EP0223204A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gas cylinder coupling and weighing mechanism for a carbonated drink dispenser
Assignee: Mondelez UK Holdings and Services Ltd
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Filing: 1986-11-13
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-11-13
Abstract
Abstract A mechanism (740) useful in a dispenser (11) having a gas cylinder (17). Supports the cylinder rotatably within a hood (741), the hood forming a lever which is biased upwardly by a spring (765). A full cylinder will pull the hood all the way down. As the cylinder is emptied, the hood will begin to move upward and when the cylinder is empty the hood will be fully upward. Mounted inside the hood is a fitting (731) engaging with a mating fitting (709) on the gas cylinder. The mating fitting is equipped with a pair of arms which are aligned with locking slots contained within the mating fitting which are used to engage pins on the fitting inside the hood when mounting the gas cylinder.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward Lewis Jeans
- 👤 Robert Gale Karlis
- 👤 Gary Lawrence Webster
- 👤 George J. Anderson
- 👤 Charles Minot Dole
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 11:39
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67D; B67D1/00; B67D1/0042; B67D1/0078; B67D1/008; B67D1/0043; B67D1/0051; B67D1/0052; B67D1/0057; B67D2001/0091; B67D2001/0092; B67D1/08; B67D1/0801; B67D2001/0812; B67D2001/0814; B67D2001/0815; B67D2210/00; B67D2210/00028; B67D2210/00047; B67D2210/00049; B67D2210/00052
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
A gas cylinder coupling device for a gas cylinder with an axial threaded bore formed in the top thereof comprising: (a) an O-ring seal surrounding the bore in said cylinder; (b) a hollow cylindrical member having diametrically opposed arms, extending therefrom, openings formed in the ends of each of said arms, an annular wall at the axial inner end of said cylindrical member, said annular wall overlying the top of said gas cylinder; and (c) a first fitting, said fitting having one axial end threaded to mate with the threads in the bore of said gas cylinder and an enlarged portion outwardly of said threads, said fitting threaded into said opening in said gas cylinder, sealing against said O-ring and trapping said annular wall between said enlarged portion and the top of said gas cylinder, and the other axial end thereof adapted to accept a mating fitting.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
A gas cylinder coupling device for a gas cylinder with an axial threaded bore formed in the top thereof comprising: (a) an O-ring seal surrounding the bore in said cylinder; (b) a hollow cylindrical member having diametrically opposed arms, extending therefrom, openings formed in the ends of each of said arms, an annular wall at the axial inner end of said cylindrical member, said annular wall overlying the top of said gas cylinder; and (c) a first fitting, said fitting having one axial end threaded to mate with the threads in the bore of said gas cylinder and an enlarged portion outwardly of said threads, said fitting threaded into said opening in said gas cylinder, sealing against said O-ring and trapping said annular wall between said enlarged portion and the top of said gas cylinder, and the other axial end thereof adapted to accept a mating fitting.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device according to claim 1 further comprising a cover placed over said hollow cylindrical member, said cover enclosing said hollow cylindrical member and having handle for fitting over the arms thereof, with holes therein mating with the holes in said arm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device according to claim 2 further comprising a removable tab on the top of said cover.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device according to claim 1, further comprising means on said hollow cylindrical member for lockingly engaging with a second fitting adapted to mate with said first fitting.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
A device according to claim 4, wherein said means for lockingly engaging comprise at least two internal locking slots formed on the inside of said cylindrical member each slot having an axially extending portion and a circumferentially extending portion, said axially extending portion leading from the top of said member to said circumferentially extending portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device according to claim 5, wherein two locking slots are provided, the axial portions of which are aligned with said arms.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
A device according to claim 6, in combination with a second fitting, said second fitting comprising a cylindrical member having projecting from the centre thereof a probe containing a passage for conducting gas and having on the outside surface thereof diametrically opposed pins engaging in the slot in said cylindrical member so as to lock said first and second fittings together.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device according to claim 7 further comprising a regulator formed integrally with said second fitting.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device according to claim 8 further comprising a weighing mechanism from which said regulator is suspended.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device according to claim 9, wherein said weighing mechanism comprises means biasing said regulator upwardly against the downwardly acting weight of said gas cylinder and indicator means for indicating the relative position of said second fitting.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device according to claim 10, wherein said means biasing comprise means forming a rotatable lever at the end of which said regulator is mounted; and means for biasing said lever upwardly.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device according to claim 11 further comprising means for mounting said regulator to said lever in such a way that said probe is maintained vertical as said lever rotates.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
