US2023365393A1PendingUtilityA1

High ratio fluid control

Assignee: NEWTON JOHNPriority: May 15, 2017Filed: May 23, 2023Published: Nov 16, 2023
Est. expiryMay 15, 2037(~10.8 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
B67D 1/1204B67D 1/1286B67D 1/0016G05D 11/03B01F 23/45B67D 2001/1483B67D 1/0058B67D 1/0085B67D 1/0021B01F 2101/14
74
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Claims

Abstract

Examples disclosed herein relate to a dispensing device including a syrup unit which transmits via one or more orifices one or more syrups and water to a dispensing block, a syrup source coupled to the syrup unit which provides the one or more syrups to the syrup unit, a water source which provides water to the syrup unit, and a cf valve coupled to a first orifice upstream of a solenoid valve where the cf valve provides a first range of pressures to the solenoid valve and where the first orifice is coupled to the dispensing block.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A dispensing system comprising: a first dispensing unit including:
 a first syrup unit configured to transmit via a first group of orifices one or more of a first syrup, a first gas, and water to a dispensing block;   a gas generator coupled to at least one orifice of the first group of orifices configured to generate a first gas; and   a first CFValve coupled to a first orifice upstream of a first solenoid, wherein the first CFValve is configured to provide a first range of pressures to the first solenoid; and   a second dispensing unit including:   a second syrup unit including a pressurized vessel with a concentrate bag configured to transmit via a second group of orifices one or more of a second syrup, a second gas, and water to the dispensing block where the second group of syrups enters the second group of orifices via the concentrate bag;   a membrane coupled to at least one orifice of the second group of orifices, the membrane configured to deliver the second gas to the at least one orifice; and   a second solenoid coupled to a second orifice, wherein the second orifice is coupled to the dispensing block.   
     
     
         2 . The dispensing system of  Claim 1 , further comprising a check valve adaptor coupled to the first orifice downstream of the solenoid valve. 
     
     
         3 . The dispensing system of  Claim 1 , wherein the water is carbonated water. 
     
     
         4 . The dispensing system of  Claim 1 , further comprising a needle valve coupled to the first orifice downstream of the solenoid valve. 
     
     
         5 . The dispensing system of  Claim 1 , wherein the membrane is located in a position upstream of the second solenoid. 
     
     
         6 . The dispensing system of  Claim 1 , wherein the membrane is located in a position downstream of the second solenoid. 
     
     
         7 . The dispensing system of  Claim 1 , wherein the first orifice is either fixed or adjustable. 
     
     
         8 . The dispensing system of  Claim 1 , wherein the first cf valve is a regulating valve for maintaining a substantially constant flow of fluid from a variable pressure fluid supply to a fluid outlet, the cf valve including: a) a housing having axially aligned inlet and outlet ports adapted to be connected respectively to the variable fluid supply and the fluid outlet; b) a diaphragm chamber interposed between the inlet and the outlet ports, the inlet port being separated from the diaphragm chamber by a barrier wall, the barrier wall having a first passageway extending therethrough from an inner side facing the diaphragm chamber to an outer side facing the inlet port; c) a cup contained within the diaphragm chamber, the cup having a cylindrical side wall extending from a bottom wall facing the outlet port to a circular rim surrounding an open mouth facing the inner side of the barrier wall, the cylindrical side and bottom walls of the cup being spaced inwardly from adjacent interior surfaces of the housing to define a second passageway connecting the diaphragm chamber to the outlet port; d) a resilient disc-shaped diaphragm closing the open mouth of the cup, the diaphragm being axially supported by the circular rim and having a peripheral flange overlapping the cylindrical side wall; e) a piston assembly secured to the center of the diaphragm, the piston assembly having a cap on one side of the diaphragm facing the inner side of the barrier wall, and a base suspended from the opposite side of the diaphragm and projecting into the interior of the cup; f) a stem projecting from the cap through the first passageway in the barrier wall to terminate in a valve head, the valve head and the outer side of the barrier wall being configured to define a control orifice connecting the inlet port to the diaphragm chamber via the first passageway; and g) a spring device in the cup coacting with the base of the piston assembly for resiliently urging the diaphragm into a closed position against the inner side of the barrier wall to thereby prevent fluid flow from the inlet port via the first passageway into the diaphragm chamber, the spring device being responsive to fluid pressure above a predetermined level applied to the diaphragm via the inlet port and the first passageway by accommodating movement of the diaphragm away from the inner side of the barrier wall, with the valve head on the stem being moved to adjust the size of the control orifice, thereby maintaining a constant flow of fluid from the inlet port through the first and second passageways to the outlet port for delivery to the fluid outlet. 
     
