US2653055A - Dispensing and mixing valve - Google Patents

Description

F. VYELTY ET AL 2,653,055

DISPENSING AND MIXING VALVE Sept. 22, 1953 Filed Junq 6, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l II FRANK WELTY RAYMOND WELTY P 1953 F. WELTY ET AL DISPENSING AND MIXING VALVE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 6, 1949 awe/MM FRANK WELTY RAYMQND WELTY F. WELTY ET AL DISPENSING AND MIXING VALVE Sept. 22, 1953 Filed June 6, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FRANK WELTY RAYMOND WELTY Patented Sept. 22, 1953 DISPENSING AND MIXING VALVE Frank Welty and Raymond Welty, Youngstown, Ohio, assignors to Carbonic Dispenser, Inc., Canfield, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 6, 1949, Serial No. 97,409

17 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of dispensing liquids and more particularly to improved valves and faucets for dispensing either carbonated liquids, such as beer or carbonated water, or mixtures of carbonated water and flavoring syrups, such as ginger ale and cola drinks, for example. In apparatus of this nature it is highly desirable to effect the transference of the carbonated liquid from a supply line to the customers glass with a minimum of loss of the absorbed gas to provide a drink of an adequate and acceptable degree of carbonation and this is true regardless of whether the liquid is served in its initial state or is mixed with flavoring extracts or syrups in the dispensing process. The loss of carbonation has always presented a serious problem in the dispensing of carbonated liquids and is particularly aggravated when mixing of the carbonated liquid with other liquid occurs in the dispensing process. It is the primary object of this invention to provide an improved dispensing valve and faucet for handling carbonated liquids in which a minimum of carbonation is lost in the transference of the liquid from a supply line to the customers glass. It is another object of the invention to provide an improved dispensing faucet for carbonated liquids which is operative either with or without a closely connected shut-off valve to dispense such liquids with a minimum of loss of carbonation.

1 In the dispensing of carbonated beverages which are normally retained and supplied under considerable pressure it is recognized that the pressure of the liquid must be reduced before it issues from the nozzle of the dispensing faucet since otherwise the excessive agitation which takes place in the glass causes excessive foaming and dispelling of the carbonating gas. To accomplish this suitable pressure-reducing restricted passages of adequate length are provided and this principle is utilized in the present invention. In the present invention, however, the effective cross-sectional area of the restricted passage is adjustable but normally fixed and has no operating connection with the shut-off valve so that uniform operation and minimum decarbonation is obtained however the valve is manipulated. Further, we provide an enlarged surge chamber at the exit end of the passage to receive the liquid now reduced to low pressure and the arrangement is further such that the liquid flows out of this chamber into the customers glass solely by gravity, thereby avoiding any appreciable velocity to cause excessive in pingement and agitation.

A further object of the invention is the proobject is accomplished by providing separate valves for injecting the extract or syrup into a mixingchamber and by utilizing a low velocity fiow of the carbonated liquid from the surge or collecting chamber to wash the extract or syrup away from the inlet valves and to keep such valves clean. In this manner 'high velocity impingements which reduce carbonation are avoided and, further, the valves are kept clean so that the dispensing system may be utilized to dispense different mixtures or successive operations without inter-contamination,

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an improved mixing and dispensing faucet having the characteristics enumerated immediately above which is operative with remotely disposed supply control valves for both the carbonated liquid and the flavoring syrups or extracts for use in automatic dispensing equipment, for example.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of an improved dispensing faucet of unitary self-contained construction by which either an unmixed carbonated liquid or a selected mixture of such liquid and another liquid may be dispensed in an expeditious and more or less automatic manner.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed specification and the accompanying drawing wherein there is disclosed a certain preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, of a mixing and dispensing valve constructed in accordance with the principles of our invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken along the line 11-11 of Figure 1;

Figures 3 and 4 are horizontal sections taken along the line III-III of Figure 2 and IV-IV of Figure 1, respectively; and

Figure 5 is a View similar to Figure 2 but showing the installation in the valve assembly of a high velocity water jet device.

The illustrated valve assembly comprises a unitary cylindrical block I!) of non-corrosive mavision of an improved dispensing and mixing terial, such as stainless steel for example, which is recessed at II in its side wall for being supported on the outer free end of a tubular support l2. As shown in Figure 2, the top and bottom ends of the block [2 are generally horizontal and parallel and extending downwardly from the top end thereof is a bore l3 in which is slidably received a plug I4, the same being rigidly secured therein by a set screw |5.' In the outer periphery of the plug [4 there is machined a circumferential groove l6 which is aligned with the passageway ll formed in the block I0 and communicating with a vertically disposed tapered bore l8 also formed in the block Ill. The tapered bore [8 extends upwardly from an enlarged recess l9 threaded head portion 22 of a tapered restriction.

plug 23, the body portion of which is received V,

the tapered bore l8.

