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(11) | EP 0 111 812 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Dispensing valve |
| (57) The invention provides a dispensing valve, for the dispensing of liquids such as
beer or wine, the valve having a casing and a valve member which are relatively displacable
to open and close the valve. In one case, the valve member is rotatable relative to
the casing in order to open the valve. The valve mechanism also embodies a miniature
pumping chamber, whereby pumping comprises reducing the volume of the chamber forces
liquid out of the valve in fine jets to create a froth or head when the valve is used
for the dispensing of a drink into a drinking vessel. |
[0001] This invention relates to valves, especially but not exclusively to dispensing valves for the dispensing of liquids, such as wine or beer, from containers.
[0002] A type of wine container known as a "box" for containing wine and from which wine can be dispensed from a valve and tap is now becoming extremely popular. The container comprises essentially a cardboard box containing a flexible internal bag which is sealed, apart from a valve and dispensing tap assembly from which the wine is dispensed selectively by operation of the valve. As the wine is dispensed, so the flexible bag progressively collapses due simply to the surrounding atmospheric pressure to which the exterior of the bag is subjected.
[0003] When the wine box is-first purchased, the valve and dispensing tap are within the cardboard outer casing, and to gain access thereto, a portion of a wall of the cardboard box, defined by lines of weakening, is removed or displaced creating an aperture through which the dispensing valve can be pulled. The dispensing valve has a pair of flanges and is dimensioned so that it can be fitted to the said aperture with the flanges overlapping the respective sides of the said aperture, thereby to hold the valve assembly in position, presenting the tap for convenient manual operation.
[0004] The existing valve and tap has a shortcoming in that, because of the operating mechanism, there is possibility for air to bleed in through the top side of the valve assembly, with wine being dispensed from the lower side of the assembly. The leakage in of air is undesirable, as it can impair the quality of wine especially if the remainder of the wine in the container is left standing for a long period. Should these box containers be used for dispensing beer or other carbonated beverage, which is proposed, then the problem would be even worse because the influx of air would cause a loss of carbonation, or the beverage to go "flat".
[0005] The present invention is concerned with a dispensing valve in a design of which will overcome the aforesaid difficulties.
[0006] In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a dispensing valve comprises a casing which is for use in a particular disposition and, related to that disposition, the dispensing valve has an inlet at the side thereof and an outlet at the bottom thereof, and there is a valve member in the casing which is operable between open and closed positions, in open position allowing flow of liquid through the valve from the inlet and out of the outlet, and in closed position preventing such flow through the valve, and said control valve member being rotatable between said positions and being connected to the said casing so that the said rotary control movement has the effect of displacing the valve member at least axially, which axial displacement is utilised in order to open and close the valve.
[0008] The interconnection between the casing and the valve member may be by means of a screw thread arrangement, and in one arrangement, the top end of the valve member is threaded and is engaged in an internally threaded socket portion of the casing located above the inlet. The valve member may comprise essentially a rod having a screw threaded portion at one end and at the other end a flange which is adapted to seat on a shoulder in the inside of the casing to form the seal. There may be a sealing ring or gasket located between the said shoulder and flange to improve the sealing effect.
[0009] The flange may lead to a collar, the interior of which forms an expansion chamber for the liquid passing through the valve, and there may be apertures in the valve member to allow the liquid to pass into said expansion chamber.
[0010] The outer casing may be provided with outer locating flanges for holding the valve in position in relation to a cardboard outer box, where the valve is designed for use with a wine box as described herein.
[0011] The parts of the valve are preferably moulded in plastics material by an injection moulding or other moulding process.
[0012] In one embodiment, the rod portion of the valve member is located inside the valve casing with clearance so that the wine or other liquid flows around such portion, whereas in an alternative embodiment, the said rod portion is a brush fit in a bore in the valve casing, and the said rod portion is hollow and has an aperture in the wall thereof, so that the liquid can flow through said aperture into the interior of the rod portion and then to the valve outlet.
