Patent Publication Number: US-2005118047-A1

Title: Device for dispensing water in portions

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
      The invention relates to a device for dispensing water in portions, preferably hot water portions in a vending machine for beverages, where the device includes a water container, at least one outlet pipe connecting said water container to the inlet of a pump, a feeding pipe connecting the outlet of the pump to a plurality of dispensing valves, which in turn are connected to said feeding pipe through their respective inlet pipes, where each dispensing valve is adapted to dispense a portion of water through an associated feed nozzle.  
     BACKGROUND ART  
      Devices of the above type are known. These known devices are often encumbered with the draw-back that they calcify rather quickly and require a decalcification at regular intervals or even a complete or partial replacement.  
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      The object of the invention is to provide a device for dispensing water which significantly reduces the necessity of a decalcification at regular intervals and of a complete or partial replacement.  
      The device for dispensing water according to the invention is characterised in that the feeding pipe further is connected to a return valve arranged at a level above the fluid level inside the water container, said return valve in turn being connected to a return pipe including an outlet opening discharging into said water container, and that the dispensing valves and the associated inlet pipes and feed nozzles are arranged at a level above the outlet opening in the return pipe of the return valve and are connected to said feeding pipe within a part adjacent said return valve, said part also being arranged at a level above said outlet opening.  
      When the pump is periodicly or constantly activated it is thus ensured that the temperature inside the feeding pipe is kept above a predetermined level, such as 76°, and that the water is always replaced at least immediately before the vending machine is activated so as to dispense a beverage including a portion a water. When a water portion is dispensed, the return valve is closed and a dispensing valve is opened until the water portion in question has been dispensed. After the dispensing procedure, the pump is stopped and the dispensing valve in question is closed. Subsequently, the return valve is opened and the dispensing valve in question is opened again. As the dispensing valve and the associated feed nozzle as well as the connection thereofwith the return valve are all arranged at a level above the outlet opening of the return pipe, the pipe system associated with the water container is automatically emptied due to the difference in pressure between the feed nozzle and said outlet opening. As a result, no water remains in the dispensing valve and the adjacent water channels. Thus, the dispensing valve and the associated water channels are not subjected to a depositing of lime.  
      It is particularly advantageous when the dispensing valves and the associated feeding pipes and feed nozzles are all arranged in such a manner that the flow direction of the fluid during the dispensing of a water portion everywhere is downward with an inclination differing from 0° and preferably exceeding or being equal to 10° relative to horizontal. In this manner it is additionally ensured that the water returns to the water container after the dispensing of a water portion.  
      The dispensing valves may according to the invention be mounted on their respective mixing means, where one mixing means and the associated dispensing valve form a unit with the result that it is easy to mount and replace a mixing means together with the associated dispensing valve.  
      Finally, the dispensing valves may according to the invention advantageously be connected to their respective feed nozzles through an outlet pipe. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which  
       FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic view of a device for dispensing water according to the invention,  
       FIG. 2  is a vertical, sectional view through a mixing means in form of a unit to be mounted in a vending machine for beverages, and  
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view on a larger scale of the mixing means of  FIG. 2 , said sectional view being parallel to the sectional view of  FIG. 2  at a plane in front of the plane of  FIG. 2  with the result that a dispensing valve associated with the mixing means appears. 
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION  
      The device for dispensing water shown in  FIG. 1  includes a water container designated the general reference numeral  1 . This water container  1  is adapted to receive an amount of water  2  up to a level  3  indicated by means of dotted lines. At the top the water container is closed by means of a cover  4 , a guide plate  5  extending downwards from said cover  4  to a short distance from the bottom of said water container. To the right of the guide plate  5 , cf.  FIG. 1 , an inlet pipe  6  is provided which opens above the water level  3 . From the top this inlet pipe  6  extends through the cover  4 , and outside said cover  4  the inlet pipe is provided with a valve  7 . Fresh water is fed to the water container  1  through the inlet pipe  6 , cf. the arrows  8  and  9 .  
