# US 11,897,751 B2 · Cartridge valve and system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,897,751 B2 - Document ID: US11897751B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/118,109 - Filed: 2023-03-06 - Published: 2023-06-29 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2020-08-24 - Assignees: Lancer Corporation - Applicants: Lancer Corporation - Inventors: Robert Louis Robinson; Brandon Ojeda - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11897751B2 ## CPC - B67D 1/1281: {responsive to pressure} - B67D 1/0085: {electro-mechanical} - F16K 1/54: Arrangements for modifying the way in which the rate of flow varies during the actuation of the valve - F16K 7/14: arranged to be deformed against a flat seat - F16K 17/168: combined with manually-controlled valves, e.g. a valve combined with a safety valve - F16K 27/003: {Housing formed from a plurality of the same valve elements} - F16K 31/0658: {Armature and valve member being one single element} - F16K 31/0672: {the valve member being a diaphragm} - F16K 31/0675: {Electromagnet aspects, e.g. electric supply therefor} - F16K 47/08: for decreasing pressure {or noise level} and having a throttling member separate from the closure member {, e.g. screens, slots, labyrinths} - B67D 2001/0094: {Valve mountings in dispensers} - B67D: DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes B08B9/02; emptying or filling of bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels, or similar containers, not otherwise provided for B67C; water supply E03; pipe systems F17D; domestic hot-water supply systems F24D; measuring volume, volume flow, mass flow or liquid level, metering by volume G01F; coin-freed or like apparatus G07F) - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} ## Abstract A cartridge valve (22, 94) and system (10) are provided in which the cartridge valve (22, 94) includes a regulator (44, 96) a flow ring (67), and a solenoid (42, 100) which may have an adjustable stroke to facilitate stable flow control. Also, the cartridge valve (22, 94) includes a quick and easy installation and removal fitting (30 and 32). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A valve, comprising: a fluid inlet; a fluid outlet; a regulator coupled to the fluid inlet and having a regulator outlet; a solenoid comprising an armature configured to retract a retraction distance from a closed position to an open position to allow fluid flow between the regulator outlet and the fluid outlet, the armature adapted to stop fluid flow between the regulator outlet and the fluid outlet in the closed position; and a flow ring comprising at least one slot through which fluid flows between the regulator outlet and the fluid outlet in the open position, the flow ring configured such that an increase in the retraction distance exposes more of the at least one slot for fluid flow between the regulator outlet and the fluid outlet. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, and further comprising an adjustable stop configured to adjustably set the retraction distance. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The valve of claim 2, wherein the adjustable stop comprises an adjustment screw, the adjustment screw including a shaft with an armature end that restricts retraction of the armature. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein the flow ring surrounds the regulator outlet. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The valve of claim 4, wherein the flow ring has an inside diameter, the valve further comprising a diaphragm coupled to a regulator end of the armature, the diaphragm including a first section adapted to close the regulator outlet in the closed position, and a second section having an outside diameter equal to or greater than the inside diameter of the flow ring. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein the flow ring surrounds a ring outlet, the ring outlet in fluid communication with the fluid outlet, the flow ring including at least one slot in fluid communication with the regulator outlet, the regulator outlet being outside the flow ring. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The valve of claim 6, wherein the flow ring has an inside diameter, the valve further comprising a diaphragm coupled to a regulator end of the armature, the diaphragm including a first section adapted to close the ring outlet in the closed position, and a second section having an outside diameter equal to or greater than the inside diameter of the flow ring. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, and further comprising a diaphragm coupled to a regulator end of the armature, the diaphragm adapted to isolate the armature from fluid flowing from the regulator outlet. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, and further comprising a diaphragm coupled to a regulator end of the armature, the diaphragm including a first section adapted to close fluid flow between the regulator outlet and the fluid outlet in the closed position, and a second section adapted to isolate the armature from fluid flowing from the regulator outlet. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, and further comprising features adapted for coupling with a backblock in a bayonet fitting arrangement. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, and wherein the regulator and solenoid are arranged in a substantially linear arrangement, and housed axially in a substantially cylindrical housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein the regulator and solenoid are arranged substantially linearly. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein the fluid outlet is positioned between the regulator and the solenoid. ### Claim 14 A beverage dispensing system, comprising: a water valve coupled to a water inlet; a beverage base valve coupled to a beverage base inlet; a user interface; a controller coupled to the water valve, the beverage base valve, and the user interface; a nozzle; wherein the water valve and the beverage base valve each comprise: a fluid inlet; a fluid outlet coupled to the nozzle; a regulator coupled to the fluid inlet and having a regulator outlet; and a solenoid, comprising an armature configured to retract a retraction distance from a closed position to an open position to allow fluid flow between the regulator outlet and the fluid outlet, the armature adapted to stop fluid flow between the regulator outlet and the fluid outlet in the closed position; and a flow ring comprising at least one slot through which fluid flows between the regulator outlet and the fluid outlet in the open position, the flow ring configured such that an increase in the retraction distance exposes more of the at least one slot for fluid flow between the regulator outlet and the fluid outlet; and wherein the controller, in response to the user interface, is operable to activate the water valve and the beverage base valve to dispense water and beverage base to form a finished beverage. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the water is carbonated. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the water valve and the beverage base valve each further comprise an adjustable stop configured to adjustably set the retraction distance. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the water valve and the beverage base valve each further comprise a diaphragm coupled to a regulator end of the armature, the diaphragm adapted to isolate the armature from fluid flowing from the regulator outlet. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the water valve and the beverage base valve each further comprise a diaphragm coupled to a regulator end of the armature, the diaphragm including a first section adapted to close fluid flow between the regulator outlet and the fluid outlet in the closed position, and a second section adapted to isolate the armature from fluid flowing from the regulator outlet. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, and further comprising: a backblock adapted to respectively couple the water inlet and beverage base inlet to the water valve and beverage base valve, the backblock including a water shut-off valve coupled to the water inlet and a beverage-base shut-off valve coupled to the beverage base inlet, and features on the water valve and the beverage base valve, the features adapted for coupling the respective water valve and beverage base valve with the backblock in a bayonet fitting arrangement, and wherein the coupled water valve opens the water shut-off valve, and the coupled beverage base valve opens the beverage-base shut-off valve.