[0013] In order to operate the valve, the lower end of the valve member is provided with a finger grip to enable the turning of the valve member between the open and closed positions, which positions may be displaced by 180° as regards the angular movement of the valve member.
[0014] The lower end of the casing may have catches or stops to prevent movement of the valve member beyond the open and closed positions.
[0015] In an alternative arrangement, the valve member is exernal and the casing projects thereinto, the rotary movement and valve member being maintained. The rotation of the valve member still effects the opening and closing of the valve, and the closing of the valve may be by virtue of a valve seat of the valve member engaging a seal for example a sealing ring or the like in order to close the valve.
[0016] By utilising a connection, for example such as the screw thread connection, between the valve member and casing so that there is axial movement of the valve member as it moves between open and closed positions, it is ensured that the seat and shoulder will be forced together strongly to form an effective seal between the casing and valve member. It will be necessary to form a high quality seal when for example the liquid to be dispensed is a carbonated beverage, because such beverages generate their own internal pressure and if the seal were not effective there would be an unacceptable loss in such pressure.
[0017] The present invention in another aspect is concerned with dispensing valves, especially but not exclusively valves of the first aspect of the present invention whereby, in the dispensing of carbonated beverages, the dispensed beverage will be dispensed with a frothy "head" which is considered desirable in the case of dispensing of beer.
[0018] In the other aspect of the present invention, the valve casing is provided with a sub chamber into which the liquid being dispensed flows, and there is a means for selectively reducing the effective volume of said sub-chamber whereby the liquid containend therein will be dispensed through aperture means of such size as to cause jets of the liquid to be delivered from the sub-chamber into the cup or other container disposed under the dispensing valve to catch the dispensed liquid.
[0019] By such arrangement, the person dispensing the liquid can cause the said jets of liquid to be dispensed, and these can be made to impinge upon the liquid already.in the cup, thereby to form a frothy head on said liquid.
[0020] Preferably, the said sub-chamber will be in the form of a cylinder containing a piston, such piston being selectively movable in order to dispense the liquid therein from the cylinder.
[0021] The cylinder has input ports through which the liquid can flow, said inlet ports being closed when the cylinder is moved to reduce the cylinder volume for the dispensing of the liquid.
[0022] In one embodiment of this second aspect of the invention, the valve is of the construction according to the first embodiment of the invention, and the cylinder is integral with the valve member, the means for turning the valve member also being the same means as that for reducing the volume of the cylinder, except that the said means is turned in a different plane for the dispensing of the liquid from the sub-chamber, and the said means includes a rod which is turnable about its axis and has a crank portion which causes the displacement of the piston and dispensing of the liquid. In this embodiment, the cylinder is preferably arranged with its axis in the direction in which the liquid is dispensed from the valve, but in another embodiment, the said cylinder is arranged with its axis at right angle to the said direction, and there is a separate member which is operable against spring action by the person operating the valve, to dispense the liquid from the said sub-chamber, and upon release of the said separate member, the spring action returns it to its initial position, enabling liquid once more to run into the sub-chamber, for subsequent dispensing from the valve.
[0023] In an alternative arrangement of said second aspect the sub-chamber is created between the casing and the valve member by means of O-ring seals, or by having the valve member of compressible material and by having such valve member a friction fit in the casing.
[0024] The valve member may have a rod which fits in an outlet tube forming the outlet of the casing, the outlet tube or rod having grooves through which residual liquid is pumped by said pumping action. Alternatively, the said rod may be a clearance fit in said outlet tube.
