DEVICE FOR REGULATING THE DISCHARGE OF LIQUID FROM A TANK

Abstract: Device for regulating the discharge of liquid from a tank, in particular for use in a drinks vending machine. The device is provided with one or two hose or pipe sections, one end of which is connected via a flexible hose to a discharge connection of the tank, said hose or pipe section being linked with means for shifting the other free end between at least a first and a second position. The free end of the first hose or pipe section is movable from above the maximum liquid level in the tank to a position below the liquid level in the tank. The free end of the second hose or pipe section is movable between at least two positions, in each of which said free end of the hose or pipe section is connected to a different discharge pipe for discharge of liquid from a tank via the device to the particular discharge pipe.

Description: Device for regulating the discharge of liquid from a tank The invention relates to a device for regulating the discharge of liquid from a tank, in particular for use in a drinks vending machine. For the metering of water in drinks vending machines, use is made in many cases of an electrically operated valve which is opened for a specific period to allow through a specific quantity of water. For the preparation of hot drinks like coffee, tea, soup or chocolate, hot water at a temperature between, say, +75 deg.C and +100 deg.C is metered via the electrically operated valve. At these temperatures scaling soon occurs in the valve, thereby causing incorrect metering on account of the change in the throughflow aperture and also frequent leaks on account of the fact that the moving parts of the valve no longer function correctly. The maintenance costs on account of this are found to be high in practice. Many drinks vending machines, in particular vending machines used for supplying various types of drinks, both hot and cold drinks, also have a number of valves for supplying water to a particular discharge pipe, selected from a number of discharge pipes running to other parts in the vending machine, where the drink in question is prepared. Apart from the problems outlined above if hot water is being conveyed, the number of valves is itself regarded as a disadvantage on account of the relatively extensive maintenance required and the relatively high installation costs. The object of the invention is now to eliminate these disadvantages, at least partially. This object is achieved with a device of the type mentioned in the preamble by providing the device with a hose or pipe section, one end of which is connected via a flexible hose to a discharge connection of the tank, said hose or pipe section being linked with means for shifting the other free end between at least a first and a second position. Such a device, in which in the first position in particular the free end of the hose or pipe section is above the maximum liquid level in the tank and in the second position said free end is at a predetermined level below the maximum liquid level in the tank, can be used as a replacement for a hot water outflow valve via which hot water is supplied from a tank to a discharge pipe. In the first position, in which the free end of the hose or pipe section is above the maximum liquid level, no water is delivered, and in the second position, with the free end in each case below the maximum liquid level, water is delivered. The device can not only be combined with timing means, a combination which is more or less assumed in the above, but it can also be used in a tank in which after each metering of a predetermined quantity of water the water level is increased until the maximum level is reached again. If in this position the free end of the hose or pipe section is always taken to a fixed second position, for example to a position in which the the hose or pipe section runs essentially horizontally, then when the water level has fallen ta the level of the hose or pipe section and the delivery of water has stopped, a fixed quantity of water corresponding to the level difference will be delivered. For the sake of saving space, the hose or pipe section together with the coupling via the flexible hose to the tank outlet is fitted in the tank, but it can also be positioned outside the tank. The device according to the invention can also be designed as a distribution device, thus replacing a number of valves in the known drinks vending machine for delivering water to a particular discharge pipe from a number of discharge pipes. In that case the device is preferably designed in such a way that the free end of the hose or pipe section at a level lower than the level of the discharge connection is movable between at least two positions, in each of which said free end of the hose or pipe section is connected to a different discharge pipe for discharge of liquid from the tank via the device to the particular discharge pipe. It is preferable to use a combination of one or more relays and an accompanying transmission system to produce the movement of the free end of the hose or pipe section. An embodiment of the invention will be described below in greater detail, and it is pointed out that the invention is not limited to this embodiment. Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of part of a drinks vending machine, in particular a boiler with a water discharge mechanism connected to it. Fig. 2 shows a side view of the part of the drinks vending machine from Fig. 1, along the lines I-I and II-II. Fig. 3 shows a view along the line III-III in Fig. 2. Fig. 1 shows a tank 1 designed as a boiler and provided with a discharge spout 2, which is designed as an elbow-shaped pipe section which is fixed by means of a cap nut in the side wall of the tank 1. On the inside of the tank, the relatively rigid hose section 4 is connected to this discharge spout via the relatively flexible hose section 3. As shown by the arrows 5 and 6 (sic) in Fig. 1, the pipe section 4 can move between the position indicated by the lines drawn in the figure and the position indicated by the dotted lines 4' in the figure, in which latter position the pipe runs practically horizontally. A sleeve 5 is provided at the relatively rigid hose section 4 and the relatively flexible hose section 3. A rod system, consisting of the rods 6, 7 and 8, is hingeably interconnected at the ends. The rod 6 is also hingeably connected to the sleeve 5, and the rod 8 is hingeably connected to the armature 9 of a relay 10. The middle rod 7 is hingeably connected in its central part to a fixed hinge point 11. It will be clear from the figure that on activation of a relay 10, as a result of which the armature 9 moves upwards from the illustrated position, the rod 8 will also be drawn upwards, which causes the rod 7 to rotate about the rotation point 11, so that the rod 6 is moved downwards, thereby causing the hose or pipe secton 4, as it were, to pivot about the flexible hose 3, and with the correct dimensioning the whole mechanism will at the end of the movement have reached the position shown by the dotted line 4'. If the activation of the relay 10 is stopped1 the armature 9 - and thus also the rod system 8, 7 and 6 and the pipe section 4 connected therewith - will move back to the illustrated position through the- action of a spring which is not illustrated. In the figure, the free end of the pipe 4 is above the maximum water level in the boiler, indicated by 12. When the relay 10 is activated, the free end will be immersed in the water below the maximum water level and water will be discharged from the boiler via the pipe 4, the flexible hose part 3 and the discharge spout 2, and via other parts of the device yet to be described. The minimum level at which water can still be delivered is shown in the figure by 13. The relay 10 can, for example, be controlled by a timing system and with the aid thereof be activated for a particular period, so that during this period water is discharged via the pipe 4, the hose 3 and the discharge spout 2. The quantity of water supplied is then directly determined by these timing elements. It is, however, also possible to activate the relay 10 at least long enough for the water to fall from level 12 to level 13, in other words, until the delivery of water stops. In that case the quantity of water delivered is determined directly by the starting level 12 and the finishing level 13. Fig. 2 is a view of Fig. 1 along the lines I-I and II-II in Fig. 1. The parts visible at the top of Fig. 2 have already been discussed with reference to Fig. 1. As can be seen from Figs. 1 and 2, provision is made at the discharge side of the discharge spout 2 for another pipe or hose section 14, of which at least the part near the discharge spout 2 must be flexible, so that the pipe or hose section 14 can execute a more or less pivoting movement in relation to the discharge spout 2. As can be seen from the figures, the discharge spout and the hose section 14 are located in a distribution chamber 15 which is divided at the bottom via partitions into a number of compartments indicated by A, B, C and D. Connected to each of these compartments is a discharge hose 16, 17, 18, 19 for discharge of the water brought in via the hose 14. As can be seen clearly from Fig. 2, the free end of the hose 14 can be moved in such a way that the water flowing out of the hose 14 reaches one of the compartments A, B, C or D and is carried on from there to other parts of the drinks vending machine via the relevant discharge pipe 16, 17, 18, 19. The movement of the hose 14 is carried out using two relays, indicated in the figure by 20 and 21. The armature 22 of the relay 20 is hingeably connected to a rod 23 whose underside debouches in a part 23a which is bent through 90 degrees and which engages with the hose 14. The rod 23 is attached to the wal) of the distribution chamber 15 and is rotatable via a rotation point 24. On activation of the relay 20, the armature 22 will be drawn into the relay 20, so that the top end of the rod 23 in Fig. 2 moves to the right and the bottom end 23a of the rod 23 moves in the direction of the arrow 25. During this movement the end of the hose 14 will thus be moved to above the compartment A. If the activation of the relay 20 is broken off, the armature 22 - and thus the rod 23 - will return to the position shown in Fig. 2. By the force of gravity, on the one