US2915278A - Faucets - Google Patents

Description

B. CRIST FAUCETS Dec. 1, 1959 1 /m7 m m h M n C m Y 3 u m 0 B 5 m. n m m ATTORNEY B. CRIST FAUCETS Dec. 1, 1959 Filed Oct. 17, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY :5 sheets-slim s R7! m m Mm 7; Q an A \N QM. i M ll l Il l 11 \m m M U- wm R r Dec. 1, 1959 Filed Oct. 17, 1955 4 United States Patent 2,915,278 FAUCETS Buckley Crist, Muncie, Ind., assignor, by mesue assignments, to The Coca-Cola Company, New York, N.Y., a p mea on o De a ar Application October 1-7 19 55, Serial No. 540,895 a ms, t l- 251: 22)

7 This invention relates to valves, and more particularly requires a small cross-sectional area which in turn tends to generatehigh velocity of fluid being dispensed. Various methods have in the past been'used to 'dec'ele'rate such fluid without undue turbulence creati0n of negative pressures, oriothe'rwise generating foam with resultant loss of earbonationf methods include exiti nlg 'the high velocity stream into a comparativelylarge' pool or fluid which in effect drowns the high velocity stream; grad- ,iially enlarging the cross-seetional area with'tapeting'passages; and the employment of various chokesfrestr-icto'rs, and other elements providing a large degree of surface gupjonwfiic energy may be'used up'lin frie' tion. i

"Iheinstant invention employs new and novel means in effectingthe'desired'result, and may be'saidt Consist essentially of a series of nozzles in tandem, of increasing i onal area'g fluid in effect beingalternately accele; ed, and deceleratedl It is accelerated past the nozzle, thereby converting pressure energy into kinetic energy; ail d then after leaving the nozzle" it enters a passage of eiipahding cress sectional area where the liquid decelerat converting veleeity energy back to' pressureenergy, with a desired loss of efficiency' This means that the fli id atthe'next lower pressure accelerates more slowly through the 'neXt nozzle, "which is of larger area, and leaviiigthe'last of the series flows n wly/and quietly without the foaming which wdul'd be fatal'to automatic vending s lat-titans;- which are becoming increasingly popular today', 'as for example, dispensing a measured quantity 6f a, c arb oiiated"beverage"into a paper cup. If foaming ecitrs during this operation, there is an uneconomic overflow of beverage," resultant sanitation and other problems; whereas if a' c upsufiiciently'larg'e to prevent this is employedf there is asubstantial waste of stock and space withih' the machine; as well as potential dissatisfaction the "part bf the customer who'may feel that he has be rieheated when he receives a' cup that is substantially 1e than full when the foam has subsided.

the presentinyenti'on, the liquid in effect, .passes a series fef venturi orifices." The sharp edges of the flow restrictorshould be tounded off to a radius of approxie'ly .005 inch to prevent formation" of veria contracta; and the angle of the tapered passage following the (print should be'frorn to 14. 'It'h'asbeen found that jthe'rate of increase of cross-sectional area or an an ular passageof 14 taper is the same as that of a conicifnc v zzle of'f-l /z" taper (7 included angle), which is wandered the maximum desirable angle for venturi p ifiqe object of this invention is to provide a faucet which ice 2 will prevent foaming in the dispensing of a carbonated w g l, .7 i a. s h, ,7 a Another object is to provide simplicity of construction insu'cha device. 5 i i Another object is to make possible ease of access for cleaning and servicing. a A stillfurther object is to make possible flexibility in such a'faucet, in keeping with its' intended use. i

'ig k'nethe'f object is to" make possible conservation of space in such an instrumentality. i A i Another object is to'conserve materials.

These and other'objects made possible bysubject faucet are accomplished by means ofthe instant invention, a full and" complete understanding of which is facilitated by reference to the drawings herein in which:

Q Fig. l is a view "in vertical longitudinal cross-section of a valve embodyingthisinventiont' Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, in which the faucet is open however, and 'in which the rest'ric tor element'and some 'of its associated structure is shown by a side view; Fig." 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially alng' thelirie 3 3 of Fig. '1, lookin'gin the direction ofth'e arrows; i

Fig. is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 4 4,.ofFigt1; s a. y a.