[0025] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:-
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a valve according to the embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 2 is a view of the valve looking in the direction of arrow A in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a sectional side view of the valve according to the invention;
Fig. 4 shows the valve of Fig. 3 but with the components detached;
Fig. 5 is an underneath plan view of the valve member of the valve in Figs. 3 and 4;
Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of the part of the valve member illustrated in Fig. 5;
Fig. 7 is a detailed sectional elevation, the section being taken on the line V - V in Fig. 5;
Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation similar to Fig. 6, but showing an alternative form of seal;
Fig. 9 and 10 are side and plan views of the valve shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but shows a valve constructed according to an embodiment of the second aspect of the invention;
Fig. 12 is sectional view of the valve shown in Fig. 11, the section being taken on the line VI - VI of Fig. 11:
Fig. 13 is a sectional plan view of a valve according to another embodiment of the second aspect of the invention;
Fig. 14 is a sectional elevation of a dispensing valve according to another embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, the valve being in the open condition;
Fig. 15 is a sectional plan taken on the line VII - VII of Fig. 1;
Fig. 16 is a sectional elevation similar to Fig. 14, but showing the valve in the closed position;
Fig. 17 is an end view of the valve as shown in Fig. 14; r
Fig. 18 is a side view of a valve according to a second aspect of the invention but illustrating a modification; and
Fig. 19 is a sectional elevation of an alternative form of valve which operates on the same principle as the valve illustrated in Fig. 3;
Fig. 20 is a plan view of the valve shown in Fig. 19;
Fig. 21 is an end view of the valve shown in Fig. 19;
Fig. 22 is a sectional elevation of the valve member; and
Fig. 23 is an underneath plan view of the valve member shown in Fig. 22.
[0026] Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the valve comprises an outer casing 10 of injection moulded plastics material. The casing has no opening at the top but is provided with an inlet 12 defined by a cylindrical portion 13 of the casing and an outlet 14. The main valve housing portion of the casing defines a vertical bore 16 in which is located an injection moulded plastics valve member 17. The top of the casing 10 is provided with a socket 11, the interior of which is screw threaded, and in screw threaded engagement with the interior of the socket is the top end 19 of the valve member 16.
[0027] Proceeding in a downwards direction, the valve member 16 comprises a rod portiton 18 leading to a flange 20 from which extends a bush 22, the bush 22 with an adapter 23 defining an expansion chamber 24 and also the liquid outlets 26. The valve member 10 has through apertures 21.
[0028] The bore 16 of the casing 10 defines a shoulder 28 against a bead 27 of which the flange 20 abuts.
[0029] To the lower end of the valve member 10 and underneath the valve casing is a finger grip 30 (shown in Fig. 2) for the rotation of the valve member to operate same as will be explained herein. The finger grip 30 abuts against stops 32 on the lower edge of the casing to prevent excessive movement of the valve member 10 beyond the open and closed positions of the valve.
[0030] In assembling the valve, the valve member 16 is simply screwed into the valve casing until a position is reached in which the finger grip 30 meets the first of the stops 32 on the lower edge of the valve casing 10. Continued rotation of the valve member causes the finger grip to snap over the stop, and then the valve member 16 is in position for manipulation between open and closed positions, which are displaced by 180°. To move the valve member 16 to the closed position it is rotated in a direction causing the valve member to screw further into the socket, and this brings the shoulder 28 into firm sealing engagement with the flange 20. A gasket or rubber 0-ring may be located between these two components if desired but it is felt that this will not be necessary. The valve member is prevented from rotating beyond the closed position by means of another suitable stop 32 on the lower edge of the casing 10.
[0031] The valve is designed as is the conventional valve to be press fitted into a collar sealed to the flexible bag which will contain the liquid, in this case wine.
[0032] The valve is extremely effective in that there is a positive screwing action to seal same which compares favourably with the known arrangements which rely upon spring force or the turning of a cock member for the sealing, which are not entirely satisfactory.
[0033] Modifications of the design of the valve shown in Fig. 1 may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, instead of the rod 18 of the valve being located inside the casing with clearance as shown, it may be a hollow member with a rubbing fit on the interior of the casing, to provide better sealing, but provided with a hole which registers with the inlet in the open position, but which is displaced from the inlet in the closed position of the valve.
[0034] It is not vital that the plastic components be injection moulded, nor indeed that they be of plastic, although from a practical point of view it occurs to us that injection moulding will be the best manner of producing the valve parts.
