Claims
- 1. A sensor apparatus for sensing an out-of-syrup condition in a dispensing machine having a storage reservoir for the syrup and fluid lines coupling from the storage reservoir to the beverage tank of the dispenser, said sensor apparatus disposed in said fluid line and comprising; a housing having a through passage from one side to the other thereof, said passage intercoupling with said fluid line, means defining a hole in said housing, a probe, a means supporting said probe in said hole extending at least in part into said through passage and disposed substantially transversely to said through passage, a gap being defined between said probe and a wall of said through passage whereby syrup breaks from the probe providing a gap between the probe and syrup, said probe being disposed substantially vertically so that the syrup may break therefrom by gravity, said probe having an end the extremity of which extends partially into said through passage, means for securing a conductor to the probe, a circuit means and means connecting said circuit means to at least said probe, said circuit means adapted to sense the conductivity at the probe between the probe and syrup, said housing having means defining a same compartment disposed about said probe and over said through passage, pump means connected to said fluid line downstream of said housing to maintain at least a partial vacuum in said small compartment about said probe, said circuit means further comprising means for sensing an increase in resistance at the probe gap.
- 2. A sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the probe has a tapered end terminating in a tip disposed in the through passage.
- 3. A sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein a portion of the tapered end extends into the small compartment above the through passage.
- 4. A sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the tip of the probe is at a position relative to the through passage in a range of from 1/4 to 3/4 of the diameter of the through passage.
- 5. A sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for supporting the probe comprises a cap disposed in the hole that extends transversely to the through passage.
- 6. A sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 5 including means for sealng between the cap and the housing.
- 7. A sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said means for sealing includes an O-ring.
- 8. A sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the extremity of the tip of the probe terminates at about the center line of the through passage.
- 9. A sensor apparatus for sensing an out-of-syrup condition in a fluid line coupling a storage reservoir to a beverage tank in a dispensing machine, said sensor apparatus comprising a housing having a through passage from one side to the other thereof for intercoupling with the fluid line, and circuit means responsive to the conductivity of syrup in the sensor characterized by an electrically conductive probe, means supporting the probe in a hole in the housing so as to extend at least in part into said through passage and disposed transversely thereto, a gap being defined between a wall of said through passage and the end of said probe, said probe being so arranged that when disposed substantially vertically the syrup may break therefrom by gravity, means coupling said circuit means to the probe to sense syrup conductivity, and pump means connected to said fluid line downstream of said housing to maintain at least a partial vacuum about said probe.
- 10. A sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said probe has a pointed end.
- 11. A sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said means for supporting the probe comprises a cap disposed in the hole.
- 12. A sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein the depth of said hole is greater than the lenght that the cap extends into the hole so as to form between the cap and the through passage a compartment normally under vacuum when syrup is present in the through passage.
- 13. A sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said probe has a pointed end being disposed in the through passages and a portion of the pointed end extending into said compartment thereabove.
- 14. A sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein the pointed end of the probe is at a position relative to the through passage in a range of from 1/4 to 3/4 of the diameter of the through passage.
- 15. A sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 11 including an O-ring for sealing between the cap and the housing.
- 16. A sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein the extremity of the end of the probe terminates at about the center line of the through passage.
- 17. A sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said circuit means further comprises means for sensing an increase in resistance at the probe gap to interrupt said pump means.
- 18. A sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said circuit means includes a trigger means for detecting the conductivity at the probe and operable upon detection of a substantially zero conductivity.
- 19. A sensor apparatus for sensing an out-of-liquid condition in a fluid line coupling from a storage means to a beverage tank of a dispenser, said sensor apparatus comprising; a housing having a through passage from one side to the other thereof, said passage intercoupling with said fluid line, means defining a hole in said housing, a probe, a means supporting said probe in said hole extending at least in part into said through passage and disposed substantially transversely to at least a segment of said through passage, a gap being defined between said probe and a wall of said through passage whereby liquid breaks from the probe providing a gap between the probe and liquid, said probe being disposed so that the liquid may break therefrom by gravity, said probe having an end the extremity of which extends partially into said through passage, means for securing a conductor to the probe, a circuit means and means connecting said circuit means to at least said probe, said circuit means adapted to sense the conductivity at the probe between the probe and liquid, said housing having means defining a small compartment disposed about said probe and over said through passage, pump means connected to said fluid line to maintain at least a partial liquid vacant space in said small compartment about said probe, said circuit means further comprising means for sensing an increase in resistance at the probe gap.
