Apparatus for dispensing a liquid from a liquid storage container

Abstract

A removable liquid transport assembly configured to be readily installed in and removed from a liquid dispenser to permit the liquid dispenser to be readily sanitized. The removable liquid transport assembly preferably includes a liquid manifold, a valve assembly and a pump head. The removable liquid transport assembly is configured such that liquid can flow in a first direction through the removable liquid transport assembly to permit a liquid to be dispensed from a liquid dispenser and liquid can flow in a second direction back to a liquid storage container to prevent damage to one or more components of the liquid dispenser.

Claims

1. An apparatus for dispensing a liquid from a liquid storage container operably associated with the apparatus for dispensing a liquid, said apparatus comprising: (a) a main housing having a dispensing location from which liquid from a liquid storage container is dispensed and a storage location for storing said liquid storage container, said dispensing location being disposed above at least a portion of said storage location; (b) a reservoir disposed in said housing, said reservoir being configured to receive a liquid from said liquid storage container prior to said liquid being dispensed from said main housing; and, (c) a removable manifold operably connected to said reservoir and said liquid storage container for conveying liquid between said reservoir and said liquid storage container, said removable manifold being further operably connected to said dispensing location to convey a liquid from said reservoir towards said dispensing location, said removable manifold having an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said upper chamber being configured to direct a liquid from said reservoir towards said dispensing location in a substantially horizontal path, said lower chamber being configured to convey liquid between said liquid storage container and said reservoir in a substantially horizontal path, at least a portion of said upper chamber being disposed above at least a portion of said lower chamber.

2. The apparatus recited in claim 1, further including: a dispensing conduit housing detachably connected to said removable manifold.

3. The apparatus recited in claim 2, further including: a dispensing conduit housed in said dispensing conduit housing, said dispensing conduit being connected to an outlet end of said upper chamber.

4. The apparatus recited in claim 3, wherein: said dispensing conduit housing is substantially rigid.

5. The apparatus recited in claim 4, wherein: said removable manifold is substantially rigid.

6. An apparatus for dispensing a liquid from a liquid storage container operably associated with the apparatus for dispensing a liquid, said apparatus comprising: (a) a main housing having a dispensing location from which liquid from a liquid storage container is dispensed and a storage location for storing said liquid storage container, said dispensing location being disposed above at least a portion of said storage location; (b) a reservoir disposed in said housing, said reservoir being configured to receive a liquid from said liquid storage container prior to said liquid being dispensed from said main housing; and, (c) a removable manifold operably connected to said reservoir and said liquid storage container for conveying liquid between said reservoir and said liquid storage container, said removable manifold being further operably connected to said dispensing location to convey a liquid from said reservoir towards said dispensing location, said removable manifold having an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said upper chamber being configured to direct a liquid from said reservoir towards said dispensing location in a substantially first horizontal path, said lower chamber being configured to convey liquid between said liquid storage container and said reservoir in a substantially second horizontal path, said substantially first horizontal path being disposed above said substantially second horizontal path.

7. The apparatus recited in claim 6, further including: a dispensing conduit housing detachably connected to said removable manifold.

8. The apparatus recited in claim 7, further including: a dispensing conduit housed in said dispensing conduit housing, said dispensing conduit being connected to an outlet end of said upper chamber.

9. The apparatus recited in claim 8, wherein: said dispensing conduit housing is substantially rigid.

10. The apparatus recited in claim 9, wherein: said removable manifold is substantially rigid.

11. An apparatus for dispensing a liquid from a liquid storage container operably associated with the apparatus for dispensing a liquid, said apparatus comprising: (a) a main housing having a dispensing location from which liquid from a liquid storage container is dispensed and a storage location for storing said liquid storage container, said dispensing location being disposed above at least a portion of said storage location; (b) a reservoir disposed in said housing, said reservoir being configured to receive a liquid from said liquid storage container prior to said liquid being dispensed from said main housing; and, (c) a removable manifold operably connected to said reservoir and said liquid storage container for conveying liquid between said reservoir and said liquid storage container, said removable manifold being further operably connected to said dispensing location to convey a liquid from said reservoir towards said dispensing location, said removable manifold having an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said upper chamber includes a first section and a second section, said second section being configured to receive an upper end of a reservoir dip tube, said second section having a wall portion shared by said upper chamber and said lower chamber, said first section of said upper chamber being configured to direct a liquid from said reservoir towards said dispensing location in a substantially horizontal path, said lower chamber being configured to convey liquid from said liquid storage container to said reservoir in a substantially horizontal path, said first section of said upper chamber being disposed above at least a portion of said lower chamber.

