US3291441A

US3291441A - Dispensing device

Info

Publication number: US3291441A
Authority: US
Inventors: Howard J Hansen
Original assignee: Hansen Manufacturing Co Inc
Current assignee: Hansen Manufacturing Co Inc
Priority date: 1964-05-21
Filing date: 1964-05-21
Publication date: 1966-12-13
Anticipated expiration: 1983-12-13

Description

Dec. 13, i966 H. J. HANSEN DISPENSING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 2l, 1964 NFS Dec. 13, 1966 H. J. HANSEN DISPENSING DEVICE 2 Sheets-5heet 2 Filed May 21, 1964 IOW INVENTCR.

HOWARD J. HANSEN BY agmj" ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,291,441 DISPENSING DEVICE Howard J. Hansen, Bay Village, Ohio, assignor to The Hansen Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed May 21, 1964, Ser. No. 369,186 23 Claims. (Cl. 251-122) This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 284,202, filed May 2,9, 1963, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to a fluid dispensing device, and particularly to a fluid dispensing device for dispensing liquids which have a high tendency to foam, such as carbonated beverages and particularly syrupy carbonated beverages.

Prior art dispensing devices for dispensing liquids having a high tendency to foam include a llow restrictor located in a ow restrictor chamber forming a part of a uid passageway extending through the device. The ow restrictor functions to minimize foaming of the liquid when it is dispensed. The construction of the known dispensing devices has not been entirely satisfactory in minimizing the foaming of the liquid.

Moreover, the tendency of the beverage to foam when dispensed limits the rate at which the `beverage can be dispensed. Even when the rate is limited with known devices the foaming is such that an operator cannot draw a full cup of beverage at the maximum rate of dispensing of the devices. The foaming which is created when the beverage is dispensed is suicient in volume that if the dispensing is stopped immediately prior to the point that the foam would overflow, the cup will be substantially less than full when the foaming clears. Consequently, the operators will fill a cup to the 4point where the foam starts to overflow, allow the foam to dissipate and then complete the filling of the cup in a second drawing operation or some operators will slow down the rate of first draw as the cup is being filled in order to allow the foam to dissipate. However, this latter technique does not always eliminate the requirement for a second drawing. The present invention contemplates the provision of a new and improved dispensing device for beverages which tend to foam and which is constructed in such a way that an operator can dispense beverage at rates above those for known dispensing devices and in one draw can fully ll a cup or glass even though the beverage is dispensed at maximum rate during the draw.

In known dispensing devices where a ow restrictor and an outlet valve has been used to dispense beverages which tend to foam, the outlet valve, in the most successful of the devices, has moved into a cavity in the ilow restrictor when the valve is opened. The purpose of this was to prevent foaming of the liquid due to disturbance caused by the valve. ln accordance with one feature of the present invention, it has 'been found that it is not necessary to cause the valve to move into a cavity in the flow restrictor to prevent foaming at the valve. In the preferred embodiment foaming is minimized at the valve by providing a cylindrical chamber at the outlet end of the flow restrictor chamber. The cylindrical chamber is coaxial with the chamber containing the ow restrictor and is preferably of a larger diameter than the ow restrictor chamber and the faucet passageway for dispensing the beverage communicates with this chamber adjacent to its lower end and the valve for controlling the dispensing of the fluid moves from a valve closed position to an open position wherein the valve is disposed in the lower part of the cylindrical chamber opposite the wall forming the ow restrictor chamber and preferably positioned so that the valve in part overlaps the flow restrictor chamber. This structure not only tends to promote a minimum of foaming but also enables the walls of the cylindrical chamber member to be rotated with the flow restrictor chamber to any position to facilitate the making of the inlet connection thereto without restriction because of the valve which must operate in the lower part of the chamber.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of a dispensing device which has a ow restrictor chamber whose inlet is connected to the su-pply of beverage to be dispensed and whose outlet is connected with a faucet having a valve for controlling the dispensing of the beverage, the flow restrictor chamber having a conically tapered inlet passageway which diverges in the direction of fluid ow and which terminates in an outlet portion of the ow restrictor chamber. A flow restrictor is disposed in the flow restrictor chamber and the inlet end of the ow restrictor is conically shaped and adapted to be received in the conical inlet passageway. However, the outside surface of the inlet part of the iiow restrictor and the adjacent conical wall of the inlet passage of the ilow restrictor chamber diverge slightly proceeding from the inlet end toward the outlet end. Heretofore, flow restrictors have been made with the same angles for the angles that the conical surface of the flow restrictor makes with the axis of the ilow restrictor and the angle which the conical wall of the chamber makes with the axis of the chamber. It has been found that the use of angles which provide slight divergence, for example, a divergence of three or four degrees between the chamber wall and the ilow restrictor surface, provides a tine control when the flow restrictor is moved laxially and helps to minimize the foaming of the liquid. Preferably the outlet part of the restrictor chamber is a cylindrical portion which is connected to the outlet end of the conical inlet portion of the chamber and the outlet part of the flow restrictor which is disposed in the outlet part of the chamber has a surface which diverges from the cylindrical wall proceeding toward the outlet end. The angle of divergence again need not be large, and may 'be between one and ve degrees by way of example.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of -a new and improved dispensing device having a faucet for dispensing liquid from a beverage dispensing device with the -faucet body being plastic and which is so constructed and arranged that the plastic faucet body is not required to have threads thereon or to mount a member with threads. The handle for operating the valve for controlling the dispensing of the beverage is mounted onto the faucet handle so as to be lremovable by means of a clamping assembly which not only eliminates the need for threads, but which renders the handle removable for cleaning purposes and which provides a connection which protects the interior of the dispensing apparatus from dust and which is not prone to leakage. Moreover, the plastic faucet body is connected to the part of the apparatus containing the flow restrictor chamber by means of a shouldered nut which shoulders on the plastic faucet body and which threads onto a metal mounting part for the dispensing apparatus.

