US2066977A

US2066977A - Liquid dispenser

Info

Publication number: US2066977A
Application number: US18678A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lawrence E Iler
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1935-04-27
Filing date: 1935-04-27
Publication date: 1937-01-05
Anticipated expiration: 1954-01-05

Description

L. E. ILER LIQUID DISPENSER Jan. 5, 1937.

Filed April 27. 1935 ATT RN K Patented Jan. 5, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application April 27,

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a liquid dispenser and more particularly to a portable dispenser adapted for domestic use.

One object of the invention is to provide a dispenser from which the liquid will be dispensed by air pressure and which will be of such a character that carbonated beverages, beer and the like, can be kept therein for a substantial period of time without deteriorating or becoming fiat.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a dispenser in which the dispensing elements and the closure for the container are permanently attached one to the other and may be secured to and removed from the container as a unit. v

A further object of the invention is to provide such a dispenser in which the valve controlled discharge conduit will be so controlled as to prevent liquid dripping from the same after the valve has been closed.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a dispenser which will be simple in construction and operation and can be produced at a low cost. 7

Other objects of the invention will appear as the device is described in detail.

In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a plan view of a liquid dispenser embodying my invention, with the container partly broken away;

Fig. 2 is a section taken vertically through the container and showing the dispensing apparatus in elevation, the container being partly broken away; and Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken through the dispensing apparatus on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

In the drawing I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention and have shown the same as applied to a dispensing apparatus comprising a container 5 which may be similar in size and shape to an ordinary jug but which has at its upper end a relatively large filling opening surrounded by a neck 6. The filling opening is closed'by a suitable closure on which are mounted and air pump for delivering air under pressure to the container and a valve controlled discharge conduit. The air pump and the discharge conduit are permanently attached to the closure, that is, so connected therewith that they need not be removed in the ordinary use of the apparatus, and the closure and its connected parts may be attached to and removed from the container as a unit. The closure and its connected parts are secured to the container by a simple clamping device of such a character that the closure must be properly positioned on the neck of the container before it can be secured thereto, thus making it certain that the filling opening 1935, Serial No. 18,678

will be properly sealed when the closure is placed in position.

In the particular construction here shown the closure comprises a plate 1 preferably in the form of a casting which has an annular central portion 8 and a laterally extending annular portion 9 spaced from the lower surface of the part 8 and adapted to overhang and to be supported by the upper edge of the container neck 6. A suitable sealing element, such as a rubber gasket I0, is interposed between the part 9 of the closure plate and the neck of the container. Preferably the lower surface of the part 9 of the closure plate is provided with one or more circumferential ribs H which will be pressed into the rubber gasket and effectually prevent the passage of air between the gasket and the closure plate. The gasket is of a width somewhat greater than the thickness of the wall of the neck 6 and the upper edge of this wall will be pressed into the gasket to effect a perfect seal between these parts.

The air pump may be of any suitable character and may be. connected with the interior of the container in any suitable manner. I prefer to employ the construction here illustrated in which the closure plate is provided with a vertical passageway l2 which extends into a boss [3 formed integral with the closure plate. The upper end of the passageway I2 is closed and the boss is provided in the outer side thereof with an opening communicating with the passageway l2 and in which is mounted one end of a tubular fitting 14 which extends laterally from the boss and has mounted thereon a soft rubber bulb l5, the outer end of which is provided with an air inlet in which is mounted a check valve Hi. The lower end of the passageway l2 opens into the container and is provided with a suitable check valve to prevent the outward flow of air. In the present construction a tubular fitting l1 has one end mounted-in the passageway and a soft rubber check valve is mounted on the lower portion of this fitting. This check valve comprises a cylindrical section l8 of soft rubberwhich fits snugly about the end of the fitting and has at its inner end parallel flat faced portions I9 which are held normally in contact one with the other by the resiliency of the rubber but which will separate under pressure of air from the air pump to permit the air to enter the container.

The closure plate I is also provided with a second vertically arranged passageway 20, the outer portion of which is formed in a second boss 2| also cast integral with the closure plate. The inner end of this passageway 20 is of greater diameter than the outer portion thereof to provide a shoulder 22 which constitutes a valve seat. A tube 23 is mounted in the larger inner portion of the passageway and extends downwardly to a point near the bottom of the container. A discharge spout 24 is mounted in the outer side of the boss 2| and communicates with the passageway 20 on the outer side of the valve seat 22. A valve member 25 is mounted in the larger portion of the passageway 20 and cooperates with the valve seat to control the flow of liquid through the passageway. A stem 26 is connected with the valve member 25 and extends into and is slidably mounted in an opening in the boss 2| in axial alinement with the valve seat. The stem is provided on its outer end with a head 2'! which forms a thumb piece by means of which the valve member may be depressed to open the passageway. A spring 28 is coiled about the outer portion of the stem 26 and confined between the head 21 and the top of the boss to hold the valve normally in its closed position. The tube 23, passageway 20 and spout 24 constitute the discharge conduit and when the valve 25 is open the pressure of the air on the liquid within the container will force the liquid out through this discharge conduit so long as the valve is held open.

