US1661431A - Mixing valve - Google Patents

Description

March 6, 1928.

W. E. LEIBING MIXING VALVE Filed Deo. 5. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l WHfJVENTOR BY am ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 6,

UNITED STATES PATENTA OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. LEIBING, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO MAGN'US FRUIT PRODUCTS CO., OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A. CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

MIXING VALVE.

Application led December 5, 1925. Serial No. 73,394.

This invention relates to improvements in mixing valves of the type illustrated in Patent Number 1,299,586, dated April 8, 1919, prticularly adapted to valves for dispensing verages formed of charges of different liquids, such as syrup and water and csyrup water and carbonated fluid, and also to means forming part of the valve assembly for controlling the amount lof foam generated on the beverage.

An object of the invention resides in providing a valve of the character above mcntioned having cooperating valve casing sections for the valve body and means for adjusting said sections relative to one another to maintaina fluid tight bearing with the valve body operable therein to control the discharge of one or more fluids in mixed or independent relation adapted to make a beverage.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a valve structure for controlling the discharge and mixing of a plurality of fluids for forming a beverage provided with means for controlling the formation of foam on the beverage.

A further object of the invention resides in incorporating the foam control means with the structure of the discharge spout and 3o providing for the ready manual adjustment of said means at all times.

This invention comprehends other objects flowing from the construction and association of the. parts more particularly set forth in the following description and claims directed to a preferred form of the invention, it being understood that changes in the proportion and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit 0 and scope of the invention as -herein set forth: l

In the drawings forming plication:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view 5 through the improved valve structure.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the discharge spout.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of 'the main casing member showing the valve seat portion of said member.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view through the supplemental casing member and spout structure showing the foam controlling elements, parts being 'shown in elea vation.

part of this ap- Figure 5 is an end View of the casing member shown in Figure 4 showing the valve seat portion thereof.

Figure 6 is a view of the spherical valve body with the handle receiving portion in the center.

Figure 7 is anotherv view of the valve body taken at richt angles to Figure 6, and having the ports s iown in dotted lines.

Fig. 8 is a view of the spherical valve body showing the front portion thereof, as taken from the left-hand side of Fig. 1 looking'directly at .the slot therein and showing all of the passages in the body.

1 indicates the main valve casing member which is formed with a partial spherical seat portion 2 and fluid passages 3, 4 and 5 respectively opening through the seat portion at equi-distant points in the same horizontal plane spaced above the center ofthe spherical surface. The seat portion 2 is formed with recesses 6 around: each of the fluid passages for receiving annular packing glands 7 projecting inwardly from the face of the seat a slight distance. The casing member 1 is formed with a bell-shaped extension 8 adapted to cover the pipe connections with the valve and furnish a base for fitting a root beer barrel or the like to which the same is suitably fastened. The seat portion 2 of the casing member is substantially semispherical and opens at the lower side where the member is formed with the enlarged threaded bore 9 in concentric relation to the open end of the seat. The top portion of the casing member is formed with the cross slots 10 for controlling the operation of the valve member in a manner to be described.

A spout member 11 is provided with an enlarged end portion having a threaded evlindrical portion 12 adjustably mounted in the threaded bore 9, and formed with a socket portion 13 receiving the supplemental valve casing member 14. The spout member is provided with the cylindrical bore 15 10o which receives the spout structure and foam controlling means'assembled with and carried by the supplemental casing member.

The supplemental casing member is formed with a cooperating partial spherical i seat portion 16 in which is seated'a packing washer 17. A spherical valve body 18 is mounted between the seat portion 2 of the casing member l and the seat portion 16` of the supplemental casing member, and seats 11o against the gaskets in said seat ortions and is rotatable therein. The va ve body is formed with a lurality of ports extending 'through the bo y in a predetermined manner for providing communication between one or more of the passages 3, 4 and 5 and the discharge opening in the supplemental casing member. A handle assembl 20 mcludes the rod 21 secured to said va 7e body and extending through the cross slots 10, the operation of which moves the valve body in accordance with the slots 10. The intersection of the slots forms the off position of the valve while the rod when positioned at any one of the ends of the slots opens one or more of the passages for discharge of the liquid therein in any desired predetermined manner such as set forth in the above mentioned patent.

A notched projection is formed on the supplemental casing member at 14 which receives the stop pin l projecting into the slot 18 in the valve body to prevent the supplemental casing member and valve body from being rotated relative to each other.

The supplemental casing member is provided with an extension fitting in the cylinder bore 15 of the outlet spout, which is of cylindrical form as at 22, and provided with the successive reduced portions 23 and 24 respectively. The lower end of the extension 22 is provided with an annular flange 25 provided with a plurality of openings for the passage of carbonated or charged fluid. A cylindrical member 26 is mounted over the periphery of flange 25 and extends beyond the reduced portions 23 and 24 and forms closed annular passages therebetween The lower end of the cylindrical member is reduced as at 27.

