Beverage valve assembly mounting assembly

Abstract

A mounting assembly includes a beverage mounting assembly having a housing. The housing has a housing wall that surrounds a cavity. A valve body is connectable to the beverage mounting assembly. The valve body is connectable to the beverage mounting assembly via a clip. The clip is insertable into both the housing and the valve body to connect the valve body to the beverage mounting assembly. At least one actuator is disposed in the cavity of the housing. The actuator rotates from a closed position to an open position that actuates pressure to the valve body from a liquid source. The actuator is separate from the clip that connects the housing to the valve body.

Claims

1. A mounting assembly for a beverage dispenser, comprising: a housing, wherein the housing has a housing wall that surrounds a cavity, wherein the housing has a housing conduit in the cavity, wherein the housing wall has a top portion with a top opening therethrough and a bottom portion with a bottom opening therethrough, so that the housing conduit is between the top opening and the bottom opening, and wherein the housing conduit has a hole therethrough; a valve body having a valve body conduit therethrough; a clip removably insertable into each of the housing and the valve body, wherein the clip connects the housing to the valve body; and a spindle having an aperture therein and a longitudinal axis, wherein the spindle is in the housing conduit, wherein the spindle rotates in the conduit about the longitudinal axis from a first position to a second position, wherein the spindle has a first end that projects through the top opening of the housing and a second end that projects through the bottom opening of the housing, wherein the spindle further comprises a protrusion at one of the first end and the second end that projects away from the spindle in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein when the spindle is in the first position, the hole in the housing conduit is in communication with the valve body conduit via the aperture in the spindle, and the protrusion surrounds a portion of the clip, thus preventing removal of the clip from the housing and the valve body, and wherein when the spindle is in the second position, the aperture in the spindle does not align with the hole in the housing conduit and the valve body conduit, thus preventing communication between the hole in the housing conduit and the valve body conduit, and the protrusion does not cover the position of the clip, thus allowing for removal of the clip from the housing and the valve body.

2. The mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein the spindle is removably connected to the housing.

3. The mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein the valve body has a valve body protrusion and a valve body indentation, and the housing has a housing protrusion and a housing indentation, and wherein the valve body protrusion mates with the housing indentation, and the housing protrusion mates with the valve body indentation.

4. The mounting assembly of claim 3, wherein the valve body protrusion has a shape that corresponds to a shape of the housing indentation, and the housing protrusion has a shape that corresponds to a shape of the valve body indentation.

5. The mounting assembly of claim 3, wherein the valve body protrusion and the housing protrusion each have a hole therethrough, and a second portion of the clip passes through each of the holes.

6. The mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing has a plurality of housing conduits in the cavity, each with a hole therethrough, the valve body has a plurality of valve body conduits therethrough, a plurality of spindles, one in each housing conduit and each with an aperture therein, so that each hole in each of the plurality of conduits is in communication with one of the valve body conduits via one of the apertures in one of the spindles.

7. The mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing conduit has a plurality of holes therein, the spindle has a plurality of apertures therein, and the valve body has a plurality of conduits therethrough, so that when the spindle is in the first position each of the holes in the housing conduit is in communication with one of the valve body conduits via one of the apertures.

8. The mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing has an extension wall that extends beyond and covers the protrusion of the spindle when the spindle is in the cavity.

9. The mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein the spindle is inserted into the cavity by accessing an opening at the bottom portion of the housing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a beverage dispenser of the prior art.

(2) FIG. 2 is a front view of another exemplary embodiment of a beverage dispenser of the prior art.

(3) FIG. 3 is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a mounting assembly of the present disclosure.

(4) FIG. 4 is front perspective cross-sectional view of the mounting assembly of FIG. 3.

(5) FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial rear side perspective view of the mounting assembly of FIG. 3.

(6) FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial side view of the mounting assembly of FIG. 3.

(7) FIG. 7 is a front side perspective view of the mounting assembly of FIG. 3 connected to a valve body of the present disclosure.