12. The apparatus recited in claim 11, wherein: said lower chamber includes an annular collar for receiving an uppermost portion of said reservoir, said lower section being configured to convey liquid from said liquid storage container through said annular collar around a reservoir dip tube to fill said reservoir.

13. An apparatus for a bottom-loading liquid dispenser to convey a liquid between a liquid storage container and a dispensing location of the bottom-loading liquid dispenser, said apparatus comprising: (a) a removable manifold including a reservoir, a reservoir dip tube, an upper section and a lower section, said removable manifold further including a liquid dispensing conduit for dispensing a liquid from the bottom-loading liquid dispenser when said removable manifold is installed in an operating position in the bottom-loading liquid dispenser, an outlet of said upper section being connected to said liquid dispensing conduit and an inlet of said upper section being connected to said reservoir, said upper section being configured to convey a liquid in a first flow path from said reservoir into said liquid dispensing conduit, said outlet of said upper section being formed in a horizontally extending portion of said upper section of said manifold, said lower section of said removable manifold including an inlet for receiving a liquid from a liquid storage container of a liquid dispenser stored below said removable manifold when said removable manifold is installed in an operating position in the bottom-loading liquid dispenser, said lower section being configured to convey liquid from said liquid storage container to said reservoir in a second flow path, and at least a portion of said upper section being disposed above at least a portion of said lower section.

14. The apparatus recited in claim 13, further including: a dispensing conduit housing detachably connected to said removable manifold for housing said liquid dispensing conduit.

15. An apparatus for a bottom-loading liquid dispenser to convey a liquid between a liquid storage container and a dispensing location of the bottom-loading liquid dispenser, said apparatus comprising: (a) a removable manifold including a reservoir, a reservoir dip tube extending into said reservoir, an upper section and a lower section, said removable manifold further including a liquid dispensing conduit for dispensing a liquid from the bottom-loading liquid dispenser when said removable manifold is installed in an operating position in the bottom-loading liquid dispenser, an outlet of said upper section being connected to said liquid dispensing conduit and an inlet of said upper section being connected to said reservoir, said outlet of said upper section being formed in a horizontally extending portion of said upper section, said upper section being configured to convey a liquid in a first flow path from said reservoir into said liquid dispensing conduit, said lower section of said removable manifold including an inlet for receiving a liquid from a liquid storage container of a liquid dispenser stored below said removable manifold when said removable manifold is installed in an operating position in the bottom-loading liquid dispenser, said lower section further including an annular portion configured to connect with an annular upper portion of said reservoir, said lower section being configured to convey liquid from said liquid storage container through said annular portion of said lower section and around said reservoir dip tube to fill said reservoir in a second flow path, and wherein at least a portion of said upper section extends upwardly from said lower section.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a water dispenser formed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention with the liquid transport assembly removed therefrom.

(2) FIG. 2 is a view similar to that depicted in FIG. 1 with the liquid transport assembly formed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention installed in the water dispenser.

(3) FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of a water dispenser formed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention with the water bottle and portions of the main housing removed.

(4) FIG. 4 is fragmentary perspective view of a water dispenser formed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to that depicted in FIG. 4 but from a slightly different vantage point to reveal components not readily seen in FIG. 4.

(6) FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a water dispenser formed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention with various aspects shown in phantom to permit viewing of other components.

(7) FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid transport assembly formed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(8) FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a liquid transport assembly formed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(9) FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of a liquid transport assembly formed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention with various aspects shown in phantom to permit viewing of other components.

(10) FIG. 9A is a perspective view of a portion of the liquid transport assembly formed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(11) FIG. 9B is a perspective view similar to FIG. 9A with portions removed to permit viewing of the internal cavity of a liquid manifold formed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(12) FIG. 9C is a perspective view similar to FIG. 9B with the cover plate for one of the lower chambers removed to permit viewing of the internal cavity of the particular lower chamber.

