US1186349A - Dispensing apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

J. M. TRAVIS.

DISPENSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 12.1915.

1,186,349; Patented June 6, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

TVITNESSES:

1. M. TRAVIS.

DISPENSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 12, I915.

Patented June 6, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

A T] DRIVE 1".

JOHN M. TRAVIS, or s'r; LOUIS, MISSOURI.

DISPENSING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6, 1916.

Application filed April 12, 1915. Serial No. 20,900.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN M. TRAVIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, State, of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dispensing Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, refer.- ence being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

Myinvention has relation'to improvement in syrup dispensing apparatus; and it consists in the novel features of construction more fully set forth in the specification and pointed out in the claims.

The present improvement is directed to apparatus dispensing syrup for flavoring aerated beverages such as soda water, the object of the invention being to provide a construction which will deliver substantially uniform quantities of syrup for each glass of soda to be served, irrespective of the quantity of syrup present in the container from which these quantities are drawn. i

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction which is susceptible of modification without departure from the principle of operation thereof; one which is simple, reliable and positlve in action, l ght and durable, and one possessing further and other advantages better apparent from a detailed description of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 isa side elevation of a dispens: ing device showing my invention applled thereto; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the upper portion thereof, with parts broken away; Fig. 3 is an enlarged middle vertical sectional detail taken longitudinally of the valve-casing showing the valve in normal position; Fig. k is a similar section with valve forced inward or unseated to discharging position; Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the zigzag line 5-5 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 6 is a combined sectional and side elevational view of a modification of the invention. Referring to the drawings, and for the present to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, 1 represents a suitable base or platform to which is fixed a preferably hollow standard ,2, the upper end of the standard terminating in a collecting chamber 3 formed between the upper open end of the standard and a partition wall or diaphragm 4 as shown (Figs. 3, The upper free end of the standard is provided with a flange 5 formed with a marginal rim 6 forming an annular seat for a the chargmg opening 0 of the container,

said flange insuring against displacement of the cap-piece when once deposited on the container. The discharging end of the container is formed with a hollow neck or nipple 11 which fits snugly into the upper portion of the chamber 3, and when the container rests on the gasket 7, the free lower end of the nipple 11 reaches to, and is in a measure supported by, the inner peripheral walls of the cylinder or valve-casing 12 formed preferably integrally with the walls of the chamber 3, it being obvious of course that the casing 12 might be soldered or otherwise secured to the chamber walls, in lieu of forming the same integrally with said walls. The valve-casing 12 is preferably cylindrical, substantially one-half of the cylinder being in the chamber 3 and one-half outside thereof, the axes of the cylinder'and chamber being transverse to one another. The-outer end of the valve-casing is closed by a hollow screw-plug 13 which shoulders against the casing, the plug terminating in a head on behind which is formed an annular groove 72, aflording a urchase for the first and middle fingers Fig. 1) leaving the thumb to engage the outer terminal boss or enlarged terminal 6 of the valve-stem 1 L normally projecting beyond the head a. The stem 14: traverses the passage-way of the plug, being provided at a convenient point with an enlargement (Z for the support of a disk-valve member 15 which, for a normal position of the valve rests against the annular seat 712-. The disk 15 is held in place against the support (Z by thebasal flange t of the valve-stem extension 14' which is screwed over the screw-stem u formed on the outer section 14 of the valve-stem, the two sections 14, 14, operating as a unit or as one stem. The inner end of the valve-stem is tapering, such tapered end being axial intake opening 0 formed in the inner head of the valve-casing, the valve 15 being free to traverse, the

V normally heldseated against the seat on by the expanding spring 16 coiled about the valve stem section 14' and interposed between the inner head of the valve-casing and 5 the flange t. The plug 13 is provided with a discharge nozzle or spout 17. j

Screwed to the upper peripheral wall of the valve-casing or cylinder on the axis of the chamber 3 is a hollow union. 18 to which is in turn coupled an air or vent pipe or tube 19 extending along the axis of the container to a point above the highest level of the liquid or syrup in the container, said level being indicated by the line 00 in Fig. 2,

a lower level being indicated by w. The

lower end. or portion ofthe vent tube 19 is screw-tlii readed, and over said portion is passed. a perforated disk 20, said disk serving as a means for clamping the container go or globe 8 tightly to its gasket 7, the perforations c in the disk allovvingthe liquid to flow from the container into the collecting chamber 3, whence it flows through the opening 0 into the cylinder or valve-casin 12. The membersl, 14', may be regarded as a component part of a piston-valve, the

piston element 6 thereof operating in the passage-way of the plug 13 which may be regarded as an extension of the cylinder 12 80 proper, said cylinder being for convenience denominated as the dispensing member, since it is the valve thereof which is depended on to discharge or dispense predetermined quantities of syrup or other liquid 85 with each inward movement of the valve.

- The cross-section of the vent tube 19 is such that the liquid contents thereof has no material efiect on the contents delivered from the cylinder 12, be the said tube full or only partially so as a result of a full or partly full condition of the container 8. This will be apparent from a description of the operation of the-invention, which is substantially as follows:

The normal position. of the parts is represented in Figs. 1 and. 3, the port or opening 0 of the cylinder 12 being open, thus allowing the syrup which flows into, and col lects in, the chamber 3 to fill the cylinder 12, the liquid in the cylinder rising into the vent-tube 19 until it is even with the level an of theliquid in the container 8. The operator by passing his forefinger and middle finger across the groove it behind the head a,

can use his thumb (Fig. 1) to engage the boss or terminal 6 of the valve-stem or piston-valve and push the same inwardly. This action closes the port 0 (Fig. 4) and unseats the disk :valve 15, thereby allowing 6 the contents of the cylinder 12 and vent-tube 19 to flow into the plug 13 and out through the spout or nozzle 17 into a tumbler (not shown) held under the nozzle to receive the syrup. With the inward movement of the 55 valve-stem or piston-valve, the spring 16 is -ply 8).

