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US 6,648,185 B1Granted
Electric pre-mix dispensing valve
AssigneeIMI Cornelius Inc.
InventorsPaul J. Henry, Stephen J. Czeck
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrically operated pre-mix valve includes a cup lever operable to activate a switch to energize a solenoid. The solenoid operates a first lever, which then contacts and operates a second lever. The second lever, in turn, moves against the contact end of an actuating shaft. The actuating shaft is thereby moved to permit beverage flow through the valve and out of a nozzle thereof. Thus, the valve herein uses a compound lever system to gain a mechanical advantage for substantially lessening the opening force required to be applied by the solenoid.
Claims16
A pre-mix valve, comprising:
- a valve body having a connecting end for connecting the pre-mix valve to a source of beverage and the valve body having a central bore extending there through between the connecting end and a nozzle portion of the valve body,
- an operating shaft extending through the central bore and operable between an off position for preventing a flow of beverage from the valve body connecting end to the nozzle and an on position for permitting such flow,
- a powered actuator for operating a first lever arm pivotally secured to the valve body,
- a second lever arm pivotally secured to the valve body and operable by the first lever by direct contact there with and the second lever operable by such contact with the first lever to move the operating shaft to the open position.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.