(13) FIG. 10 is cross-sectional view of a preferred form of valve assembly.

(14) FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred form of self-priming pump for a preferred embodiment of the present invention with the drive motor shown detached from the pump head.

(15) FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred form of self-priming pump for a preferred embodiment of the present invention with the drive motor shown connected to the pump head.

(16) FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a preferred form of drive motor.

(17) FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a portion of a liquid transport assembly formed in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention with the reservoir shown in phantom to permit viewing of the reservoir dip tube.

(18) FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the portion of a liquid transport assembly illustrated in FIG. 14 taken from a different angle.

(19) FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the portion of a liquid transport assembly illustrated in FIG. 14 as seen from the bottom.

(20) FIG. 17 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 14 with portions removed to permit viewing of the internal cavity of a liquid manifold.

(21) FIG. 18 is an enlarged perspective view similar to FIG. 17 with portions removed to permit viewing of the internal cavity of a liquid manifold.

(22) FIG. 19 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the liquid transport assembly illustrated in FIG. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

(23) The preferred forms of the invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1-19. The appended claims are not limited to the preferred form and no term and/or phrase used herein is to be given a meaning other than its ordinary meaning unless it is expressly stated otherwise.

FIGS. 1 through 13

(24) Referring to FIGS. 1 to 13, a liquid dispenser A employing a preferred form of the invention is illustrated in one of many possible configurations. In the most preferred form, liquid dispenser A dispenses chilled and hot water for human consumption. However, the present invention is not limited to a liquid dispenser that dispenses chilled and hot water for human consumption. Rather, the liquid dispenser may dispense other liquids including but not limited to ambient temperature drinking water and carbonated liquids. Liquid dispenser A includes a main housing B having a substantially hollow internal cavity for housing components of the liquid dispenser, a liquid dispensing location C and a liquid storage location D for receiving and storing a liquid storage container E in an upright orientation. Liquid dispenser A further includes a cover F pivotally connected to main housing B. Any suitable latch mechanism may be used to permit the forward edge of the cover F to be secured to and released from a corresponding front edge of main housing B. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a cup G is shown in the liquid dispensing location C. The liquid storage container E is preferably a conventional five (5) gallon water bottle oriented in an upright manner.

(25) Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a reservoir housing 2, a cooling system 3, a pump motor 4 and a riser tube guide member 6 are disposed in the internal cavity of liquid dispenser A. Liquid dispenser A includes a removable liquid transport assembly H as seen, for example, in FIGS. 2 and 6 through 9. The removable liquid transport assembly H includes a substantially rigid conduit housing 8 removably connected to a substantially rigid liquid manifold 10 as seen for example in FIGS. 4 and 5. Conduit housing 8 and manifold 10 may be formed out of any suitable material including plastic. Any suitable fasteners may be used to removably secure conduit housing 8 to liquid manifold 10. Further, it will be readily appreciated that conduit housing 8 may be permanently fixed to liquid manifold 10 or may be formed as one piece with liquid manifold 10.

(26) Conduit housing 8 preferably houses a pinch tube 12 and a dispensing nozzle 14. In the most preferred form, as seen in FIG. 9A, the pinch tube 12 and the dispensing nozzle 14 are formed from a single piece of silicon rubber. However, the pinch tube 12 and the dispensing nozzle 14 could be formed from separate pieces that are connected in a fluid tight manner. Referring to FIGS. 8, 9B and 9C, liquid manifold 10 includes lower chambers 16 and 17, an upper chamber 18 and a small vent hole 20. Liquid manifold 10 further includes an internally threaded collar 22 and a secondary dispensing port 24. Referring to FIGS. 9B and 9C, lower chamber 16 is smaller than lower chamber 17. A cover plate 19 separates lower chamber 16 and lower chamber 17. Opening 21 formed in cover plate 19 allows liquid to pass from lower chamber 16 to lower chamber 17. Referring to FIGS. 9A and 9B, lower chamber 17 and upper chamber 18 share wall portion 23. Referring to FIGS. 9 and 9B, for example, wall portion 23 includes a lower section/segment 23a that extends downwardly into reservoir 26. Further, wall portion 23 forms the lowermost portion of upper chamber 18.

