Abstract:
This dispensing apparatus includes a shut-off valve having an inlet chamber connected to a water supply and an outlet connected to a hose extending to a remote dispensing station. A valve element is provided which separates the inlet chamber from a control chamber but includes passages communicating between said chambers. A servo line connected to the control chamber includes a trigger cut-off valve at the end of the hose remote from the shut-off valve. The trigger cut-off valve is closed to permit pressure build-up in the control chamber to close the valve element and the trigger cut-off valve is opened to relieve pressure in the control chamber and open the shut-off valve and permit liquid to be dispensed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates generally to dispensing apparatus and particularly to a shut-off valve having a hydraulically operated remote control trigger cut-off.  
           [0002]    It is possible to control the water flowing through a hose used for remote operation by providing a trigger cut-off device at the end of the hose, for example, by means of an outlet control nozzle such as the common garden hose nozzle. The disadvantage of this control method is that when the hose is not being used, the water in it is under pressure and can be damaged if run over by a truck, for example. Accordingly, dispensers of the type under consideration have a shut-off valve close to the water source.  
           [0003]    Unfortunately, when the water shut-off valve is at a water supply station remote from the end of the hose line, the operator must return to the water supply station to shut-off or restart the valve, which is a constant waste of operator time.  
           [0004]    One solution is to provide a caliper-like remote operation by which the operator is provided at the remote end of the hose line with a trigger mechanism which is connected by a wire to the valve actuator, such as a push button, which is mechanically operated by the wire. In such devices, the necessary tension in the caliper wire requires constant adjustment to provide the correct amount of movement to actuate the valve properly.  
           [0005]    This remotely actuated dispenser overcomes these and other problems in a manner not revealed in the known prior art.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    This dispenser is particularly suitable for control of hoses which are used to fill containers at a remote operation and is suitable for use with a single liquid or with a mixed liquid such as a diluent detergent. The remote control actuates the valve shut-off valve hydraulically without the need for using control wires extending over long distances from the hose end to the valve.  
           [0007]    The dispensing apparatus comprises a valve including: an inlet, an inlet chamber communicating with the inlet, an outlet, a valve seat between the inlet chamber and the outlet and a valve element movable from a closed position restricting flow through the valve seat to an open position permitting flow through the valve seat, and a control chamber separated from the inlet chamber by the valve element means for communicating between the inlet chamber and the control chamber. A main line is connected to the outlet and extends to a remote dispensing station. A servo line is connected to the control chamber and has a cut-off valve remote from said control chamber; the cut-off valve being closed to permit pressure build up in the control chamber to close the valve element and the cut-off valve being opened to relieve pressure in the control chamber and open the shut-off valve.  
           [0008]    It is an aspect of this invention to provide that the main line includes a dual passage hose, one of said passages carrying liquid to the remote dispensing point and the other of said passages carrying the sensor line.  
           [0009]    It is another aspect of this invention to provide that the means for communicating between the inlet chamber and the control chamber includes at least one opening in the valve element separating the inlet chamber from the control chamber.  
           [0010]    It is yet another aspect of this invention to provide that the servo line cut-off valve includes means for pinching the servo line and shutting off flow therethrough, and another aspect to provide that the cut-off valve includes a slide valve for interrupting flow through the servo line.  
           [0011]    It is still another aspect of this invention to provide that the means for pinching the sensor line includes an adaptor attached to the main line and having a trigger pivotally attached to the adaptor. The trigger includes a handle portion and a pinching portion, the handle portion being movable so that the pinching portion engages and pinches the servo line to cut off flow therethrough.  
           [0012]    It is an aspect of this invention to provide a shut-off valve having an inlet, an outlet and a valve element therebetween; and hydraulic means for moving the valve element between an open and closed position and another aspect to provide a main line connected to the outlet and extending to a remote dispensing station; and remote control means for controlling the hydraulic means including a servo line extending from the hydraulic means to the dispensing station.  