[0035] Referring now to Figs. 3 to 10 of the drawings, and firstly to Figs. 3 and 4 and 9 and 10, the valve shown comprises a casing 10a defining a cylinder portion 12a for connection to the box casing of a wine box type dispenser as described in relation to Figs. 1 amd 2, from which portion 12a leads an elbow 14a defining an inlet 16a and an outlet 18a. Fig. 3 shows the valve in the in-use position, and it will be seen that the elbow 14a lies with one arm 20a horizontal and the other arm 22a vertical. On the outside of arm 22a are screw threads 24a, and a valve member 26a is screwed to such threads, the valve member 26a comprising a bush portion 28a containing the threads leading to a flared end 30a. As shown in Fig. 6, the bottom end of arm 22a is provided with a V-groove 30a in which seats a sealing ring 34a. This ring engages with a sealing disc 36a of the valve member 26a to isolate the outlet 18a from outlet passages 38a in the valve member 26a.
[0036] As shown in Figs. 9 and 10 the valve member 26a is provided with a manipulating tab or handle 40a whereby the valve member 26a may be rotated to open and to close the valve.
[0037] Operation of the valve of Figs. 3 to 10 will be understood from the description of the drawings already made, and briefly the operation is as follows.
[0038] Assume that the valve is closed as shown in Fig. 6, and the handle 40a is in position as shown in Fig. 10. Movement of the handle to the doted line position shown in Fig. 3 effects threading of the valve member 26a relative to the arm 22a of casing 10a, and an axial displacement of the valve member in a downwards direction as indicated by arrow 42a in Fig. 3. This causes the partition 36a to unseat from the seal 34a, and the liquid can now be dispensed through outlet 18a and outlet passages 38a, into a cup or other vessel held underneath the valve. Turning of the handle 40a in the opposite direction effects screwing of the valve member 26a upwardly on the arm 22a and the partition 36a into sealing engagement with the seal 34a.
[0039] Fig. 8 shows an alternative form of seal comprising a bead or V-section on the partition 36a, the bead being indicated by numeral 42a, and the extremity of the arm 22a is provided with a corresponding notch 44a. The notch and bead may be brought into sealing engagement when the valve is closed.
[0040] It will be seen that this valve operates on the same general principle with the same advantages as that as described in relation to Figs. 1 and 2.
[0041] Referring to now to Figs. 11 and 12, Fig. 11 shows in sectional elevation similar to Fig. 1, a valve according to a first embodiment of the second aspect of the invention and it will be seen that the valve is constructed similarly to the valve shown in Fig. 1 in that it has the casing 10b, the inlet 12b, the cylindrical portion 13b, and the outlet 14b. The vertical bore 16b is present as is the internal threaded portion llb, the valve member 17b with its threaded rod portion 18b in engagement with the threaded portion llb. The flange 20b is also present and the bush 22b leads from the flange 20b as in the previous embodiment, the bush 22b supporting an adaptor 23b which, together with the bush 22b, defines the expansion chamber 24b,' all as in the Fig. 1 arrangement. The flow of liquid into the chamber is through the apertures 21b when the valve is unscrewed as described previously. As in the previous case, the valve is closed when the shoulder 28b is screwed against the flange 20b.
[0042] The valve according to this aspect of the invention is however provided with a sub-chamber 31b which is integral with the valve member 17b the sub-chamber 31b being defined by a cylinder 32b and a piston 34b which is slidable therein. The cylinder 32b is spaced from the inner surface of the adaptor 23b so as to define the main outlets 26b but is also provided with small outlets 36b in the base thereof. The piston 34b has a guide rod 38b which locates in an aperture 40b in the base of the cylinder so as to guide the piston in its movement as will be explained. The piston 34b on its upper side is provided with a socket in which spherical end of a connecting rod 42b is located, the rod 42b being connected to a crank rod 44b which is integral with the finger grip 30b. It will be noticed that the rod 44b has a cranked portion 46b to which the rod 42b is connected.