Fig'f'S is a'similar view taken substantially along the line s 5t rFig;1;'

Fig. 6 is a side view of the instant flow restrictor;

Pig. "7' isa vertical longitudinal sectional view 'of the strueture of Fig: 6; a Fig; 8 isanend view of the device of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is "a side view of the valve stem and'valve seal which are'part of the instant structure; and

' "Fig. 10 is a partial sectional view taken along the line 10 10 of' Fig. 9 andshowirig said seal inplace on'the valve stem. i

' Like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the various figures or the drawings." Referring new tosaid drawings, the instant dispensing valve comprises an elbow' 10,iwith which isassociated a tube llafid'a body portion 12, all preferablyfabricated rrema plastic material andheld together under com- "p'r e's sidnby sheave '13; a shroud lfl, anda loekring l 5, which engage conventionahthreads to compress rubber seals" It? and 17, thereby producing a "pressure-type a s y l. v

Pesitioned within tube 11 is a flow restrictor 18 likewise"preferably"'fabrieated of plastic, "which is held in place by'anadjustingrod 19 which may bee'mbedd'ed in one end 'z'p'oru'emem 18 Adjusting red 19"extends through a gland 21 formed in 10, and may 'bejr iioved lengthwise by' rotating adjusting nut 22' on the threaded end"'23 of rod 19. A conneetion to a beverage supply undehpressure is made through line 24; initial flowbeing stoppedby the seating of rubber seal 25 on the valve seat 26 of body member 12. Said seal is secured to'a *v'alve stern 27 by a plurality of stainless steel 'was'hers'28and 29'and asna p ring or rings 30 which may ride or anchor in suitable grooves provided in valve "stem 27;

Said sterri passes through a hole 31 in body- 12 and at its'outer end is engaged bya lever 32 having an operating handle 33 afiixed to its upper portion. The lever is piv oted at 34 by rneansof a tr'ansverse pin 35 which is supported in conventional bearings at the end of the shroiid, said leverbeing'slotted as at 36, and stem 27 isvgrooved at 3710 engage said leverwhereby the i'otatio'nthereof about its pivot 34 causes valve element 25 to movefrom its seat, thereby allowing beverage to flow through the system. ,s. .s

'Special attention is now directed to flow restrictor- 18,

iinifdfni straight ta er. The flow res'tr ictor has the same 3 taper as the tube in its gross aspects for about half its length, the remainder being cylindrical. The exterior surface of said restrictor is provided with one or more steps or notches 38, which provide in effect a series of annular nozzles, the first several of which within a series being of the same cross-sectional area, and the nozzles that follow achieving greater cross-sectional area as the distance between the inner wall of tube 11 and the outer surface of the flow restrictor increases.

Beverage entering at 24 moves through the annulus formed by the flow restrictor and the tube, the series of rstrictions caused by the shape of the flow restrictor causing a loss of pressure in the carbonated beverage. The amount of this loss and consequently the flow rate can be adjusted by moving flow restrictor 18 longitudinally in the tapered tube in the manner described heretofore. Moving said restrictor towards inlet 24 decreases the flow rate.

The beverage leaving the annulus caused by theflow restrictor tube fills the volume ahead of the valve opening and moves at a relatively low velocity and at approximately atmospheric pressure, flowing by valve seat 26 into bore 39 and filling it, after which the fluid flows out through spigot 40, and likewise filling that. At the discharge end of the spigot, it flows in a quiet stream, tests having shown that the beverage can fall from 3 to 12 inches into a receptacle without undue turbulence and foaming. The valve stem 27 moves slideably within bore 41 in the discharge end of restrictor 18 which arrangement supports the ends of the valve stem and the flow restrictor and maintains their alignment.

The entire valve can be easily disassembled for sanitizing and service purposes by unscrewing the lock ring 15, upon which shroud 14 containing body member 12 and valve stem 27 can be disconnected, and the body removed from the shroud, releasing element 35 so that lever 32 can be withdrawn and said valve stem removed. It is readily apparent that the remaining elements can be broken down completely.

Experiments have been made with from 1 to 14 steps or nocthes 38 formed in a flow restrictor such as 18, and good results have been obtained in all cases, it being apparent however that the optimum number will depend on the particular circumstances of use and the results desired. For example, in a cup vending machine where the flow rate is constant, and a casual drink from the faucet when such is as hot as 100 Fahrenheit must be served, a single small step with a 12 angle and .02 inch deep in the flow restrictor, in combination with the exponentially flared tube 11 gave best results. The manual faucet illustrated, which uses a tapered bore and flow restrictor to allow for variable pressures and flow rates, works best with 4 or steps or notches such as 38. The ratio of area of the smallest or throat area to the largest area ahead of the next throat, should be 1 to 3, or less, the smaller the ratio, the greater the pressure loss. The flow restrictor is cut off at its downstream end 42 at a 90 angle, experience having shown that such treatment is superior to a-tapered or streamlined end.