(27) The removable liquid transport assembly H further includes a reservoir 26 having a neck portion with external threads corresponding to the internal threads of collar 22 so that the reservoir 26 can be readily connected to liquid manifold 10. It will be readily appreciated that reservoir 26 may be connected to liquid manifold 10 in numerous other ways. The removable liquid transport assembly H further includes a reservoir dip tube 28, a pump head 30, a valve assembly 32, a riser tube 34 and a liquid storage container dip tube 36 having a connecting member 38 for removably connecting the liquid storage container dip tube 36 to the lower end 40 of riser tube 34. As clearly seen in FIG. 9, lower section/segment 23a of wall portion 23 receives an upper end of reservoir dip tube 28. As shown in FIG. 7, the liquid storage container dip tube 36 extends into liquid storage container E through cap 42 of container E.

(28) The secondary dispensing port 24 may be connected to a hot water supply assembly I including a hot water reservoir (not shown), a hot water reservoir dip tube (not shown), a heating element (not shown), one or more conduits (not shown) for conveying hot water from the hot water reservoir to a second dispensing nozzle (not shown). The hot water supply assembly I can be omitted. Where the hot water supply assembly I is omitted, the secondary dispensing port 24 may be plugged to prevent the flow of water through port 24. Alternatively, the secondary dispensing port 24 may be operably connected to a second dispensing nozzle in a well-known manner to dispense water at ambient temperature through the second dispensing nozzle when lever 44 is depressed. Alternatively, the secondary dispensing port 24 can be connected to a carbonated liquid source to dispense a carbonated liquid from the second dispensing nozzle.

(29) Cold water tap lever 46 controls the flow of chilled water from reservoir 26 through dispensing nozzle 14. Referring to FIG. 4, a pinch valve 48 is operably associated with cold water tap lever 46 to control the flow of chilled water out dispensing nozzle 14. Specifically, pinch valve 48 acts on pinch tube 12 in a well-known manner to prevent the flow of chilled water out dispensing nozzle 14 until such time as lever 46 is depressed. Spring 49 biases lever 46 upwardly causing pinch valve 48 to close off pinch tube 12. Once the biasing force of spring 49 is overcome by a person depressing lever 46, a micro switch 51 activates self-priming pump J to pump water from container E upwardly through dip tube 36 and riser tube 34 into lower chamber 16 of liquid manifold 10. The liquid travels through valve assembly 32 and pump head 30 and passes into lower chamber 17 through opening 21. Liquid flowing through chamber 17 empties into reservoir 26 (which chills the water stored therein) which in turn causes chilled water stored in reservoir 26 to pass upwardly through dip tube 28 into upper chamber 18 and out dispensing nozzle 14. The flow of liquid when lever 46 is depressed is shown by the arrows in FIG. 8.

(30) Pinch valve 50 is operably associated with lever 44 to act in a similar manner to permit and prevent liquid to flow out a second dispensing nozzle (not shown). In the most preferred form, the liquid dispensed from the second dispensing nozzle is hot water. When lever 44 is depressed, pump J pumps liquid from container E through dip tube 36 and riser tube 34 into lower chamber 16 of liquid manifold 10 and out secondary dispensing port 24 into a hot water reservoir which in turn causes the hot water stored in the water heating reservoir to flow through a dip tube into one or more conduits connecting the hot water reservoir to the second dispensing nozzle (not shown) and ultimately out the second dispensing nozzle (not shown).

(31) Referring to FIGS. 8 and 10, the valve assembly 32 will be described in greater detail. Valve assembly 32 includes a valve housing 52 having a lower valve housing member 54 and an upper valve housing member 56. Preferably, a non-return valve 58 and a pressure relief valve 60 are disposed in housing 52. Non-return valve 58 includes a spring 62, a spring follower 64, a diaphragm 66 and a sealing ring 68. In the closed position, diaphragm 66 seats on annular seat 67 of sealing ring 68 as illustrated in FIG. 10. When lever 46 is depressed, pump J sucks liquid upwardly causing the liquid to pass through dip tube 36, through the riser tube 34 and through openings 70 in lower valve housing member 54. When the force of the liquid is sufficient to overcome the force of spring 62, diaphragm 66 moves upwardly off the annular seat 67 of sealing ring 68 which in turn causes the liquid to pass through flow hole 72 formed in diaphragm 66 out openings 74 in upper valve housing member 56. The liquid in turn passes through pump head 30 and enters reservoir 26 forcing chilled water stored in reservoir 26 to ultimately pass out through dispensing nozzle 46 as previously described. When lever 46 is released, the pump deactivates ceasing the flow of liquid from container E which allows spring 62 to reseat diaphragm 66 on annular seat 67 of sealing ring 68 as shown in FIG. 10. When the sealing valve assembly 52 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 10, liquid in reservoir 26 cannot flow back into container E.