(8) FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial bottom side perspective view of the mounting assembly of FIG. 3 connected to the valve body FIG. 7.

(9) FIG. 9 is an enlarged partial top side perspective view of the mounting assembly of FIG. 3 and the valve body of FIG. 7.

(10) FIG. 10 is a top view of the mounting assembly of FIG. 3 that is connected to the beverage dispenser and the valve body of FIG. 7.

(11) FIG. 11 is exploded front side perspective view of the mounting assembly of FIG. 3, valve body of FIG. 7 and a portion of a beverage dispenser.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(12) FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of a mounting assembly 100 according to the present disclosure. Mounting assembly 100 has a housing 102. Housing 102 has housing wall 104. Housing wall 104 has a plurality of wall openings 113 adjacent a perimeter of mounting assembly 100. Wall openings 113 are sized so that fasteners, for example, screws, can pass through each of wall openings 113 to connect mounting assembly 100 to the beverage dispenser.

(13) Housing wall 104 forms conduits 106 and 108. Conduits 106 and 108 each have an opening 110 at a top portion 112 of housing 102 and, as shown in FIG. 4, an opening 116 at a bottom portion 114 of housing 102. As shown in FIG. 4, a cavity 117 extends from opening 110 to opening 116.

(14) As shown in FIG. 3, each of conduits 106 and 108 has a plurality of holes 118. Each of plurality of holes 118 may be a single hole or more than one hole. Plurality of holes 118 are each show as two holes in FIG. 3 separated by a partition that is positioned on a 45 degree angle or diagonally between the two holes. Plurality of holes 118 are through a front portion 104a of housing wall 104 and, as shown in FIG. 5, through a rear portion 104b of housing wall 104 so that the plurality of holes are aligned to form openings through conduits 106 and 108. As shown in FIG. 3, each of said plurality of holes 118 is surrounded by a sleeve 119 that protrudes away from each of the pair of holes 118. Sleeve 119 is a cylindrical tubular shape.

(15) Housing wall 104 forms a first loop 144a and a second loop 144b on side 124 and a third loop 144c and a fourth loop 144d on side 126 of housing 102. Loops 144a, 144b, 144c, 144d are tubular in shape. First loop 144a has openings 120a, 120b, second loop 144b has openings 120c, 120d, third loop 144c has openings 122a, 122b, and fourth loop 144d has openings 122c, 122d through housing wall 104.

(16) Mounting assembly 100 has spindles 128 and 130. Spindle 128 has a spindle body 129 and spindle 130 has a spindle body 131. Spindle body 129 is removably connectable to housing 102 in conduit 106 and the spindle body 131 is removably connectable to housing 102 in conduit 108. As shown in FIG. 4, each of spindle bodies 129 and 130 have a plurality of apertures 136 therethrough so that spindles 128 and 130 are rotatable in conduits 106 and 108 from a closed position covering plurality of openings 118 to an open position that aligns apertures 136 and pair of holes 118 uncovering the pair of holes 118. As shown in FIG. 3, spindle 128 is shown in the open position and spindle 130 is show in the closed position.

(17) A clip 200 is removably connectable to housing 102 to removably connect a valve body 400 to mounting assembly 100. Clip 200 has a middle portion 202, a first side portion 204 and a second side portion 206. In a connected position, first side portion 204 is threaded through openings 120a, 120b of first loop 144a and openings 120c, 120d of second loop 144b. Second side portion 206 is threaded through openings 122a, 122b of third loop 144c and openings 122c, 122d of fourth loop 144d.

(18) Referring to FIG. 4, spindles 128 and 130 are cylindrical shaped. Spindles 128 and 130 may each have ribs 140. Ribs 140 are bearing surfaces of spindles 128 and 130 that contact housing wall 104 surrounding cavities 117 of conduits 106 and 108. Ribs 140 facilitate smooth rotation. Spindles 128 and 130 are connected to a sealing material 142 that surrounds apertures 136. Sealing material 142 is flexible so that sealing material 142 is compressed within conduits 106 and 108 and abuts housing wall 104 surrounding cavities of conduits 106 and 108 providing a seal therebetween. Sealing material 142 covers holes 118 in the closed position sealing conduits 106 and 108. Plurality of holes 118 having two holes separated by the partition that is positioned on a 45 degree angle or diagonally between the two holes facilitates insertion of spindle 128 into conduit 106 and insertion of spindle 130 into conduit 108 without damaging sealing material 142.