[0043] In the use of the valve, the valve is closed when the finger grip 30b is turned to the closing position as described herein, and to open the valve, the finger grip is turned so as to cause the valve member to be unscrewed out of the casing llb, until the flange 20b unseats from the shoulder 28b. The liquid to be dispensed flows through the outlet 14b of the casing lOb, through the apertures 21b and into the expansion chamber 24b, and also into the sub-chamber 34b through inlet ports 48b in the cylinder 32b which are closed by the piston when the piston is displaced as will be described. The liquid which is dispensed is caught in a cup or other vessel, but because of the size of the holes 36b, the liquid which collects in the sub-chamber does not flow freely therefrom, but at any time during or after the dispensing, the finger grip may be twisted about the axis of the rod 44b, which causes the piston 34b, through the action of the rod 42b, to be displaced into the cylinder 32b, closing the ports 48 during the initial movement of the piston and during the further movement of the piston 34b the liquid is forced out of the sub-chamber 31b out of the holes 36 at high velocity to impinge upon the liquid already in the cup to cause the generation of a head thereon, which is desirable in the case of carbonated beverages, especially beer. The pressure head creation step may be carried out one or more times during each dispensing operation, and the rod 38b and aperture 40b may be omitted as desired.
[0044] The means for applying pressure to the liquid in the sub-chamber may be varied as desired and Fig. 13 shows another embodiment in which the cylinder 50b extends across the expansion chamber 24b, i.e. its axis is at right angles to the direction in which the axis of the cylinder 32b lie in relation to the valve member 17b in the Figs. 11 and 12 embodiment, and the piston 52b is actuated by means of a lever 54b which is urged by means of a spring 56b to the position shown. To move the piston 52b along the cylinder 50b, the lever 54b is displaced against the spring action, displacing the piston 52b along the inside of the cylinder 50b and causing the liquid therein to be jetted therefrom to create a froth on the surface as described herein. The piston has a slot 58b through which the liquid flows into the cylinder and the said slot also forms the means whereby the lever is connected to the piston 54b. The pressurised liquid is forced out of the cylinder via a hole or holes 60b. Again, the pressurised dispensing can be used at any time during or after the dispensing of the beverage, and as many times as desired.
[0045] Although the valve is described as being used in conjunction with the valve according to the first aspect of the invention, this is not essential, and the invention can be embodied in any suitable valve.
[0046] Referring now to the Figs. 14-18 of the drawings, and initially to Figs. 14-16, another dispensing valve according to the second embodiment aspect of the invention comprises a casing 10c having a bush portion 12c of cylindrical form which is provided with retention flanges 14c, 16c, which enables the valve to be clipped to a liquid containing package as described herein. The casing has a vertical cylinder portion 20c which is truncated at the lower end 22c, to provide a central outlet tube 24c.
[0047] An inlet tube 26c connects the bush portion 12c to the interior of the cylinder 20c so that when the valve is open as shown in Fig. 14, the liquid can flow from the package through the inlet tube 26c and out of the outlet tube 24c into a vessel such as a glass or cup to collect the beverage dispensed.
[0048] The dispensing valve also includes a valve member in the form of a piston 30c which is slidably located in the casing cylinder, the piston 30c comprising a cylindrical portion 32c leading to a frustoconical portion 34c which is of the same angle as the truncated portion of the cylinder, and an end rod portion 36c which, in the closed position of the valve as shown in Fig. 16 is a neat fit in the interior of the outlet tube 24c. The piston is operated by means of a piston rod 38c which extends upwardly and through a cap 40c covering the top open end of the cylinder portion of the casing, and the top end of the cylinder has a finger actuating ring 42c.
[0049] The top and bottom edges of the cylinder portion of the piston 32c are sealed to the interior of the cylinder of the casing by means of 0-ring seals 44c and 46c, and the outlet tube 24c is provided with internal grooves 48c extending axially thereof, such grooves being shown in Fig. 15.