           [0013]    This invention provides a remotely controlled dispenser which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and is highly efficient for its intended purpose. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the dispenser and hose assembly;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on Line  2 - 2  of FIG. 1;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the shut-off valve;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view showing the pinch cut-off valve in the closed position;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line  5 - 5  of FIG. 4;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing the holding pin taken on line  6 - 6  of FIG. 4;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7 is a modified device showing a slide type cut-off valve in the closed position;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line  8 - 8  of FIG. 7; and  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on line  9 - 9  of FIG. 8. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0023]    Referring now by reference numerals to the drawings and first to FIGS.  1 - 4 , it will be understood that the dispensing apparatus  10  includes a dispenser  12  and a remote delivery system  14 . The dispenser  12  includes a base  16 , which may be mounted to a wall, and a cover  18 .  
         [0024]    Mounted to the base  16  is a shut-off valve  20  supplying liquid, for example water, by way of a supply line  22  to a dispensing device, generally indicated by numeral  24 . The dispensing device  24  may be a proportioner of the type indicated in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/921,399 or in U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,420 both of which are commonly owned by the assignee of the present invention and are incorporated herein by reference. The dispensing device  24  therefore may include a backflow preventer  26  and a proportioner  28  which draws a second liquid such as detergent, into a venturi  29  through an inlet  30  for mixing by the dispensing device and discharge through an outlet  32 . The dispensing device  24 , which may have a selector switch  25 , is not itself part of the invention and the dispensing device may be used to dispense liquid only, to a remote downstream station (not shown) at the end of the delivery system  14 . To this end, the shut-off valve  20  may be considered as a means for dispensing liquid directly through the valve outlet to a hose  66 , or to a proportioner for dispensing a liquid mixture through said outlet  32  to the main line  70  of the hose  66 .  
         [0025]    Essentially, the shut-off valve  20  includes a trigger control cut-off system located, in part, downstream at the remote end of the delivery system  14  as will now be described.  
         [0026]    As best shown in FIG. 3, the shut-off valve  20  includes a body  40  having a threadedly connected cap  42 . An inlet  44  is connected between the water supply line  22  and an inlet chamber  46 . The valve  20  also includes an outlet  48  having a valve seat  50  at its upper end and a valve element  52  which, in FIG. 3, is shown in a closed position. The valve element  52  is movable from the closed position restricting flow through the valve seat  50  to an open position permitting flow through the valve seat  50 . A control chamber  54  is provided on the upper side of the valve element  52 . The valve  20  is in an open or closed position depending on the difference between the closing force exerted on the upper face  56  of the valve element  52 , by the pressure in the control chamber  54 , and the opening force exerted on the lower face  58  of the valve element  52  by the water pressure in the inlet chamber  46 .  
         [0027]    In the embodiment shown, the valve element  52  includes a body  60 , and an annular web  62  having an outer ring  65 , and constitutes a diaphragm. As shown in FIG. 3, the valve element ring  65  is clamped in place between the valve body  40  and the valve cap  42  and the web  62  is apertured to provide one or more bleed holes  64  connecting the inlet chamber  46  to the control chamber  54 .  
         [0028]    The remote delivery system  14  as best shown in FIG. 1 includes the main line  70 , which is connected to the outlet  32  as shown in FIG. 2, and a servo line  72  having ends  72   a  and  72   b . The servo line  72 , as shown in FIG. 3, is connected to the control chamber  54  at end  72   a  by means of a connector  43 . The servo line  72  is turned around a spool  73  (FIG. 4) intermediate its ends and is connected to the valve  20  at its return end  72   b  by a connector  78  (FIG. 3). Adjacent to the spool  73  the servo line  72  includes a trigger cut-off valve  74  which is shown closed in FIG. 4, When the trigger cut-off valve  74  is opened, the water in the servo line end  72   b  is returned to the shut-off valve outlet  48 . This arrangement is best shown in FIG. 3.  
         [0029]    As will be discussed below, the trigger cut-off valve  74  in the preferred embodiment is provided by a pinch mechanism acting on the servo line  72 .  