- 20. A sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein the probe has a tapered end terminating in a tip disposed in the through passage.
- 21. A sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 20 wherein a portion of the tapered end extends into the small compartment above the through passage.
- 22. A sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein the tip of the probe is at a position relative to the through passage in a range of from 1/4 to 3/4 of the diameter of the through passage.
- 23. A sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said means for supporting the probe comprises a cap disposed in the hole that extends transversely to the through passage.
- 24. A sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 23 including means for sealing between the cap and the housing.
- 25. A sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 24 wherein said means for sealing includes an O-ring.
- 26. A sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein the extremity of the tip of the probe terminates at about the center line of the through passage.
- 27. A sensor apparatus for sensing an out-of-liquid condition in a fluid coupling a liquid storage means to a beverage tank in a dispensing machine, said sensor apparatus comprising a housing having a through passage from one side to the other thereof for intercoupling with the fluid line, and circuit means responsive to the conductivity of liquid in the sensor characterized by an electrically conductive probe, means supporting the probe in a hole in the housing so as to extend at least in part into said through passage and disposed transversely to at least a segment thereof, a gap being defined between a wall of said through passage and the end of said probe, said probe being so arranged that when disposed substantially verticaly the liquid may break therefrom by gravity, means coupling said circuit means to the probe to sense liquid conductivity, and means connected to said fluid line for forcing said liquid through said housing while maintaining at least a partial liquid vacant space about said probe and over said through passage.
- 28. A sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 27 wherein said probe has a pointed end.
- 29. A sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 27 wherein said means for supporting the probe comprises a cap disposed in the hole.
- 30. A sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 29 wherein the depth of said hole is greater than the length that the cap extends into the hole so as to form between the cap and the through passage a compartment normally under vacuum when syrup is present in the through passage.
- 31. A sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 30 wherein said probe has a pointed end with the pointed end being disposed in the through passages and a portion of the pointed end extending into said compartment thereabove.
- 32. A sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 29 wherein the pointed end of the probe is at a position relative to the through passage in a range of from 1/4 to 3/4 of the diameter of the through passage.
- 33. A sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 29 including an O-ring for sealing between the cap and the housing.
- 34. A sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 29 wherein the extremity of the end of the probe terminates at about the center line of the through passage.
- 35. A sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 27 wherein said circuit means further comprises means for sensing an increase in resistance at the probe gap to interrupt said pump means.
- 36. A sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 27 wherein said circuit means includes a trigger means for detecting the conductivity at the probe and operable upon detection of a substantially zero conductivity.
- 37. A sensor apparatus for sensing an out-of-syrup condition in a fluid line coupling a storage reservoir to a beverage tank in a dispensing machine, said sensor apparatus comprising a housing having a through passage from one side to the other thereof for intercoupling with the fluid line, and circuit means responsive to the conductivity of syrup in the sensor characterized by an electrically conductive probe, means supporting the probe in a hole in the housing so as to extend at least in part into said through passage and disposed transversely thereto, a gap being defined between a wall of said through passage and the end of said probe, said probe being so arranged that when disposed substantially vertically the syrup may break therefrom by gravity, and means coupling said circuit means to the probe to sense syrup conductivity, said probe having a pointed end, said means for supporting the probe comprising a cap disposed in the hole, the depth of said hole being greater than the length that the cap extends into the hole so as to form between the cap and the through passage a compartment having a liquid vacant space, said probe having a pointed end with the pointed end being disposed in the through passages and a portion of the pointed end extending into said compartment thereabove.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 590,994, filed Mar. 19, 1984, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,645,095.
US Referenced Citations (7)
Foreign Referenced Citations (6)
Number |
Date |
Country |
1473088 |
Nov 1968 |
DEX |
2505238 |
Aug 1975 |
DEX |
2927066 |
Jan 1980 |
DEX |
1365196 |
May 1964 |
FRX |
1061759 |
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Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
590994 |
Mar 1984 |
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