      To the left of the guide plade  5 , a heater  10 , an electronic temperature sensor  11  and an electronic level sensor  12  are provided inside the water container  1 . The cover  14  is furthermore provided with an overflow/vent hole  13  communicating with an electromechanical thermal cutout  14  through a conduit.  
      At the bottom of the water container  1 , two outlet pipes  15  and  16  are provided, where the inlets of said two outlet pipes are arranged at their respective heights inside the container. These outlet pipes  15  and  16  are connected to the inlet of a pump  17 , a control valve  18  being provided in one of the outlet pipes  15  and  16 . The outlet of the pump  17  is connected to a feeding pipe  19 , which extends to a return valve  20  placed at a level above the water container  1  and communicating with said water container through a return pipe  21 . The return pipe  21  is provided with an outlet opening  22  arranged immediately above the water level  3  on the inner side of the cover  4  and to the right of the guide plate  5 .  
      When the valve  20  is open, the pump  17  can pump water out of the water container  1  and circulate said water as indicated by means of the arrows  23  to  29  so as to return to said water container  1 .  
      A plurality of dispensing valves  30  to  34  are provided at a level above the outlet opening  22  of the return pipe  21 . The present embodiment includes five dispensing valves  30  to  34 , but the number of valves can vary from one valve to several valves as required in the vending machine for beverages in question. The individual dispensing valves  30  to  34  are all connected to the feeding pipe  19  through their respective inlet pipes  35  to  39  and furthermore to their respective feed nozzles or feed openings  40  to  44  through their respective outlet pipes  45  to  49 .  
      All the openings of the feed nozzles  40  to  44  are arranged at a level above the outlet opening  22  of the return pipe  21  and in connection with their respective mixing funnels  50  to  54 .  
      All the above valves as well as the temperature sensor  11 , the heater  10 , the level sensor  12  and the thermo cutout  14  are connected to a control member  55  by means of suitable conduits as indicated.  
      When the device for dispensing water shown in  FIG. 1  is used, tap water is fed to the water container  1  through the valve  7  in such a manner that the water level  3  is constantly controlled by the level sensor  12 . The entering tap water is guided from the top of the water container and downwards into the bottom thereof by means of the guide plade  5  in such a manner that the cold water entering the portion of the water container  1  with the heater  10  enters at the bottom and is mixed with the comparatively warmer water therein from below and upwards. The water temperature is measured by means of the temperature sensor  11  and heated by means of the heater  10  until the desired, nominal operating temperature has been reached, viz. approximately 97° C. The position of the heater  10  in the water implies that the temperature below the heater  10  is lower than above and at the level of said heater  10 . This difference in the water temperature is utilized by means of the valve  18  and the outlet pipes  15  and  16  so as to ensure that the dispensing valves  30  to  34  are supplied with water by means of the pump  17  at a lower temperature than said nominal operating temperature.  
      An securing against a dry boiling, viz. in case no water is fed, is obtained by the control members  55  being adapted to only allow a heating by means of the heater  10  when the water level is at the desired height inside the water container  1 . A securing against a boiling over is also obtained, viz. in case too much water is fed or in case the heater  10  is permanently activated, because the electromechanical thermo cutout  14  interrupts the current to the heater  10  when water flows out of the water container through the overflow/vent hole  13 .  
      When water of a specific, relatively high operating temperature is desired in one or more of the mixing funnels  50  to  54 , the pump  17  is started and the return valve  20  is simultaneously opened. The control valve  18  is kept closed, said control valve  18  being provided in the outlet pipe  15  communicating with the interior of the water container  1  adjacent the bottom of said container. Subsequently, water flows through the feeding pipe  19 , the return valve  20  and the return pipe  21  from the water container and back again to said water container through the second outlet pipe  16  which extends to a level above the heater  10  inside said water container  1 . The latter flow takes place within a relatively short period, viz. approximately 2 sec. As a result it is ensured that the desired operating temperature applies throughout the vending machine and that possible air bubbles are removed from the entire pipe system.  