The supplemental casing member is further formed with a threaded bore opening through the seat portion and receiving a threaded sleeve 28 having a flange thereon to limit its application in the casing member, while the lower end is formed with an annular tapered exterior surface. The lower end of the sleeve 28 projects beyond the enlarged portion 29 of the bore which is provided with communication through duct 30 with the seat portion 16 through which duct is adapted to pass plain water. Below the enlarged portion 29, the extension 22 is formed with a cylindrical bore 31 of slightly smaller diameter than the threaded portion which receives the secondary foam control sleeve 32 having the upper end provided with a tapered bore receiving in spaced relation the lower tapered end of the sleeve 28. The extension 22 is formed with a cylindrical chamber 33, while the exterior surface of the control sleeve 32 is formed with an annular tapered outer surface, adapted to form a seat for cooperation with the tapered annular end portion of the main foam controlling sleeve 34. This sleeve 34 has the upper end threadedly mounted in the threaded portion 35 of the bore, while below the chamber 33 the extension 22 is formed with the chamber 36 having communication through a plurality of openings with the carbonated or charged fluid passage in the cylindrical member 26. A plurality of slots 37 provide ducts for conveying carbonated or charged fluid from chamber 33 to the enlarged chamber 36 for admission through the openings in the member 14 to the annular space normally existing between member 14 and the main and secondary foam control sleeves, and for intermixture with the Huids being discharged therethrough to cause foam to be generated on the drink, of a predetermined amount. The lower end of the main foam controlling member has its ex terior surface reduced in diameter and knurled at 38 below the lower end of the spout member 11 so that it may be manually adjusted for controlling the foam generation on a dispensed beverage. A duct 39 for conveying carbonated fluid extends from the chamber 33 and opens through the scat portion 16 of the supplemental casing member.

In the discharge of the beverage through the spout structure in either mixed or sepa.- rate charges, the position of the main foam control member 34 relative to the secondary member 32 controls the amount of carbonated or charged fluid passing through chamber 41 for as the foam control member 34 is lowered area is taken away from the slots 37 and added to 41 and vice versa when the control is raised. The foam control is merely a method of diverting the carbonated water from the annular passage 27 (where areas are sulliciently large and bafiles have been provided to slow the water down) to the inner passage 4l, the area of which being already loaded from the syrup and water already admitted is restricted enough to cause greater speed and turbulence with the consequent greater amount of foam. 'lhat is, by diverting carbonated water through the passage 27 its speed is reduced in passing through the openings in the member 14 and the outlet area of the nozzle with this water passing out of passage 27 being larger than the area of sleeve 34. ermits free discharge so that no foam wil be generated,

It will be observed that the adjustment of the main foam control member 34 varies the effective inlet area of the upper ends of slots 37 and regulates the assage of tbe carbonated water from chamlber 33 through both the slots and through the passage lietween the upper end of member 34 and member 32. Thus with a Slight rotation of the member 34, the foam on the dispensed beverage may be instantl controlled. The proportion of mixture o plain water from porlOl tion 29 with syrup admitted through sleeve 28 is seldom varled; however, whenv it is desired to vary such proportion the sleeve 28 ma be adjusted in its seat to vary the space etween its lower end and the upperend of the member 32.

A tubular channel 40 is provided in the discharge spout with its upper end adapted for registry with one of the ports 1S) of the valve body 18 on the operation of the valve when it is desired to discharge eithera coarse broken up stream of carbonated water or a stream of plain water.

In operating the valve, the dispenser when syrup carbonated water and plain water are desired, shifts the handle 21 from the central or off position rearwardly into slot A. This connects the syrup supply pipe 5 through duct 45 in valve body 18 to sleeve 28; plain water from pipe 3 through duct 46 to duct 30, from which it enters 'chamber 29 and Hows between sleeves 28 and 32 for mixture with the syrup; and carbonated water from pipe 5 through duct 47 in valve 18 to duct 39 and chamber 33,

thence between the main and secondary foam control members or through slots 37 to chamber 36 and out of annular space 27, proportioned according to the adjustment of the foam control sleeve 34.

Should just plain water be desired, the handle is moved into the right into slot B, connecting plain water supply 3 through duct 48 in valve 18 with passage 40.

A coarse stream of carbonated water may be obtained by moving the handle 21 into slot C, which will establish communication between pipe 5, duct 49 and passage 39.

Movement of thehandle lever to slot D will provide a high speed mixing stream of carbonated water from pipe 5, through duct 50 to passage 40.