As soon as pressure on the valve is released the spring 28 will close the same but when this closure takes place a small amount of liquid will be trapped in the passageway above the valve and in the spout 24 which will drip from the spout in an objectionable manner. To prevent this drippage I have provided means for sealing the opening in the boss 2| through which the valve stem 26 extends and thus preventing the trapped liquid from flowing through the spout. As here shown, a short section of soft rubber tubing 29 is arranged about the spring 28 and stem 26 between the head 21 and the boss and is of such length that it will be confined between the head and the boss under pressure sufiicient to cause the ends of the tube to have sealing contact with the boss and the head, thus efiectually preventing any air passing through the opening about the stem. When the head 21 is depressed to open the valve the rubber tubing will yield or buckle to permit of the movement of the valve stem. Preferably the spout 24 is of a capacity less than the capacity of the tube 23 so as to cause a certain agitation of the liquid as it passes through a delivery conduit, which is particularly desirable in dispensing beer. This difference in capacity may be secured by providing the spout with a restricted passageway and, in the present instance, the spout is restricted throughout its length, it having an interior diameter substangially less than the interior diameter of the tube The closure and its attached dispensing elements may be rigidly secured to the container in any suitable manner which will cause the connection to be effectively sealed. I prefer to employ a clamping device which is easily operated and is of such a character that it cannot be moved to locking position unless the closure is properly positioned on the neck of the container. In the present construction, the bosses l3 and 2| are both on the same side of a diametrical line extending across the closure and on the other side of this line a cam lug 30 is formed integral with the closure plate and has its upper edge inclined upwardly from a point near the edge of the closure plate to a point near the center of the plate where it is provided with a shallow recess 3|. A bail 32 is pivotally mounted on the container on opposite sides of the neck and, as here shown. the arms of the container are provided with hook-shaped portions 33 which engage apertured ears 34 on the neck of the container. A transverse portion 35 of the ball is arranged to engage the inclined edge of the lug 30 and to be forced over that edge into the recess 3|, the transverse portion of the bail being slightly yieldable to permit it to ride into the recess and when seated therein to press the closure firmly against the gasket ID. This yieldable bail also serves as a safety device, as excessive pressure within the container will force the closure up- War-dly against the action of the bail, thus breaking the seal and releasing the pressure before it becomes sufiicient to burst the container.

The dispensing apparatus is very simple in its construction. The closure plate comprises a simple casting and the other parts are simple in construction and the arrangement is such that they may be readily assembled, thus enabling the device to be manufactured at a low cost. The unitary character of the apparatus enables it to be removed as a unit from the container, when the latter is to be filled and then restored and secured in tightly sealed position thereon by the bail 35. If the closure is not properly seated on the neck of the container the bail either cannot be moved into engagement with the recess 3| or it will not have locking engagement therewith sufficient to retain the closure in place. Any suitable carrying handle may be provided but, in the present instance, I have shown a U-shaped handle 36, the arms of which are pivotally mounted on the transverse portion 35 of the bail so that'the weight of the container is supported by the ears 34 and not by the closure.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a portable liquid dispenser comprising a container having a filling opening at the top thereof, a closure for said opening, means for rigidly securing said closure to said container and for sealing the connection between said closure and said container, said closure having a passageway through the same, an air pump mounted on the outer side of said closure and connected with said passageway, a check valve for said passageway, said closure also having a second passageway, a tube connected with the inner end of said second passageway and extending downwardly in said container, a spout connected with the outer end of said second passageway and extending laterally therefrom, said closure having a valve seat in said second passageway and an opening in line with said valve seat, an inwardly opening valve member to engage said valve seat, a stem connected with said valve member and extending through said opening in said closure, a head on the outer end of said stem, a spring mounted about said stem and engaging said head to hold said valve member on said seat, a soft rubber tube arranged about said stem and said spring and having its ends in sealing engagement with said head and said closure.

2. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, a closure for a container, means for delivering air under pressure to said container, said closure having an outlet passageway extending partially through the same and an opening in line with said passageway, said passageway having a valve seat, a

tube connected with said passageway on the inner side of said valve seat, a spout connected with said passageway on the outer-side of said valve seat, a valve member to cooperate with said seat, a stem connected with said valve member and extending through said opening, a spring to hold said valve member on said seat, a head on the outer end of said stem to move said valve member against the action of said spring, and a short tube of resilient material arranged about said stem with its ends in sealing engagement with said head and said closure and adapted to yield when said head is depressed.