(32) The non-return valve 58 is designed to minimize the pressure drop across the non-return valve to prevent the non-return valve from adversely affecting the flow of liquid from container E to reservoir 26. By designing the valve 58 to have minimal effect on the flow of liquid, the preferred embodiment can minimize the size of the pump. The pressure drop is minimized by the fact that to open the valve 58 flow in the forward direction must pull against the full area of the diaphragm 66 while to close the valve 58 spring 62 need only overcome the annular seat 67 of sealing ring 68. As is readily evident from FIG. 10, the outer diameter of the diaphragm 66 is significantly greater than the diameter of the annular seat 67 of sealing ring 68. In a most preferred form, the outer diameter of the diaphragm 66 is approximately 32 mm while the diameter of the annular seat 67 of the sealing ring 68 is approximately 8 mm. This relationship provides an advantageous pressure ratio of 16:1.

(33) Vent hole 20 allows air to escape through dispensing nozzle 46. When the supply of liquid in container E is exhausted, a small amount of air will be pumped through the liquid transport assembly and vented through vent hole 20 effectively stopping the liquid dispenser A from dispensing liquid until the exhausted container E is replaced.

(34) The pressure relief valve 60 includes a sealing element 76, a spring 78 and vent hole 80 formed in sealing ring 68. Should the volume of the liquid upstream of valve assembly 52 increase beyond a predetermined maximum volume, the upstream liquid will exert a downward force on sealing element 76 which in turn opens vent hole 80 allowing upstream liquid to return to container E. Once a sufficient amount of upstream liquid has returned to container E, the force of spring 78 will return sealing element 76 to the closed position preventing any additional upstream liquid from flowing back into container E. It should be noted that when liquid flows upwardly from container E in route to reservoir 26 the liquid does not pass through pressure relief valve 60 as the sealing element 76 is in the position shown in FIG. 10 to close off the vent hole 80. One condition that could cause pressure relief valve 60 to open is where a portion of the liquid in reservoir 26 freezes causing an increase in the effective volume of the liquid upstream of valve assembly 52. Without pressure relief valve 60, one or more components of the liquid dispenser A could be irreparably damaged.

(35) As seen in FIGS. 8, 9B and 9C, valve assembly 52 extends into lower chamber 16 of liquid manifold 10 and is secured thereto such that the valve assembly moves with liquid manifold 10.

(36) The self-priming pump J will now be described in greater detail with reference being made to FIGS. 11 to 13. In the most preferred form, self-priming pump J is a three cylinder swash-plate diaphragm pump having a drive motor 4 and a pump head 30. The pump head 30 can be readily disconnected from the drive motor 4 by merely moving the pump head 30 upwardly from the engaged position shown in FIG. 12 to the disengaged position shown in FIG. 11. Drive motor 4 includes a drive crank 82 that rotates upon activation of drive motor 4 by micro switch 51. The drive crank 82 preferably includes a sloping surface 84 that drive pin 86 of pump head 30 strikes when the pump head 30 is connected to the drive motor 4. The sloping surface 84 facilitates the mating of drive motor 4 and pump head 30 by guiding the drive pin 86 into the angled socket 88 thereby orienting swash plate 90 at the desired angle. Swash plate 90 is connected to piston 92 that moves in cylinder 94 formed in pump head 30. Pump head 30 further includes an inlet valve 96, an inlet chamber 98, an outlet valve 100 and an outlet chamber 102. As is readily seen in FIG. 8, pump head 30 extends into lower chamber 16 of liquid manifold 10 and secured thereto such that the pump head 30 moves with liquid manifold 10.