      Subsequently, when the return valve  20  is closed and one or more of the dispensing valves  30  to  34  are opened, a desired portion of water is delivered to the mixing funnel(s)  50  to  54  in question. When the desired portion of water has been delivered either versus the time or by counting the pulses (IMP) from the pump, the dispensing valve(s)  30  to  34  used is/are closed while the pump  17  is simultaneously stopped. When the pump  17  and consequently also the water flow through the feeding pipe  19  has been stopped, the dispensing valve(s)  30  to  34  just used is/are opened again for a short period of time at the same time as the return valve  20  is opened. As the pipes surrounding the dispensing valves  30  to  34  in question and the return valve  20  are filled with water, and as the outlet opening  22  of the return pipe  21  is at the lowest level, all the pipes and valves in question are drained with respect to the water flowing back to the water container  1 . As a result it is ensured that no water is left in the pipes and valves in question, and consequently no lime can deposit therein. In addition it is ensured that water cannot drip or leak out of the dispensing valves  30  to  34  to the mixing funnels  50  to  54 .  
      When water is requested which must have a lower temperature than the above nominal operating temperature, the same procedure is followed apart from the fact that water is allowed to flow through the outlet pipe  15  by means of the control valve  18 . A suitable control of the valve  18  ensures the desired lower water temperature.  
      The device for dispensing water according to the invention renders it possible to obtain more advantages than the conventional devices where the water flow is usually caused to flow exclusively by way of the gravity. The water in the device according to the invention is caused to flow by means of the pump to the use location(s) at a considerably higher speed than the water in the known devices. When the dispensing valves leak, the water is prevented from unintentionally flowing to the mixing funnels. As the dispensing valves are arranged adjacent the use location, a relatively accurate control of the temperature of the tap water is ensured at said use location. When it is a question of a vending machine for hot beverages, the water container can be arranged at a highly advantageous location, viz. at a comparatively lower level inside the vending machine.  
      In order to ensure that pure water is always available in the pipes and that the temperature therein is kept above a suitably high temperature, such as for instance approximately 76°, the pump can be activated at suitable intervals while the return valve  20  is open.  
       FIGS. 2 and 3  show a mixing means in form of a unit. This mixing means includes a mixing funnel  60  which is supplied from the top with a suitable quantity of powder for the preparation of the beverage in question in a conventionally known manner. A dispensing valve  61  is mounted in connection with this mixing funnel  60 . The dispensing valve  61  includes an outlet valve  61  with a feed nozzle  62 , cf.  FIG. 3 , arranged in such a manner that the water portion supplied through the dispensing valve  61  is guided tangentially into the mixing funnel  60 . The mixture of water and powder flows out of the funnel  60  and downwards into a whipping wheel  63  driven by means of a motor  64  and ensuring the desired mixing of water and powder. Subsequently, the whipped beverage is carried forward to a dispensing location through an outlet  65 . Powder dust, if any, from the mixing funnel  60  is sucked out through a powder trap  67  by means of a pump in a conventionally known manner. The individual parts are mounted on a common unit plate  68 . Each unit can be easily mounted as an assembled unit in a vending machine for beverages and be connected to various pipes by means of stubs as well as be secured by means of suitable fastening means not shown.  
      As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the dispensing valve  61  and the associated inlet stub  69  as well as the feed nozzle  62  are arranged in such an inclined position, viz. approximately 10° relative to horizontal, that the passing water portion flows obliquely downwards everywhere during the dispensing procedure. The same applies to parts not shown of feeding pipes connected thereto with the result that stagnant water is left nowhere in these pipes, and accordingly no lime can deposit in said pipes. The inclination ensures furthermore that the channels in question are efficiently drained without air being caused to enter together with the water.  
      The invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments. Many modifications can be carried out without thereby deviating from the scope of the invention. The water can for instance be returned to the water container  1  through other channels than the channels shown to the right of the guide plade  5 .