hand, and under the influence of the spring force of the top flexible part of this hose 14, on the other, the end of the hose 14 will want to return to the central position, but this will be prevented by a cam plate 27 which is provided on the rear wall of the distribution chamber 15 shown in Fig. 2. This cam plate 27, which is shown in greater detail in Fig. 3, is provided with a cam 27a, which projects over practically half the diameter of the hose 14 beyond the actual cam plate 27. The return movement of the end of the hose 14 described above, after the relay 20 has been brought to rest, will be stopped by this cam 27a, so that the hose 14 then debouches above the compartment B and remains in this position. With the aid of the relay 20, the end of the hose 14 can thus be positioned above compartment A or above compartment B. For positioning above compartments C and D, provision is made for a further relay 21, whose armature 28 is hingeably connected with a rod 29, the end 29a of which is turned through 90 degrees in the same way as the end 23a and is used to move the end of the hose 14. The rod 29 is connected via a fixed rotation point 30 with a wall of the distribution chamber 15, in the same way as the rod 23. On activation of the relay 21, the armature 28 will be drawn into the relay, so that the end 29a of the rod 29 executes a movement along a path which is indicated by the arrow 26 in Fig. 2. From the above description of ,the movement executed with the rod 23, it will now be clear that with this rod 29 and the relay 21 the end of the hose 14 can be positioned either above compartment D or above compartment C. The dimensions of the cam 27a on the cam plate 27 must be selected in such a way that the hose 14 is certain to be retained in the position above compartment B or in the position above compartment C when neither of the two relays 20 or 21 is activated, and in such a way that on activation of the relays in question, thanks to the flexible properties in at least the top part of the hose 14, the end of the hose can pass the cam 27a. Although the attached drawings show an embodiment of the device according to the invention which is particularly intended for use in a drinks vending machine, it will be clear that various modifications of this embodiment are possible. If the stroke of the armatures of the various relays is large enough per se, the rod system interconnected partly for the purpose of increasing the stroke of the relay if it is too short can be left out. If in particular the stroke of the armature 9 corresponds to the length of the path over which the sleeve 5 has to move, a direct connection between the armature 9 and the sleeve 5 can be achieved, possibly via a pivoting intermediate rod. The relays 20 and 21 can also be fitted, for example, on either side of the distribution chamber 15 at the level of the cam plate 278 (sic) with armatures moving in the horizontal plane. In that case the armatures must be able to move far enough to permit the above-described movement of the hose 14 over the compartments A, B, C and D. It will also be clear that the drawings give only a schematic impression of the actual apparatus. The various fastening elements required for fastening the relay 10 and the exact embodiments of the various hinge points and coupling mechanisms and the like are not shown in detail and are considered within the scope of an expert. Instead of relays, other means can also be used to achieve the movement of the ends of the hose. Instead of the relay 10, one can, for example, use an electric motor, the shaft of which is linked via a connecting rod and a driving rod to the sleeve 5. By rotating the shaft of the motor through 180 degrees, an upward or downward movement of the sleeve 5 is always obtained over the correct distance if the length of the crank fixed on the shaft of the motor corresponds to half the length of the path to be travelled by the sleeve 5. The relays 20 and 21, the accompanying rod systems and the cam plate 27 can, for example, be replaced by a 4-position drive mechanism with which the end of the hose 14 can can be shifted to four positions along a linear path. All these further embodiments, which are not illustrated in detail, are considered within the scope of an expert and will therefore not be discussed further. Fig. 4 shows a schematic view of part of a drinks vending machine, in particular a boiler with a water discharge mechanism connected to it. Fig. 5 shows a side view of the part of the drinks vending machine from Fig. 4, along the line V-V. Fig. 4 shows a tank 41 designed as a boiler and provided with a discharge spout 42, which is designed as an elbowshaped pipe section which is fixed by means of a cap nut in the side wall of the tank 41. Dn the inside of the tank, the relatively rigid hose section 44 is connected to this discharge spout via the relatively flexible hose section 43. As shown by the two-headed arrow in Fig. 1, the pipe section 44 can move between the position indicated by the lines drawn in the figure and the position indicated by the dotted lines 44' in the figure. A sleeve 45 is provided at the relatively rigid hose section 44 and near the relatively flexible hose