Product dispensing system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12372987-B2
Application number	US-202418423890-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 26, 2024
Priority date	May 7, 2009
Publication date	Jul 29, 2025
Grant date	Jul 29, 2025

Abstract

A flow control device is disclosed. The flow control device includes a solenoid, the solenoid including an armature. Also, a piston connected to the armature. The piston includes a primary orifice. The piston having an open position and a closed position. A piston spring connected to the piston is also includes and at least one secondary orifice. The movement of the piston to the open position at least partially opens the at least one secondary orifice and the movement of the piston to the closed position at least partially closes the at least one secondary orifice. The movement of the armature actuates the piston movement and controls fluid flow from the primary orifice through the at least one secondary orifice.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A product dispensing system comprising:
one or more flow control modules, wherein said one or more flow control modules are configured to regulate one or more ingredients;
a solenoid, said solenoid having an armature;
a piston connected to said armature, said piston having a primary orifice and at least one secondary orifice having multiple apertures, wherein said piston has an open and a closed position; and
a piston spring connected to said piston;
wherein energizing said solenoid moves said piston to said open position,
wherein de-energizing said solenoid allows the piston spring to displace the piston to close the at least one secondary orifice.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein movement of the piston to the open position at least partially opens the at least one secondary orifice.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein movement of the piston to the closed position at least partially closes the at least one secondary orifice.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plunger, wherein the piston is configured to actuate the plunger to move the plunger into a closed position.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the armature is configured to actuate the piston to move.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the armature is configured to actuate the piston to allow a fluid flow from the primary orifice through the at least one secondary orifice.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a fluid inlet.

8. The system of claim 1 , the solenoid further comprising:
at least one spike.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the solenoid exerts magnetic force onto the armature as the armature approaches the at least one spike.

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising;
a Hall Effect sensor configured to sense flux.

11. The system of claim 4 , further comprising:
a binary valve including a piloted diaphragm actuated by said plunger.

12. The system of claim 1 , the piston
further comprising: at least one radial groove.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the solenoid is a constant force solenoid.

14. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a reluctance sensor configured to determine an inductance of a coil in the solenoid, wherein the inductance is used to calculate a position of the piston.

15. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a paddle wheel sensor.

16. The system of claim 15 ,
further comprising:
an infrared emitter and an infrared receiver.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the infrared emitter and the infrared receiver are located on opposite side of the paddle wheel sensor.

18. The system of claim 1 , further comprising;
an anemometer.

Assignees

• Deka Products Lp

Inventors

• Beavis Russell H
• Jones Jr Benjamin W
• Kerwin John M
• Gray Larry B
• Manning Casey P
• Winkler Felix
• Charles Robert A

Classifications

• G05D11/133

  with discontinuous action · CPC title

• F04B51/00

  Testing machines, pumps, or pumping installations · CPC title

• F04B49/065

  and making use of computers · CPC title

• F04B13/02

  of two or more fluids at the same time · CPC title

• Y10T137/86799

  With internal flow passage · CPC title