It will also be apparent that the instant valve may be constructed in such a manner that the notches are formed in the inner surface of the tube 11 and the flow restrictor 18 left smooth, this being a mere reversal of parts and basic hydraulic functions being in no way disturbed thereby.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there hasbeen shown and described a faucet of superior design which decelerates high velocity fluid with a minimum of loss of carbonation, and without foaming. That said valve is economical in its space requirements, with particular reference to the volume of fluid being handled. That said device is easy to service and clean, susceptible of manufacture with a minimum of production difliculties, and thoroughly desirable for its intended purposes. It will ,be further noted that thesmall volume of fluid remaining in the faucet at the end of a draw, together with the fact that it is preferably fabricated of a poor heat conducting plastic, permits the faucet tooperate successfully without the necessity of being refrigerated.

While there has been shown a specific embodiment of the instant invention herein, and such described in detail, it is understood that no limitation is implied thereby, but on the contrary the appended claims are to be given an interpretation and scope fairly in keeping with the contribution to the art.

I claim:

1. In a faucet for dispensing carbonated beverages, a hollow tube, a flow restrictor positioned within said tube having an outer surface opposed to the inner surface of the tube, a notch formed in one of said surfaces, said notch having a tapered portion providing a gradually increasing cross-sectional area of the space between said surfaces, the tapered portion of said notch terminating in a plane radial portion at which the cross-sectional area of the space between said surfaces is abruptly reduced, a fluid inlet to the tube, a valve positioned within said tube, means for actuating said valve, and a discharge outlet communicating with said tube.

2. In a device for dispensing carbonated beverages, a tubular member having a bore, a fluid inlet adjacent the upstream end thereof, a valve adjacent the downstream end thereof and an outlet downstream from said valve, and a flow restrictor within said bore and substantially concentric therewith, said flow restrictor and said bore having juxtaposed surfaces with the cross-sectional area of the clearance space between said surfaces increasing in the direction of flow of fluid through said bore, at least one notch formed in one of said surfaces, said notch having a conical tapered portion providing a gradually increasing cross-sectional area of said clearance space in the direction of fluid flow and terminating in a plane radial portion at which the cross-sectional area of the clearance space is abruptly reduced, the intersection of the tapered portion and the radial portion being an acute angle, and means for actuating said valve without moving said flow restrictor.

3. In a device for dispensing carbonated beverages, a tubular member having a. tapered bore, a fluid inlet adjacent the upstream end thereof, a valve adjacent the downstream end thereof and an outlet downstream from said valve, the diameter of said bore increasing in the direction of flow of fluid therethrough, and a flow restrictor within said bore and substantially concentric therewith, said flow restrictor and said bore having juxtaposed surfaces having the same taper, at least one notch formed in one of said surfaces, said notch having a conical tapered portion providing a gradually increasing crosssectional area of said clearance space in the direction of fluid flow and terminating in a plane radial portion at which the cross-sectional area of the clearance space is abruptly reduced, the outer edge of said radial portion having a radius of approximately 0.005 inch.

4. In a device for dispensing carbonated beverages, a tubular member having a bore, a fluid inlet adjacent the upstream end thereof, a valve adjacent the downstream end thereof and an outlet downstream from said valve, and a flow restrictor within said bore and substantially concentric therewith,.said flow restrictor and said bore having juxtaposed surfaces with the cross-sectional area of the clearance space between said surfaces increasing a in the direction of flow of fluid through said bore, a

tubular member having a tapered bore, a fluid inlet adjacent the upstream end thereof, a valve adjacent the downstream end thereof and an outlet downstream from said valve, the diameter of said bore increasing in the direction of flow of fluid therethrough, and a flow restrictor within said bore and substantially concentric therewith, said flow restrictor having a tapered portion corresponding substantially with the taper of said bore, the surface of said flow restrictor having a plurality of notches formed therein, each of said notches having a tapered portion providing a gradually increasing cross-sectional area of said clearance space in the direction of fluid flow and terminating in a plane radial portion at which the cross- 6 sectional area of the clearance space is abruptly reduced, the intersection of said tapered portion and said radial portion being an acute angle, the downstream end of said flow restrictor being cut off substantially perpendicular to the axis thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 17,824 Lee Oct. 14, 1930 1,919,232 Lee July 25, 1933 2,162,842 Dolison June 20, 1939 2,461,909 McClure Feb. 15, 1949 2,564,287 Stephany Aug. 14, 1951

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