Flow regulation valve for a beverage dispenser
US6474504B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 21, 2001 |
| Grant date | Nov 5, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 21, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB67D1/14
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The present invention is a flow rate control valve through which a liquid flows and from which the liquid is dispensed. The flow rate of the liquid is sensed and that information is sent to a microprocessor based control. The control operates a drive of the control valve so as to vary the resultant rate at which the liquid is dispensed therefrom. The drive operates a piston closure member that extends closely within a cylindrical passageway. The passageway has an inlet end and an outlet end and the drive operates the closure member in the passageway to a plurality of positions from a first position at the inlet end and a second position at the outlet end. The wall of the passageway defines at least one groove having a transverse cross-section that increases in area in a downstream direction from the passageway inlet to the passageway outlet or in an upstream direction from the passageway outlet to the passageway inlet, whereby movement of the closure between the first position and the second position varies the flow rate of the liquid through the control valve as a function of the cross-sectional area of the groove.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.