(19) Spindle bodies 129 and 130 each have a protrusion 132 and a slot 134. Protrusions 132 extend substantially perpendicular to the spindle bodies 129 and 130. Each of slots 134 is a depression in one of spindle bodies 129 and 130. Protrusion 132 and slots 134 are outside of conduits 106 and 108 when spindle bodies 129 and 130 are in conduits 106 and 108, respectively. Spindles 128 and 130 are in the closed position in FIG. 4.

(20) Housing 102 is connected to a plate 300. Plate 300 is connected to housing 102, for example, by bolts 302. Plate 300 has holes 304. Spindles 128 and 130 pass through holes 304 so that plate 300 fits in slots 134.

(21) Referring to FIG. 5, housing wall 104 has a wall 138 that extends adjacent to protrusions 132 of each of spindles 128 and 130 when spindle 128 is within conduit 106 and spindle 130 is within conduit 108. Protrusion 132 of spindle 128 is positioned adjacent side 124 in the closed position and protrusion 132 of spindle 130 is positioned adjacent side 126 in the closed position. Protrusion 132 of spindle 128 is rotated about 90 degrees away from wall 138 from the closed position to the open position and protrusion 132 of spindle 130 is rotated about 90 degrees away from wall 138 from the closed position to the open position.

(22) Each of the pair of plurality of holes 118 that are aligned to form an opening through one of conduits 106 and 108 connects to tubing that connects to a source of liquid. The liquid, for example, is carbonated water, still water, or flavor ingredients. Each of the pair of plurality of holes 118 are surrounded by a connector wall 121 on rear portion 104b of housing 102. Connector wall 121 connects to the tubing that connects to a source of liquid.

(23) Referring to FIG. 6, wall 138 is sized to extend beyond and cover protrusions 132.

(24) Referring to FIGS. 7-9, valve body 400 is connectable to mounting assembly 100. Valve body 400 has a connecting portion 408. Connecting portion 408 has a first connecting protrusion 410a and a second connecting protrusion 410b on a first side and a third connecting protrusion 410c and a forth connecting protrusion 410d on a second side that is opposite to the first side. First loop 144a has a complimentary shape to first connecting protrusion 410a and second connecting protrusion 410b to fit therebetween so that openings 120a, 120b align with both an opening 412a through first connecting protrusion 410a and an opening (not shown) through second connecting protrusion 410b. Second connecting protrusion 410b has a complimentary shape to fit between first loop 144a and second loop 144b so that openings 120c, 120d align with the opening through second connecting protrusion 410b. Third loop 144c has a complimentary shape to third connecting protrusion 410c and forth connecting protrusion 410d to fit therebetween so that openings 122a, 122b align with both an opening 412c through third connecting protrusion 410c and an opening (not shown) through forth connecting protrusion 410d. Forth connecting protrusion 410d has a complimentary shape to fit between third loop 144c and fourth loop 144d so that openings 122c, 122d align with the opening through forth connecting protrusion 410d.

(25) Valve body 400 is connected to mounting assembly 100 in a connected position. Clip 200 and plate 300 connect valve body 400 to mounting assembly 100. Plate 300 abuts valve body 400 in the connected position. First side portion 204 of clip 200 passes through openings 120c, 120d of second loop 144b, the opening through second connecting protrusion 410b, openings 120a, 120b of first loop 144a, and opening 412a of first connecting protrusion 410a in the connected position. Second side portion 206 of clip 200 passes through openings 122c, 122d of fourth loop 144d, the opening through forth connecting protrusion 410d, openings 122a, 122b of third loop 144c, and opening 412c through third connecting protrusion 410c in the connected position.

