WO1991004431A1

WO1991004431A1 - Quick opening and closing valve

Info

Publication number: WO1991004431A1
Application number: PCT/US1990/005201
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joel E. Haynes
Original assignee: Alco Standard Corporation
Priority date: 1989-09-19
Filing date: 1990-09-13
Publication date: 1991-04-04
Also published as: AU6526990A

Abstract

The quick opening and closing valve of the present invention has a ball (40) or other type of plunger that moves in a main chamber (10) from a closed position seated on the outlet (28) to an open position spaced from the seat (30) formed where the outlet and chamber meet. A control port (52) extends into the chamber (44) on the other side of the plunger (40) from the outlet (28). The control port (52) is alternatively opened or closed by a control gate (54). The pressure at the outlet is approximately atmospheric, but some fluid flows to the other side of the plunger which elevates the pressure there, urging the plunger against the seat (30). Opening the control port (52) drops pressure on that side of the plunger approximately to atmospheric, whereupon the force of the fluid pushes the plunger (40) away from the seat.

Description

QUICK OPENING AND CLOSING VALVE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention: The present invention relates primarily to valves, espe those used in post-mix beverage dispensers.

2. State of the M: Post-mix beverage dispensers control the flow of two liqui separate conduits. For most soft drinks, the liquid in one conduit is water saturated with car dioxide. Flavored syrup concentrate flows through the other conduit. Ideally, valves contro the flow of the two components through the separate conduits open simultaneously. regulators for each liquid maintain a fixed flow rate so that the components mix at predetermined ratios. The conduits lead to a mixing chamber in which the two liquids com just before or as they leave the valve system. When dispensing is complete both valves cl and fluid flow through both conduits stops.

To maintain proper flow for both components, the valves must be fully opened or closed. If either valve has some intermediate position, the valve system may dispense of one component than the other. This results in the all too common watered down or syrupy dispensed soft drink. Mechanical valves that do not immediately fully open and close are most subject to this problem. This is especially true when the person using the drink dispenser attempts to dispense small volumes of the soft drink to fill a cup to the to process called "teasing."

Present day dispensers usually use electrical solenoid valves. , Electrically activ valves can be opened and closed simultaneously so that flow through both conduits start stop together.

Solenoid valves generally exhibit high pressure loss and are expensive, however. high pressure, high flow systems, the solenoid valves must be large enough to overco system pressure so that they can close or open very fast. If the solenoid valves do not o or close very fast, there can be substantial flow while the valves are opening or closing. Whe flow occurs while either valve is partially open, the percentage of the two components in th final soft drink product may change. This is especially a problem when the valves are tease or opened and closed several times during the dispensing of one drink. Brown, U.S. Patent No. 4,266,726 (1981) and Fuerst, U.S. Patent No. 3,540,476 (197 are examples of beverage dispensers using solenoid valves.

Mecl nicai valves also exist. If mechanical valves are to have fully opened or ful closed oositions and avoid intermediate, partial flow conditions, they usually have complicat over-center activation systems. These are usually quite costly to manufacture and require high actuation force. These mechanical valves can be electrically activated, but the electric activation is usually slow and has a relatively high power requirement. This is disadvantageo in a liquid dispenser because higher electrical power devices are more expensive and are n energy efficient.

Solenoid and mechanical valves currently in use today often require field adjustme That is, a technician often must adjust the valves after they are installed to obtain optimu performance. The valves also require service. Additional service requirements are costly f the manufacturer and owner of beverage dispensers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has as its objects disclosing and providing the following: a. A mechanical valve which exhibits low actuation force. b. A mechanical valve that is extremely fast acting to minimize the time duri which the valve is not either fully opened or fully closed. c. A beverage dispensing valve that exhibits low pressure loss through it. d. A valve with actuation force that has no appreciably variations as in pressure changes. e. A vaive with snap action which has sufficient hysteresis to prevent teasi f. A valve which may be converted to electrical activation but which still its mechanical properties. g. A valve which has a very low manufacturing cost. h. Two or more valves in a system that open and close liquid c simultaneously.

The present invention meets these and other objects. The quick opening and valve of th present invention has a main chamber. An inlet, which is attached to a so liquid, extends into the chamber. An outlet, which is attached to the outlet of the be dispenser, extends into the chamber. Preferably, the inlet and outlet extend through a walls of the main chamber. The intersection of the outlet and the main chamber forms

A plunger in the chamber moves from a closed position on the seat to an open p spaced from the seat. When the plunger is on the seat, fluid does not flow from the inlet outlet, and the valve is closed. When the plunger is in the open position, the inlet and communicate so that fluid flows directly from the inlet to the outlet through a small por the chamber.

