Valve for dispensing two liquids at a predetermined ratio

Apparatus for providing a mixture of at least two fluids, comprising:

• a first fluid supply line connectable to a source of the first fluid;
• a second fluid supply line connectable to a source of the second fluid;
• a mixing head fluid coupled to said first and second fluid supply lines for receiving and mixing the first and second fluids;
• means for controlling flow of the second fluid through said second fluid supply line to said mixing head;
• an orifice plate having an orifice arranged to vent to atmosphere, said first fluid supply line passing through said orifice;
• a controller;
• and
• a pressure transducer coupled to the first fluid in said first fluid supply line upstream from said orifice plate for measuring the pressure in the first fluid thereat and for providing indications of the measured pressure to said controller,
• said controller being programmed with flow values determined for a range of pressures of the first fluid and to control the flow of the second fluid to said mixing head in response to the flow of the first fluid in a manner to provide a desired flow ratio of the two fluids.

A method of dispensing a mixture of at least two fluids, comprising the steps of:

• coupling a first fluid source to a mixing head through a first fluid supply line;
• coupling a second fluid source to the mixing head through a second fluid supply line;
• flowing fluid in the first fluid supply line to the mixing head through an orifice in an orifice plate;
• sensing the pressure of the fluid in the first fluid supply line on the upstream side of the orifice plate;
• determining the flow of the first fluid through the first fluid supply line as a function of the sensed pressure of the first fluid;
• and
• controlling the flow of the second fluid through the second fluid line to the mixing head in response to and in accordance with the determined flow of the first fluid to provide a desired flow ratio of the first and second fluids to the mixing head.

A method of dispensing a mixture of at least two fluids, comprising the steps of:

• coupling a first fluid source to a mixing head through a first fluid supply line;
• coupling a second fluid source to the mixing head through a second fluid supply line;
• flowing fluid in the first fluid supply line to the mixing head through an orifice in an orifice plate;
• measuring a pressure drop in the first fluid passing through the orifice;
• determining the flow of the first fluid through the first fluid supply line in accordance with and over a range of measured pressure drops;
• and
• controlling flow of the second fluid through the second fluid supply line to the mixing head in accordance with said determining step to obtain a desired flow ratio of the two fluids to the mixing head.

A dispensing valve for dispensing first and second liquids therefrom at a desired ratio, comprising:

• a nozzle body assembly having first and second liquid flow passages having respective first and second inlets and first and second outlets for respective flow therethrough of the first and second liquids;
• a first liquid flow body assembly of the nozzle body assembly, said first liquid flow body assembly having a first liquid flow cavity fluid coupled at an outlet end thereof with said inlet to said nozzle body first liquid flow passage, said first liquid flow body assembly further including a valve member and an actuator for moving said valve member continuously between a first position where a liquid flow path through said first liquid flow cavity is fully closed and flow of the first liquid through said first liquid flow cavity is stopped, a second position where said liquid flow path is open for flow of the first liquid through said first liquid flow cavity and all positions between said first and second positions for regulating flow of the first liquid through said first liquid flow cavity as a function of the position of said valve member between said first and second positions;
• a first flow sensor for sensing flow of the first liquid through said first liquid flow cavity of said first liquid flow body assembly;
• a second liquid flow body assembly having a second liquid flow cavity fluid coupled at an outlet end thereof with said inlet to said nozzle body second liquid flow passage, said second liquid flow body assembly further including valve means in said second liquid flow cavity for interrupting or establishing liquid flow therethrough;
• a second flow sensor for sensing flow of the second liquid through said second liquid flow cavity of said second liquid flow body assembly;
• and
• control means for receiving inputs from said first and second flow sensors and connected to said first liquid flow body assembly actuator for operating said actuator to move said valve member relative to said first and second positions to regulate flow of the first liquid through said first liquid flow cavity in accordance with the sensed flow of the second liquid through said second liquid flow cavity.

A method of controlling a valve for dispensing two liquids at a determined ratio, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a valve body having fluidly separate first and second liquid flow passages having respective first and second inlets and first and second outlets;
• coupling the first and second liquid flow passage inlets to respective supplies of first and second liquids;
• connecting an actuator to the valve body for moving a valve member in the first liquid flow passage between a first position where the first liquid flow passage is fully closed and flow of the first liquid through the first liquid flow passage is stopped, a second position where the first liquid flow passage is open and flow of the first liquid through the first liquid flow passage is established and to all positions between the first and second positions to regulate flow of the first liquid through the first liquid flow passage;
• controlling flow of the second liquid through the second liquid flow passage;
• sensing flow of the first liquid through the first liquid flow passage;
• sensing flow of the second liquid through the second liquid flow passage;
• monitoring the sensed flows of the first and second liquids through the first and second liquid flow passages;
• and
• in response to said monitoring step and while the first and second liquids are flowing through the first and second liquid flow passages, controlling the valve body actuator to move the valve member to positions relative to said first and second positions to adjust flow of the first liquid in relation to flow of the second liquid to dispense the two liquids at the determined ratio.

A dispensing valve for dispensing two liquids, comprising:

• a water body assembly having a water flow channel for connection to a source of water and means for regulating a flow of water through said water flow channel;
• a syrup body assembly having a syrup flow channel for connection to a source of syrup and means for regulating a flow of syrup through said syrup flow channel;
• a nozzle body having a water flow channel and a syrup flow channel, said nozzle body releasably securing said water body assembly and said syrup body assembly thereto such that said nozzle body and water body assembly water flow channels are fluid coupled and such that said nozzle body and syrup body assembly syrup flow channels are fluid coupled;
• and
• a discharge nozzle, said nozzle body water and syrup flow channels being fluid connected to said discharge nozzle.

A dispensing valve for dispensing a desired ratio of two fluids, comprising:

• a first fluid body assembly having a first fluid flow channel for connection to a source of a first fluid, said first fluid body assembly having means for regulating a flow of the first fluid through said first fluid flow channel, said regulating means including a first valve member, a flow control element in said first fluid flow channel and drive means for moving said valve member from a first position closing said flow control member to a second position opening said flow control member and to all positions between said first and second positions, said drive means moving said valve member to a plurality of positions between said first and second positions corresponding to a plurality of first fluid flows through said first fluid flow channel so that the flow of the first fluid through said first fluid flow channel is regulated as a function of the position of said valve member relative to said flow control element;
• a second fluid body assembly having a second fluid flow channel for connection to a source of a second fluid, said second fluid body having means for regulating a flow of the second fluid through said second fluid flow channel;
• a nozzle body having first and second fluid flow channels, said nozzle body releasably securing said first and second fluid body assemblies such that said nozzle body and first fluid body assembly first fluid flow channels are fluid coupled and such that said nozzle body and said second fluid body assembly second fluid flow channels are fluid coupled;
• a discharge nozzle, said nozzle body first and second fluid flow channels being fluid connected to said discharge nozzle;
• first and second fluid flow sensing means in said first and second fluid flow channels for sensing flow of the first and second fluids;
• and
• control means coupled to said first and second fluid flow sensing means for receiving sensed flow rates of the first and second fluids, said control means controlling operation of at least one of said regulating means of said first and said second fluid body assemblies as a function of the sensed flow rates of the first and second fluids so that the first and second fluids are dispensed out said discharge nozzle in a predetermined ratio.