In known dispensing devices when they are not to be used for a period of time, a supply valve in the line connecting the dispensing device to the supply of iluid is closed, and a faucet v-alve in the dispensing device is opened so as to drain the liquid from the dispensing device, and particularly from around the ow restrictor. One problem of the known prior art dispensing devices is that some fluid is trapped in the ow restrictor chambers thereof when the dispensing devices are so drained. This fluid trapped in the ow restrictor chamber tends to get exceedingly sticky and tacky, necessitating frequent and periodic cleaning of the dispensing devices. Moreover, upon disassembly for cleaning purposes, the tacky fluid tends to hold the ow restrictor in the flow restrictor chamber, requiring a relatively great force to break it loose.

A further feature of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved, simple dispensing device having a flow restrictor and being constructed so that the frequency of necessary cleaning is reduced and dis assembly for cleaning purposes is facilitated.

Also the present invention provides a new and improved dispensing device which provides -for draining substantially all of the liquid from the flow restrictor chamber when the dispensing device is not to be used to thereby minimize the frequency of necessary cleaning and facilitate removal of the flow restrictor from the ow restrictor chamber.

In addition to the foregoing the present invention provides an adjustment for the flow restrictor which permits adjustment of the llow restrictor independently of the faucet valve.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing valve which jointly and severally accomplishes the advantages and desiderata previously enumerated.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following detailed description thereof made with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which:

FIG. 1 is an axial sectional view of a dispensing device embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the dispensing device of FIG. l, taken along the section line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional perspective view of a part of the dispensing device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an axial sectional view; partly in elevation, of a dispensing device of a modified construction and in a disassembled condition; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 1, taken approximately along section line 6 6 thereof.

The present invention is embodied in a dispensing device for dispensing fluids, and particularly in a dispensing device for dispensing liquids having a tendency to foam, such as syrupy carbonated beverages. As representing a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a fluid dispensing device 10 is illustrated in the drawings. The fluid dispensing device 10 has a uid passageway extending therethrough through which fluid flows. The device 10 includes a body part 11 secured to a wall 12 or other suitable support and a faucet portion or part 13 suitably secured to the body part 11. The body 11 is suitably connected with a fluid supply connection 14 which connects the dispensing device 10 to a supply of fluid to be dispensed, and the faucet portion 13 is provided with a suitable fluid outlet 15 in the form of a nozzle through which the fluid is normally dispensed into a suitable container positioned thereunder upon operation of the device 10.

The body 11 of the dispensingdevice 10 includes a housing member in the form of a hollow metal sleeve member 16 having a passageway extending threthrough. The rear portion of the sleeve member 16, that is, the portion on the left of FIG. l, has an inwardly directed skirt portion 17. The forward end of the sleeve member 16 includes an enlarged passageway portion defined by an outwardly tapered or diverging surface 18a and a cylindrical surface portion 18b. The sleeve member 16 is provided at its rear and forward ends with male threaded portions designated 21 and 22, respectively.

The sleeve member 16 is adapted to be positioned extending substantially horizontally through an opening 23 in the wall 12 and has a shoulder portion 2S at the forward end thereof adapted to eng-age one side of the wall 12, namely, the right side thereof as viewed in FIG. 1. Preferably, the sleeve member is positioned at a slight inclination with the forward end thereof lower than the rear end. A suitable annular rubber ring clamping member 26 encircles the sleeve member 16 and engages the side of the wall 12 opposite the side engaged by the shoulder 24. A washer 27 is positioned between the ring member 26 and a suitable nut member 28 which is threaded onto the threaded portion 21 of the sleeve 16 and into engagement with the washer 27 and tightly clamps the ring member 26 against the left side of the wall 12, as viewed in FIG. 1. This structure provides a means for rigidly securing the sleeve member 16 in a substantially horizontal position extending through the opening 23 in the wall 12.

The body 11 also includes a body or chamber member 30 which is preferably circular in cross section and made of a plastic material and is slidably received in the passageway in the hollow sleeve member 16. The rear portion of the body member 30 is connected to the supply connection 14 and the body has a surface 31 which tapers outwardly and forwardly from the connection 14. The surface 31 engages the inwardly extending skirt or flange portion 17 of the sleeve member 16 located at the rear end thereof and is held thereby from movement toward the left, as viewed in FIG. 1. The outer surface of the body member 30 at its forward end includes an outwardly tapering or diverging surface portion 30a providing an enlarged forward portion 34 on the body 30. The enlarged portion 34 is received in the forward end of the sleeve member 16 and the surface 18a on the sleeve member 16 engages surface 30a. The forwardmost end of the body 30 includes another enlarged shoulder portion 35, the purpose of which will be described hereinbelow.

The body member 30 has a uid passageway 36 extending therethrough which communicates with a passage in the fluid supply connection 14. The fluid passageway 36 includes, in the main, a flow restrictor chamber 37 which extends substantially the entire length of the 4body member 30. As can readily be seen in the drawings, the flow restrictor chamber 37 has an inlet end defined by a diverging conical surface portion 37a adjacent the supply connection 14 and an .axially extending, continuous cylindrical surface portion 37b of uniform cross section which extends forwardly from the portion 37a. The surface portion 37b forms the outlet end of the chamber 37 and extends horizontally and preferably is sloped slightly forwardly to facilitate flow therefrom. The surface 37b intersects the forward end of the body portion 30, and thus the flow restrictor chamber 37 is accessible from the forward end of the body member 30. Moreover, it can be seen that the body member 30 is free of barriers, restrictions, or other obstacles which would trap iluid in the flow restrictor chamber 37;

The faucet portion 13 of the dispensing device is connected to the forward end of the body portion 11 and includes a faucet body 50. The faucet body 50 is releasably secured to the body 11 and includes a round shoulder portion 55 coaxial with the sleeve member 16 and body member 30 which is adapted to engage an axially extending flange 34a in the periphery of the shoulder 35 of the body portion 30 and a sleeve portion 56 which projects over the shoulder 34 when the faucet portion is secured to the body 11 of the dispensing device. The outer surface 35a and the sleeve portion 56 may be cut away in alternate sections to provide male and female mating and locating parts. A suitable O-ring seal 57 is supported by the faucet body 50 and engages the forward end of the body member 30 and prevents leakage of fluid between the forward end of the body member 30 and the faucet body 50 when the faucet portion is secured to the body 11.