3. In a liquid dispenser comprising a container having at its upper end a neck forming a filling opening, a closure plate supported by said neck, a sealing member interposed between said plate and said neck, a boss formed integral with said plate on the outer side thereof and having a passageway communicating with said container, an air pump mounted on said boss and connected with said passageway, a check valve for said passageway, a second boss formed integral with said plate and having a passageway communicating with said container, a tube connected with the inner end of the second passageway, a spout connected with the outer end of said second passageway, a valve mounted in said second passageway, means arranged above said plate to actuate said valve, both bosses being arranged on the same side of a diametrical line extending across said plate, a cam lug formed integral with said plate on the other side of said diametrical line and having its upper edge inclined upwardly to a point near the center of said plate, and a bail pivotally mounted on said container and having a resilient transverse portion to engage said lug and clamp said plate on the neck of said container.

4. In a liquid dispenser comprising a container having at its upper end a neck forming a filling opening, a closure plate supported by said neck, a sealing member interposed between said plate and said neck, a boss formed integral with said plate on the outer side thereof and having a passageway communicating with said container, an air pump mounted on said boss and connected with said passageway, a check valve for said passageway, a second boss formed integral with said plate and having a passageway communicating with said container, a tube connected with the inner end of the second passageway, a spout connected with the outer end of said second passageway, a valve mounted in said second passageway, meansarranged above said plate to actuate said valve, both bosses being arranged on the same side of a diametrical lineextending across said plate, a cam lug formed integral with said plate on the other side of said diametrical line and having its upper edge inclined upwardly to a point near the center of said plate, a bail pivotally mounted on said container and having a resilient transverse portion to engage said lug and clamp said plate on the neck of said container, and a carrying handle pivotally connected with said bail.

5. In a portable dispensing apparatus, a container having a relatively large opening in the upper end thereof, means for closing said opening comprising a plate supported on said container and a sealing element between said plate and said container, means for securing said plate 7 to said container and maintaining a normally sealed connection between said plate and said container, said plate having a boss on the outer side thereof and a passageway extending through said plate and said boss, a manually operated air pump carried by said plate and connected with said passageway, a check valve to prevent the outward flow of air through said passageway, said plate also having a second boss on the outer side thereof and a second passageway extending through said plate and said second boss, a tube connected with the inner end of said second passageways and extending into said container, a spout carried by said plate and connected with the outer portion of said second passageway, a normally closed valve to prevent the passage of air or liquid to said spout and normally maintain the liquid in said container under air pres-- sure, and a manually operated device supported on said plate for opening said valve.

6. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, a container having at its upper end a neck forming a filling opening, a closure for said opening consisting of a plate arranged exteriorly of said neck and supported on the edge thereof and a sealing element interposed between said plate and said neck, two conduits extending throughsaid plate and spaced laterally one from the other, an air pump carried by said plate and connected with one of said conduits, a check valve in said conduit, a normally closed valve in the other conduit, an actuating device supported on the outer side of said plate and connected with said valve, and a bail pivotally mounted on said container and adapted to act on said plate to secure the latter to said neck and maintain a normally sealed connection between said plate and said neck.

7. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, a container having at its upper end a neck forming a filling opening, a closure for said opening consisting of a plate arranged exteriorly of said neck and supported on the edge thereof and a sealing element interposed between said plate and said neck, two conduits extending through said plate and spaced laterally one from the other, an air pump carried by said plate and connected with one of said conduits, a check valve in said conduit, the other of said conduits comprising a tube extending from said plate into said container, and a spout supported exteriorly of said plate and connected with said tube to form an outlet passageway, said passageway having a restricted portion to cause an agitation of the liquid as it is discharged from said container, a normally closed valve interposed between said tube and said spout, an actuating device supported on the outer side of said plate and connected with said valve, and a bail pivotally mounted on said container and adapted to act on said plate to secure the latter to said neck and maintain a normally sealed connection between said plate and said neck.

8. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, a closure for a container, means for delivering air under pressure to said container, a discharge conduit extending through said closure, a valve in said conduit, a valve actuating member slidably mounted in said closure, connected with said valve and having an enlarged portion spaced from said closure, and a short tube of resilient material arranged about a portion of said slidable member with its ends in sealing engagement with said closure and the enlarged portion of said slidable member and adapted to yield when said member is pressed inwardly.

LAWRENCE E. ILER.