90 words
A device according to claim 12, wherein said lever comprises: a hood having a top and side walls, a rounded front wall and a brim extending therefrom, holes formed in said side walls near said front wall; a shaft extending from each side of said regulator passing through said holes in said side walls whereby said regulator is rotatable with respect to said hood; means for maintaining said regulator such that said probe is vertical by bringing about relative rotation between said regulator and said hood as said hood rotates.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
85 words
A device according to claim 13, wherein said means biasing comprising: a U-shaped bracket having a base and two extending arms, said base mounted to a vertical wall, a hole formed in each arm; a shaft passing through said holes, said side wall of said hood having a hole at the rear thereof through which said shaft passes, said hood thereby being rotable on said shaft; and at least one spring acting between said arm of said bracket and said hood biasing said hood upwardly.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device according to claim 14, wherein the biasing force of said spring is such as to be effective to move said gas cylinder upwardly only over a fraction of its weight.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
A device according to claim 15, wherein said fraction is one-tenth.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
82 words
A device according to claim 13, wherein said means maintaining said pin vertical comprise: a planar member rigidly coupled at one end of one end of said shaft extending from said regulator said planar member having a curved slot therein; a wall formed parallel to said planar member; a pin extending from said wall and slidably engaging said planar member curved slot, guiding said planar member so that it remains vertical as said hood rotates, whereby said probe will also remain vertical.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
A device according to claim 17 wherein said wall contains a viewing hole and said planar member contains colour coded areas viewable through said viewing hole such that the position of said planar member and thus the weight of said gas cylinder will be indicated.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
113 words
A mounting and weighing mechanism for a gas cylinder comprising: (a) a first fitting, said first fitting comprising a cylindrical member containing a passage for conducting gas and having on the outside surface thereof diametrically opposed means for engaging a second mating fitting of a gas cylinder such that the gas cylinder is suspended from said first fitting; and (b) a weighing mechanism to which said first fitting is attached including: means forming a rotatable lever at the end of which said first fitting is mounted; means for biasing said lever upwardly against the downwardly acting weight of said gas cylinder; and indicator means for indicating the relative position of said second fitting.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
113 words
A mounting and weighing mechanism for a gas cylinder comprising: (a) a first fitting, said first fitting comprising a cylindrical member containing a passage for conducting gas and having on the outside surface thereof diametrically opposed means for engaging a second mating fitting of a gas cylinder such that the gas cylinder is suspended from said first fitting; and (b) a weighing mechanism to which said first fitting is attached including: means forming a rotatable lever at the end of which said first fitting is mounted; means for biasing said lever upwardly against the downwardly acting weight of said gas cylinder; and indicator means for indicating the relative position of said second fitting.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device according to claim 19 further comprising means for mounting said first fitting to said lever in such a way that said probe is maintained vertical as said lever rotates.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
95 words
A device according to claim 20, wherein said lever comprises: a hood having a top and side walls, a rounded front wall and a brim extending therefrom, holes formed in said side walls near said front wall; a shaft extending from each side of said first fitting passing through said holes in said side walls whereby said first fitting is rotatable with respect to said hood; and means for maintaining said first fitting such that said probe is vertical by bringing about relative rotation between said first fitting and said hood as said hood rotates.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
84 words
A device according to claim 21, wherein said means biasing comprising: a U-shaped bracket having a base and two extending arms, said base mounted to a vertical wall, a hole formed in each arm; a shaft passing through said holes, said side walls of said hood having holes at the rear thereof through which said shaft passes, said hood thereby being rotatable on said shaft; and at least one spring acting between said arm of said bracket and said hood biasing said hood upwardly.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
a device according to claim 22, wherein the biasing force of said spring is such as to be effective to move said gas cylinder upwardly only over a fraction of its weight.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
