Patent ID: 6962270

Claim:
A multiple fluid mixture dispensing device for mixing one or more of a plurality of liquid concentrates with one or more liquid diluents, the multiple mixture fluid dispensing device, comprising: two or more concentrate flow control valves, each concentrate valve for controlling flow of a concentrate liquid in a downstream direction from an inlet to an outlet thereof, one or more diluent flow control valves, each for controlling flow of a diluent liquid in a downstream direction from an inlet to an outlet thereof, each concentrate and diluent valve having a housing body defining a flow passage extending therethrough from the inlet thereof to the outlet thereof, and the flow passage having a flow control portion defined by a flow orifice, flow orifice sidewalls, and one or more grooves formed in the flow orifice sidewalls, and the one or more grooves having a cross-sectional area that decreases in a downstream direction along the flow orifice sidewalls, a rod extending through the housing and into and substantially coextensive with the flow passage and the rod linearly moveable by a linear drive means, and the rod having a distal end portion opposite from the linear drive means for insertion into the flow orifice and the rod distal end portion having exterior sidewalls sized to lie closely adjacent the flow orifice sidewalls and the distal end portion for cooperating with a seat means positioned downstream of the flow passage control portion to prevent liquid flow through the flow passage when the rod is moved to a fully extended position by the linear drive means and the rod also moveable thereby to a fully retracted position for permitting maximum liquid flow and the linear drive means for holding the rod distal end portion at a plurality of positions along the one or more grooves for regulating the flow rate of the liquid as a function of the cross-sectional area of the one or more grooves, the outlets of the two or more concentrate valves and of the one or more diluent valves extending to a common nozzle.