Modular valve array having a single dispense point

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9656849-B2
Application number	US-201414253614-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 15, 2014
Priority date	Jun 7, 2013
Publication date	May 23, 2017
Grant date	May 23, 2017

Abstract

The invention relates to a valve dispensing system that can be used in a beverage dispenser. In particular, the valve dispensing system has individual valve module components that control the flow of a beverage or beverage component, and a plurality of valve module components may be combined to form a system capable of dispensing a plurality of beverages and/or beverage components.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A valve assembly for dispensing multiple beverages via a common nozzle dispense point, the valve assembly comprising:
a plurality of valve modules, wherein each valve module in the plurality of valve modules has a plurality of separate fluid pathways;
a plurality of flow control components that control flow of fluid in the plurality of separate fluid pathways, wherein a flow control component from the plurality of flow control components is provided for each separate fluid pathway in the plurality of separate fluid pathways;
a backblock that couples the plurality of valve modules to a fluid source for providing a flow of fluid to the plurality of separate fluid pathways;
a dispenser nozzle that forms the common nozzle dispense point for the plurality of valve modules; and
a diffuser that receives the flow of fluid from the plurality of valve modules and diffuses the flow of fluid into the dispenser nozzle; wherein
each of the plurality of valve modules have a back side that interfaces with the backblock,
each of the plurality of valve modules have a bottom side that interfaces with the diffuser, wherein the bottom side is perpendicular to the back side,
each of the plurality of valve modules have a front side that is opposite the back side and perpendicular to the bottom side, and
each of the flow control components has a flow control device for controlling flow of fluid there through, each flow control device facing the front side so that the flow control device can be accessed without removing the flow control component from the valve assembly;
wherein the each separate fluid pathway extends horizontally from the back side towards the front side and then vertically downwardly to the bottom side;
wherein the plurality of separate fluid pathways extend parallel to each other from the back side towards the front side and wherein the plurality of separate fluid pathways extend parallel to each other towards the bottom side;
wherein the plurality of flow control components in each valve module are vertically aligned on top of each other;
wherein the plurality of flow control components in each valve module are horizontally offset from each other from the back side towards the front side;
a plurality of shut off components that are configured to shut off flow of fluid in the plurality of separate fluid pathways, wherein one shut off component from the plurality of shut off components is provided for each separate fluid pathway in the plurality of separate fluid pathways;
wherein the plurality of shut off components comprises first and second shut off components that are located at the bottom side and face each other on opposite sides of the plurality of separate fluid pathways.

2. The valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the flow control device comprises a screw having a screw head that faces the front side.

3. The valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the bottom side is configured to be manually coupled to and uncoupled from the diffuser.

4. The valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second shut off components each comprises a solenoid.

5. The valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the diffuser comprises a plurality of apertures there through and further comprising a plurality of syrup tips that are received in the plurality of apertures, each syrup tip configured to separately guide the flow of fluid to the dispenser nozzle.

6. The valve assembly according to claim 5 , further comprising a seal that forms a seal on the diffuser and with the plurality of syrup tips.

7. The valve assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the seal forms a face seal with the diffuser and wherein the plurality of syrup tips extend through the seal and are sealed there with.

8. The valve assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the diffuser comprises a radially outer perimeteral surface that comprises a plurality of axially extending ridges configured to evenly distributing water to the dispenser nozzle.

9. The valve assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the diffuser further comprises a plurality of circumferentially extending channels located below the plurality of axially extending ridges and configured to evenly distribute water to the dispenser nozzle.

10. The valve assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the dispenser nozzle comprises an inner cavity having a plurality of helical ribs for inducing helical flow through the dispenser nozzle.

11. The valve assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a manifold configured to releasably couple with the plurality of valve modules such that the plurality of valve modules form an expandable and contractible array of valve modules.

12. The valve assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the manifold comprises a downwardly sloping pathway extending from the plurality of valve modules to the common nozzle dispense point.

13. The valve assembly according to claim 12 , further comprising a housing that houses the manifold and the plurality of valve modules, wherein the flow control device of each of the plurality of valve modules is accessible on the front side.

14. A valve module for dispensing multiple beverages, the valve module comprising:
a plurality of separate fluid pathways;
a plurality of flow control components that control flow of fluid in the plurality of separate fluid pathways, wherein a flow control component from the plurality of flow control components is provided for each separate fluid pathway in the plurality of separate fluid pathways;
a backblock that couples the plurality of valve modules to a fluid source for providing a flow of fluid to the plurality of separate fluid pathways;
wherein the valve module has a back side that interfaces with the backblock, a bottom side that interfaces with a diffuser, wherein the bottom side is perpendicular to the back side, and a front side that is opposite the back side and perpendicular to the bottom side, and
wherein each of the flow control components has a flow control device for controlling flow of fluid there through, wherein each flow control device faces towards the front side so that the flow control device can be accessed;
wherein the plurality of separate fluid pathways each extend horizontally from the back side towards the front side and then vertically downwardly to the bottom side;
wherein the plurality of separate fluid pathways each extend parallel to each other from the back side towards the front side and wherein the plurality of separate fluid pathways each extend parallel to each other towards the bottom side;
wherein the plurality of flow control components in each valve module are vertically aligned on top of each other;
wherein the plurality of flow control components in each valve module are horizontally offset from each other from the back side to the front side so that the plurality of flow control devices in each valve module are horizontally offset from each other;
wherein the bottom side is configured to be manually coupled to and uncoupled from a diffuser; and
a plurality of shut off components that are configured to shut off flow of fluid in the plurality of separate fluid pathways, wherein one shut off component from the plurality of shut off components is provided for each separate fluid pathway in the plurality of separate fluid pathways;
wherein the plurality of shut off components comprises first and second shut off components that are located in first and second separate fluid pathways in the plurality of fluid pathways, the first and second shut off components located at the bottom side and face each other on opposite sides of t

Assignees

• Cornelius Inc
• Cornelus Inc

Inventors

• Hawken Phil C

Classifications

• B67D2001/0094

  Valve mountings in dispensers · CPC title

• B67D1/0024

  based on the timed opening of a valve · CPC title

• B67D1/1202

  Flow control, e.g. for controlling total amount or mixture ratio of liquids to be dispensed · CPC title

• B67D1/0044

  for mixing inside the dispensing nozzle · CPC title

• B67D1/0085 Primary

  electro-mechanical · CPC title