(26) Referring to FIG. 7, middle portion 202 of clip 200 is adjacent bottom portion 114 of housing 102 in the connected position. When spindles 128, 130 are in the open position, protrusions 132 are positioned over middle portion 202 of clip 200 so that middle portion 202 is between housing 102 and protrusions 132 to maintain clip 200 in the connected position. Middle portion 202 connects to each of first side portion 204 and second side portion 206 by a curved portion 208 that extends below middle portion 202 in the connected position. Curved portions 208 allow grasping by a hand of a user. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 8, middle portion 202 of clip 200 is adjacent valve body 400 in the connected position so that curved portions 208 and middle portion 202 of clip allow grasping by a hand of a user.

(27) Referring to FIG. 10, mounting assembly 100 is connectable to dispenser wall 1117. Dispenser wall 1117 may have openings (not shown) that align with wall openings 113. Mounting assembly 100 is connectable to dispenser wall 1117, for example, by screws 1400 that pass through wall openings 113 and openings of dispenser wall 1117 and mate with nuts to secure mounting assembly 100 to dispenser wall 1117. Valve body 400 connects to a bottom plate 1114 that connects to nozzle 1104 and lever 1106.

(28) Referring to FIGS. 7, 9 and 10, valve body 400 has a plurality of conduits 402. Each of conduits 402 is connected to one of plurality of holes 118 of mounting assembly 100 on a first end. Conduits 402 funnel liquid into a diffuser 1120 and/or nozzle 1104 prior to the exit of liquid out of nozzle 1104. Valve body 400 has four conduits 402. Each of four conduits 402 has one of flow control assemblies 404 and one of solenoids 406 for controlling flow of liquid therethrough. Each of flow control assemblies 404 is a metering device which, through a user set spring compression, allows fluid to flow at a given flow rate based on viscosity, pressure and spring setting. Solenoids 406 are electrically actuated members that drive a normally closed plunger/seal assembly to an open position allowing fluid to progress through its respective conduit. When current flows to the coil on each of solenoids 406, the current creates a magnetic field which acts to pull the plunger assembly up off of its seat.

(29) Referring to FIG. 11, beverage valve assembly 1100a has an electronic module 1116 and a keypad 1118. Electronic module 1116 controls flow control assemblies 404 and solenoids 406 to dispense a beverage as is known in the art. Electronic module 1116 controls dispense of the beverage based on user input through keypad 1118 and actuation via lever 1106. Nozzle 1104 may have a diffuser 1120 to control flow of liquid therethrough. Electronic module 1116, keypad 1118, lever 1106 and nozzle 1104 all connect to bottom plate 1114 that connects to valve body 400. Valve body 400 connects to mounting assembly 100, flow control assemblies 404 and solenoids 406 and is covered by cover 1102 that connects to bottom plate 1114.

(30) Mounting assembly 100 may be made of material, for example, metal and/or plastic.

(31) In use, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, housing 102 of mounting assembly 100 is connected to a beverage valve assembly, for example, by screws that pass through wall openings 113 and the openings of dispenser wall 1117 and mate with nuts to secure mounting assembly 100 to dispenser wall 1117.

(32) Spindle 128 is inserted into conduit 106 and spindle 130 inserted into conduit 108 by accessing openings 116 at bottom portion 114 of housing 102 from lower space 1113. Spindle 128 is inserted into conduit 106 and spindle 130 inserted into conduit 108 so that protrusions 132 and slots 134 extend outside of conduits 106 and 108, and plate 300 fits in slots 134. Protrusion 132 of spindle 128 is positioned adjacent side 124 and protrusion 132 of spindle 130 is positioned adjacent side 126 so that spindles 128 and 130 are in the closed position covering plurality of openings 118.

(33) Each of the pair of plurality of holes 118 that are aligned to form an opening through one of conduits 106 and 108, as shown in FIG. 3, is connected to tubing that connects to a source of liquid. The source of liquid, for example, is carbonated water, still water, or flavor ingredients that is pressurized. The tubing connects to connector wall 121 surrounding plurality of holes 118 through housing 102.