A control port extends into the chamber on the other side of the plunger from the The control port is alternatively opened or closed by a control gate. When the control in its closed position, the control port is closed. Some fluid flows on either side of the pl The pressure at the outlet is approximately atmospheric, but the pressure on the other the plunger is higher. The high pressure urges the plunger against the seat. If the contr is open, pressure on that side of the plunger drops significantly. The high pressure at th develops a resultant force across the plunger and urges it away from th&seat. Fluid then directly from the inlet to the outlet. When the control port is again closed, pressure r builds up on the other side of the plunger from the outlet causing the plunger to move a the seat, which closes the valve.

For very high pressure systems, the just-described valve can be used in a arrangement. That is, the valve that was just described can be used to open and clo y control port. A very low force valve is used to actuate the smaller valve, and it in turn acts a control port valve for the main valve.

The present invention also discloses a mechanical system controlling the simultaneo opening and closing of two valves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. is a front elevation, partially in section, of the quick opening and closing valve the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation, also partially in section, showing a modified version of t quick opening and closing valve of the present invention.

FIG.3 is a side elevation, partially in section and partially schematic, showing two val of the present invention that open and close simultaneously.

FIG. 4 is a front, partial section view taken through plane 4-4 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view showing a modification to the actuator of the two va system to enable the valves to be electrically operated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The quick opening and osing valve 1 of the present invention comprises a m chamber 10. In the exemplary embodiment, chamber 10 is formed in an injection mol plastic housing 11. Upright wall 12 of housing 11 has a circular cross-section in the exempl embodiment, but other shapes are also acceptable with modifications to the other pa Housing 11 also has a bottom wall 14 and a top wall in the form of a removable cap 16. cap is threaded into mating threads 18 on the inside of cylindrical upright wall 12 of cham 10. A gasket or O-ring 20 seals the cap to the cylindrica: .pright wall. The inside surface of upright wall 12 is smooth. Cylindrical wall 12 and top and bottom walls 16 and 14 f chamber 10. An inlet 26 extends through cylindrical wall 12 into the bottom portion of the cha

10. Likewise, an outlet 28 extends through bottom wall 14 into chamber 10. The shape of opening of outlet 28 through bottom wall 14 creates a seat 30. In the FIG. 1 embodim side wall 12 makes a relatively sharp angle with bottom wall 14, thus creating defined spa 27 and 29.

An inlet nipple 32 and an outlet nipple 34 extend outward from the chamber at inle and outlet 2«__, respectively. Flexible tubing 36 and 38 attach to nipples 32 and 34. The flex tubing-nipple arrangement shown in FIG. 1 is illustrative only. If the valve is used in a bever dispenser, flexible tubing 36 and 38 may be replaced with another type of conduit whic attached in a manner that makes removal and leaking less likely.

The valve of the present invention also has a plunger movable within the chamber. the exemplary embodiment, the plunger is a sphere or ball 40. A stainless steel sphere 4 used as the plunger in the exemplary embodiment. With modifications, other types of plung could be used. The diameter of ball 40 is less than the inside diameter of upright wall These dimensions create a space 42 between inside surface 22 and ball 40. The space per fluid flowing into inlet 26 to leak past ball 40 into the upper portion 44 of chamber 10. The of space 42 has an effect on the operation of the ball in a manner discussed below.

Bail 40 moves between two positions. When the ball is in the closed position (solid li in FIG. 1), the bottom part of the ball rests on seat 30. In that position, fluid does not flow fr inlet 26 to outlet 28. The intersection of ball 40 and seat 30 blocks the fluid flow out of outlet. Ball 40 has an open position (phantom in FIG. 1) in which the bail no longer enga seat 30. When the ball is in the open position, inlet 26 communicates -directly with outlet beneath a portion of ball 40 so that fluid flows directly from the inlet through the outlet.

The top of an optional low-force spring 46 seats in notch 48, and the bottom of spr 46 contacts ball 40. The low-force spring provides a small but sufficient force so that the normally rests on seat 30. The force from spring 46 retains ball 40 in its closed position at v low inlet pressures. If the valve is inverted, the spring prevents the force of gravity from pushi the ball away from the seat.

A control port extends into the chamber on the side of the plunger opposite the outl As the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 shows, the control port 50 extends through chamb wall 12 and provides fluid communication between the upper portion 44 of the chamber a conduit 52.

The cross-sectionai area of control port 50 should be larger than the cross-sectional ar of the space 42 between ball 40 and inner surface 22 of cylindrical wall 12, but substantia less than the areas of inlet 26 or outlet 28. Therefore, the force required to open and clo control port 50 via control valve 54 is very low. The control valve opens or closes und mechanical or electrical control.