section 43. A rod system, consisting of the rods 6, 7 and 8, is hingeable interconnected at the ends. A rod 46 is hingeably connected to the sleeve 45, and the other end of said rod is hingeably connected to the armature 49 of a relay 50. It will be clear from the figure that on activation of the relay 50, as a result of which the armature 49 moves downwards from the illustrated position, the rod 6 is moved downwards, thereby causing the hose or pipe section 44, as it were, to pivot about the flexible hose 3, and with the correct dimensioning the whole mechanism will at the end of the movement have reached the position showed by the dotted line 44'. If the activation of the relay 50 is stopped, the armature 49 - and thus also the rod 6 and the pipe section 44 connected therewith - will move back to the illustrated position through the action of a spring which is not illustrated. In the figure, the free end of the pipe 44 is above the maximum water level in the boiler, indicated by 52. When the relay 50 is activated, the free end of pipe section 44 will be immersed in the water below the maximum water level and water will be discharged from the boiler via the pipe 44, the flexible hose part 43 and the discharge spout 42, and via other parts of the device yet to be described. The relay 40 can, for example, be controlled by a timing system and with the aid thereof be activated for a particular period, so that during this period water is discharged via the pipe 44, the hose 43 and the discharge spout 42. The quantity of water supplied is then directly determined by these timing elements. It is, however, also possible to activate the relay 50 at least long enough for the water to fall from level 12 to the level of the pipe section in position 44', in other words, until the delivery of water stops In that case the quantity of water delivered is determined directly by the two levels. Fig.¯5 is a view of Fig. 4 along the line V-V in Fig. 4. The parts visible at the top of Fig. 5 have already been discussed with reference to Fig. 4. As can be seen from Figs 4 and 5, provision is made at the discharge side of the discharge spout 42 for another pipe or hose section 54, of which at least the part near the discharge spout 42 must be flexible, so that the pipe or hose section 54 can execute a more or less pivoting movement in relation to the discharge spout 42. The movement of the hose 54 is carried out using a relay 60. The armature 62 of the relay 60 is hingeably conne-cte-d to a rod 63 whose underside is connected to a ring shaped element 64 attached around the hose 54. The rod 63 is attached to the wall of the boiler construction and is rotatable via a rotation point 61. On activation of the relay 60, the armature 62 will be drawn into the relay 20, so that the top end of the rod 63 in Fig. 5 moves to the right and ring element 64 at the bottom end of the rod 63 moves in the direction of the arrow 65. During this movement the end of the hose 54 will thus be moved over a certain distance above a combination of receiving cups to be described. Underneath the bottom end of said hose 54 a configuration of four receiving cups is positioned, illustrated in general with the reference number 70. This configuration consists in principle of a combination of four receiving cups arranged into a rectangular array and fixed to each other or integrally formed together such that they can be considered as one component which is pivotable around an axis 71. The receiving cnp component 71 has in the illustrated embodiment at both sides extending parts 72 and 73 with through-going passages by means of which said receiving cup component is pivotably installed at the shafts 74 and 75. An extending rod 76 is fixedly connected to one of the extending parts 73, and 8 lever rod 77 is hinge ably connected to the outer end of said rod 76. The other end of the lever rod 77 is hingeably connected to the armature 78 of a third relay 80. It will be clear from the Figure that, when the relay 80 is activated, causing a movement of the armature 78 in the downwards direction, the lever 77 will cause a pivoting movement of the receiving cup component 71 to the position which is indicated in Fig. 4 by dot and dash lines. As soon as the control signal of the relay 80 disappears the armature 78 will be brought back to the indicated position under the influence of a not illustrated spring and the receiving cr.p component 71 will return to the position indicated by full lines in Fig. 4. Each of the receiving cups is at the underside thereof connected to a discharge hose 81, 82, 83 or 84, through which the liquid can flow to further destinations in the drinks vending machine in which the illustrated system can be used. As already said, activation of the relay 60 will cause a movement of the hose 54 in Fig. 5 from the left to the right. If the activation of the relay 60 is broken of, then the armature 62, and thus the rod 63, will return to the position shown in Fig. 5. It will be clear that by suitably controlling the relays 60 and 80 it will be possible to move on the one hand the bottom end of the hose 54 and on the other hand the receiving cup component 71 in such a way that liquid is discharged