compressed, the expansion of the spring upon release of the valve-stem forcing the latter outwardly to normal position and causing the valve 15 to resume its position on the seat m, thereby cutting off communi- 7o cation between the plug 13 and the cylinder 12. Thus with each inward movement or stroke of the valve there is discharged'not only the contents of the cylinder 12, but that of the vent tube 19 (previously filled by liquid flowing thereinto from the chamber 3 and the container or initial source of sup- As the liquid in the container 8 drops, say from a level a: to a level 00 (Fig. 2), the quantity dispensed will naturally be decreased by an amount represented bythe cubic contents of that portion of the. venttube between the levels :0, r, a quantity which however is negligible because having no appreciable effect on the quantity stored in the cylinder 12, whose cubic capacity is far in excess of that of the tube 19; and whether the contents ofa full tube or partially full tube (such as 19) be added to that stored in the cylinder 12 can make littledif- 9 ference in the practical uniformity .in the quantity dispensed or discharged with each inward movement of the valve, the cubic capacity of the members 19, 12, being so pro portioned that whether the tube 19 dischargesinto the cylinder, a column of liquid equal to the full height or only a partial height of the tube, no appreciable diflerence in the volume dispensed can result.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the valve member controls two ports or openings, to wit, the port 0, and the passage of the plug 13, the inner end of the valve, opening the port oand seating the valve disk 15 with an outward stroke, and closing the port 0 and unseating the valve-disk with an inward stroke or movement, the cylinder 12 and so much of the vent tube 19 which is below the level of the liquid in the container 8, filling with an outward movement of the valve-member, said quaptity being released and discharged with an inward stroke of the valve member, in which stroke said valve member cuts off commit .nication between the source of. supply (or rather the chamber 3 which is in permanent communication therewith) and the cylinder 12.

The uniformity in the quantity of liquid dispensed with a given stroke of the valve, 1 may. be insured to even a more marked degree by causing a uniform material influx of'liquid into the cylinder 12 on such stroke,

irrespective of the level. of liquid in the container. Thus, in the modification in Fig. 6, 12 T attach to the union 18 a tube 50 to which is coupled an equalizer or storage receptacle 51 from which in turn leads the vent-tube 52 proper. It will be seen from this modification that irrespective of the height of the 339 liquid to the portion contained in the cylinder, as to make the combined contents of the members 12 and 51 practically uniform irrespective of the variations in the column of liquid in the abbreviated vent tube 52. In other respects the construction in Fig. 6 is the same as that of the form first described, the several parts being identified by the same reference symbols.

I do not of course wish to be restricted to the details here shown as'they may in a measure be departed from without affecting the nature or spirit of my invention. Ob viously the apparatus need not be restricted to dispensing syrup but may dispense any liquid whatsoever.

Having described my invention what- I claim is: 4

1. In a liquid dispenser, a suitable hollow standard open at one end, a container provided with a discharge neck fitting telescopically to the open end of the standard and making a tight joint therewith, a valve casing on the standard positioned below the container and the neck thereof, means for conducting the liquid from the container to the valve-casing through one end of the latter, a vent-tube leading from the valve-casing axially through the container and terminating above the surface of the liquid in the container, therebeing a discharge port in the valve-casing opposite the intake port, and a valve controlling the influx of the liquid into, and discharges of the liquid from, the casing.

2. In a liquid dispenser, a suitable hollow standard open at one end, a containermounted at said open end, a valve-casing on the standard positioned below the container, means for conducting the liquid from thecontainer to said valve casing, a vent-tube leading from the valve-casing into the container and terminating above the surface of the liquid in the container, means adjustable on the tube for clamping the container to the standard against displacement, and a valve for controlling the discharges from the valve-casing.

3. In combination with a fixed support, a standard leading therefrom and provided with an upper terminal chamber removed a. suitable distance from the support, a liquid container mounted above, and discharging into said chamber, a valve-casing on the standard communicating with said chamber,-

a vent-tube leading from the valve-casingthrough the container and terminating at the top above the surface of the liquid in the container, means on the tube disposed about the axis of the container for clamping the container to the standard, and a valve in the casing for simultaneously controlling the flow of the liquid from said chamber into the valve-casing, and the discharge of the liquid from the valve-casing.

'4. In combination with a member provided with a liquid collecting chamber open.

at the top, 'a containerresting on the chamber walls and discharging into the chamber, a valve-casing communicating with the chamber, and means disposed about the axis of the container carried by the valve-casing and engaging the containerwalls on the 'inside for clamping the container to the walls of the collecting chamber.

5. In a liquid dispenser, a suitable standard provided with an upper terminal tubular collecting chamber, a liquid container resting on the open end of the chamber and provided with a hollow neck or nipple inserted in said chamber, a cylindrical valvecasing having its axis disposed transversely to the axis of the chamber and projecting partly into and partly outside of said chamber, the inner head of the cylinder being provided with a central port opening into the chamber, an air or vent tube, leading from the cylinder or valve-casing and dis-- posed along the axis of the collecting cham, ber, said tube extending axially through the container and terminating above the level of the liquid therein, a perforateddisk on the vent-tube engaging the inner wall of the container above the base of theneck thereof aforesaid for clamping the container to the walls of the collecting chamber,

a tubular extension on the cylinder or valvecasing provided with a discharge nozzle, and a sprin -controlled piston valve mounted in said extension and in the valve-casing for controlling the cylinder port aforesaid, and likewise controlling communication between the cylinder and the extension thereof, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN M. TRAVIS,

Witnesses:

EMIL STAREK, Jos. A. MICHEL.

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