     
         9 . The dispensing system of  Claim 1 , wherein the first cf valve is configured to maintain a relative constant flow of fluid from a variable pressure fluid supply to a fluid outlet, the cf valve including: a) a valve housing having an inlet port and an outlet port adapted to be connected to the variable pressure fluid supply and the fluid outlet; b) a diaphragm chamber interposed between the inlet port and the outlet port; c) a cup contained within the diaphragm chamber, the cup having a cylindrical side wall extending from a bottom wall facing the outlet port to a circular rim surrounding an open mouth facing an inner side of a barrier wall; d) a resilient disc-shaped diaphragm closing the open mouth of the cup; e) a piston assembly secured to a center of the resilient disc-shaped diaphragm, the piston assembly having a cap on one side of the resilient disc-shaped diaphragm facing the inner side of the barrier wall, and a base suspended from an opposite side of the resilient disc-shaped diaphragm and projecting into an interior of the cup; f) a stem projecting from the cap through a first passageway in the barrier wall to terminate in a valve head, the valve head and an outer side of the barrier wall being configured to define a control orifice connecting the inlet port to the diaphragm chamber via the first passageway; and g) a spring device in the cup coacting with the base of the piston assembly for urging in a resilient manner the resilient disc-shaped diaphragm into a closed position against the inner side of the barrier wall to thereby prevent fluid flow from the inlet port via the first passageway into the diaphragm chamber, the spring device being responsive to fluid pressure above a predetermined level applied to the resilient disc-shaped diaphragm via the inlet port and the first passageway by accommodating movement of the resilient disc-shaped diaphragm away from the inner side of the barrier wall, with the valve head on the stem being moved to adjust a size of the control orifice, thereby maintaining the relative constant flow of fluid from the inlet port through the first passageway and the second passageway to the outlet port for delivery to the fluid outlet. 
     
     
         10 . The dispensing system of  Claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more syrups is configured to be selectable. 
     
     
         11 .A dispensing device comprising:
 a source unit configured to transmit via one or more orifices at least one or more elements to a dispensing block;   a CFValve coupled to a first orifice upstream of a solenoid, wherein the CFValve is configured to provide a first range of pressures to the solenoid, the first orifice being surrounded by a membrane where the membrane includes a gas element where a gas is inserted into the one or more elements via the membrane;   wherein the first orifice is coupled to the dispensing block.   
     
     
         12 . The dispensing device of Claim  11 , further comprising a check valve adaptor coupled to the first orifice downstream of the solenoid valve. 
     
     
         13 . The dispensing device of Claim  11 , wherein the one or more elements includes water. 
     
     
         14 . The dispensing device of Claim  11 , wherein the one or more elements includes carbonated water. 
     
     
         15 . The dispensing device of Claim  11 , wherein the one or more elements includes a syrup. 
     
     
         16 . The dispensing device of Claim  11 , wherein the one or more elements includes a gas. 
     