A suitable means for releasably securing the faucet portion 13 t-o the body portion 11 and permitting disassembly of the faucet and body portions for cleaning purposes is provided. This means is in the form of a clamping nut 60 carried by the faucet body 50 and which is rotatable relative thereto. The nut 60 has a shoulder portion 61 adapted to engage the shoulder portion 55 of the faucet body Sil. The nut 60 is threaded internally and is threaded onto the male threaded portion 22 of the sleeve member 16 in order to secure the faucet portion 13 to the body 11. Upon tightening, nut member 60 applies a clamping pressure against the shoulder portion 55 of the faucet body 50 and holds the faucet body 50 against the body member 30 which in turn is seated against the surface 18a and skirt 17 of the sleeve member 16.

The faucet body 50 has a faucet passage 63 extending substantially parallel to the passageway 36 in the body portion 30 and communicating with the outlet nozzle 15. The passage 63 is spaced forward fromthe ilow restrictor chamber and is offset below the llow restrictor chamber 37, that is, the center of the cross section of passage 63 is not in alignment with the center of the cross section of the flow restrictor chamber 37, but rather is spaced below the center of the flow restrictor chamber. Preferably the center of the passageway is aligned approximately with the bottom of the flow restrictor chamber. The end of the passage 63 is widened at its inlet end adjacent the body member 30 and communicates with an axially extending bore 64 formed in the shoulder 56 at the rear end of the faucet body 50. As illustrated the inlet end of the passage 63 intersects the bottom of the bore 64. The passage 63 has a cross-section which partially overlaps the llow restrictor chamber, in that the projection of the cross section of the inlet end of the passage 63 will fall over the llow restrictor chamber as well as the end of the body member v30. The bore 64 in the end of the faucet cooperates with the end of the body member 30 including the flange 34a to form a cylindrical chamber 64a which functions to connect the ilow restrictor outlet to the faucet passageway. The cylinder chamber is coaxial with the body member 30 and sleeve 16. From the above description, it can be seen that the flow restrictor chamber 37, the chamber 64a, the passage 63, and nozzle provide a continuous path or passageway for directing lluid through the dispensing device 10. Moreover, it can be seen that the continuous passageway is free of obstacles which trap fluid in the flow restrictor chamber and that draining of the flow restrictor chamber is possible because the youtlet passage 63 has its bottom below the bottom of the flow restrictor chamber.

In order to minimize foaming the liquid dispensed by the device 10, a ow restrictor 65 is located in the ilow restrictor chamber 37. The flow restrictor 65 is preferably a plastic torpedo-shaped member having a conical surface portion 65a, which corresponds with the portion 37a of the llow restrictor chamber 37, and a forward converging conical surface portion 6519 located adjacent the forward end of the body 30 and corresponding with the portion 37b of the ilow restrictor chamber. The

surfaces

65a, 37a may be shaped to diverge slightly as they extend forwardly from the restriction immediately at the inlet end of the restrictor so as to provide for an inlet expansion chamber which continually increases in volume proceeding toward the outlet end.

For best control the conical inlet surface 65a of the restrictor extends into the cylindrical portion of the chamber to provide a clearance which acts as a second restriction at the outlet end of the inlet section. While there is a restriction at this point the volume of liquid passed will be greater than that passed by the inlet restriction because of the larger diameter of the restriction. The size of the inlet expansion chamber can be 'adjusted by moving the restrictor axially, however, the size of the second restriction and outlet chamber will be constant.

Suitable lug members 66 are located on the outer surface 65]) of the flow restrictor 65 and project therefrom and engage the surface portion 37b of the llow restrictor chamber 37 to properly position the flow restrictor within the flow restrictor chamber. The llow restrictor 65 may be removed from the flow restrictor chamber 37 for cleaning purposes and has a lug 68, preferably metal, projecting forwardly therefrom to facilitate removal of the llow restrictor 65 from the chamber 37. The lug 68 has an opening 69 extending therethrough through which a suitable tool may be projected for freeing the flow restrictor 65 and removing it from the chamber 37.

The flow restrictor 65 is axially adjustable in the flow restrictor chamber by a metal pin 76 which extends through an opening in the faucet body 56 and which has suitable threads which mesh with threads formed in the opening in the faucet body 50 through which it extends. One end of the pin 70 has a llange portion "i1 which overlaps and engages the outer end of lug 68. A suitable seal is provided between the pin 70 and the opening in the faucet body portion 50 through which it extends, in order to prevent leakage therebetween. The outer end portion of the pin 70 extends to the outside of said faucet body 50 and is provided with Ia suitable tool receiving opening for a tool for rotating the pin 70. It should be apparent that upon rotation of the pin 70, the pin 70 moves axially and through the flange 71 effects movement of the ilow restrictor axially relative to the faucet body 50 and the llow restrictor chamber 37. In the event the pin '70 is moved outwardly, the flow restrictor, of course, is not pulled outwardly but the force of the fluid flowing through the device moves the ilow restrictor against the flange 71. Adjustment of the axial position of the flow restrictor 65 controls the flow of fluid and is made generally for the Ipurpose of dispensing different beverages or for dispensing the same beverage under different conditions. Because the lug 68 is located at the center of the flow restrictor, there is no tendency to cock or break the llow restrictor when an adjustment is made. It should be noted that because of the construction of the adjustment means for the flow restrictor, the pin 70 cannot be removed accidentally from the opening in the faucet body 50 through which it extends due to the operator adjusting the llow restrictor to too great an extent.