         [0030]    As best shown in FIGS.  3 - 5 , when the water supply is activated, as by turning on a water supply faucet (not shown) water enters the inlet chamber  46  by way of the water supply line  22  and the inlet  44 . At this time, the trigger cut-off valve  74  is closed and water entering the control chamber  54  through the diaphragm bleed holes  64  provides a closing force on the control side of the valve element  52 . The closing force on the valve element  52  is greater than the opening force on the inlet chamber side due to the greater upper face area  56  compared to the lesser lower face area  58 . When the trigger cut-off valve  74  is opened, the pressure in the control chamber  54  is relieved through connector  43 , servo line  72  and connector  78  to valve outlet  48 , and the valve element  52  moves upwardly away from the valve seat  50  with the result that liquid enters the outlet  48  and issues from the end of the hose  70  at the remote station. When the trigger cut-off valve  74  is again closed, pressure builds up in the control chamber  54  and the valve element  52  moves down closing valve  20  effectively shutting off the water supply.  
         [0031]    It is important to note that, in order for this remotely operated trigger cut-off valve  74  to function properly the servo line  72  must provide less restriction to flow than the restriction of flow between the inlet chamber  46  and the control chamber  54 . In the embodiment shown, the flow restriction is the result of water passing internally between the inlet chamber  46  and the control chamber  54  through bleed holes  64  in the valve element  52 . However, it will be understood that water from the inlet chamber  46  could also pass by a direct external line (not shown) from the inlet to the control chamber  54  in lieu of using bleed holes. In the embodiment shown, the flow restriction between the inlet chamber  46  and the control chamber  54  is determined essentially by the size and number of the bleed holes  64 . The flow restriction in the servo line  72  depends on the diameter and length of the servo line  72  between the control chamber  54  and the trigger cut-off valve  74  and the length of the return servo line  72  between the trigger cut-off valve  74  and the shut-off valve outlet  48 .  
         [0032]    When the trigger cut-off valve  74  is closed, flow from the control chamber  54  is prevented and a static condition exists. At this time, the inlet pressure is experienced on all of the valve element  52  in the control chamber  54  and only on an annular portion of the valve element  52  on the side opposite to the control chamber  54 . The rest of the area of the valve element  52  on the side opposite the control chamber  54  is exposed to the outlet pressure in  48 . The result of this is that the valve element body  60  is forced onto the seat  50  and prevents flow through the shut-off valve  20 .  
         [0033]    When the trigger cut-off valve  74  is open to allow flow from the control chamber  54  to a lower pressure location, at the return end of the servo line  72 , a dynamic condition exists with pressure in the control chamber  54  rapidly approaching said lower pressure. Initially, the inlet pressure is experienced on only an annular portion of the valve element  52  on the side opposite the control chamber  54 . The rest of the area of the valve element  52  covers the valve seat  50  and is exposed to the lower outlet pressure. However, the sum of these two forces is now greater than the force exerted in the control chamber  54  which forces the valve element  52  to lift off the seat and allows flow through the shut-off valve  20 . Normally, a servo operator, such as the trigger cut-off valve  74 , is attached directly to the valve body close to the valve element  52 . By the present arrangement the servo operator, that is the trigger cut-off valve  74 , may be located remotely from the valve element  52 , the distance from the control chamber  54  being limited only by flow through the trigger cut-off valve  74 . This flow must be sufficient to allow the shut-off valve  20  to operate as described.  
         [0034]    In the preferred embodiment shown, the trigger cut-off valve  74 , which operates by pinch action, will now be described by reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.  
         [0035]    The hose  66 , in the embodiment shown, includes an auxiliary portion  71  unitarily formed with the main line portion  70  and providing a protective sheath for the servo line  72 .  