     
         17 .The dispensing device of Claim  11 , wherein the cf valve is a regulating valve for maintaining a substantially constant flow of fluid from a variable pressure fluid supply to a fluid outlet, the cf valve including: a) a housing having axially aligned inlet and outlet ports adapted to be connected respectively to the variable fluid supply and the fluid outlet; b) a diaphragm chamber interposed between the inlet and the outlet ports, the inlet port being separated from the diaphragm chamber by a barrier wall, the barrier wall having a first passageway extending therethrough from an inner side facing the diaphragm chamber to an outer side facing the inlet port; c) a cup contained within the diaphragm chamber, the cup having a cylindrical side wall extending from a bottom wall facing the outlet port to a circular rim surrounding an open mouth facing the inner side of the barrier wall, the cylindrical side and bottom walls of the cup being spaced inwardly from adjacent interior surfaces of the housing to define a second passageway connecting the diaphragm chamber to the outlet port; d) a resilient disc-shaped diaphragm closing the open mouth of the cup, the diaphragm being axially supported by the circular rim and having a peripheral flange overlapping the cylindrical side wall; e) a piston assembly secured to the center of the diaphragm, the piston assembly having a cap on one side of the diaphragm facing the inner side of the barrier wall, and a base suspended from the opposite side of the diaphragm and projecting into the interior of the cup; f) a stem projecting from the cap through the first passageway in the barrier wall to terminate in a valve head, the valve head and the outer side of the barrier wall being configured to define a control orifice connecting the inlet port to the diaphragm chamber via the first passageway; and g) a spring device in the cup coacting with the base of the piston assembly for resiliently urging the diaphragm into a closed position against the inner side of the barrier wall to thereby prevent fluid flow from the inlet port via the first passageway into the diaphragm chamber, the spring device being responsive to fluid pressure above a predetermined level applied to the diaphragm via the inlet port and the first passageway by accommodating movement of the diaphragm away from the inner side of the barrier wall, with the valve head on the stem being moved to adjust the size of the control orifice, thereby maintaining a constant flow of fluid from the inlet port through the first and second passageways to the outlet port for delivery to the fluid outlet. 
     
     
         18 . The dispensing device of Claim  11 , wherein the cf valve is configured to maintain a relative constant flow of fluid from a variable pressure fluid supply to a fluid outlet, the cf valve including: a) a valve housing having an inlet port and an outlet port adapted to be connected to the variable pressure fluid supply and the fluid outlet; b) a diaphragm chamber interposed between the inlet port and the outlet port; c) a cup contained within the diaphragm chamber, the cup having a cylindrical side wall extending from a bottom wall facing the outlet port to a circular rim surrounding an open mouth facing an inner side of a barrier wall; d) a resilient disc-shaped diaphragm closing the open mouth of the cup; e) a piston assembly secured to a center of the resilient disc-shaped diaphragm, the piston assembly having a cap on one side of the resilient disc-shaped diaphragm facing the inner side of the barrier wall, and a base suspended from an opposite side of the resilient disc-shaped diaphragm and projecting into an interior of the cup; f) a stem projecting from the cap through a first passageway in the barrier wall to terminate in a valve head, the valve head and an outer side of the barrier wall being configured to define a control orifice connecting the inlet port to the diaphragm chamber via the first passageway; and g) a spring device in the cup coacting with the base of the piston assembly for urging in a resilient manner the resilient disc-shaped diaphragm into a closed position against the inner side of the barrier wall to thereby prevent fluid flow from the inlet port via the first passageway into the diaphragm chamber, the spring device being responsive to fluid pressure above a predetermined level applied to the resilient disc-shaped diaphragm via the inlet port and the first passageway by accommodating movement of the resilient disc-shaped diaphragm away from the inner side of the barrier wall, with the valve head on the stem being moved to adjust a size of the control orifice, thereby maintaining the relative constant flow of fluid from the inlet port through the first passageway and the second passageway to the outlet port for delivery to the fluid outlet. 
     