The faucet portion 13 of the dispensing device 10 also includes a suitable faucet valve mechanism 80 for controlling the llow of fluid through the dispensing device. The valve mechanism 80 includes a suit-able valve member 81 positioned below the flow restrictor 65 in the passage 63 lat the end thereof adjacent the flow restrictor. The valve member 81 is movable and has open and closed positions relative to a valve seat 82 which is, of course, separate from the flow restrictor 65. FIG. l shows in full lines the valve member 81 in its closed position engaging valve seat 82 and blocking the llow of fluid through the dispensing device, while in dot-dash lines, the valve member is shown in its open lposition providing for fluid ow. It can be seen that the valve member 81 is located so as to have a cross sectional overlapping relation with the lower portion of the tlow restrictor chamber and ow restrictor 35 and body 30. When the valve member 81 is moved to its open position, it lies directly opposite a portion of the flow restrictor chamber and a portion of the end of the body member 30. Because of the above-described construction, the foaming of the liquid dispensed is substantially minimized.

The valve means 80 further includes means for moving the valve member 81 between its open and closed position, including a valve stem 83 which supports the valve member 81 and extends axially through the fluid passage 63 formed by the faucet body 50 and through a suitable opening 85 in the faucet body aligned with passage 63 and located at the forward end of the faucet body. An end cap 86 is secured to the forward end of the stem 83 and by a screw 87 which is threaded into the forwardmost end of the stem 83. A coil spring means 88 is positioned between the end cap 86 and the faucet body 50 and biases the valve stem 83 to the right as viewed in FIG. 1, and thereby biases the valve member 81 to its closed position. The valve stem 83 is suitably connected by a conventional ball socket connection 89, with an actuator handle 90 which when moved in the direction of the arrow 91, as viewed in FIG. 1, causes the valve stem 83 to move to the left, as viewed in FIG. l, against the bias of spring means 88 to thereby move the valve member 81 to its open position. The valve member 81 is returned to its closed position by the spring 88 upon release of the actuator handle 90.

With the dispensing device connected to a liquid supply tank, and the valve member 81 in its closed position, liquid fills the flow restrictor chamber 37, and chamber 64a. It should be noted that the chamber is quite large and extends somewhat above the flow restrictor chamber and somewhat below the passage 63 to maintain a large amount of fluid therein. When the Valve member 81 is moved to its open position, it can be readily seen that fluid ilows through the ow restrictor chamber 37, the chamber 64a, passage 63, and nozzle 15, and some of the fluid traverses a path having a 90 turn. The flow from the flow restrictor chamber 37 is added to the volume of fluid in the chamber 64a and the flow from the chamber 64a is subtracted from the volume of fluid in the chamber, and these flows are preferably at rates such that the chamber 64a or major portion thereof remains filled. The flow restrictor 65 functions to minimize foaming of the fluid dispensed and the chamber 64a assists in minimizing foaming. Moreover, the positioning of the valve 81 and passage 63 so as to partially overlap the ilow restrictor chamber, as described above, also assists in minimizing foaming of the iluid. When the valve member 81 is again moved to its closed position, uid ilow through the dispensing device 10 is terminated and fluid still fills the flow restrictor chamber 37 and chamber 95.

In the event the dispensing device embodying the present invention is not to be used for a period of time, uid can be completely drained from the dispensing device by moving valve member 81 to its open position after closing a supply valve (not shown), which connects the supply connection 14 with the supply tank. This drains the fluid from the chamber 64a and flow restrictor chamber 37, and since the dispensing device is free of obstructions or restrictions which trap the uid in the flow restrictor chamber, all of the fluid is drained therefrom. In the event that some slight amount of fluid remains in the flow restrictor chamber 37 after valve member 81 is returned to its closed position, fluid may drain or drip from the flow restrictor chamber 37 into a portion 95 of the chamber 64a located behind the valve member 81 and therefore the amount of uid which lies in the flow restrictor chamber, which would tend to become sticky and hold the flow restrictor therein, is minimized.

The valve stem 83 is operated by an actuating lever 90. The actuating lever extends upwardly from the top of the forwardmost portion of the faucet body and extends through an enlarged opening 91 in the faucet body to engage in an opening 92 in the valve stem 83. The end of the actuating lever 90 which is received in the opening 92 is circular in cross section in the vertical plane through the axis of the valve stem so as to function in the nature of a ball and socket connection in that plane. The opening 91 is formed in a boss 91a on the top of the faucet body and the lever 90 is mounted for rocking movement on the faucet body by a pin 95 which extends through the boss and through the lever 90. The pin 95 extends through the sidewalls of the boss and is endwise removable from the boss and lever for purposes to be described hereinafter. It will be understood that the pin 95 supports the actuating lever 90 for rocking movement to open the valve 81 and for returning under the action of the spring 88.