The lower end of the plug 4 is spaced upwardly from the bottom end of the bore J3 to previde a space 24 into which discharges carbonated Water supplied by a conduit 25 extending through the tubular member l2. water from the space 24 past the plug lg we pro: vide a plurality of sealing rings 26 which are received in annular grooves'formed in the side wall of the plug 14. Plug 14 is provided with three longitudinally extending but diametrically "related'bores in each of which is received a valve plunger-having a shank portion 21' and an enlargedhead portion 28 provided with a sealing ring to prevent leaka 6 through the top of the plug 14, as 'wilf be understood; To the Tower end of each of the shank portions 21 is rigidly secureda thimble 29 having 'afiat annular upper serrate in which is machined an annular groove to partially receive a sealing ring of the type and the upper surface or. 'thi's'"'sealing ring is adapted to bear against'the bottom surface of theplug M as indicated in Figure 1. Plug I i is'providedintermediate its top and bottom ends with'a diametrically extending bore 30 whichis in' communication at its ends with the groove l6 and since the shanks 2 1 of the valve plungers new smaller dianleter than thelong'itu'dinal bores formed in the plug Hit will be ohvious'that uptneowhwa'rd movement of anyof the three valve plungers and the consequent separation of any of the thimbles 2'9 from the lower surface t h lu s M; t at W tar mi e Presses i he space 2 4 wi1l' 'passupwardly in'td the bore Sir, thence into the groove l6, thence through passage l l, and thence through the interstice betweenfto e {a and plug 23 1596 the space as, The three 'valve plungersfslidably received the plug ['4' are biased to'iipward or valve closing positions by the ceilf'springs al whichare compressed between the bottom "wan 'of the space t l a ncl the thimbles 29.

The block it; is further, provided with a pair of 1engi'tudinally extending bores 33 on di anietrilcally'opposite s'ides'of thebore let sna ably receive valvepungers' 33; and as shown in Figurel the bores 32 are'emarg da their upper ends as shown at 351 and areenla gged at their lower ends as shown a't 35f The upper end of; each plur'iger'33 i's'he'adedf as shown and. interposed between the hea'dand thejlower endfof the boreenlargementt lgisja sealing ring 38} and a coil springii'l whereby the. plunger is urgedto u per, s a .t is ebrf e liding o nt. tween the plunger and the body member Ellis sealed against 'fi'uid leakage.

surroun n th-l qiv r n o t on qi-eachq pl r n sncsnt i ace l tion herew h is a ubu ar valv member. as rigidly secured to and depending. from the .block mtand rigidly securedto the lower. endof each. of the plungers 33v below the lower endof the tube. 33 is a valve head 3.9,.which hasa flat. annular. up per surface in which is, machined. an annular groove for the partial receptionflof a. valve sealing ring 411 which is, adapt d. o n a e h flat lower ndisur a e of etubeBBl he. oil prin ur es theplungerfia upward y d. heseahns in 9. n o. press e n a emen w th. the wer end. i. we tube. 6,. Thei e taenla seraeat To prevent leakage of 4 is provided with a communicating passage M formed .inthe body member l2 and connected with such passages (one for each of the bore enlargements 35) are the conduits s2 and 43 alsg hqu sed in the tubular member l2. It will be understood that in actual practice the conduits-4;- and 43 vwill Joe filled with desired drink flavoring eitract nnder pressure so that upon downward movement of either of the plungers .33 one or theother flavoring extract will be discharged throug hone of the passages il, connectedbore enlargement 35 and associated valve comprised of the members 38 and 4t. Rigidly secured in a suitable aperture formed in the plate 20 is an open-bottomed cup 5 3, the lower end of which surro the lower end of the tube 38 and it will be understod that a similar cup will be. Provided for the duplicate extract valve employed on the opposite side of the assembly. It should also; be particularly noted that'the cup 44 isof considerable depth and that the valve 39, 18 is positioned a substantial distance below the space [9. Plate '42 is also formed with a plurality oiapertures 45.