An important feature of the invention as above described residesI in the manner of assembling the parts wherein the foam control structure and supplemental casing member 22 are an integral unit removable from the spout member and held in adjusted position in the main casing member by said spout member for properly retaining the valve body seated and to prevent leakage. The main valve casing having the base portion 8 further forms a support for the entire valve structure and cooperates with the spout member in completely housing the parts of the valve and foam control and presents a neat appearance. The parts may be readily disassembled for cleaning and repairs or replacement and are of substantially simple construction and few in number providing for a relatively small cost in construction.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is l. A mixing valve, comprising a pair of valve casing members formed for coo eration to provide a valve seat, a valve ody mounted between said members and engaging the seat, and a spout removably and adjustably connected to one of said casing members and engaging the other casing member for maintaining the valve, body seated, said valve body and casin members being formed with passages a apted for communication with the spout and controlled by the operation of the valve body.

2. A mixing valve, comprising a pair of valve casing members formed for cooperation to provide a valve seat, a valve body movably mounted in the valve seat between said casing members, said casing members being formed with fluid passages, said valve body having ports controlling communication between the passages of the casing members, and means receiving one of said casing members and adjustably mounted in the other casing member adapted to hold said members in assembled relation with the valve body.

3. A mixing valve, comprising a pair of valve casing members formed for cooperation to provide a valve seat, a valve body movably mounted in the valve seat, said casing members being formed with fluid passages, said valve body having ports controlling communication between the passages of the casing members, means for retaining said valve casing members in adjustable assembled relation with the valve body, and means mounted on one of said casing members for retaining said valve body and casing members in a predetermined relation when assembled.

4. A mixing valve, comprisin a pair of valve casing members formed or cooperation to provide a spherical valve seat, a spherical valve body mounted in said seat, said casing members being formed with passages opening through said seat, said valve body having ports adapted to provide communication between said passages in a predetermined manner, manual means for operating said valve bod and a spout member receiving one of sai casing members and adjustably connected with the other casing member for retaining said members in adjusted position to firmly seat and encase said Valve body.

5. A mixing valve, comprising a main casing member having a base portion extending therefrom for attachment to a support, having a plurality of fluid passages formed therein and a valve seat portion into which said passages open, a supplemental valve casing member having a cooperating seat portion, and a discharge passage formed therein, a valve body formed with ports and mounted between the main and supplemental casing members in the seat portions thereof and manually operable to control fluid flow ltlll through the discharge passage from the passages in said main casing member, and means adjustably connected with said main casinor member receiving and mounting said supplamental casing member in assembled relation.

6. A mixing valve, comprising a main casing member having a base portion extending therefrom for attachment to a support, said casing member being formed with a plurality of fluid passages and a valve seat portion into which said passages independently open, a supplemental valve casing member having a cooperating seat portion and a discharge passage formed therein, a valve body formed with ports and movably mounted between the main and supplemental casing members in the seat port-ions thereof and manually operable to control fluid flow through the discharge passage from the passages in said main casing member, and a s out member formed to receive and house sai supplemental casing member and adjustably fitted in said main casing member for retaining said casing members in operative relation With said valve body.

7. A mixing valve, comprising a valve casing provided With a plurality of passages and formed with a valve seat, a valve body operably mounted in said seat and controlling fluid flow through said passages, said valve casing having a discharge spout, and means in said discharge spout for controlling foam generation on a beverage dispensed from said valve.

8. A mixing valve for dispensing beverages, comprising a valve casing having an outlet spout, said valve casing being formed with a plurality of fluid passages and a valve seat, a valve body operably mounted in said valve seat, and adjustable means in said valve casing for controlling foam generated on a beverage dispensed from said valve.

9. A mixing valve for dispensing beverages, comprising a valve casing having an outlet spout, said valve casing being formed with a plurality of Huid passages and a valve seat, a valve body operably mounted in said valve seat, a foam controlling means removably mounted in said valve casing and operable in said discharge spout for controlling foam generation on a dispensed beverage, said foam generating means including an adjustable member for controlling the mixture of carbonated fluid with said beverage.

10. A mixing valve for dispensing beverages, comprising a valve easing having an outlet spout, said valve easing being formed with a plurality of fluid passages and a valve seat, a valve body operably mounted in said valve seat, a foam controlling means including a cylindrical body removably mounted in said discharge spout formed with earbonatcd fluid inlet passages, a sleeve member adjustably mounted in said cylindrical body, adapted to control admission of carbonated fluid to the interior thereof through said passages in said body for intermixture with a beverage dispensed therethrough.

11. A mixing valve, comprisin a main valve casing member formed witlzi a valve seat portion and a plurality of passages communicating therewith, a supplemental casing member formed with a cooperating valve seat portion, said supplemental casing member having a cylindrical projection formed with a discharge passage, a main foam control member mounted in said cylindrical projection and cooperating with a seat portion therein for controlling the admission of carbonated fluid to the passage therethrough, means for adjustably mounting said supplemental casing member in said main casing member and a valve body operably mounted in said seat portion of said members having ports permitting and controlling communication between the passages in said main casing member and said discharge passage.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

WILLIAM E. LEIBING.

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