When control valve 54 is closed, fluid in upper portion 44 of chamber 10 cannot fl through control port 50. Pressure at inlet 26 is transferred via space 42 to upper chamber and the upper side of ball 40. The lower side of ball 40 and outlet port 30 is downstream a at less pressure than that on the upper side of the ball. This pressure difference forces ball to remain in the closed position, therefore allowing no transfer of fluid through the valve. parts of the value upstream of seat 30 are at inlet pressure when the valve is in the clos position.

When control valve 54 is opened, fluid flows from inlet port 26, through space 42, i chamber 44 and out control port 50. The fluid flow through space 42 causes sufficient press drop across ball 40 and urges it upward into chamber 44, which opens outlet seat 30. As t ball moves away from seat 30 the lower side of ball 40 moves into*- the higher upstre pressure of inlet 26, thereby causing even greater pressure difference across the ball. The accelerates toward the full open position. When control valve 54 is closed, fluid ceases to flow through control port 50 and sp

42. Therefore, with near zero pressure drop across space 42, the pressure in chamber increases to the upstream pressure of inlet 26. The downstream or lower pressure at ou seat 30 and the upstream pressure in chamber 44 develops a pressure difference acros 40 that urges it toward seat 30, therefore closing the valve. As the ball 40 moves toward 30, the downstream pressure at the seat 30 develops an ever decreasing pressure on the l side of the ball. Likewise, the pressure in upper chamber 44 increases to the upstr pressure at inlet 26, thereby developing an ever increasing pressure across ball 40.

Both when the ball moves upward or downward, the resultant forces on the ball ch very quickly. The forces serve to accelerate the ball in the desired direction. Therefore valve snaps open and snaps closed. This is a most desirable result.

The portion 55 of conduit 52 past control valve 54 attaches to tubing 38 downstr from outlet 28 so that any fluid that flows through outlet port 50 is used by the system.

Normal fluid control systems have conflicting goals. Maximizing the area of the co minimizes the pressure drop, and elevating pressure maximizes flow. High pressure and l diameter tubing increases the size and power input necessary for the valves to open and c the conduit, however. No matter how fast valve parts move, it takes longer to open or c larger diameter tubes. More force must be generated to overcome higher fluid pressure

As previously discussed, conduit 52 has a relatively small diameter, which is stantially smaller than the diameter of inlet 26 or outlet 28. Therefore, the force of the (pressure times area) is much less in conduit 52 than it is in inlet 32. A relatively low pow valve can open and close quickly because it does not have to overcome large forces. beverage dispenser of the present invention preferably uses a low powered but fast a gate valve. Gate valve 54, which opens and closes conduit 52, can be relatively small and powered but still be very fast acting. The low mass and size of the valve and princip operation greatly increases the speed, especially when compared to equivalent solenoid val Therefore, the present invention uses a small, low powered and rapidly activated valve on a force, small diameter line as a way of controlling higher forces of the substantially la diameter conduit. The speed with which the ball 40 moves depends primarily upon the size of outlet 28, the mass and size of the ball, the distance that the ball travels, the area of space 42, the input pressure at inlet 26. The speed of the ball 40 increases as pressure at inlet increases. This feature results in approximately the same volume of fluid being transfer during opening and closing times regardless of inlet pressure. Errors in soda to syrup ra during switching times are substantially reduced as a result.

Inlet 26 and control port 50 are shown on opposite sides of upright wall 12, but positions shown in FIG. 1 are exemplary only. The inlet should be at the bottom position n bottom wall 14. The control port should be high enough in chamber 10 so that ball 40 d not interfere with the control port 50. Outlet 28 extends through bottom wall 14 at a right an to inlet 26. It is also important if the valve is to open and close very quickly, that spaces 27 29 be provided. Of course, spaces 27 and 29 are really part of the same space exten around the ball. Space 27 is designated as a separate space because it is the space at chamber end of inlet 26. Cylindrical wall 12 does not curve around ball 40 but meets bot wall 14 at a generally right angle.

The valve 2 in the FIG. 2 embodiment is used for higher flow rates and low flo pressure losses. Essentially, main chamber 10 in FIG. 2 and the structure associated wi is the same as in FIG. 1. That is, a plunger in the form of ball 40 moves from a closed posi (shown in FIG. 2) in which the ball is positioned on seat 30 to block flow from inlet 26 to o 28. The valve at control port 50, which controls the position of ball 40, is itself controlle a smaller version 58 of the same valve. Valve 58 in FIG.2 performs the same function that valve 54 of FIG. 1 performed. That is, fluid flow from control port 50 passes into conduit which becomes the inlet of chamber 60 of valve 58. A plunger in the form of bail 66 i closed position seats on outlet 64. The bail is in its closed position because of back pres in control port 68 acting downward on ball 66 when gate valve 70 is closed. When gate v

70 is opened, fluid that leaks past ball 66 flows past valve 70 relieving the pressure above ball and allowing fluid to flow directly from inlet 62 to outlet 64. <?

