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(11) | EP 1 323 873 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Water tap |
| (57) Integrated into a sink unit (A), a device for dispensing alimentary liquids comprising
a liquid dispenser (E) able to selectively dispense aerated or still water, in which
a common pump (D) is used for the two different dispensing operations. |
[0001] The present invention relates to a device for dispensing alimentary liquids which is integrated into a sink unit. The definition "alimentary liquids" as used herein means hot or cold, aerated or non-aerated water and drinks in general, such as tea or coffee.
[0002] An example of an apparatus in which a liquid dispensing device is integrated with a sink unit is described in US 5,915,851. It enables purified hot or cold aerated or still water to be dispensed. The practical embodiments of these apparatus comprise a pump which feeds the water to that component, known as the "aerator", provided for forming water charged with CO2 originating from a cylinder. The pump operates only when the water level in the aerator falls below a control threshold, i.e. when aerated (sparkling) water is dispensed.
[0003] When still water, i.e. non-aerated, is withdrawn, the pump in question does not operate and a sudden change in flow rate is noted, giving the impression of the existence of some abnormality, whereas it is merely a simple problem of design.
[0004] The main object of the present invention is to provide a device integrated into a sink unit which avoids the phenomenon of sudden change in flow rate when still water is withdrawn.
[0005] This and further objects which will be more apparent from the ensuing detailed description are attained by a device in accordance with the technical teachings of the accompanying claims.
[0006] The invention will be better understood from the following detailed description provided by way of non-limiting example and given with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 shows the hydraulic scheme of the device;
Figure 2 shows the hydraulic scheme of a variant which enables drinks other than water to be dispensed;
Figure 3 shows a dispenser mounted on a sink unit and provided with drink selection pushbuttons; and
Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing a drink dispenser associated with a traditional mixer for sink units.
[0007] With reference to Figure 1, the letter A indicates schematically a sink unit (shown in plan view) into which the device of the invention, described hereinafter, is integrated.
[0008] The water entering the device, originating from the drinking water main, passes through a filter B, for example of activated carbon type, and fills a cold water container C. The water is kept constantly refrigerated by a stainless steel coil acting as an evaporator and pertaining to a refrigeration circuit provided with a compressor. A level sensor, positioned in the container C, activates (opens) a solenoid valve 1 each time the level falls below a given threshold. The water is withdrawn from the container C by a pump D. When still water, i.e. non-aerated, is requested, the delivery side of this pump is connected via a solenoid valve 2 to a dispenser E positioned on the sink unit. When however aerated water is requested, the delivery side of the pump D is connected via a solenoid valve 3 to an aerator F (while the valve 2 remains closed). Within the aerator F the water is aerated with CO2 originating from a cylinder G provided with a pressure reducer H. The connection between the cylinder G and the aerator F comprises a second pressure reducer L and, in parallel therewith, a solenoid valve 5. If only slightly sparkling water is required, this solenoid valve is closed and the CO2 passes through the pressure reducer L; if instead highly sparkling water is required the solenoid valve 5 is opened. The aerated water reaches the dispenser L via a solenoid valve 4.
[0009] In the aforedescribed scheme and in accordance with the main aspect of the present invention, the pump D can be connected either to that circuit branch in which the aerator F is disposed, to supply aerated water to the dispenser E, or to that circuit branch which via the valve 2 supplies still water, i.e. non-aerated, to the said dispenser E. In this manner each time still or sparkling water is dispensed, a constant flow is always obtained whichever water is delivered.
[0010] An indicator showing the filter life and an indicator indicating when the cylinder is empty are provided on a control panel, not shown, which at least partly controls the intervention of the solenoid valves.
[0011] Moreover, as schematically represented in Figure 1, by means of a known solenoid valve K, positioned downstream of the aerator F, the aerated water can be mixed with syrups and the like obtained from containers, not shown, connected to the line M. Mixing with still water is also possible by providing the valve K in the same line as the valve 2.
[0012] The control panel can also enable the temperature and the type of water and/or the preferred drink to be selected.
[0013] As can be seen from Figure 1, downstream of the filter B and downstream of the solenoid valve 1 there is provided a solenoid valve 6 for the feed of tap water to a container P in which it is heated before arriving at a dispenser S.
[0014] The water can be heated by temperature-controlled electrical resistance elements or by utilizing the heat originating from the condenser forming part of the refrigeration circuit the evaporator of which is used for cooling the water in the container C. The condenser is inserted into the container P and can be represented by a spiral tube.
[0015] The scheme of Figure 2 differs from that of Figure 1 in that in addition to the cold water container, here indicated by C1, the are provided other containers, for example for coffee, tea and the like, indicated by C2 and C3. Each of these containers has its own exit solenoid valve 7a, 7b, 7c for selection of the desired drink. As the two schemes derive from the same origin, the common parts are indicated in them by the same references.
[0016] A possible embodiment of the dispenser E is shown schematically in Figure 3, in which it can be seen that at the base of the dispenser there are provided selection buttons E1, E2. E3, by which still water, slightly sparkling water or very sparkling water can be respectively obtained by operating the relative solenoid valves, as can be deduced from the aforegoing. The components shown in the schemes are integrated into the sink unit A.
[0017] Figure 4 shows a further possible embodiment of the dispenser E for alimentary liquids (still water, aerated water, various drinks etc.) In this embodiment the dispenser E is integrated into a mixer K of traditional type for cold/hot mains water, the pipes of which are completely independent of the drink dispensing pipes indicated in the figure by the reference numeral 10. The dispenser E of Figure 4 comprises a tubular support 12 housing an electrical switch 14 which, by means of a relative pushbutton 14a, enables both the type of drink and the drink delivery to be selected. The body of the dispenser is provided with an indicator (not shown), for example an LED or liquid crystal display, which informs the user of the type of drink selected and/or its temperature.
1. Integrated into a sink unit (A), a device for dispensing alimentary liquids comprising
a liquid dispenser (E) able to selectively dispense aerated or still water, characterised in that a common pump (D) is used for the two different dispensing operations.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dispenser (E) is connected to the common
pump (D) via two parallel circuit branches, one controlled by a first solenoid valve
(2) and the other by two solenoid valves (3, 4) between which an aerator (F) is interposed.
3. A device as claimed in the preceding claims, wherein the aerator (F) is connected
to a gas cylinder (G) via a first pressure reducer (H) and a second pressure reducer
(L), in parallel with this latter there being connected a solenoid valve (5), the
state of which determines the degree of aeration of the drink.
4. A device as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the pump (D) withdraws
the liquid from a refrigerated container (C).
5. A device as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the liquid is
cooled by the evaporator of a compressor-type refrigeration circuit.
6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the condenser of the refrigeration circuit
is used to heat the liquid in another container (P).
7. A device as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the pump (D) is
positioned downstream of the refrigerated liquid container (C).
8. A device as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the dispenser
(E) is provided with means (E1, E2, E3) for selecting the type of liquid.
9. A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the dispenser (E) is integrated into a traditional
mixer (K) for cold/hot mains water.