A handle 96 is removably supported on the upper end of the actuator lever 90. The handle 96 has a bore therein to receive the upper end of the lever 90 and the lever 90 has a peripheral groove 97 with an O-ring 98 therein which provides a frictional detent for holding the handle 96 on the actuating lever. The handle, however, can be removed by merely pulling upwardly on the latter. When the handle 96 is in position, the lower end thereof, which is reduced in section, is received in the top of an adjusting member threaded onto the lever 90 at a point intermediate the groove 97 and the boss 91a. The member 100 may be threaded downwardly to apply pressure to a cap 101 having an underside adapted to ride on top of the boss 91a. The top of the boss 91a is convex and the underside of the cap 100 is concave about the axis of the pin 95 so that the parts will ride on each other as the lever 90 is rocked. The cap 101 provides a cover for the opening 91 to prevent dirt, dust, etc. from entering the dispensing apparatus. The cap 101 also has ears 101a which extend downwardly over the outer ends of the pin 95 to prevent the pin from accidentally being removed. However, the part 100 can be threaded upwardly on the actuating lever 90 to allow the ears 101a to clear the ends of the pin. When the ears clear the ends of the pin 95, the pin may be pushed out and the entire lever assembly removed.

It can be seen from the foregoing that the described actuating assembly for the valve is one which permits ready disassembly of the actuating assembly for cleaning purposes. Moreover, the structure is such that the internal parts of the valve are not exposed to dust and dirt and the mounting of the actuating lever on the valve does not require the use of any threaded parts on the body of the valve. This is important when the faucet body, which is most usually the case, is made of plastic material. Conventional type mounting mechanisms require a threaded part on the faucet and most commonly this is made of plastic and will mate with a metal part on the actuator assembly. This causes severe wear and often the plastic has to be re-tapped or the faucet part discarded.

Another advantage of the described construction is that the member 100 can be threaded downwardly to apply pressure to the top of the cap 100. This pressure will cause friction between the cap and the top of the boss and this can be adjusted to a point where the spring will not return the valve thereby changing the valve from automatic spring return to manual return. Preferably, an O-ring is provided between the part 100 and the top of the cap 101, as shown in the drawing.

From the structure described above, it will be apparent that the body member 30` forming the ow restrictor chamber can be rotated to position the connecting openings at the rear thereof for receiving the uid from the supply so as to accommodate connection thereto. The body member is circular in cross section throughout the 'actua-1i length of the body member and the cylindrical chamber at the forward end thereof which receives the valve of the faucet permits the body member to be rotated without interference from the valve. This is in addition to its function of providing an antifoaming chamber at the end of the flow restrictor chamber and in which the valve of the faucet will operate.

The dispensing device of FIGS, 4 and 5 has a slightly modified construction from that described above and illustrated in FIGS. 1 3. However, many of the parts are substantially the same and the same reference characters used to designate parts of the dispensing device of FIGS. 1-3 are used to designate the corresponding parts of the dispensing device of FIGS. 4 and 5. The dispensing device shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 includes a body member which is slidably received in a metal sleeve member 16, which, in turn, is fixedly secured to the wall of the dispensing cabinet 12. The rear portion of the body member 30 is provided with an annularly extending recess providing a circumferentially extending ledge 31 which engages the inwardly extending skirt or flanged portion 17 of the sleeve member 16 and is held thereby against movement toward the left, as viewed in FIG. 4. A suitable threaded opening 33 is provided in the rear portion of the body member 30 for receiving a suitable connection for connecting a supply conduit with the body portion 3f). The outer surface of the body portion 30 at its forward end includes an outwardly tapering or diverging surface portion 30a providing an enlarged forward shoulder 35 on the body 30. The enlarged portion 35 is received in the forward end of the sleeve member 16 and the surface .'tla is spaced from a tapered surface 18a on the sleeve member 16.

The body member Sil has a flow restrictor chamber 37 which is free of barriers, restrictions, or other obstacles which would trap fluid in the flow restrictor chamber. The forward end of the body member 3u is also provided with a cavity 4tl` which is located below and offset from the flow restrictor chamber 37. The function and purpose of the cavity 40 will be described in detail hereinbelow. The faucet portion Sil of the valve shown in FIG. 4 is quite similar to the faucet portion 5) of the valve as shown in FIG. l. The faucet portion d has a fluid passageway 63 located completely offset from the flow restrictor chamber 37, that is, no cross-sectional portion of the passageway 63 overlaps any portion of the flow restrictor chamber 37. The passageway 53 is located below and offset from the flow restrictor chamber 37 The valve shown in FIG. 4 does include a continuous fluid passageway for directing the fluid therethrough, which passageway comprises the flow restrictor chamber 37, and the chamber 64a formed by bore 64, passage `63, and nozzle. It can be seen that this continuous passageway is free of obstacles which would trap fluid in the flow restrictor chamber.

In order to minimize foaming of the liquid dispensed by the device, a flow restrictor 65 is located in the flow restrictor chamber 37. The flow restrictor 65 is connected to and supported by the faucet body 50` and is located completely in the flow restrictor chamber- 37 when the faucet portion 13 and the body 11 of the dispensing device are assembled together. The flow restrictor is preferably a plastic torpedo-shaped member and having a conical surface portion 65a and a forward converging surface portion 65b.

The flow restrictor is adjustably connected to the faucet body 50 and is removed from the flow restrictor chamber when the faucet portion 13 is dissassembled from the body 11. The flow restrictor is offset above the faucet passage 63 and is adjustably connected to the faucet body Sil by a Imetal pin 70 which extends through an opening in the faucetbody 5f)l and which has suitable threads which mesh with the threads formed in the opening of the faucet body 50 through which it extends. One end of the pin 70 is attached to the flow restrictor and thus supports the flow restrictor 65. A suitable seal is provided between the .pin and opening in the faucet body through which it extends in order to prevent leakage therebetween. The outer end .portion of the pin 70 extends to the outside of the faucet body 50 and is provided with a suitable slot which is adapted to receive a tool for rotating the pin 70. It should be apparent that upon rotation of the pin 70, the flow restrictor y65 rotates with the pin and the pin 7d and the flow restrictor move axially relative to the faucet body 5f) and the flow restrictor chamber and thus the position of the flow restrictor in the chamber is adjusted.