from the boiler into one of the discharge hoses 81, 82, 83 or 84. A further embodiment of the system according to the invention is illustrated in figures 6 and 7. Fig. 7 shows only the discharge hose 90 which in the unactivated situation hangs downwards vertically and ends above the central cup 91 of a cup receiving component which in general is indicated by 96 in figure 6. Said cup component comprises furthermore the cups 92, 93, 94 and 95 surrounding the central cup 91. Each of the cups of said component is at their bottom connected to a discharge channel, one of which is indicated by 97 in figure 7, running to further destinations in the vending machine. The cups are attached to the underside of a plate housing 98, the walls of which carry four relays, one of which is indicated by 99 in figure 7 and one of which is schematically indicated by 100 in said figure. The armature 101 is coupled to a bend lever 102, which is at 103 pivotably carried by the housing 98. Activation of the relay 99 will cause a downward movement of the armature 101 resulting into a movement of the downwards end of the lever 102 in the direction of the arrow 103 to the position indicated by dash and dot lines in figure 7. The result thereof is that the downwards end of the hose 90 will be moved from above the cup 91 to above the cup 93. De-energizing of the relay 99 will result in a backwards movement of the armature 101 and the thereto coupled lever 102 to the position illustrated in figure 7, and in the backwards movement of the hose 90 to the illustrated position. It will be clear that by means of three additional similar relays, one of which is indicated by 100, the downwards end of the hose 90 can be moved to any one of the cups 92, 93, 94 or 95, which movements are indicated by arrows in figure 6. It is remarked that instead of four relays it is also possible to use only two relays of the type in which the armature can move from a stationary position over a certain distance in the one direction or over a similar distance in the opposite direction. Relays of such type, comprising e.g. two relay coils, are known themselves. It is furthermore remarked that actuation means other than relays can be used for causing the movement of the flexible hose sections. However, because of the simplicity and the reliability relays are preferred.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Device for regulating the discharge of liquid from a tank, in particular for use in a drinks vending machine, characterised in that the device is provided with a hose or pipe section, one end of which is connected via a flexible hose to a discharge connection of the tank, said hose or pipe section being linked with means for shifting the other free end between at least a first and a second position. 2. Device according to Claim 1, characterised in that in the first position the free end of the hose or pipe section is above the maximum liquid level in the tank and in the second position said free end is at a predetermined level below the maximum liquid level in the tank. 3. Device according to Claim 2, characterised in that in the second position the hose or pipe section runs essentially horizontally. 4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the hose or pipe section and the flexible hose are located in the tank. 5. Device according to any of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that said free end at a level lower than the level of the discharge connection is movable between at least two positions, in each of which said free end of the hose or pipe section is connected to a different discharge pipe for discharge of liquid from a tank via the device to the particular discharge pipe. 6. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the hose or pipe section is connected with the armature of a relay, which means that the free end of the hose or pipe section can be moved between at least two positions. 7. Device according to Claim 6, characterised in that a strokeincreasing transmission system is fitted between the armature and the working point of the armature on the hose or pipe section. 8. Device according to Claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the working point of the armature or of the stroke-increasing transmission system on the hose or pipe section is chosen on the transition point between the hose or pipe section and the flexible hose. 9. Device according to any of Claims 5 to 8, characterised in that the free end of the hose or pipe section can be shifted between two positions in which the hose or pipe section on one side or on the other rests against a cam which projects over practically half the diameter of the hose or pipe section into its path of travel, and in that there are two relays whose armatures are linked with drive rods whose ends release the hose or pipe section when the relays are not activated, and which push the hose or pipe section in one direction or in the other past the cam when the relay in question is activated. 