Automatic liquid dispensing apparatus

Claim 2

In apparatus for dispensing a liquid derived from two liquid components to be stored within the apparatus and to be delivered separately from their sources through a conduit system to confluence downstream before discharge, the combination of a first stationary vessel for storing one liquid component, a base resilient support means upstanding from said base in spaced relation to said stationary vessel for supporting a selected applied load above said base in the form of a displaceable vessel adapted to contain a measured quantity of a second liquid component, said resilient support means being extensible, substantially vertically in resPonse to an increment of change in the weight of a selected applied load and calibrated in relation to such load that the liquid level established upon initial loading of said resilient support means is substantially maintained as the load is diminished, a first conduit section terminating downstream in a discharge orifice and adapted for connection upstream with one of said liquid sources, and a second conduit section adapted for connection upstream to the other of said liquid sources and terminating downstream in an orifice defining a flow path intersecting with the flow path defined by said discharge orifice of said first conduit section.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said resilient support means includes, a spring element comprising a succession of coils having a substantially uniform cross-section and uniform mean diameter secured to said base with the axis of said spring element extending substantially vertically, load engaging means carried by said spring element and means associated with said base and said load engaging means for guiding and supporting said load engaging means throughout the extent of its displacement.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said means associated with said base and said load engaging means for guiding and supporting said load engaging means throughout the extent of its displacement comprises a vertical guide member supported from said load engaging means to present a substantially vertical guide formation to one side of said load engaging means and stationary vertically extending support means mounted to extend above said rigid base for slidably interengaging with said vertical guide means throughout the range of its displacement.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first stationary vessel is provided with conduit means in fluid communication therewith to supply same with a liquid from a source under pressure and control means associated with said first stationary vessel and supply conduit means to maintain a substantially constant level of liquid in said first stationary vessel.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first conduit section has an internal cross-section of dimensions to receive and support the downstream end portion of said second conduit section therewithin and in spaced relation thereto to define therebetween a surrounding passageway in the region between the discharge orifice and the upstream connection of said first conduit section, with the discharge orifice of said second conduit section being located within the said first conduit section and defining a flow path intersecting with the flow path defined by said surrounding passageway.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the flow path defined by the orifice of second conduit section projects substantially vertically upwardly whereby upon interruption of delivery of a liquid to said conduit section migration of the liquid is minimized.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the flow path defined by the orifice of second conduit section projects substantially vertically upwardly and the discharge orifice for said first conduit section is located downstream therebeyond and therebelow whereby upon interruption of delivery of liquid to said conduit sections from their respective sources liquid may be drained from said first conduit section only.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein that portion of the first larger conduit section extending between the surrounding passageway to the discharge orifice thereof has a cross-section throughout sufficient to pass the combined liquid flow without impressing a pressure build-up.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein second conduit section is comprised of a downstream portion and an upstream portion, with said downstream portion having said orifice therein and being removably separable from said upstream portion.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein means are provided for releasably locating said removably separable downstream portion in fixed relation To said upstream portion and to said surrounding first conduit section.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said removably separable downstream portion is in the form of a cap formation for releasably capping the downstream end of said upstream portion and wherein said releasably locating means comprises a fin formation extending radially outwardly of said cap formation, and socket means presented by said surrounding first conduit section for snugly receiving that portion of said fin formation remote from said cap formation to anchor same therewithin against displacement.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said first conduit section is provided with valve means located between the downstream orifice thereof and the downstream orifice of said second conduit section supported therewithin, said valve means being operable to interrupt fluid flow therethrough.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein a valve means is provided for each of said conduit sections upstream from the orifice of said second conduit section, each second mentioned and third mentioned valve means being operable to interrupt the flow of liquid thereto, and means responsive to the operation of said first mentioned valve means for operating said second and third mentioned valve means respectively whereby fluid flow in the respective regions can be controlled by the operation of said first mentioned valve means.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said first mentioned valve means is manually operable and each of second and third mentioned valve means comprises a solenoid operated valve, electrical circuit means for powering said solenoid operated valves and means responsive to the operation of said first mentioned manually operated valve means including switch means for connecting and disconnecting said electrical circuit means to a source of power.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said means responsive to the operation of said first mentioned valve means includes cam follower means connected to said switch means and cam means connected to said manually operated valve means for swinging displacement under the action of said manually operated valve in moving from a closed position thereof to the open position thereof and reversely, said cam and cam follower means having a confined path of travel such that displacement by said manually operated valve means in one direction actuates said switch means to connect said electrical circuit means to a source of power and displacement in the opposite direction actuates said switch means to disconnect said electrical circuit means from a source of power and means urging said cam follower means into engagement with said displaceable cam.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said displaceable cam and said cam follower means have a configuration such that said switch means is actuated to connect said electrical circuit means to a source of power after said first mentioned manually operated valve means has been moved out of the closed position towards the opened position and said switch means is actuated to disconnect said electrical means from a power source after said first mentioned valve means is moved out of the fully opened position towards the closed position.