     
         19 . A dispensing device comprising:
 a syrup unit configured to transmit via one or more orifices at least one or more syrups, one or more gases, and water to a dispensing block;   a syrup source coupled to the syrup unit configured to provide the one or more syrups to the syrup unit;   a water source configured to provide the water to at least one of the syrup unit and the dispensing block; and   a cf valve coupled to a first orifice upstream of a solenoid valve, wherein the cf valve is configured to provide a first range of pressures to the solenoid valve;   wherein the first orifice is coupled to the dispensing block.   
     
     
         20 . The dispensing device of  Claim 19 , further comprising a check valve adaptor coupled to the first orifice downstream of the solenoid valve. 
     
     
         21 . The dispensing device of  Claim 19 , wherein the water is carbonated water. 
     
     
         22 . The dispensing device of  Claim 19 , further comprising a needle valve coupled to the first orifice downstream of the solenoid valve. 
     
     
         23 . The dispensing device of  Claim 19 , wherein a configuration of the solenoid valve is changed based on the cf valve providing the first range of pressures to the solenoid valve. 
     
     
         24 . The dispensing device of  Claim 23 , wherein the change in configuration of the solenoid valve reduces a size of the solenoid valve. 
     
     
         25 . The dispensing device of  Claim 19 , wherein the first orifice is either fixed or adjustable. 
     
     
         26 . The dispensing device of  Claim 19 , wherein the cf valve is a regulating valve for maintaining a substantially constant flow of fluid from a variable pressure fluid supply to a fluid outlet, the cf valve including: a) a housing having axially aligned inlet and outlet ports adapted to be connected respectively to the variable fluid supply and the fluid outlet; b) a diaphragm chamber interposed between the inlet and the outlet ports, the inlet port being separated from the diaphragm chamber by a barrier wall, the barrier wall having a first passageway extending therethrough from an inner side facing the diaphragm chamber to an outer side facing the inlet port; c) a cup contained within the diaphragm chamber, the cup having a cylindrical side wall extending from a bottom wall facing the outlet port to a circular rim surrounding an open mouth facing the inner side of the barrier wall, the cylindrical side and bottom walls of the cup being spaced inwardly from adjacent interior surfaces of the housing to define a second passageway connecting the diaphragm chamber to the outlet port; d) a resilient disc-shaped diaphragm closing the open mouth of the cup, the diaphragm being axially supported by the circular rim and having a peripheral flange overlapping the cylindrical side wall; e) a piston assembly secured to the center of the diaphragm, the piston assembly having a cap on one side of the diaphragm facing the inner side of the barrier wall, and a base suspended from the opposite side of the diaphragm and projecting into the interior of the cup; f) a stem projecting from the cap through the first passageway in the barrier wall to terminate in a valve head, the valve head and the outer side of the barrier wall being configured to define a control orifice connecting the inlet port to the diaphragm chamber via the first passageway; and g) a spring device in the cup coacting with the base of the piston assembly for resiliently urging the diaphragm into a closed position against the inner side of the barrier wall to thereby prevent fluid flow from the inlet port via the first passageway into the diaphragm chamber, the spring device being responsive to fluid pressure above a predetermined level applied to the diaphragm via the inlet port and the first passageway by accommodating movement of the diaphragm away from the inner side of the barrier wall, with the valve head on the stem being moved to adjust the size of the control orifice, thereby maintaining a constant flow of fluid from the inlet port through the first and second passageways to the outlet port for delivery to the fluid outlet. 
     
     
         27 . The dispensing device of  Claim 19 , wherein at least one of the one or more syrups is configured to be selectable. 
     