The fluid flow through outlet 64 returns to outlet 28 of principal valve 2. Likewis fluid passing valve 70 returns through line 72 either to outlet conduit 64 (as shown) or dir to main outlet 28.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 show how two valves of the present invention can be incorporate a system for dispensing more than one fluid.

The system in FIG. 3 has two principal valves 110 and 112. One of the valves co the flow of carbonated water and the other controls the flow of syrup. Each valve has an 114 and 116, which correspond with inlet 26 in FIG. 1. Each valve 110 and 112 also ha outlet 118 and 120 which corresponds with outlet 28 in FIG. 1. The inlet and outlet of valve communicates with a main chamber 122 and 124 (shown schematically). Each cha also has a plunger (not shown) that operates as the plunger in FIG. 1 operates. Co channels 126 and 128 lead from the control port 130 and 132. Again, the control channel very small compared to the size of inlets 114 and 116 and outlets 118 and 120.

Control channels 126 and 128 are opened and closed by means of needle valves and 136. In the exemplary embodiment, needle valves 134 and 136 are flexible and for of silicon rubber. Each needle valve has a conical end 138 and 140 that seats in the respe control channel 126, 128. The opposite ends 142, 144 of needle valves 134, 136 rest ag a leaf spring 146 (see FIG. 4 also). As FIG. 3 shows, leaf spring 146 maintains needle v 134, 136 in normally closed positions. Channels 126 and 128 could connect with each other and be controlled by a si valve. This design is not preferable in a beverage dispenser for two reasons. First, having channels allows each valve to be self-contained. Second, the fluids that each valve con are kept apart until they reach the mixing portion of the beverage dispenser. If control chan 126 and 128 met, some mixing of the two fluids would take place in the combined cond The FIG. 3 embodiment is manually activated. Lever 148, which is within reach o operator, pivots about shaft 152 that is mounted on a beverage dispenser. The left end ( 3) of lever 148 has an opening 149, and the top portion of vertical pin 150 extends through opening. There is no direct contact between lever 148 and pin 150. Therefore, movement lever 148 does not directly move pin 150. Stop member 155 is fixed to pin 150. A heli spring 156 is around the upper portion of pin 150 between the bottom of the left hand side lever 148 and the top of stop member 155. The other end of pin 50 contacts leaf spring 1 In its normal position (FIG.4), the leaf spring maintains pin 150 in an upward position and ho needle valves 134 and 136 in their respective control ports.

When the operator urges the right hand side of lever 148 in the direction of arrow 1 the left hand side of lever 148 moves downward (FIG. 3) relative to pin 150. This downw movement compresses spring 156 and the spring applies a downward force on stop mem 155. When the downward force from lever 148, spring 156 and stop member 155 acting pin 150 exceeds the force necessary to overcome the force from leaf spring 146, the leaf spr snaps down to its open position and releases needle valves 134 and 136 to their o positions. Note that the leaf spring is mounted above a recess 158 to allow the leaf sprin snap to an over-center configuration. The use of an intermediate spring 156 to convey the force from lever 148 to pin prevents an operator from teasing pin 150 and depressing but not snapping leaf spring 1 This linkage, therefore, ensures that needle valves 134 and 136 should open or close rapi which in turn ensures that the balls in main valves 110 and 112 (not shown) snap open closed rapidly. Automated dispensers use an electromagnet to activate the valves. For example, in

FIG. 5 embodiment, a remotely controlled solenoid 160 provides electrical activation. S washer 162 is fixed on rod 163. For optional manual operation, a push button 166 may ext through the front panel (not shown) of the beverage dispenser. Alternatively, a lever suc lever 148 in FIG. 3 could be provided. Solenoid 160 acts on plate 162 to depress rod 163. Rod 163 extends through plate where it depresses member 170 on the other side of plate 168. Member 170 has an ope 172 which receives the top portion of rod 164. When rod 163 is depressed manuall electrically, member 170 does not make contact with rod 164. Instead, the bottom 1 member 170 pushes spring 176 downward where it applies a force on stop member 178, is fixed to rod 164. Bottom 174 of member 170 may have a short shoulder 180 to pr spring 176 from slipping off the bottom of member 170. Member 170 compresses sprin which pushes stop member 178 and rod 164. As in FIG. 3, rod 164 connects to leaf

146 (not shown in FIG. 5), which in turn controls the needle valves.

