Provided herein are embodiments of a refrigerator valve and method of routing water through a refrigerator with the valve. The valve includes three valve bodies that route water in a refrigerator to different features. The middle valve body is higher than the two outer valve bodies, allowing the solenoid actuators to be mounted in a space-saving manner. The three valve bodies are linked by a central core pin that can be continuous or discontinuous such that the central core pin can provide fluid communication between all three valve bodies or divide the valve into two separate but linked valves. In a valve with a discontinuous central core pin, one valve body is isolated from the other two valve bodies so as to provide a redundant shutoff and allow a filter of a filtration unit to be replaced without having to shut off the water being supplied to the refrigerator.

The present invention relates to a proportional valve (1), particularly for fluid dispensing devices, comprising a main body (3) in which an inlet conduit (5) for an inlet fluid to said proportional valve (1) and an outlet conduit (7) for a fluid leaving said proportional valve (1) are defined, said inlet conduit (5) and said outlet conduit (7) being in fluid communication with each other, said proportional valve (1) comprising at least one shutter element (9) arranged between said inlet conduit (5) and said outlet conduit (7) adapted to intercept said fluid, said shutter element (9) comprising a movable fluid sealing element (90) adapted to intercept said fluid at one of said inlet conduit (5) and said outlet conduit (7) and a lever element (92) associated at a first end with said movable fluid sealing element (90) and at a second end with an actuator device (11), said lever element (92) being hinged about said main body (3) at a fulcrum point (94) arranged between said first end and said second end of said lever element (92), said actuator device (11) being configured for moving said lever element (92) of said shutter element (9) around said fulcrum point (94) so as to move said movable fluid sealing element (90) between an opening position in which the fluid communication between said inlet conduit (5) and said outlet conduit (7) is allowed and a closing position in which the fluid communication between said inlet conduit (5) and said outlet conduit (7) is prevented.

According to the invention, said actuator device (11) comprises an actuator element (13) made of a shape memory material which can be operated progressively to move said lever element (92) of said shutter element (9) around said fulcrum point (94) so as to proportionally vary the degree of opening of said movable fluid sealing element (90) between said opening position and said closing position, and vice versa, the variation of said degree of opening of said movable fluid sealing element (90) allowing the regulation of the flow rate of said fluid exiting from said outlet conduit (7).

A beverage dispensing apparatus includes: a plurality of reservoirs configured to supply respective fluids for delivery to an injection assembly having a single fluid input; a fluid delivery manifold defining a chamber, and having (i) for each of the reservoirs, a respective chamber inlet, and (ii) a single chamber outlet; for each chamber inlet, a respective valve configured to selectably open or close the corresponding chamber inlet; for each reservoir, a respective input conduit connected to a corresponding chamber inlet, to deliver fluid from the reservoir into the chamber; and an output conduit connected between the single chamber outlet and the single fluid input of the injection assembly, to deliver fluid from the chamber to the injection assembly.

The present invention provides a method for controlling a drinking-water supply device, the method comprising: a first step of connecting a guide pipe of a case separated from a cabinet to form a channel through which water moves from the case to the cabinet; a second step of supplying the cabinet with hot water heated by a second hot water module included in the case; and a third step of supplying the cabinet with water which has not passed through the second hot water module included in the case, wherein a first hot water module, included in the cabinet, for heating water is not driven in the second step and the third step.

A refrigerator for drinks is provided. The refrigerator may include a cabinet having a storage compartment therein, and a dispenser nozzle disposed to be at least partially exposed outside the cabinet. A pump connection line being able to increase pressure in a drink container by delivering high-pressure air into the drink container and a tank connection line preventing oxidation of the drink in the drink container by delivering an unreactive gas into the drink container may be disposed in the cabinet. Accordingly, two functions of discharging a drink and preventing oxidation may be individually performed, so consumption of an unreactive gas may be reduced.

Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of apparatus, systems and methods relating to transfer of fluids to/from containers and/or storage/transport of fluids in containers. In an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus comprises a container including a fitment having an opening. The apparatus may include a valve within the fitment. The valve may be configured to inhibit fluid flow out of the container. The apparatus may also include a transfer tube configured to be positioned through the opening of the fitment. The transfer tube may engage and open the valve to thereby provide an open passage to/from the container.

A dispensing nozzle assembly is provided including a nozzle member provided with one or more dispensing apertures to allow fluid to be dispensed therefrom in use. Closure means are provided on or associated with the nozzle member and movable relative thereto between a closed position, wherein the closure means closes the dispensing apertures and fluid cannot be dispensed from the dispensing apertures, and an open position, wherein the closure means are moved at least partially clear of the dispensing apertures and fluid can be dispensed through the dispensing apertures in use. Switch means are moveable between an “on” position for allowing fluid to flow into the nozzle member for dispensing through the dispensing apertures in use, and an “off” position for preventing fluid flowing into the nozzle member in use. The switch means are arranged such that movement of the closure means relative to the nozzle member moves or actuates the switch means between the on and off positions in use.

A detection device for detecting that a source is sold-out for a beverage dispenser, the beverage dispenser dispensing from the source via a valve controlled by a solenoid. A circuit board is configured to be positioned on the valve proximal to the solenoid. A detector is coupled to the circuit board, where the solenoid creates a magnetic field when dispensing from the valve, and where the detector detects the magnetic field created by the solenoid and consequently produces an electrical output. A control system is coupled to the circuit board in communication with the detector. The control system is configured to access threshold data and to compare the electrical output of the detector to the threshold data. The control system indicates that the source is sold-out based upon the comparison of the electrical output to the threshold data.

A liquid dispenser, such as a water purifier, in one embodiment includes a water discharger connector provided with a water discharge valve configured to control discharge of purified water and a water discharge pipe connected to the water discharge valve, and a water discharger coupled to an upper side of the water discharger connector, and provided with a connector part that connects to the water discharge pipe based on fitted-coupling.

Examples disclosed herein relate to conduits, devices, systems and methods, which may include a dispensing device including a valve configured to interact with an inlet stream, the inlet stream having a first pressure, the valve having an outlet area with an outlet stream, the outlet stream having a second pressure; and a solenoid configured to interact with the outlet stream.