(37) To readily replace the bulk of the liquid transport assembly H, one need only raise lid F, raise latch 104 to the position shown in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6 to free conduit housing 8, turn rotating clamps 105 and 107 to the positions shown in FIG. 5 to free manifold 10, disconnect riser tube 34 from dip tube 36 and raise liquid manifold 10 upwardly which in turn causes all of the elements of the liquid transport assembly shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 connected to liquid manifold 10 to move upwardly with liquid manifold 10. Hence, the portions of the liquid transport assembly H illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 can be readily removed and replaced as a unit. Once removed the portion of the liquid transport assembly H shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 can be replaced with a new, sanitized assembly having the same components as the removed portion of the liquid transport assembly H. Guide member 6 having a hollow cavity generally conforming to the shape of riser tube 34 and having slightly larger dimensions facilitates insertion of the sanitized riser tube 34. Once separated from riser tube 34, dip tube 36 can easily and readily be removed and replaced with a sanitized dip tube.

FIGS. 14 through 19

(38) Referring to FIGS. 14 through 19, an alternate form of removable liquid transport assembly K will now be described that can be used with liquid dispenser A in place of liquid transport assembly H. Removable liquid transport assembly K is similar to removable liquid transport assembly H and, therefore, only the differences will be described in detail. The use of the same reference numerals to describe components of assemblies H and K indicates the assemblies have the same component. The removable liquid transport assembly K includes a substantially rigid conduit housing 8 removably connected to a substantially rigid liquid manifold 10 as seen for example in FIG. 14. Conduit housing 8 and manifold 10 may be formed out of any suitable material including plastic. Any suitable fasteners may be used to removably secure conduit housing 8 to liquid manifold 10. Further, it will be readily appreciated that conduit housing 8 may be permanently fixed to liquid manifold 10 or may be formed as one piece with liquid manifold 10.

(39) Conduit housing 8 preferably houses a pinch tube 12 and a dispensing nozzle 14. In the most preferred form, as seen in FIG. 14, the pinch tube 12 and the dispensing nozzle 14 are formed from a single piece of silicon rubber. However, the pinch tube 12 and the dispensing nozzle 14 could be formed from separate pieces that are connected in a fluid tight manner. Referring to FIGS. 14 and 18, liquid manifold 10 includes lower chambers 16 and 17 and an upper chamber 18. Liquid manifold 10 further includes an internally threaded collar 22 and a secondary dispensing port 24. Referring to FIG. 18, lower chamber 16 is smaller than lower chamber 17. As seen in FIG. 18, a cover plate 109 separates lower chamber 16 and lower chamber 17. Openings 110 and 112 formed in cover plate 109 allow liquid to pass from lower chamber 16 to lower chamber 17. Referring to FIG. 17, lower chamber 17 and upper chamber 18 share a wall portion 23 which forms the lowermost portion of upper chamber 18.

(40) The removable liquid transport assembly K further includes a reservoir 26 having a neck portion with external threads corresponding to the internal threads of collar 22 so that the reservoir 26 can be readily connected to liquid manifold 10. It will be readily appreciated that reservoir 26 may be connected to liquid manifold 10 in numerous other ways. The removable liquid transport assembly K further includes a reservoir dip tube 28, a pump head 30 and a valve assembly 108. A riser tube and a liquid storage container dip tube having a connecting member as described in connection with liquid transport assembly H may be used to connect the valve assembly 108 to a liquid storage container similar to liquid storage container E.

(41) The secondary dispensing port 24 may be connected to a hot water supply assembly including a hot water reservoir, a hot water reservoir dip tube, a heating element, one or more conduits for conveying hot water from a hot water reservoir to a second dispensing nozzle. The hot water supply assembly can be omitted. Where the hot water supply assembly is omitted, the secondary dispensing port 24 may be plugged to prevent the flow of water through port 24. Alternatively, the secondary dispensing port 24 may be operably connected to a second dispensing nozzle in a well-known manner to dispense water at ambient temperature through the second dispensing nozzle. Alternatively, the secondary dispensing port 24 can be connected to a carbonated liquid source to dispense a carbonated liquid from the second dispensing nozzle.

(42) The flow of cold water from reservoir 26 through dispensing nozzle 14 can be controlled with the components described in connection with liquid transport assembly H.

