Manitowoc Foodservice Companies, Inc.

Radar Engineers

Denise K Myers

Forrest Scott Seitz

Philip M Krebs

Charles C Kirkham

John D Cochran

Brian J Darby

A marker for locating an underground object such as a utility line features an elongate, flexible body, with an aperture near one end. The aperture has a 'keyhole' shape which imparts sufficient stiffness in the marker so that it does not readily bend or flex at the aperture when handling the marker, while also allowing the marker to break near the aperture when a firm force is applied to the marker.

Marker for buried objects

A beverage mixing and dispensing valve, or a beverage dispenser including the valve, includes an automatic shut-off features. A user presses a cup or container against a lever on a soft-drink dispenser. The lever closes a switch to activate the opening of a solenoid-operated valve. At the same time, a detection circuit is monitored to determine whether overflow of drink or foam has occurred. When drink or foam overflows and bridges a gap between two metal conductors on the lever, resistance is lowered and electricity flows in the detection circuit. The valve then automatically shuts off the flow of beverage. Energy is saved in keeping the valve open using a pulse width modulation (PWM) technique for voltage to the solenoid, rather than using a steady-state voltage.

Beverage dispenser and automatic shut-off valve

Growing community of inventors

Washougal, WA, United States of America

Denise K Myers