King-seeley Thermos Co.

Scotsman Group LLC

Robert L Latzko

Doyle Raymer

Dipak J Negandhi

Ronald J Mrugala

Dennis J Heyden

The vent on demand system for bottled water coolers employs a suction wand having water suction tube, vent tube and air pressure tube for sensing the water level within the bottle. The plumbing system is only exposed to atmospheric air during water dispensing. Air pressure trapped within a bulb well located at the lowermost end of the wand responds to water level within the bottle by changing air pressure which is sensed by a pressure switch employed to disengage the pump when water levels approach empty. A check valve prevents air from entering the water suction tube during bottle replacement and the vent tube is coupled through a vent valve which maintains the water delivery system in a sealed state, only venting to atmosphere during actual water delivery. The vent valve is simultaneously actuated when either hot or cold water buttons are depressed with the pump being actuated momentarily thereafter.

Bottled water cooler having vent on demand delivery system

The improved valve construction provides low force actuation and is therefore suitable in applications where children and handicapped persons may need to operate the valves. The pinch-type valve employs a lever arm pilot which supports a section of tubing in the fluid dispensing circuit. The lever arm is snap fit onto a valve plate and is adapted for rocking movement about a pivot point at one end of the lever arm. A valve cage supports a compression spring which applies a force upon the lever arm tending to depress the lever arm and its associated tube pinching valve seat into pinching contact with the tube. A force applied to the lever arm opposite the pivot point relieves the pinching force and the tube is thus opened for dispensing. An alternate flapper-type valve employs a valve pad encapsulated on the end of a lever arm which is in turn encapsulated in an O-ring seal so that the valve pad is situated at the center of the O-ring and the lever arm is disposed along a radial of the O-ring. The O-ring, lever arm and valve pad assembly is placed in a valve body which provides an inlet and outlet port, the inlet port having a serpentine bend to absorb turbulent shock. A spring is positioned behind the valve pad to hold it in the seated and closed position.

Bottled water cooler with improved valve construction

The plumbing module is a self-contained fully operational unit which provides the capabililty of supplying both hot or room temperature and refrigerated water or other beverages. The module may be adapted without significant modification to a wide range of products and uses, including bottled water coolers, drinking fountains and beverage dispensers. A dual parallel condenser coil in the refrigeration system takes approximately one-half the space of conventional coils and provides adequate heat dissipation without requiring forced air cooling fans.

Plumbing module for bottled water cooler

The barrier free drinking fountain has an oval-shaped basin which rests on an extended cantilevered arm. The basin is an assembly of an upper bowl and a lower bowl which are assembled on the waste removal pipe and which may be readily disassembled without breaking adhesive seals. The push actuator is semicylindrically-shaped to provide a manually accessible surface spanning approximately 180.degree.. The push actuator moves both translationally and rotationally, depending on where the actuator is pushed. Translational and rotational movement of the actuator causes the water dispensing valve to operate.

Growing community of inventors

Wauwatosa, WI, United States of America

Robert L Latzko