10. Device according to Claim 9, characterised in that the free end of the hose or pipe section can be shifted on each side of the cam to a further position in which the end does not rest against the cam, and the stroke of each of the driving rod ends is sufficient to move the hose or pipe section to the corresponding extreme positions when the relay in question is activated continuously and to hold it in that position, while with short activation of the relay in question the hose or pipe section, after reaching the extreme position and after relay drop, moves back and comes to rest in the adjacent position resting against one side of the cam. 11. Apparatus for dispensing a specific quantity of liquid from a tank, characterised by a device according to any of Claims 1 to 4 or 6 to 8, in which the volume of liquid is determined by the difference between the maximum liquid level and the level of the second position corresponding to said specific quantity of liquid. 12. Apparatus for dispensing a particular quantity of liquid from a tank, characterised by a device according to any of Claims 1 to 4 or 6 to 8, and timing elements which control the free end of the hose or pipe section in such a way that after movement from the first position to the second position for a predetermined period- the free end is held in the second position and then returned to the first position. 13. Vending machine for the dispensing of drinks, provided with a hot water boiler, the discharge part of which is linked to other parts of the vending machine, characterised in that a device according to any .of Claims 1 to 4 or 6 to 8 is used for the discharge of a measured quantity of hot water. 14. Vending machine for the dispensing of drinks, provided with a hot water boiler, the discharge part of which is linked to a number of discharge pipes running to other parts of the vending machine, characterised in that the coupling between the outlet part and the discharge pipes is achieved by means of a device according to any of Claims 5 to 10. 15. System for discharging a liquid from a tank to one of a number of destinations, comprising a discharge pipe section, connected to said tank, the non-connected end of said discharge pipe section being movable to a number of positions, cups - a number of receiving/guiding the liquid to conduits running to the respective destinations, the number of receiving cups being equal to the number of destinations, - an actuating mechanism for moving said end of the dis charge pipe section to one of said number of positions, in each of which said discharge pipe is above one of said number of receiving caps, dharacterized in that the actuating mechanism comprises a relay or similar device, the armature of which can be moved dependent onto a control signal supplied to the relay coil between two different positions, which movement is transformed into a movement of the end of the discharge pipe section to a first position or to a second position. 16. System according to Claim 15, characterized in that the actuating mechanism comprises a second relay or similar device, the armature of which can be moved, dependent onto a control signal supplied to the relay coil, between two different positions, which movement is transformed into a movement of the end of the discharge pipe section to a third position or to a fourth position. 17. System according to Claim 16, characterized in that the first end second respectively third and fourth positions are located at both sides of a cam which projects over practically half the diameter of the discharge pipe section into its path of travel, that the armatures of both relays are linked with drive rods whose ends release the pipe section when the relays are not activated, the stroke of each drive rod end being sufficient, when the respective relay is continuously activated, to move the discharge pipe section end to the first respectively fourth position and maintain the pipe section end in said position, while with short activation of the respective relay the pipe section end, after reaching the extreme position and after the relay is switched unactive, moves back and comes to rest in the adjacent position, resting in the respective second or third position against one side of the cam. 18. System according to Claim 15, characterized in that the actuation mechanism comprises a second relay, the armature of which can, dependent on a control signal supplied to the relay coil, moved to two different positions, which movement is transformed into a movement of the receiving cups to a first position or to a second position such, that with the receiving cups in their first position the end of the discharge pipe section can be moved by the first relay to a position above a first or second receiving cup, whereas with the receiving caps in their second position the end of the discharge pipe section can be moved to a position above a third or fourth receiving cp. 19. System according to Claim 4, characterized in that the receiving cups are arranged into an array of two rows and two columns, that the first relay takes care of the movement of the end of the discharge pipe section in the column direction and the second relay takes care of the movement of the receiving cups in the row direction.

Inventors: HOOGHIEMSTRA, GEORGE ALFRED
Applicants: JEDAHO B.V.
Application year: 1985
Main classification: A47J31
IPC codes: G07F13, B67D3, A47J31