12 words
A device according to claim 23, wherein said fraction is about one-tenth.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
84 words
A device according to claim 24, wherein said means maintaining said pin vertical comprises: a planar member rigidly coupled at one end to one end of said shaft extending from said first fitting said planar member having a curved slot therein; a wall formed parallel to said planar member; and a pin extending from said wall and slidably engaging said planar member curved slot, guiding said planar member so that it remains vertical as said hood rotates, whereby said probe will also remain vertical.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
45 words
A device according to claim 25 wherein said wall contains a viewing hole and said planar member contains colour coded areas viewable through said viewing hole such that the position of said planar member and thus the weight of said gas cylinder will be indicated.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device according to claim 19 further comprising a regulator formed integrally with said first fitting.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
105 words
In a carbonated drink dispenser having a removable carbon dioxide cylinder, said cylinder having disposed in the neck thereof a check valve; a fitting for receiving said neck and adapted to engage and hold said neck; and a probe to open and seal to said check valve and conduct gas out of said cylinder, the improvement comprising said fitting comprising: means to engage said neck with a camming action and a thin probe to open and seal to said check valve whereby the force needed to bring said neck into engagement with said fitting against the force of the gas in said cylinder is minimized.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
105 words
In a carbonated drink dispenser having a removable carbon dioxide cylinder, said cylinder having disposed in the neck thereof a check valve; a fitting for receiving said neck and adapted to engage and hold said neck; and a probe to open and seal to said check valve and conduct gas out of said cylinder, the improvement comprising said fitting comprising: means to engage said neck with a camming action and a thin probe to open and seal to said check valve whereby the force needed to bring said neck into engagement with said fitting against the force of the gas in said cylinder is minimized.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 28 wherein said camming means comprises cooperating pins and slots one of which is on said neck and the other in said fitting.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus according to claim 28 and further including a regulator, said fitting and thin probe extending from said regulator and a spring biasing said regulator upwardly so that said cylinder moves the changing weight as gas is used up.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 28 wherein said check valve is disposed along a vertical axis and said means to engage said neck are adapted to engage from above with said thin probe extending along said vertical axis.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus according to claim 29 wherein each of said slots has an axially extending portion and a circumferentially extending portion, said axially extending portion leading from an edge of one of said neck and said fitting on which it is installed to said circumferentially extending portion.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 30 and further including indicating means for indicating the relative position of said regulator as said cylinder moves.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 33 wherein the biasing force of said spring is such as to be effective to move said gas cylinder upwardly only over a fraction of its weight.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
104 words
A mounting and weighing mechanism for a gas cylinder comprising: (a) a first fitting comprising a cylindrical member having projecting from the centre thereof a thin probe containing a passage for conducting gas and having on the outside surface thereof diametrically opposed means for engaging a second mating fitting of a gas cylinder such that the gas cylinder is suspended from said first fitting; and (b) a weighing mechanism to which said first fitting is attached including means biasing said first fitting upwardly against the downwardly acting weight of said gas cylinder; and (c) means for indicating the relative position of said second fitting.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
104 words
A mounting and weighing mechanism for a gas cylinder comprising: (a) a first fitting comprising a cylindrical member having projecting from the centre thereof a thin probe containing a passage for conducting gas and having on the outside surface thereof diametrically opposed means for engaging a second mating fitting of a gas cylinder such that the gas cylinder is suspended from said first fitting; and (b) a weighing mechanism to which said first fitting is attached including means biasing said first fitting upwardly against the downwardly acting weight of said gas cylinder; and (c) means for indicating the relative position of said second fitting.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device according to claim 35 wherein the biasing force of said biasing means is such as to be effective to move said gas cylinder upwardly only over a fraction of its weight.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device according to claim 35 and further including a regulator formed integrally with said first fitting.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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