Rigidly secured to diametrically opposite side edge portions of the top suriace of the block 10 by means of the screws" 46, for example, is a pair of supports 41 which are apertured to support the ends of a pivot .pin 48. Pivotally mounted on he 1. ar th ee sweatin levers i8, s. an 5h each having an operating knob at its upper end, as shown; and each of which is adapted to be independently operated. The lower ends of the levers 49 5l' are each provided with a foot 5! o n age the top surfaceof the plug [4 or the top surface of the body member '10, as the case may be, to liinit the backward tilting movement of the levers. and the lower ends of the levers are further provided with integral cam surfaces 52 to operate the. various valve plungers upon forwardv tilting movement of the levers. Thus, the lower or base portion of the lever 5i} is made quite narrow so that its cam surface. 52, engages only the, middle one of. the water valve 'plungers 23f housed in the plug Hi. The base of, the lever 5]. is widened, as, shown at Figure l, andis providedwith a, pair. of spaced integral cam elementsto engage and operate both. one. of the sidewatervalve plungersiiii and. one of the syrup valve'. plungers 33; It will be under: stooclthatrthe leven lidisidentical with the lever 5.?! except. for being in; opposite handso that, the other of the sidel water; valve plungers. and the other of; the syrup valve plungers may besimule taneously actuated;

"In actualprac celthe twocamsurfaces onithe levers; "and 5 so farmed and/or relatively oriented tha t as-ei h er of these-levers are moved forwardly the assoc iated water, valve is first opened, after which the associated syrup valve is opened and upon thelleversgbeing movedjba ck to "off positions the. syrup'va1ves areclosed ahead of the watervalves so as to allow thorough washing oil of thesyrup valve discharge, ports after eacn'guse ofLthe Qs'arr're ara P t he alr cheanin Figures a conical-shaped discharge funnel 52 is secured to the .lowerend of the bodymember l0 and a capmembert is securedito' the upper endbf the member- I ilto. house the basesof thelevers 497 5 andthe. pivot pin therefor. Suitable'slots 54 are formed in the cap member 53 to. allow movementof the, levers i9 5l.

In operation, thebody member I0 of thevalvew assemb Ii jmoimted .t t bul rr er in such manner that the principal axis of the valve assembly is vertical and so that the levers 495l are to be moved toward the operator in dispensing the connected fiuids; Assuming a source of carbonated water to be connected to the conduit 25 and different flavoring syrups to be supplied under pressure to the conduits 42 and 43 it will be obvious that if it is desired to dispense only carbonated water the same can be accomplished by moving only the lever 50. When it is desired to dispense a mixeddrink of carbonated water and one or the other of the flavoring syrups, one or the other of the levers 49 or 5| is moved to dispense carbonated water and syrup in predetermined proportions. The proportioning is controlled by the relative sizes of the valve orifices or by the pressures applied to the respective liquids, as will be understood.

The large space 19 provided in the lower end of the body member I0 is of extreme importance in the operation of the valve of our invention since it provides, in efiect, a surge chamber whereby the high velocity of the carbonated water issuing past the restricting plug 23 is dissipated, thereby reducing the carbonated water pressure substantially to atmospheric pressure and quieting the turbulence and foaming in the water.

The latter characteristic is aided by the further fact that in the normal operation of the valve the chamber 19 as well as the cups 44 rapidly become substantially filled with water very soon after the opening of the water valve or valves so that the high velocity carbonated water leaving the restricted passage becomes entrapped in the body of water contained in the chamber IS. The impingement of the high velocity fiow into the body of entrapped water reduces the velocity head of the carbonated water to zero without loss of carbonation.

From the space 19 the water falls easily by gravity through the ports 45 and through the open lower ends of the cups 44 past the lower ends of the syrup nozzles 38 and the water flows easily but solidly cut of the funnel 52 into the consumers glass. The substantial cross-sectional areas of the annular openings at the bottom of the cups 44 are substantially greater than the annular orifice provided between the bore l8 and the plug 23 so that no appreciable pressure can develop'in the space l9 and since such annular openings at the bottom ends of the cups 44 are considerably below the plane of the plate 20, substantially all the water discharged will be emitted through the cups 44. This insures not only the adequate washing away and intermixing of all the syrup discharged from the nozzles 38 but also a maximum retention of carbonation in the water.

We have also found that loss of carbonation is further reduced by avoiding abrupt changes in the direction of flow of the carbonated water after the same leaves the restricting passage and is reduced to atmospheric pressure. After the pressure is taken ofi the water the tendency of the gas to escape out of it is much more pronounced. In our valve abrupt changes in the direction of flow are avoided by allowing the water to drop substantially straight down into the customers glass.