The electromagnet 160 is designed to be either fully activated or fully deacti Therefore, if the electromagnet is deactivated, rod 164 is up, in which case leaf spring 146 3) holds needle valves 134 and 136 closed in outlet ports 126 and 128. When electrom 160 is fully activated, rod 163 collapses leaf spring 146 to release the needle valves.

The electromagnet is most often controlled by some type of measuring device, o timer. If the flow rate through the beverage dispenser is three ounces per second an operator pushes a button for a six ounce beverage, a timer activates the electromagnet f seconds, down until it pushes the leaf spring down to release the needle valves. The arrangement of member 170 acting on spring 174 of FIG. 5 is designed pri to insure that in manual operation, rod 164 is either fully depressed or fully withdrawn. U member 170 exerts enough force on spring 176 to overcome the counter forces fro spring 146, one pushing on button 166 will push with no opening of the valve. The valv not tease. The valve of the present invention has been shown in embodiments primarily for u beverage dispensers. With modifications, the valves may be used for controlling other fl and they may be used in multiples for the control of more than one* fluid simultaneo Various modifications are also possible, especially to accommodate different flow rates pressures.

Claims

/;z-I CLAIM:

1. A quick opening and closing valve comprising: a. a chamber having chamber walls, a primary inlet connected to a source fluid and extending through a chamber wall into the chamber, a prima outlet extending through a chamber wall out of the chamber, and a seat the intersection of the outlet and the chamber;

- . a plunger in the chamber movable from a closed position against the se to an open position spaced from the seat, the inlet being in fluid communic tion with the outlet when the plunger is in the open position; and c. a control port extending through a chamber wall on the other side of th plunger from the outlet, a control gate having an open condition allowin fluid to pass through the control port and a closed condition blocking t passage of fluid through the control port.

2. The quick opening and closing valve of claim 1 wherein the primary inlet and t primary outlet are at right angles to each other.

3. The quick opening and closing valve of claim 1 wherein at least two of t chamber walls intersect, the inlet and outlet being adjacent each other on intersecting wall

4. The quick opening and closing valve of claim 1 wherein the inlet is on the sa side of the plunger as the outlet, the plunger having an outside diameter smaller than the insi diameter of the chamber to permit the flow of fluid to the other side of the plunger where when the control gate is closed, the pressure on the other side of the plunger from the outl increases to urge the plunger against the outlet.

5. A quick opening and closiri valve comprising: a. a chamber; b. a plunger movable in the chamber creating a first portion of the chambe one side of the plunger and a second portion of the chamber on the o side of the plunger; c. an inlet extending into the chamber and an outlet extending out of 5 chamber, the inlet and the outlet being in the first portion of the cham the intersection of the outlet and the chamber being a seat, the plun being movable against the seat to prevent the flow of fluid from the i through the outlet; d. pressurizing means pressurizing the second portion of the chamber with f o from the inlet, the pressure in the second portion urging the plunger aga the seat and preventing fluid from flowing from the inlet through the ou and d. pressure relieving means in the second portion having an open position relieving pressure in the second portion and a closed position prevent pressure relief from the second portion, the pressure from the fluid in inlet moving the plunger away from the outlet when the pressure reliev means is in its open position to permit flow from the inlet through the out

6. The quick opening and closing valve of claim 5 wherein the pressure reliev means comprises an outlet port through the second portion and a control valve, alternati opening the control port so that the pressure relieving means is in the open position closing the control port so that the pressure relieving means is in the closed position.

7. A system for dispensing multiple fluids comprising at least two valves alternativ permitting or stopping the flow of fluid, each valve comprising: a. a chamber having chamber walls, a primary inlet connected to a sourc fluid and extending through a chamber wall into the chamber, and a prim outlet extending through a chamber wall out of the chamber, and a sea the intersection of the outlet and the chamber; b. a plunger in the chamber movable from a closed position against the se to an open position spaced from the seat, the inlet being in fluid communic tion with the outlet when the plunger is in the open position; and c. a control port extending through a chamber wall on the other side of t plunger from the outlet, a control gate having an open condition allowi fluid to pass through the control port and a closed condition blocking t passage of fluid through the control port.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein each control gate comprises a needle inserta into the control port and a linkage member linking the needles together in contact with t linkage.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the linkage member comprises a leaf spring, t leaf spring being in contact with the needle valves and urging the needle valves into t respective control port, an actuator contacting the leaf spring and urging when actuated the l spring to a position releasing the needle valves from their respective control ports.