Dosing valve with flow rate sensor for a beverage dispenser
US6962270B1 · kind B1 · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 5, 2000 |
| Grant date | Nov 8, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 5, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05D11/132
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A beverage dispenser to provide a plurality of different flavors with accurate mixing control comprises a housing (40, 42, 44) containing a diluent valve (46A, 46B) and at least two concentrate valves (48A, B, C, D), each valve having its own inlet (12) and outlet (14), characterized in that all the outlets (14) lead to a single dispense nozzle (50A, B, C), a flow rate sensor (16) is provided for each valve, the flow rate sensors (16) being connected to a controller (54), and a setting mechanism (52A, B, C, D, E, F) is provided to open and close each valve, the controller (54) operating the setting mechanisms whereby one concentrate valve and the diluent valve may be opened to dispense a particular beverage and, in response to the sensed flow rates through those opened valves, controlling the degree of opening of those valves to achieve a predetermined diluent to concentrate ratio for the beverage mixture in the dispense nozzle (50A, B, C).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.