Liquid dispensing valve

Claim 2

A dispensing valve for dispensing concentrate and diluent to make a beverage comprising: (a) a first member containing therein a cylindrical bore having a first pressurizing gas passage terminating at an elongated outlet in said bore, and a first diluent passage terminating in a further outlet in said bore, the bottom of said bore containing an open area through which concentrate can be dispensed; (b) seals surrounding said elongated outlet and said further outlet; (c) a central, rotatable valve member of generally annular shape disposed for rotation within said cylindrical bore, a peripheral portion thereof sealing against said seals, said rotatable valve member having a diluent outlet; (d) means within the annulus of said rotatable valve member for supplying pressurizing gas to a container; (e) a second pressurizing gas passage extending through said rotatable valve member from said peripheral portion to said means within the annulus, the inlet of said second gas passage adapted to be brought into alignment with said elongated outlet over a range of rotation of said rotatable valve member; (f) a second diluent passage and expansion chamber within said rotatable valve member for coupling said further outlet with said diluent outlet when said rotatable valve member is rotated to a pre-determined position within said range of rotation; (g) means in said rotatable valve member for engaging a first container part; (h) means for retaining said rotatable valve member in place; (i) means fixed with respect to said first member for engaging a second container part; and (j) means to rotate said rotatable valve member.

Claim 3

The dispensing valve according to claim 1 and further including means biasing said rotatable valve member to a position where its peripheral portion is sealing against said seals and said second gas and second diluent passages are remote from said seals.

Claim 4

A dispensing valve according to claim 1 wherein said means for retaining comprises a cover fixed to said first member, said cover having an opening therein with means on the inside thereof for engaging said said container part.

Claim 5

A dispensing valve according to claim 3 wherein said means for engaging said first container part comprises a slot in said annulus for engaging a tab on said first container part and said means for engaging said second container part comprises at least one slot in said opening in said cover.

Claim 6

A dispensing valve according to claim 4 wherein said means for supplying pressurizing gas comprises: (a) a member with a partial bore therein coupled to said second pressurizing gas passage; and (b) at least one strut supporting said member essentially at the center of the annulus in said rotatable valve member, said second pressurizing gas passage extending through said strut.

Claim 7

A dispensing valve according to claim 1 wherein said first member is a bottom member, said cylindrical bore extending partially therethrough with said elongated opening in the bottom of said bore and further including a drain passage in said bottom adapted to align with the inlet of said second diluent passage when said rotatable valve member is in a non-dispensing position.

Claim 8

A dispensing valve according to claim 6 and further including a spout at said diluent outlet, said spout directed at an angle to the vertical.

Claim 9

A dispensing valve according to claim 1 in combination with a supply of concentrate comprising: (a) a container having a bottle with a neck and a cap, rotatable thereon, a valve formed between cooperating portions of said neck and said cap, and said bottle cap having a central opening therein; (b) a tube attached to said central opening and extending through said valve with a spacing into said bottle; (c) cooperating camming surfaces on said cap and bottle neck for converting a rotary motion of this cap into a linear motion which will open said valve; (d) an outlet opening in the top of said cap aligned with the concentrate opening in said bottom member; (d) diametrically opposed tabs on the neck of said bottle and a tab on said cap, said container inserted into said valve such that the tab on said cap engages said means for engaging a first container part in said central valve member and the tabs on said neck engage said means for engaging a second part, with said container in an inverted positioned, and further including: (f) a cylindrical fitting formed at the end of said member at the center portion of said annulus; (g) sealing means surrounding said fitting portion at its base, said fitting portion extending into said opening in said cap, said cap sealing against said sealing means, whereby, when the inlet to said second gas passage is aligned with said elongated slot, pressurizing medium will be conducted through said second gas passageway, said fitting and said tube into said container to maintain concentrate therein under a constant pressure and whereby when said control valve member is rotated by rotation of said means to rotate in one direction, the simultaneous alignment of said second diluent passage with said further outlet from said first diluent passage and said second gas passage with said elongated slot will occur along with a rotation of said tab on said cap with respect to the tabs on said bottle to result in the opening of the valve in said container, thereby causing concentrate and diluent to be simultaneously dispensed.

Claim 10

A dispensing valve according to claim 8 and further including a valve in said tube in said cap and wherein rotation of said cap is operable to open said valve.

Claim 11

A dispensing valve according to claim 8 wherein said diluent outlet includes a spout directed at an angle to the vertical such as to intersect with a downward flow of concentrate from the outlet in said cap, whereby said diluent and concentrate will mix while being dispensed into a cup.

Claim 12

A dispensing valve according to claim 10 and further including a diluent drain on said bottom member aligned with said second diluent passageway when said central valve member is not in a dispensing positions.

Claim 13

A dispensing valve according to claim 1 and further including means to adjust the relative rotational spacing of said first and second container parts.

Claim 14

A dispensing valve according to claim 12 wherein said means to adjust comprise: (a) a rotatable annular adjusting disc engaging said second container part; and (b) means for rotating said means with respect to said first member over a limited angular range, said means, when not operating to rotate said annular adjusting disc holding said adjusting disc fixed with respect to said first member.

Claim 15

A dispensing valve according to claim 13 wherein said means for rotating comprise means supported in said cover including an extending knob which may be grasped by the hand, a shaft extending from said knob having thereon a worm gear, and mating gears on said adjusting disc engaging said worm gear, whereby rotation of said shaft by said knob will result in rotation of said adjusting disc.