Abstract:
A beverage system includes a pump that draws a set amount of a flavored concentrate into a mixing chamber for mixing with water to form a beverage. A locking ring attaches an adapter plate to a pump head. When the locking ring is in a locked position, a magnet of the locking ring is detected by a reed switch. If the locking ring rotates from the locked position, the reed switch does not detect the magnet, indicating that the locking ring, and therefore the pump head, is incorrectly or not completely installed. The controller then stops operation of the pump.
Abstract:
A volumetric liquid metering device comprising a meter chamber (50) for receiving up to and including a predetermined volume of , liquid, an inlet conduit (46) for directing liquid into the meter chamber, a volumetric metering means (58) to indicate when the predetermined volume of liquid has entered the meter chamber, and a discharge conduit (64) for discharging liquid from the meter chamber in response to a signal from the volumetric metering means. It is preferable that the device comprise a pair of coupled meter chambers, wherein one meter chamber is arranged to be filled with liquid whilst the other discharges liquid therefrom. Valves are provided to control ingress and egress of liquid from the meter chambers, which alternate between chambers in response to a signal from the volumetric metering means.
Abstract:
A beverage system includes a pump that draws a set amount of a flavored concentrate into a mixing chamber for mixing with water to form a beverage. A pump head includes a piston opening that receives a piston and a water port that defines a water flow path. The pump head includes protrusions. An adapter plate includes a piston opening that receives the piston and a water opening that receives the water port of the pump head. The adapter plate includes depressions. When the adapter plate is installed in the pump, the piston opening of the adapter plate and the piston opening of the pump head align, and the water port of the pump head is received in the water opening of the adapter plate. The protrusions of the pump heads are received in the depressions of the adapter plate, aligning the pump head and the adapter plate.
Abstract:
Flexible conduit tubing used throughout a fuel dispenser (36). Flexible conduit separately houses wiring and supplies fuel for the operation of the dispenser (36). The ends of individual segments of the flexible conduit tubing contain fittings (11), which allow easy connection and disconnection with another conduit segment or other dispenser components.
Abstract:
A meter (70) coupled in close proximity to an underground storage tank fuel pipe (44) that delivers fuel from the underground storage tank (34) to fuel dispensers in a service station environment. The meter measures the total amount of fuel drawn from the underground storage tank. The meter may be placed in a submersible turbine pump (48) or in the main conduit that carries fuel to the fuel dispensers. The meter measurement is compared to the meter measurements in the individual fuel (32) dispensers that receive the fuel drawn from the underground storage tank to determine if a discrepancy exists. A discrepancy may be indicative of meter tampering, meter calibration issues, and/or a leak in the fuel pipeline between the underground storage tank and the fuel dispensers. A leak detection test may be automatically performed if such discrepancy exists and/or an alarm condition generated and communicated.
Abstract:
A two-piece dispensing cap (10) for a container has a body (14) and an insert (22) mounted for rotation within the body. The body has a sidewall (54) defining a cylindrical chamber (56) with an open first end (58) and an end wall (16) forming a partially closed second end. The body sidewall (54) has an inlet (62) while the body end wall has an axial opening (18), a non-axial outlet (26), and a protruding flange (40) for attachment to a container mouth. The insert (22) is received into open first end (58) of the cylindrical chamber. The insert has a peripheral wall (72) dimensioned to conform to the cylindrical housing interior surface (55) and a first insert end wall (32) including a protruding handle (24) extending through the axial opening (18) in the bodyend wall (16). The insert (22) includes openings (78, 30) to permit filling of the insert from the container and dispensing of the contents of the insert. An insert second end wall (80) is integrally formed with a hinge (82) to the insert peripheral wall (72) while an over-cap (42) is integrally formed with a hinge (44) to the body portion (14).
Abstract:
A toothpaste dispensing toothbrush 10 is provided that includes a main body 12 that contains a bladder 14 therein that serves to contain a volume of toothpaste. A metered dosing pump 18 is included that controls the flow of toothpaste from the fluid storage region 14 and through a conduit 20 that exits adjacent the bristles 23 of the toothbrush head 22. Each operation of the metered dosing pump 18 dispenses a measured and controlled amount of toothpaste into the bristles 23 of the toothbrush 10. In addition to providing a flow of toothpaste, the rear side of the toothbrush 10 may also include an additional "flavor burst" pack module 52 to deliver an additional flavoring or another material, such as fluoride, to the flow of toothpaste.
Abstract:
A meter (70) coupled in close proximity to an underground storage tank fuel pipe (44) that delivers fuel from the underground storage tank (34) to fuel dispensers in a service station environment. The meter measures the total amount of fuel drawn from the underground storage tank. The meter may be placed in a submersible turbine pump (48) or in the main conduit that carries fuel to the fuel dispensers. The meter measurement is compared to the meter measurements in the individual fuel (32) dispensers that receive the fuel drawn from the underground storage tank to determine if a discrepancy exists. A discrepancy may be indicative of meter tampering, meter calibration issues, and/or a leak in the fuel pipeline between the underground storage tank and the fuel dispensers. A leak detection test may be automatically performed if such discrepancy exists and/or an alarm condition generated and communicated.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a drink dispenser comprising two or more drink supplies in the form of fluid reservoirs for supplying two or more corresponding drink components; a drink output coupled to each of the fluid reservoirs to output a drink comprising one or more of the drink components; measuring means in the form of a flow meter for measuring the quantity of drink components supplied from each fluid reservoir; input means for receiving a drink request for a drink comprising one or more of the drink components; and drink output control means for controlling the quantity of drink components supplied from the fluid reservoir to supply the requested drink to the drink output.
Abstract:
A fuel pump unit (1) for dispensing fuel comprises a fuel container (2), a fuel conduit (4) connected to the fuel container (2), and a metering means (11) which is arranged in the conduit (4) to measure a flow of fuel therethrough. The metering means (11) comprises a first metering unit (14) to measure the flow of fuel within a first flow range, and a second metering unit (12) to measure the flow of fuel within a second flow range. The first flow range comprises larger flows of fluid than the second flow range.