GB866371A - Improvements in or relating to apparatus for dispensing liquids in measured quantities - Google Patents

Abstract

866,371. Delivering measured quantities of liquid; coin-freed liquid-delivery apparatus. GASKELL & CHAMBERS Ltd., [trading as NON-DRIP MEASURE CO.]. Aug. 19, 1959 [Aug. 29, 1958; May 7, 1959], Nos. 27802/58 and 15735/59. Classes 27 and 106(5) An apparatus for dispensing measured quantities of liquid comprises a valve 5, Fig. 2, which is connected between a supply container 1, Fig. 1, and measuring chamber 16 supported above the valve and consists of a horizontal cylindrical housing, a plunger 9 movable axially in the housing and normally urged by a spring 13 to close the inlet connection 4 with the container 1, and a pair of ports 17, 18 interconnecting the interior of the housing and measuring chamber; when the plunger is displaced 'away from its normal position, the port 18 connects the measuring chamber with the inlet 4 and, upon return of the plunger, the port 17 connects the measuring chamber to a discharge outlet 15 by way of a groove or passage in the plunger. As described for dispensing milk, the container 1 is a transparent bowl mounted on a base 3; a motor-driven paddle 2 keeps the milk in gentle circulation and a refrigerated unit cools the base of the bowl. The housing 5 which is disposed in a casing 3a on the side of the base 3 is mounted directly on the end of the pipe connection 4 from the bowl 1 and may carry a depending lug 25 fitting over a rod 26. The end of the plunger 9 carries a sealing disc 12 co-operating with the inlet pipe 4, and the body of the plunger has a peripheral groove 14 to provide the connection between the port 17 and outlet 15; the groove 14 may be replaced by a transverse passage so that the plunger, when in the position shown in Fig. 2, may be rotated through 90 degrees to prevent dipping. The plunger may be moved axially to a third position in which there is direct flow from the inlet to the outlet. When it is desired to empty or clean the apparatus, a plug 23 in a drain pipe 22 is removed. The apparatus may be operated manually by providing a hand knob on the end of the plunger rod 10 or mechanically by providing a coin-operated switch to energise a motor 27, Fig. 6, whereby a cam 30 acts upon a lever 32 to reciprocate the plunger. A second cam 37 actuates a switch 38 to close a holding circuit for the motor. A counter 39 records the number of transactions. Both Provisional Specifications describe, also, the valve as being of rotary plug type and the first Provisional Specification refers to solenoid operation of the valve. Specification 856,981 is referred to.