' It should also be noted that a further function of the cups 44 is to provide stored bodies of water which, after closure of both the syrup and water valves, discharge downwardly about the syrup valves to thoroughly wash the same 6 and to clean any syrup stains from the inner surface of the funnel 52.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 5 we incorporate in the valve assembly of Figures 1-4 an arrangement for injecting a high velocity stream of carbonated water vertically downward through the lower opening in the funnel 52 for the purpose of effecting a mixing and foaming in a customers glass as is desirable in some instances. For this embodiment we provide a plate 20' which generally corresponds to the plate 20 in the first described embodiment but which is provided with means to support a centrally disposed tapering tube 55 having a high velocity jet 5'! formed in its lower end. The block I0 is apertured as at 58 to receive a small tube 5% which extends downwardly through the space l9 into communication with the open upper end of the tube 56. There is provided a plug l4 identical in all respects with the plug l4 of the first described embodiment except for an additional bore 50 to slidably receive a connecting rod 6|. Secured to the lower end of the rod 5| and housed in the space 24 is a valve member 52 which carries at its lower end a sealing ring 83. Upon the rod 6! and fitting 62 being moved upwardly the port leading into tube 59 is uncovered and carbonated water under pressure can pass directly from the space 24 downwardly out of the jet 5!. Fluid pressure in the space 24 normally holds the valve members 52, 53 in tightly closed position. 7

A modified form of center operating lever 56" is used to provide an interconnection between: this central lever and the rod 6| whereby the rod. is moved upwardly when the lever 55' is tilted. backward from its vertical position (there being on footstop on the lever 50) but whereby for-- ward tilting movement of the lever 59 will not move the rod 5! but will result in opening of the: water valve plunger 28 as before. The required lost motion interconnection between the lever 50' and the rod 5! may consist of a ball 64 on theupper end of the rod 6| riding in an arcuate groove 65 formed in the lever 59' and a slot 66 to receive the upper end portion of the rod 6! as the lever is rotated. It should be apparent that a valve assembly constructed according to Figure 5 is operative in the regular manner as the valve of Figures 1-4 and when it is desired to provide the high Velocity water jet it is only necessary to move the center lever 58 rearwardly from its vertical position to thereby open the valve 62, 63.

The adjustable restricting plug 23 may also be utilized to determine the rate of flow of the car-- bonated water as will be understood, and this rate of flow will be more or less constant regardless of the extent of opening of any of the three water valves beyond a certain minimum extent. This arrangement insures the gradual reduction of water pressure, under all operating conditions, without spraying or impingement, so that there is a minimum of loss of carbonation regardless of whether only water is dispensed or a mixture of the water and a flavoring syrup.

The cam surfaces on the levers 495! and 5d are preferably so formed that the levers will remain either in their fully closed positions or in their fully open positions to which they have been last moved. This enables an operator to fill a large number of glasses in a short period of time since he will have both hands free to manipulate and handle the glasses.

It should now be apparent that we have provided an improved dispensing and mixing faucet which accomplishes the objects initially setout.

Primarily, the features of construction of the valve assembly are directed to the .dispensing of carbonated liquids, either water alone -.or a mixture of water and flavoring syrup, in a -manner resulting in smallloss of narbonation in the water or liquid. The valve assembly of the invention is further operative to adequatelymix-in the water dispensed :a suitable flavoring extract or syrup without appreciable loss of carbonation in water and without cross-contamination when a plurality of difierent syrups are dispensed the same valve assembly. Theiinvent ion further provides a dispensing a dmiX-ing valve assembly of efficient practical utility which is ru ed in-,character and capable of lcngperiods of, service without adjustment or maintenance.

Phe above Specifically described embodiment of the invention should be considered as illustrative only as obviously many changes may be made therein without departin from'thespirit or scope of the invention. .Reterence should therefore be had to the appended claims in determining the scope of theinvention.

We claim:

1. In a valve assembly for mixing and dispensing car-bonated beverages, the combination of a valve body having a. first inlet for carbonated water and a second inlet for flavoring syrup, a valve tube secured to and depending from said body and being in communication with said second inlet,, a valve rod extending vertically through said tube and carrying a valve member at, its lower end adapted to engage the lower end surface of said tube, a water valve in said body communicating with said first inlet, an enlarged surge chamber in the lower portion of said body and surrounding a portion of said tube, said chamber having an opening in its bottom wall disposed about said tube, and means in said body providing a restricted passage between, the outlet of said water valve: and said surge chamber.

