having a liquid outlet pouring tube.

A valve operating mechanism as claimed in claim 9, wherein the releasable connection includes a screwed nut rotatably mountable upon the liquid inlet tube for said chamber/region.

11. A valve operating mechanism as claimed in any one of claims I to 10, and wherein an air vent arrangement is provided for allowing enter to enter and leave the chamber during filling and discharge of the chamber.

12. A liquid flow control device/unit includ ing a liquid receiving chamber having inlet and outlet valves for controlling the flow of liquid to and from the chamber, and an arrangements/mechanism for the operational control of the inlet and outlet valves, wherein the arrangementlmechanism includes means for sequencing the operation of the and incorporating for each such valve a stepped slot engaged by a respective pivot member carried in spaced apart relationship by a pivotally mounted elongate control element whose pivotal displacement alternately causes the pivot members to displace length ways of the associated slot to cause alternate opening and closing of the inlet and outlet valves 14 A valve operating mechanism for controlling operation of physically spaced liquid inlet and outlet valves of a liquid flow control device including a main body with a liquid receiving chamber/region, constructed and arranged to operate substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.