The faucet portion 13 of the dispensing device of FIGS. 4, 5 also includes a valve mechanism 30 for controlling the flow of fluid through the dispensing device. The valve mechanism Sii includes a suitable valve member 81 positioned below the flow restrictor 65 and having an open and a closed position relative to a valve seat S2 which is located on the faucet body 50. FIG. 5 shows the valve member in its open position providing for fluid flow through the vdispensing device. It can be seen that the valve member 81 when in its open position is located at least in part within the cavity 40 in the body member 30 of the body portion 11, while when in its closed position, is located to engage the valve seat 82. Since the valve member 81 is located in the cavity 40 when in its open position and below the flow restrictor chamber, it functions to minimize fluid foaming. The valve member 81 may be moved between its open and closed positions, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, by actuating the handle 96 which is operatively connected to the valve stern 83 to move the valve stem and thereby move the valve member Si between its open and closed positions.

It should `be readily apparent that the valve mechanism shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 does not provide any obstructions which would tend to cause fluid to be trapped in the flow restrictor chamber when the valve connecting the inlet of the dispensing device to the supply tank is closed and the fluid in the valve is drained from the flow restrictor chamber. Moreover, because of the posiltioning of the valve member 81 and the cavity 4) into which the valve member 81 moves when moved to its open position, the valve functions to greatly minimize foaming of the material flowing through the valve. Furthermore, it should be readily apparent that when the dispensing device is disassembled for cleaning purposes by loosening of the nut ufl, the flow restrictor 65 is removed from the flow restrictor chamber when the faucet portion 13 is removed from the 4body portion 11. Moreover, it should be readily apparent that the flow restrictor 65 which extends outwardly from the faucet and enters the flow restrictor chamber 37 in the initial step of assembling acts as a pilot when the faucet portion 13 and body portion 11 of the dispensing device 10 are assembled together.

While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in considerable detail, it is to be understood that certai-n modifications, changes, and adaptations may be made therein by those skilled in the art to which it relates and it is hereby intended to cover all changes, modifications, and adaptations thereof falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A -dispensing apparatus comprising a member having a flow restrictor chamber therein, said chamber havin-g an outlet end opening linto one end of said member and an inlet end at the other end of said member, a flow restrictor in said chamber, means providing a cylindrical chamber at the outlet en-d of said member having a diameter larger than said flow restrictor chamber, said cylindrical chamber being coaxial with the axis of said member and having a wall disposedopposite and spaced from the outlet end of said flow restrictor, faucet means having a dispensing outlet and a dispensing passageway opening into the lower part of said cylindrical chamber and connected to said dispensing outlet, a valve cooperating with said passageway to control the dispensing of the beverage and having an open position in said cylindrical chamber with at least a portion of said valve being disposed below the flow restrictor chamber.

2. A dispensing apparatus as define-d in claim 1 wherein the flow restrictor chamber -drains into said cyl-indrical chamber and the lower part of said passageway opening into said cylindrical cham-ber is disposed below the lowermost portion of the flow restrictor chamber and said passageway drains through the dispensing outlet.

3. A dispensing device, as in claim 1, wherein the inlet end of said flow restrictor chamber is conically shaped and defines a predetermined angle with the axis of the chamber and said flow restrictor has a conically-shaped surface at its inlet end which is adapted to 'be received in the inlet end of said flow restrictor chamber with the angle of said surface with respect to the restrictor axis being less than said predetermined angle.

4. A dispensing device as defined in claim 3 wherein said flow restrictor chamber has a cylindrical side wall extending from the termina-tion of the conical inlet end to the outlet end of the chamber and said flow restrictor has a conically converging outer surface extending from the termination of the conical inlet end of the restrictor to the outlet end of the restrictor with the line of junction beween the conical surfaces of said flow restrictor being located in said cylindrical portion of said chamber.

5. A fluid dispensing device having a fluid passage- Way therethrough and comprising a body portion and a faucet p-ortion connected to said body portion, said Ibody portion having a flow restrictor chamber forming a portion of said passageway, a flow restrictor located in said flow restrictor chamber, said faucet portion having a faucet passageway therethrough forming a part of said fluid passageway and axially spaced from said flow restrictor chamber, said faucet passageway having an inlet end offset from the center of the flow restrictor chamber, means providing a connecting chamber connecting said inlet of said faucet passage and said outlet of said flow restrictor chamber, and valve means supported `by said faucet portion and offset from the center of said flow restrictor chamber and having open and closed portions controlling fluid flow through the fluid passageway, the open position of said valve being in said connecting chamber with a part thereof overlapping said restrictor chamber and a part extending outwardly beyond said restrictor chamber.

6. A fluid dispensing device as defined in claim 5, wherein said flow restrictor and said flow restrictor chamber dene therebetween a restricted fluid passage through which the fluid flows and wherein the center line of the fluid passa-ge in said faucet Iportion lies substantially in line with the outer surface of the ow restrictor at the outlet end of the flow restrictor chamber whereby approximately one-half of the projection of the cross section of the `fluid passage in said faucet portion overlaps the flow restrictor.

7. A lfluid -dispensing device having a fluid passage- Way therethrough comprising a body portion and a faucet portion connected to said 'body portion, said body portion having a flow restrictor chamber forming a portion of said passageway, a flow restrictor located in said flow restrictor chamber, said faucet portion having a faucet passage therethrough forming another portion of said passageway and communicating with said flow restrictor chamber, said flow restrict-or having a lug portion extending toward said faucet portion when connected with said body portion, a pin member rotatably carried -by said faucet portion and having means thereon engageable with said lug and operable to move the flow restrictor in the flow restrictor chamber upon rotation of said pin in a predetermined direction relative said faucet portion, and valve means supported by said faucet portion and having open and closed positions for controlling fluid flow through said fluid passageway.