     
         28 . A dispensing system comprising:
 a first dispensing unit including:
 a first syrup unit configured to transmit via a first group of orifices at least one of a first group of syrups, a first group of gases, and water to a dispensing block; 
 a first syrup source coupled to the syrup unit configured to provide the first group of syrups to the first syrup unit; 
 a first water source configured to provide the water to at least one of the first syrup unit and the dispensing block; and 
 a first cf valve coupled to a first orifice upstream of a first solenoid valve, wherein the first cf valve is configured to provide a first range of pressures to the first solenoid valve; 
   a second dispensing unit including:
 a second syrup unit configured to transmit via a second group of orifices at least one of a second group of syrups, a second group of gases, and water to the dispensing block; 
 a second syrup source coupled to the second syrup unit via a concentrate bag configured to provide the second group of syrups to the second syrup unit; 
 a second water source configured to provide the water to at least one of the second syrup unit and the dispensing block 
 a second solenoid valve coupled to a second orifice, wherein the second orifice is coupled to the dispensing block. 
   
     
     
         29 . The dispensing system of  Claim 28 , further comprising a check valve adaptor coupled to the first orifice downstream of the first solenoid valve. 
     
     
         30 . The dispensing system of  Claim 28 , wherein at least one of the water sources is carbonated water. 
     
     
         31 . The dispensing system of  Claim 28 , further comprising a needle valve coupled to the first orifice downstream of the first solenoid valve. 
     
     
         32 . The dispensing system of  Claim 28 , further comprising a second cf valve coupled to the second orifice upstream of the second solenoid valve. 
     
     
         33 . The dispensing system of  Claim 32 , further comprising a third cf valve coupled a third orifice upstream of the second syrup unit. 
     
     
         34 . The dispensing system of  Claim 28 , further comprising a second cf valve coupled to a third orifice upstream of the second syrup unit. 
     
     
         35 . The dispensing system of  Claim 28 , further comprising a check valve coupled to the second orifice downstream of the second solenoid valve. 
     
     
         36 . The dispensing system of  Claim 28 , wherein the first cf valve is a regulating valve for maintaining a substantially constant flow of fluid from a variable pressure fluid supply to a fluid outlet, the first cf valve including: a) a housing having axially aligned inlet and outlet ports adapted to be connected respectively to the variable fluid supply and the fluid outlet; b) a diaphragm chamber interposed between the inlet and the outlet ports, the inlet port being separated from the diaphragm chamber by a barrier wall, the barrier wall having a first passageway extending therethrough from an inner side facing the diaphragm chamber to an outer side facing the inlet port; c) a cup contained within the diaphragm chamber, the cup having a cylindrical side wall extending from a bottom wall facing the outlet port to a circular rim surrounding an open mouth facing the inner side of the barrier wall, the cylindrical side and bottom walls of the cup being spaced inwardly from adjacent interior surfaces of the housing to define a second passageway connecting the diaphragm chamber to the outlet port; d) a resilient disc-shaped diaphragm closing the open mouth of the cup, the diaphragm being axially supported by the circular rim and having a peripheral flange overlapping the cylindrical side wall; e) a piston assembly secured to the center of the diaphragm, the piston assembly having a cap on one side of the diaphragm facing the inner side of the barrier wall, and a base suspended from the opposite side of the diaphragm and projecting into the interior of the cup; f) a stem projecting from the cap through the first passageway in the barrier wall to terminate in a valve head, the valve head and the outer side of the barrier wall being configured to define a control orifice connecting the inlet port to the diaphragm chamber via the first passageway; and g) a spring device in the cup coacting with the base of the piston assembly for resiliently urging the diaphragm into a closed position against the inner side of the barrier wall to thereby prevent fluid flow from the inlet port via the first passageway into the diaphragm chamber, the spring device being responsive to fluid pressure above a predetermined level applied to the diaphragm via the inlet port and the first passageway by accommodating movement of the diaphragm away from the inner side of the barrier wall, with the valve head on the stem being moved to adjust the size of the control orifice, thereby maintaining a constant flow of fluid from the inlet port through the first and second passageways to the outlet port for delivery to the fluid outlet. 
     
     
         37 . A pressure device comprising:
 a cf valve coupled upstream to a solenoid valve; and   a check valve coupled downstream of the solenoid valve;   wherein the cf valve provides a range of pressures to the solenoid valve.

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