(34) Valve body 400 is connected housing 102 that is connected to dispenser wall 1117. Valve body 400 is positioned adjacent housing 102 so first loop 144a is between first connecting protrusion 410a and second connecting protrusion 410b so that openings 120a, 120b align with both opening 412a through first connecting protrusion 410a and the opening through second connecting protrusion 410b. Second connecting protrusion 410b is positioned between first loop 144a and second loop 144b so that openings 120c, 120d align with the opening through second connecting protrusion 410b. Third loop 144c is positioned between third connecting protrusion 410c and forth connecting protrusion 410d so that openings 122a, 122b align with both opening 412c through third connecting protrusion 410c and the opening through forth connecting protrusion 410d. Forth connecting protrusion 410d is positioned to fit between third loop 144c and fourth loop 144d so that openings 122c, 122d align with the opening through forth connecting protrusion 410d. First side portion 204 of clip is passes through openings 120c, 120d of second loop 144b, the opening through second connecting protrusion 410b, openings 120a, 120b of first loop 144a, and opening 412a of first connecting protrusion 410a. Second side portion 206 of clip 200 passes through openings 122c, 122d of fourth loop 144d, the opening through forth connecting protrusion 410d, openings 122a, 122b of third loop 144c, and opening 412c through third connecting protrusion 410c. Valve body 400 also connects to a bottom plate 1114 that connects to nozzle 1104 and lever 1106.

(35) Once valve body 400 is connected to mounting assembly 100, protrusion 132 of spindle 128 is rotated about 90 degrees from the closed position to the open position and protrusion 132 of spindle 130 is rotated about 90 degrees from the closed position to the open position to actuate pressure to valve body 400 and beverage valve assembly 1100a from the source of liquid. Protrusions 132 in the open position are below middle portion 202 of clip 200 locking clip 200 in place. The remaining components of the beverage valve assembly are assembled, and the beverage valve assembly is ready for operation.

(36) To service the valve body 400 or mounting assembly 100 of the beverage valve assembly, protrusion 132 of spindle 128 is rotated about 90 degrees from the open position to the closed position and protrusion 132 of spindle 130 is rotated about 90 degrees from the open position to the closed position blocking the passage of the liquid to valve body 400 to depressurize valve body 400 and beverage valve assembly 1100a closing communication between valve body 400 and the source of liquid. In the closed position, clip 200 may be removed from housing 102 and valve body 400 so that valve body 400 may be removed from housing 102 to be removed for service. In addition, the screws may be removed from housing 102 and dispenser wall 1117 so that mounting assembly may be removed for service.

(37) Mounting assembly 100 connects housing 102 to valve body 400 by clip 200, and separately actuates pressure to valve body 400 by rotating spindles 128 and 132. Thus, mounting assembly 100 allows connection of valve body 400 to mounting assembly 100, and then actuating the pressure from the liquid source to valve body 400 by mounting assembly 100 for ease of installation.

(38) Access by a user to actuate pressure to the valve body 400 and beverage valve assembly 1100a is located at bottom portion 114 of housing 102 by rotating spindles 128 and 132. Therefore, it is not necessary for users to access mounting assembly 100 through upper space 1112 for installation and service of valve body 400 and mounting assembly 100. Rather, mounting assembly 100 can be accessed through lower space 1113 that is greater in size than upper space 1112 for installation and service of valve body 400 and mounting assembly 100. Protrusions 132 are sized so that minimal clearance is needed in rear space 1115 for rotating protrusions 132 from the closed position to the open position.

(39) Wall 138 protruding downward covers spindles and a majority of clip 200. Wall 138 and positioning protrusions 132 of spindles 128, 130 over middle portion 202 of clip minimizes vandalism and clip 200 removal by unauthorized users.

(40) It should also be recognized that the terms first, second, third, upper, lower, and the like may be used herein to modify various elements. These modifiers do not imply a spatial, sequential, or hierarchical order to the modified elements unless specifically stated.

(41) While the present disclosure has been described with reference to one or more exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed as the best mode contemplated, but that the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.