[0050] Finally, as shown in Fig. 17, to the outside of the cylinder of the casing are finger grips 50c to enable the valve to be held steady by the one hand, whilst it is being operated by the other.
[0051] The dispensing valve operates in the following manner. When the valve is conected to a liquid supply, such ar a bulk suply of beer, to dispense the liquid, the finger grips 50c ire held with one hand, and the piston pulled with the other hand upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 1, in which position the liquid can flow through the inlet tube 26c past the underside of the piston 30c and out through the outlet tube 24c. The 0- ring seals 44c, 46c, prevent the escape of liquid upwardly past the piston.
[0052] When dispensing has been completed, or almost completed, the piston is moved downwardly, the valve again being held firmly by means of the finger grips 50c, and before the lower seal 44c passes the outlet tube 26c, the rod portion 36c of the piston 30c has entered the outlet tube 24c, and the residual liquid under the piston 30c is trapped and can escape only through the internal grooves 48c in the outlet tube 24c, which are of course only a fraction of the cross-section area of the outlet tube 24c in total. Continued closing of the valve requires greater force, and the residual liquid is ejected from the grooves at a much higher velocity, whereby a head will be created on the drink dispensed, as the jets of liquid will impinge on the dispensed drink surface causing frothing.
[0053] Instead of providing the grooves 48c in the outlet tube, they could be provided in the rod portion of the piston, or in both.
[0054] The 0-ring seals 44c and 46c ensure that when the valve is in the closed position as shown, liquid is prevented from escaping upwardly or downwardly past the piston 30c.
[0055] Instead of using O-ring seals, it may be possible to use a piston of a compressible material which is slightly oversize so that it will be compressed when positioned in the valve casing, thereby to form the seal.
[0056] The piston and cylinder may be of circular or square or other configuration in cross-section as appropriate, but when the piston is circular and has the capability of rotating in the cylinder, the modification shown in Fig. 18 may be employed which resides in that the top surface of the cap is provided with a pair of opposed lift cams 52c, 54c so that by turning the finger grip 42c, its edges will ride upwardly on the lift cam surfaces, thereby retracting the piston from the closed to the open position. When the piston is returned to the closed position, it can optionally be pushed axially without rotation to the closed position, or it can be rotated by being guided on said lift cams.
[0057] Referring to Figs. 19 to 23, the valve comprises the tubular section 20d, with the coupling flanges 22d for connection to the cardboard box, and an outlet spout 24d which is an angled member as shown, and the bottom edge 26d is chamfered so that a frustoconical sealing portion 28d will seal on the chamfered edge 26d as shown in Fig. 19 to close the valve. The spout 24 has external threads 30d on which is threaded a bush portion 32d of the valve member 34d. The valve member has a finger tab 36d for the operation of the valve, for the opening and closing of same, and by rotating the valve member 36 so the valve can be opened or closed.
[0058] The valve member is shown in Figs. 22 and 23, and it will be seen that the seal portion 28d is supported by three legs 38d on the bottom edge of the bush portion 32d, so that outlets 40d are formed between the legs.
[0059] As the valve member 34d is turned on the threads 30d, so it moves axially downwards or upwards in relation to the spout 24d. When the sealing portion 28d moves away from the sealing edge 26d, so the liquid can flow through the valve and out of the outlet 40d. The flow is controlled by the degree to which the valve member is turned, and a fine control of the flow of liquid can be exercised by using this control valve.
1. A dispensing valve comprising a casing which is for use in a particular disposition
and, related to that disposition, the dispensing valve has an inlet at the side thereof
and an outlet at the bottom thereof, and there is a valve member in the casing which
is upwardly between open and closed positions, and in open position allowing flow
of liquid through the valve from the inlet and out of the outlet, and in closed position
preventing such flow through the valve, said control valve member being rotatable
between said positions and being connected to the casing so that the said rotary control
movement has the effect of displacing the valve member atleast axially, which axial
displacement is utilised in order to open and close the valve.