         [0036]    The hose  66  is provided with a trigger housing  84 , which is configurated to receive the dual hose  66  as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The trigger housing  84  includes an intermediate bracket  85  pivotally mounting a trigger  86  by means of a pivot  88  and a hair pin spring  94 . The spring tends to urge the trigger  86  away from the housing so that the trigger pinch point provided by the L-shaped end  92  cuts off water flow through the servo line  72 . This cut-off pinching position is maintained until the trigger  86  is moved clockwise by an operator, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 4. Only a short arcuate movement is required and when this occurs, the pinching action is relieved, lowering the pressure in the control chamber  54  and opening the shut-off valve  20  resulting in a stream of liquid issuing from the remote end of the hose main line portion  70 . The liquid stream continues through the hose during the time that the trigger  86  is maintained in the clockwise position. The bracket  85  may include a holding means such as a pin  87  having a spring  89  shown in FIG. 6 which, when activated, prevents the return of the trigger  86  into the pinched closed valve position shown in FIG. 4 until the pin  87  is released by the operator. The pin may be used when trigger cut-off valve  74  is to be held in the open position for an extended period of time. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the trigger  86  at its pivot end includes an arcuate projection  91 . When the trigger  86  is rotated clockwise a short distance, the arcuate projection  91  is positioned below the holding pin  87  and the pin  87  can be pushed into the arcuate projection to be held by pin pressure against the projection  91  so that the trigger  86  is maintained in the non-cut off free flow condition without having to be held by the operator. When it is desired to again cut off flow it is simply a matter of applying a light clockwise pull on the trigger  86  so that the pin  87  is urged outwardly by the spring  89  to allow the trigger  86  to move again into the pinch position. When the trigger  86  is released in this way, it automatically returns counterclockwise to the pinching position shown in FIG. 4 thereby shutting off pinch valve  74  and permitting water pressure to build up in the control chamber  54  close the valve  20  and shut-off flow through hose main line  70 .  
         [0037]    A modified cut-off valve is shown in FIGS.  7 - 9 .  
         [0038]    As in the first embodiment, the hose  66  includes an auxiliary portion  71  unitarily formed with the main line portion  70  and providing a protective sheath for the servo line  72 .  
         [0039]    Distinguishing from the first embodiment, the hose  66  is provided with a valve housing  100  which includes an intermediate bracket  102  supporting a fixed tubular body  104  and a sliding piston  106  cooperating to provide a slide type cut-off valve  101 . As shown, the tubular body  104  includes upper and lower barb connections  108  and  110  receiving servo line ends  72   b  and  72   a , respectively, in sealed relation. Also, the tubular body  104  includes projections  105  by which it is mounted to the bracket  100 .  
         [0040]    The piston  106  extends upwardly from a hand-graspable trigger base  124  and includes lower and upper O-ring seals  114  and  116  respectively which cooperate to define an annular chamber  120 . The piston  106  is urged into its lower cut off position by a spring  122  between the top of the piston  106  and the underside of a cap  118 . In its lower position, shown in FIG. 8, the sealed annular chamber  120  communicates with the lower barb connection  110  and the servo line end  72   a . In the position shown, the servo line end  72   a  is closed, the annular chamber  120  is under pressure from the shut-off valve control chamber  54 , the shut-off valve  20  is closed and there is no water flow through the main line  70 . The upper O-ring seal is larger than the lower O-ring seal so that it acts as a stop against downward movement of the piston.  
         [0041]    This cut-off position is maintained until the hand-graspable base trigger  124  is pulled upwardly in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 7. When this occurs, the servo line cut-off action is relieved allowing water from servo line end  72   a  to enter servo line  72   b  for discharge into the valve outlet  48 . When pressure in the servo line end  72   a  is relieved, the pressure in the control chamber  54  is lowered, the valve element  52  is raised and the shut-off valve  20  is opened resulting in a stream of liquid issuing from the remote end of the hose main line portion  70 . The liquid stream continues through the hose during the time that the base trigger  124  is maintained in the upward position.  
         [0042]    The assembly may include a holding means such as a locking plate  130  which is held in sliding relation within openings in the sidewalls of the housing  100 . The locking plate  130  includes integrally formed L-shaped members  132  and  133  and the upper portion of the trigger base is provided with slotted cooperating members  134  which receive the lower end of the L-shaped members in holding relation when the locking plate is pushed into engagement with said cooperating members  134  and which, when moved to the locking position, prevents the return of the base trigger into the closed valve position until the locking plate  130  is released by the operator. The locking plate  130  may be used when base trigger cut-off valve  101  is to be held in the open position for an extended period of time. When the locking plate  130  is moved in the opposite direction by the operator to disengage the trigger base  124 , it is automatically urged downwardly under spring pressure to the cut-off position shown in FIG. 8, at which time the water supply is cut off.  
         [0043]    In the embodiment shown, the housing  100  includes an integrally formed flexible guard  140  which provides a clip  142  by which the housing may be held in place against a pail (not shown) or similar container.  
         [0044]    Although the dispenser has been described by making detailed reference to a preferred embodiment, the details of the description are not be understood as restrictive numerous variants being possible within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.