8. A fluid dispensing device having a fluid passageway therethrough and comprising a body portion and a faucet portion releasably connected to said body portion, said body portion comprising a body member having a flow restrictor chamber therein opening into one end of said body member and forming a portion of said fluid passageway, a flow restrictor located in said flow restrictor chamber, said faucet portion having a cylindrical portion with an axially extending bore therein opening into one end portion thereof and communicating with said flow restrictor chamber when said faucet portion is connected to said body portion, said body portion in cooperation with said bore providing a fluid chamber adjacent said flow restrictor chamber and into which fluid flows from the flow restrictor chamber, said faucet portion having a faucet passage having one end communicating with said fluid chamber, said one end of said faucet passage being offset below the center of said flow restrictor chamber and having the projection of its cross section extending over a portion of said flow restrictor chamber and a portion of the end of said body member, a valve seat formed on said faucet portion adjacent said one end of said faucet passage and a valve member supported by said faucet portion and movable from a closed position in engagement with said valve seat wherein it blocks the flow of fluid from said fluid chamber into said faucet passage and an open position located in said fluid chamber adjacent'said one end of said body member and providing for flow of fluid through said facuet passage from said fluid chamber.

9. A fluid dispensing device as defined in claim 8 wherein said body portion fur-ther comprises a metal sleeve member secured to a support for said device and said body member being slidably received in said metal sleeve member and said cylindrical portion has a shouldered nut thereon for engaging said sleeve to connect said faucet portion to said body portion, said faucet portion comprising a plastic faucet body.

10. A fluid dispensing device having a fluid passageway therethrough and comprising a body portion and a faucet portion connected to said body portion, said body portion having a flow restrictor chamber forming a portion of said passageway, a flow restrictor located in said flow restrictor chamber, said faucet portion having a faucet passageway therethrough forming a part of said fluid passageway and horizontally spaced below said flow restrictor chamber and having an inlet end lying partially opposite the outlet end of said flow restrictor chamber and partially below the flow restrictor chamber, means providing a passage connecting said faucet passage and said flow restrictor chamber, and valve means supported by said faucet portion and offset below the center of said flow restrictor chamber and having open and closed portions for controlling fluid flow through the fluid passageway.

11. A fluid dispensing device having a fluid passageway therethrough comprising a body portion and a faucet portion connected to said body portion, said body portion having a flow restrictor chamber forming a portion of said fluid passageway, said flow restrictor chamber at its outlet end intersecting the forward end of said body portion, a flow restrictor located in the said flow restrictor chamber, said faucet portion having a faucet passageway therethrough axially spaced from the flow restrictor chamber and having an inlet end intersecting the one end of said faucet portion adjacent the forward end of said body portion and offset below the flow restric-tor chamber, means providing a passage communicating the outlet end of said flow restrictor chamber with the inlet end of said faucet passageway, and valve means supported by said faucet portion and having an open and 13 closed position for controlling fluid flow through said faucet passageway.

12. A Vlluid dispensing device having a fluid passageway therethrough and comprising a body portion and a faucet means connected to the body portion, said body portion having ka llow restrictor chamber intersecting one end thereof and forming a portion of said passageway, a ilow restrictor located in said ow restrictor chamber, said faucet means having a passage therethrough forming a part of said fluid passageway and having an inlet end and an outlet end and a valve in said passage, said faucet means including lever means for actuating said valve comprising a threaded member on said lever, a cap about said lever below said member, a pin for mounting said lever on said faucet means, said faucet means having a part with an opening therein and said pin being removably supportel in the side Wall of said opening, said lever extending through said opening to engage said valve and being rockably mounted on said pin, said cap engaging the top of said part with said part and cap having* mating surfaces accommodating the rocking movement of said lever about the axis of said pin and said member being movable on said actuator by threading tofapply force to the top of said cap to urge the latter against the said part.

13. A lluid dispensing device having a fluid passageway therethrough and comprising a body portion and a faucet means connected to the body portion, said faucet means having a passage therethrough forming `a part of said uid passageway and having an inlet end and an outlet end and a valve in said passage, said faucet means including lever means for actuating said valve comprising a threaded member on said lever, a cap about said lever below said member, a pin for mounting said lever on said faucet means, said faucet means having a part with an opening therein and said pin being removably supported in the side wall of said opening, said lever extending through said opening to engage said valve and being rockably mounted on said pin, said cap engaging the top of said part with said part and cap having mating surfaces accommodating the rocking mevoment of said lever about the axis of said pin and said member being movable on said actuator by threading to apply force to the top of said cap to urge the latter against the said part.

14. A fluid dispensing device having a fluid passageway therethrough comprising a body portionl and a faucet means releasably connected to said body portion, said body portion having a flow restrictor chamber forming a portion of said passageway, a flow restrictor located in said llow restrictor chamber, said faucet means having a fauoet passageway therethroughoifset below the center of said liow restrictor chamber and communicating with said llow restrictor chamber, valve means supported by said faucet means and located in the fluid passageway and having open and closed positions for controlling fluid flow through said faucet passageway, said faucet means including a lever for actuating said valve, a threaded member on said lever, a cap about said lever below said member, a pin f-or mounting said lever on said faucet means, said faucet means having a part with an opening therein and said pin being removably supported in the side wall of said opening, said lever extending through said opening to engage said valve and being rockably mounted on said pin, said cap engaging the top of said part with said part and cap having mating surfaces accommodating the rocking movement of said lever about the axis of said pin and said member being movable on said lever by threading to apply a force to the top of said cap to urge the latter against the said part.

15. A dispensing device as defined in claim 14 wherein the ends of said pin are exposed and said cap has ears which extend over said part and cover the ends of said pin and which may be moved to a position clear of said pin by threading said part upwardly on said lever to allow said cap to be moved upwardly away from said part.

