Claims
- 1. A dilution station apparatus for diluting concentrates comprising:
- (a) a frame having at least one compartment therein for insertion of a refill module, the refill module including a venturi and an unlocking means;
- (b) a water valve housing including a locking means, said water valve housing connected to said frame and adapted to interface with the refill module;
- (c) valve means connected to said water valve housing, said valve means being operable such that said valve means is substantially either fully open or fully closed;
- (d) actuation means for opening and closing said valve means, said locking means preventing said valve means from being opened by said actuation means when the unlocking means has not released said locking means.
- 2. A dilution station apparatus for diluting concentrates as recited in claim 1 wherein:
- said valve means is a pilot operated valve.
- 3. A dilution station apparatus for diluting concentrates as recited in claim 1 wherein:
- said valve means is a solenoid valve.
- 4. A dilution station apparatus for diluting concentrates as recited in claim 2, said pilot operated valve comprising:
- (a) a valve body, having an inlet and an outlet and a valve seat;
- (b) a valve cap attached to said valve body, said valve cap defining a first chamber and a second chamber therein;
- (c) a piston slidably residing within said first chamber;
- (d) a diaphragm connected to said piston, said diaphragm being capable of moving with said piston to reside in a seated position against said valve seat and in an open position away from said valve seat, said diaphragm having a plurality of small holes therethrough so that fluid pressure on each side of said diaphragm is equalized when said diaphragm is in said closed position;
- (e) means for relieving the pressure on the side of said diaphragm away from said valve seat so that said diaphragm and said piston move substantially instantaneously to said open position.
- 5. A dilution station apparatus for diluting concentrates as recited in claim 4 wherein:
- said means for relieving pressure includes
- (a) a pilot shaft slidably residing within said second chamber;
- (b) a bore in said valve cap connecting said first chamber to said second chamber;
- (c) conduit means connecting said second chamber to said outlet, said pilot shaft normally residing in a seated position such that the fluid contained within said second chamber cannot travel through said conduit means to said outlet, a proximal end of said pilot shaft connected to said actuation means, said pilot shaft thereby being movable to an unseated position so that when said actuation means is operated to open said valve means, said pilot shaft is moved to said unseated position thereby allowing fluid to flow from said first chamber through said bore into said second chamber and from said second chamber through said conduit means into said outlet.
- 6. A dilution station apparatus for diluting concentrates as recited in claim 4 further comprising:
- spring means urging said piston and said diaphragm toward said valve seat.
- 7. A dilution station apparatus for diluting concentrates as recited in claim 5 further comprising:
- a valve plug residing in said second chamber thereby creating an annular chamber of said valve cap and an outside surface of said valve plug, said valve plug having a center bore therethrough in which said pilot shaft resides, said valve plug having a throat which is substantially coaxial with said center bore, said throat having a diameter larger than said center bore, said valve plug further having a plurality of bores connecting said throat to said annular chamber.
- 8. A dilution station apparatus for diluting concentrates as recited in claim 5 further comprising:
- a frusto conical member extending from a distal end of said pilot shaft, said frusto conical member seating against a seal means preventing fluid from flowing from said second chamber into said throat when said pilot shaft is in said seated position.
Parent Case Info
This is a Continuation-In-Part Application of application Ser. No. 07/702,870 filed May 20, 1991, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,677, which is a Continuation Application of application Ser. No. 07/553,937 filed Jul. 17, 1990, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,003.
US Referenced Citations (31)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
35497 |
Jan 1926 |
DKX |
385346 |
Nov 1923 |
DE2 |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
553937 |
Jul 1990 |
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Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
702870 |
May 1991 |
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