Claim 18

In apparatus for dispensing a liquid derived from two liquid components to be stored within the apparatus and to be delivered separately from their sources through a conduit system to a confluence downstream before discharge, the combination of a first stationary vessel for storing one liquid component, conduit means in fluid communication with said first stationary vessel to supply same with liquid from a source under pressure, control means associated with said vessel and said conduit means for controlling the supply of liquid to said stationary vessel to maintain a substantially constant level of liquid therein, to be withdrawn therefrom by gravity and under atmospheric pressure a base, resilient support means upstanding from said base in spaced reLation to said first stationary vessel for supporting a selected applied load above said base in the form of a displaceable vessel adapted to contain a measured quantity of a second liquid to be withdrawn therefrom by gravity under atmospheric pressure, said resilient support means being extensible substantially vertically in response to an increment of change in the weight of a selected applied load, said resilient support means being calibrated in relation to such selected load to be applied such that the liquid level established upon initial loading of said resilient support means is substantially maintained as the second liquid is withdrawn, a first larger conduit section terminating downstream in a discharge orifice and adapted for connection upstream with said first stationary vessel to establish communication therebetween and a second smaller conduit section supported within said first larger conduit section and in spaced relation thereto to define a surrounding passageway therewith in the region between said discharge orifice and upstream connection of said first larger conduit section, said second smaller conduit section being adapted for connection upstream to the selected load in the form of a displaceable vessel to be applied to establish communication therebetween said second smaller conduit section terminating downstream in an orifice defining a flow path intersecting with the flow path defined by said surrounding passageway.

Claim 19

In apparatus for dispensing a liquid derived from two liquid components to be stored within the apparatus and to be delivered separately from their sources through a conduit system to a confluence downstream before discharge, the combination of a first stationary vessel for storing one liquid component, conduit means in fluid communication with said first stationary vessel to supply same with liquid from a source under pressure, control means associated with said vessel and said conduit means for controlling the supply of liquid to said stationary vessel to maintain a substantially constant level of liquid therein, to be withdrawn therefrom by gravity and under atmospheric pressure a base, resilient support means upstanding from said base in spaced reLation to said first stationary vessel for supporting a selected applied load above said base in the form of a displaceable vessel adapted to contain a measured quantity of a second liquid to be withdrawn therefrom by gravity under atmospheric pressure, said resilient support means being extensible substantially vertically in response to an increment of change in the weight of a selected applied load, said resilient support means being calibrated in relation to such selected load to be applied such that the liquid level established upon initial loading of said resilient support means is substantially maintained as the second liquid is withdrawn, a first larger conduit section terminating downstream in a discharge orifice and adapted for connection upstream with said first stationary vessel to establish communication therebetween and a second smaller conduit section supported within said first larger conduit section and in spaced relation thereto to define a surrounding passageway therewith in the region between said discharge orifice and upstream connection of said first larger conduit section, said second smaller conduit section being adapted for connection upstream to the selected load in the form of a displaceable vessel to be applied to establish communication therebetween said second smaller conduit section terminating downstream in an orifice defining a flow path intersecting with the flow path defined by said surrounding passageway.

Claim 20

Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein that portion of the first larger conduit section extending between the surrounding passageway to the discharge orifice thereof has a cross section throughout sufficient to pass the combined liquid flow without impressing a pressure build-up.

Claim 21

Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein means are provided for heating liquid to be supplied to said first stationary vessel and means are provided for refrigerating the liquid adapted to be contained in the displaceable vessel within a range of selected temperatures.

Claim 22

In apparatus for automatically dispensing a liquid beverage to be delivered by a conduit system to a discharge orifice, a base, resilient support means upstanding from said base for supporting a selected applied load above said base in the form of a displaceable vessel adapted to contain a measured quantity of a liquid component, said resilient support means being extensible substantially vertically in response to an increment of change in the weight of a selected applied load and calibrated in relation to same such that the liquid level established upon initial loading of said resilient support means is substantially maintained.

Claim 23

In apparatus for automatically dispensing a liquid beverage to be delivered by a conduit system to a discharge orifice, a base, resilient support means upstanding from said base for supporting a selected applied load above said base in the form of a displaceable vessel adapted to contain a measured quantity of a liquid component, said resilient support means being extensible substantially vertically in response to an increment of change in the weight of a selected applied load and calibrated in relation to same such that the liquid level established upon initial loading of said resilient support means is substantially maintained.

Claim 24

Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said resilient support means includes, a spring element comprising a succession of coils having a substantially uniform cross-section and uniform mean diameter secured to said base with the axis of such spring element extending substantially vertically, load engaging means carried by said spring element and means associated with said base and said load engaging means for guiding and supporting said load engaging means throughout the extent of its displacement.

Claim 25

Apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said load engaging means comprises a platform presenting receptacle locating means adapted to substantially center the load over the spring axis.

Claim 26

Apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said means associated with said base and said load engaging means for guiding and supporting said load engaging means throughout the extent of its displacement comprises a vertical guide member supported from said load engaging means to present a substantially vertical guide formation to one side thereof and a stationary vertically extending support means mounted to extend above said base for slidably interengaging with said vertical guide means throughout the range of its displacement.