2. A valve assembly according to claim 1 further characterized in that said tube extends be,- low said bottom wall, and further including an open-bottomed cupsecured in said. aperture and having its lower or discharge end positioned adjacent said valve member and concentric therewith.

3. A valve assembly for mixing; and dispensing carbonated beverages, comprising in, combination a valve body supported from its side wall; a plurality of valve tubes secured to and depending from said body i Widely spaced relation-, fluid inlet passages in said body communicating with the spaces in said tubes, valve rods extending vertically through saidtubes and each, carrying a valve member at its lower end adapted to be moved into engagement with the lower: end of the valve tube, a bore in said body extending downwardly from the top wall thereof intermediate said tubes, a valve plug fixed in the upper portion of said bore, awater inlet passage: in said body communicating with the space in the lower end portion of said bore, a plurality of water valves mounted in said plug, each having an inlet communicating with'said space,- a restrictedpassage in said body communicating with theoutlets of each'of said water valves, an enlarged surge chamberin the lower portion of said body and disposed about the. lower, endportions of said tubes to receive carbonated. water, issuing from s id restricted passage, outlets, in the bottom wall of said chamber disposed aboutsaid valve mem-. bers, and'a plurality of operating leverspivoted .on the top of said body one of, said levers being ,connectedto a water valve only, andtheother of 8. said leversxea'ch'being connected :to both awater' valve andoneof said valverods.

4. A valve assembly according to claim 3 fur therinc'luding a funnel secured to anddepending fromtheibottom end of said body,.said funnel enclosing all ofsaid valve members.

5. A valve assembly for mixing and dispensing carbonated beverages comprising in combination a body supported from its side wall, a plurality of valve tubes secured to and depending from said body in widely spaced relation, inlet passages in said body leading into said tubes, a tapered bore extending upwardly from the bottom of said body, a tapered plug adjustably secured in said bore to provide an adjustable but normally fixed restricted passage, a water valve in said body having an outlet communicating with the upper end of said passage, an inlet passage in said body for said water valve, a valve rod in each of said tubes carrying a valve member at its lower end adapted to close off the lower end of the tube, and operating levers pivotally mounted on the top of said body for operating said water valve and any one of said valve rods simultaneously.

6. A valve assembly according to claim 5 further including an enlarged surge chamber in the lower end portion of said body and communicating with the lower end of said restricted passage, and outlets from said surge chamber disposed about the lower ends of said. valve tubes.

7. A valve assembly according to claim 6 further including a funnel-like enclosure at the lower end of said body for containing said valve members.

8. Apparatus for mixing and dispensing carbonated beverages comprising a body member having a first inlet for carbonated water and a second inlet for flavoring syrup, a tube secured to and depending from said body and being in communication with said second inlet, a valve to control the discharge of syrup from said tube, an enlarged water entrapping chamber in the lower portionof said body member and surrounding said tube, a restricted passage in said body member interconnecting said first inlet andv said enlarged chamber, said chamber having a bottom wall with an opening therein surrounding said tube, and a water holding cup secured in said opening in tapering relationtherewith and having a centrally disposed discharge opening at itsfbottom end disposed concentrically about the discharge end of said. tube and closely spaced therefrom.

9. A valve assembly for dispensingcarbonated beverages ateither low or high velocity as desired comprising a body member having an enlarged recess in both its top and bottom walls, means to support said body member, a plug in the upper portion of said upper recess and means providing aninletior the beverage into the lower portionof said upper recess, a valve in said plug and a restrictedpassage in said body member interconnecting the outlet of said valve withthe enlarged recess in the bottom wallofv said body member whereby liquid may be valved-from said first mentioned recess into said last mentioned recesswhilehaving its pressure reduced, a bottom wall. for the lower recesshaving an opening therein for the-downward flow of the beverage, a lever pivoted on said body member to operate saidvalve, a, funnel secured to the lower end of said. body member to collect and discharge the beverage passing through said opening, ajettube positioned within said funnel and. arranged to discharge through the discharge neck of said funnel, means providing a liquid passage from said upper recess directly into said jet tube, and a valve operated by said lever for opening and closing said last mentioned passage.