(43) Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19, the valve assembly 108 will be described in greater detail. Valve assembly 108 includes valve housing having a lower valve housing member 116 and an upper valve housing member 120. A plurality of openings 122 are formed in upper valve housing 120 as shown in FIG. 18. Referring to FIGS. 16 and 18, a conduit 123 connects the riser tube (not shown) to the chamber 125 formed by lower valve housing member 116 so that liquid from the liquid storage container may pass from the riser tube into chamber 125. Preferably, a non-return valve 124 and a pressure relief valve 126 are disposed in the valve housing. Non-return valve 124 includes a spring 128, a spring follower 130, a diaphragm 132 and a sealing ring 134. In the closed position, diaphragm 132 seats on sealing ring 134 as illustrated in FIG. 19. When a lever like lever 46 is depressed, a pump similar to pump J sucks liquid upwardly causing the liquid to pass through the dip tube, through the riser tube and through conduit 123 into chamber 125. When the force of the liquid is sufficient to overcome the force of spring 128, diaphragm 132 moves upwardly off the sealing ring 134 which in turn causes the liquid to pass through flow hole 136 formed in diaphragm 132 out openings 122 in upper valve housing member 120. The liquid in turn passes through a plurality of openings 138 into pump head 30. Openings 138 communicate with passageway 140 allowing liquid to pass through passageway 140 of pump head 30 and out opening 110. The liquid then enters reservoir 26 through openings 142 forcing chilled water stored in reservoir 26 to ultimately pass upwardly through reservoir tube 28, through chamber 18, through tube 12 and through nozzle 14. When the lever is released, the pump deactivates ceasing the flow of liquid from the container which allows spring 128 to reseat diaphragm 132 on sealing ring 134 as shown in FIG. 19. When the sealing valve assembly 108 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 19, liquid in reservoir 26 cannot flow back through pump head 30 into chamber 125.

(44) The non-return valve 124 is designed similar to non-return valve 58 to minimize the pressure drop across the non-return valve to prevent the non-return valve from adversely affecting the flow of liquid from the container to reservoir 26.

(45) The pressure relief valve 126 includes a sealing element 144 and a spring 146. When in the position shown in FIG. 19, sealing element 144 seals the lower end of vertically extending passageway 148 formed in sealing ring 134. Should the volume of the liquid upstream of valve assembly 108 increase beyond a predetermined maximum volume, the upstream liquid will exert a downward force on sealing element 144 which in turn opens the lower end of passageway 148 allowing upstream liquid to pass downwardly though opening 112 formed in plate 109 into annular conduit 149 preferably formed as one piece with plate 109. The liquid then passes through passageway 148, through openings 150, through chamber 125 and through conduit 123 in route to the liquid storage container. Once a sufficient amount of upstream liquid has returned to the container, the force of spring 146 will return sealing element 144 to the closed position preventing any additional upstream liquid from flowing back into the container. It should be noted that when liquid flows upwardly from container E in route to reservoir 26 the liquid does not pass through pressure relief valve 126 as the sealing element 144 is in the position shown in FIG. 19 to close off passageway 148. Sealing ring 134 includes openings similar to the openings in sealing ring 68 shown in FIG. 10 to allow liquid to flow from lower chamber 125 through opening 136 formed in diaphragm 132. One condition that could cause pressure relief valve to open is where a portion of the liquid in reservoir 26 freezes causing an increase in the effective volume of the liquid upstream of valve assembly 108. Without the pressure relief valve, one or more components of the liquid dispenser could be irreparably damaged. As is readily appreciated from the above description, when one or more conditions exist which cause sealing element 144 to overcome the force of spring 146, upstream liquid flows back into the container through valve assembly 108 without passing through pump head 30. In fact, liquid cannot flow from pump head 30 to chamber 125.

(46) As seen in FIG. 18, valve assembly 108 extends into lower chamber 16 of liquid manifold 10 and is secured thereto such that the valve assembly moves with liquid manifold 10.

(47) A self-priming pump similar to self-priming pump J can be operably connected to pump head 30. The liquid transport assembly K can be readily replaced in a manner similar to liquid transport assembly H.

(48) While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, it is understood that the preferred design can be further modified or adapted following in general the principles of the invention and including but not limited to such departures from the present invention as come within the known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains. The claims are not limited to the preferred embodiment and have been written to preclude such a narrow construction using the principles of claim differentiation.