16. A fluid dispensing device comprising a faucet part and a body part having first and second lluid passageways therethrough, respectively, means for releasably securing said faucet part to said body part to provide a continuous fluid passageway and providing for disassembly of said faucet part from said body part, valve means supported by said faucet part and located in said first passageway and actuatable to control the ow of fluid through said continuous fluid passageway, said second fluid passageway having an enlarged passageway portion forming a flow restrictor chamber offset from said valve means, a pin member having a threaded portion cooperating with threads in an opening in said faucet part and movable relative to said faucet part upon rotation thereof, and a llow restrictor fixedly connected to said pin and located in said flow restrictor chamber and adjustable therein upon rotation of said pin and removable therefrom upon disconnection of said faucet part from said body part.

17. A lluid dispening device comprising a body portion having a flow restrictor chamber therein, a flow restrictor located in said liow restrictor chamber, a faucet portion connected to said body portion and having a faucet passageway therethrough with an inlet at one end thereof, wall means defining a connecting chamber intermediate said flow restrictor chamber and said inlet and into which said flow restrictor chamber opens and which communicates with said inlet, valve means controlling the flow of iiuid through said faucet passageway including a valve seat located at least partially below said iiow restrictor chamber and a valve member movable from a closed position in engagement with said valve seat to an open position located in said connecting chamber.

18. A fluid dispensing device as defined in claim 17 wherein said wall means includes a portion extending transverse to the axis of said iiow restrictor chamber and said valve seat is located thereon.

19. A iluid dispensing device as delined in claim 17 wherein one end of said valve member when in its open position lies immediately adjacent to and opposite a part of the flow restrictor chamber and a part of said body portion.

20. A liuid dispensing device as defined in claim 17 wherein the entire one end of said valve member when in its open position lies immediately adjacent to and opposite a part of said body portion.

21. A liuid dispensing device as defined in claim 20 wherein said body portion includes a cavity into which said one end of said valve member moves when moved to its fully open position.

22. A lluid dispensing device comprising a body portion having a iiow restrictor chamber therein, a flow restrictor located in said flow restrictor chamber, a faucet portion connected to said body portion and having a faucet passageway therethrough with an inlet at one end thereof, wall means defining a connecting chamber intermediate said flow restrictor chamber and said inlet and into which said llow restrictor chamber opens and which communicates with said inlet, valve means controlling the llow of iluid through said faucet passageway including a valve member movable between open and close positions and a valve seat located at least partially below said flow restrictor chamber and having an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the flow restrictor.

23. A iiuid dispensing device having a lluid passageway therethrough and comprising a body portion and a faucet means connected to the body portion, said body portion having a flow restrictor chamber which opens at one end thereof and forms a portion of said passageway, a flow restrictor located in said ilow restrictor chamber, said faucet means having a passage therethrough forming a part of said fluid passageway and having an inlet end and an outlet end and a valve in said passage, said faucet means including lever means for actuating said valve comprising a lever, a cap about said lever, a pin for mounting said lever on said faucet means, said faucet means having a part with an opening therein and said '2,225,996 12/1940 Johnson 13S-46 pin being removably supported in the side wall of said 2,236,619 4/ 1941 Cornelius 138-46 opening, said lever extending through said opening t0 2,345,840 4/ 1944 Strong 251--118 X engage said valve and being rockably mounted on said 2,355,205 8/ 1944 Daun 251--120 pin, said cap engaging the top of said part With said part 5 2,461,909 2/1949 McClure 251-120 and cap having mating surfaces ,accommodating the rOck 2,865,595 12/ 1958 Barlow 251-118 ing movement of said lever about the axis of said pin and 2,907,547 10/ 1959 Gore et al. 251-120 X said cap having ear portions which cover the Opposite `2,920,358 1/1960 Hunter 251 .118 ends of said pin to block movement of said pin from said Opening 10 FOREIGN PATENTS References Cited by the Examiner 1,278,526 10/1961 France- UNITED STATES PATENTS M. ARY NELS N P' E 2,085,848 7/1937 Cornelius 13s- 46 C ,o """ry mmm" 2,187,793 1/1940 Rice 13g-46 15 S SCOTT, ASSlSfanf Exmmeh

Claims

1. A DISPENSING APPARATUS COMPRISING A MEMBER HAVING A FLOW RESTRICTOR CHAMBER THEREIN, SAID CHAMBER HAVING AN OUTLET END OPENING INTO SAID ONE END OF SAID MEMBER AND AN INLET END AT THE OTHER END OF SAID MEMBER, A FLOW RESTRICTOR IN SAID CHAMBER, MEANS PROVIDING A CYLINDRICAL CHAMBER AT THE OUTLET END OF SAID MEMBER HAVING A DIAMETER LARGER THAN SAID FLOW RESTRICTOR CHAMBER, SAID CYLINDRICAL CHAMBER BEING COAXIAL WITH SAID AXIS TO SAID MEMBER AND HAVING A WALL DISPOSED OPPOSITE AND SPACED FROM THE OUTLET END OF SAID FLOW RESTRICTOR, FAUCET MEANS HAVING A DISPENSING OUTLET AND A DISPENSING PASSAGEWAY OPENING INTO THE LOWER PART OF SAID CYLINDRICAL CHAMBER AND CONNECTED TO SAID DISPENSING OUTLET, A VALVE COOPERATWITH SAID PASSAGEWAY TO CONTROL THE DISPENSING OF THE BEVERAGE AND HAVING AN OPEN POSITION IN SAID CYLINDRICAL CHAMBER WITH AT LEAST A PORTION OF AID VALVE BEING DISPOSED BELOW THE FLOW RESTRICTOR CHAMBER.