10. In a beverage mixing and dispensing valve assembly the combination of a body member hav ing a pair of inlet ports adapted to be connected to different sources of liquids, a horizontally disposed chamber at the lower end of said body member having an aperture in its bottom wall to discharge liquid, a tube carried by said body member in depending relation and having its lower end terminating substantially in said aperture, means providing communication between one of said inlet ports and the upper end of said tube, a valve rod reciprocably mounted in said tube and carrying at its lower end a poppet-type of valve arranged to close ofi the lower end of said tube, means comprising a second valve providing communication between the other of said inlet ports and said horizontally disposed chamber, and a lever pivotally mounted on said body member to operate said second valve and said valve rod simultaneously.

11. Apparatus according to claim further including separate means on said lever to operate said second valve and said valve rods, said separate means being arranged in such manner that during movement of said lever in one direction said second valve opens ahead of said first mentioned valve and during movement of said lever in the opposite direction said first mentioned valve closes ahead of said second mentioned valve.

12. In apparatus for mixing and dispensing carbonated beverages a body member having a first inlet for carbonated water and a second inlet for flavoring syrup, a tube secured to and depending from said body and being in communication with said second inlet, a valve at the lower end of said tube to control the discharge of syrup therefrom, an enlarged water entrapping chamber in the lower portion of said body member and surrounding said tube, and a restricted passage in said body member interconnecting said first inlet and said enlarged chamber, said chamber having a bottom wall with an opening therein surrounding said tube.

13. In a valve assembly for mixing and dispensing beverages a body member having a water inlet and a syrup inlet, a tube secured to and depending from said body member and being in communication with said syrup inlet, a valve at the lower end of said tube to control the discharge of syrup therefrom, an enlarged water entrapping chamber in the lower portion of said body member and surrounding said'tube, and means in said body member providing communication between said water inlet and said chamber, said chamber having a bottom wall with an opening therein surrounding said tube whereby upon the discharge of water by gravity through said opening the lower end-portion of said tube and said valve is washed by the downflow of water.

14. In a beverage mixing and dispensing valve the combination of a syrup valve having a tubular outlet, a water valve, outlet means for said water valve comprising a water-retaining drip cup positioned concentrically about said tubular outlet and forming therewith a reservoir for water, said drip cup and said tubular outlet comprising a restricted outlet passage for water whereby upon closing of said water valve water retained in said drip cup forms droplets about and falls 10 from the end of said tubular outlet to wash residual syrup therefrom.

15. In a beverage dispensing valve assembly the combination of a casing having a beverage inlet passage and a cavity forming a beverageentrapping chamber, a valve controlling the flow of beverage through said inlet passage, means providing a restricted passage between said inlet passage and said chamber, said cavity having a discharge aperture the effective cross-sectional area of which is small as compared to the volume of said cavity and which volume is so related to the normal rate of discharge of said restricted passage when said valve is open that during normal operation a quantity of beverage is contained in said chamber to absorb the velocity of the beverage issuing from said restricted passage whereby the beverage is discharged from said assembly wholly by gravity and without substantial loss of carbonation.

16. A valve assembly according to claim 15 further characterized in that said cavity has a bottom wall and said discharge aperture being located in said bottom wall, and further including a syrup inlet passage in said casing and a syrup valve in said casing in communication therewith, and a discharge port for said syrup valve comprising a depending tubular element having an open bottom end positioned within said discharge aperture, the arrangement being such that upon closing of said valves the liquid contained in said chamber operates to wash off said tubular element upon discharge by gravity from said chamber.

17. In a valve assembly for mixing and dispensing a plurality of separate beverages in sequence the combination of a casing having a water inlet passage and a valve connected thereto for controlling the flow of water therethrough, a plurality of syrup inlet passages in said casing and a syrup valve for each of said syrup inlet passages, a syrup discharge port for each of said syrup valves comprising a depending tubular element carried by said casing and having an open bottom end, outlet means for said Water valve comprising a water-retaining drip cup positioned concentrically about each of said tubular elements and forming therewith reservoirs for water, said drip cups and said tubular elements comprising restricted outlet passages for water whereby upon closing of said valves water retained in said drip cups forms droplets about and falls from the lower ends of said tubular elements to thereby wash residual syrup therefrom, and a funnel-like discharge nozzle closing off the lower end of said casing and enclosing said drip cups and lower open ends of said tubular elements to collect and direct the discharges from said elements and cups to a centrally disposed discharge point.

FRANK WELTY. RAYMOND WELTY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,536,854 I-Ioderle et a1. May 5, 1925 1,603,082 Jacobs Oct. 12, 1926 1,661,431 Leibing Mar. 6, 1928 1,743,738 Travis Jan. 14, 1930 1,965,833 Geddes July 10, 1934 2,537,119 Bauerlein et a1. Jan. 9, 1951

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