2. A valve according to Claim 1, wherein the interconnection between the casing and
valve member is by means of a screw threaded arrangement.
3. A valve according to Claim 2, wherein the top end of the valve member is threaded
and is engaged in an internally threaded socket portion of the casing located above
the inlet.
4. A valve according to Claim 3, wherein the valve member comprises a rod having a
screw threaded portion at one end and at the other end a flange which is adapted to
seat on a shoulder in the inside of the casing to form the seal.
5. A valve according to Claim 4, wherein there is a sealing ring or gasket located
between the said shoulder and flange to improve the sealing effect.
6. A valve according to Claim 5, wherein the flange leads to a collar, the interior
of which forms an expansion chamber of a liquid passing through the valve, and there
are apertures in the valve member to allow the liquid to pass into said expansion
chamber.
7. A valve according to any preceding Claim, wherein the casing is provided with outer
locating flanges for holding the valve in position in relation to a cardboard outer
box, when the valve is designed for use with a line box as described herein.
8. A valve according to any preceding Claim, wherein the lower end of the casing has
catches or stops to prevent movement of the valve member beyond the open and closed
position.
9. A valve according to Claim 1, wherein the valve member is external of the casing,
and the casing projects thereinto.
10. A valve according to any preceding Claim, wherein the valve casing has a sub-chamber
into which the liquid being dispensed flows, and there is a means for selectively
reducing the effective volume of said sub-chamber whereby the liquid contained therein
will be dispensed through aperture means of such size as to cause jets of the liquid
to be delivered from the sub-chamber into the cup or other container disposed under
the dispensing valve to catch the dispensed liquid.
11. A dispensing valve comprising a valve casing and a valve member which is movable
relative to the valve casing to effect opening and closing of the valve, and wherein
the valve is provided with or defines a sub-chamber into which the liquid being dispensed
flows, and there is a means for selectively reducing the effective volume of said
sub-chamber whereby the liquid contained therein will be dispensed through aperture
means of such size as to cause jets of the liquid to be delivered from the sub-chamber
into a cup or other container disposed under the dispensing valve to catch the dispensed
liquid.
12. A valve according to Claim 10 or 11, wherein said sub-chamber is in the form of
a cylinder containing a piston, such piston being selectively movable in order to
dispense the liquid therein from the chamber.
13. A valve according to Claim 12, wherein the cylinder has input ports through which
the liquid can flow, said inlet ports being closed and the cylinder is moved to reduce
the cylinder volume for the dispensing of the liquid.
14. A valve according to Claim 13, when taken with Claim 10, wherein the means for
turning the valve member is the same means is that for reducing the volume of the
cylinder, except that the said means is turned in a different plane for the dispensing
of the liquid from the sub-chamber, and the said means includes a rod which is turnable
about its axis and has a crank portion which causes the displacement of the piston
and the dispensing of the liquid.
15. A valve according to Claim 14, wherein the cylinder is arranged with its axis
in the direction of which the liquid is dispensed with the valve.
16. A valve according to Claim 12, wherein the cylinder is arranged with its axis
at right angles to the direction in which the liquid is dispensed from the valve,
and the valve includes an actuator which is operable against spring action to dispense
liquid from said sub-chamber, and upon release of said actuator, the spring action
returned it to its initial position, enabling liquid once more to rur into the sub-chamber,
for subsequent dispensing from the valve.
17. A valve according to Claim 11, wherein the casing and valve member define the
sub-chamber.
18. A valve according to Claim 17, wherein 0-ring seals define the sub-chamber.
19. A valve according to Claim 17 and 18, wherein the valve member comprises a rod
which fits in an outlet tube forming the outlet of the casing, the outlet tube or
rod having grooves to which residual liquid is pumped by said pumping action.
20. A dispensing valve substanially as in one of the embodiments described with reference
to the accompanying drawings.