Apparatus for dispensing liquid from a liquid supply manifold

Abstract

A liquid dispensing system including a liquid supply manifold connected to a liquid dispensing reservoir. A check valve is interposed between the manifold and the reservoir to permit liquid flow from the manifold to the reservoir and to prevent reverse flow from the reservoir to the manifold. A dispenser outlet is connected to the reservoir and a dispenser valve is provided thereat to control liquid flow from the dispenser outlet. A source of air under pressure is connected to the reservoir and a control valve is provided to alternately place the reservoir into communication with the source of air under pressure and then subsequently cut off the source of air pressure and place the reservoir into communication with the atmosphere. During the period the reservoir is placed in communication with the air under pressure, the liquid dispenser valve is opened to thereby cause a quantity of liquid to be dispensed from the reservoir out through the dispenser outlet. The manifold assembly includes a plurality of liquid containers connected thereto with the container closest to the reservoir being at a lower elevation than the next adjacent container and so on up the line to the last container which is located at the highest elevation. The end of the reservoir adjacent the last container is open to the atmosphere. With this arrangement liquid flowing from the manifold to displace the liquid dispensed from the reservoir will be supplied first from the container at the highest elevation and then from the container at the second highest elevation and so on down the line to the container at the lowest elevation.

I claim:  .[.1. A liquid dispensing system comprising: 
     
        means. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 14.  A liquid dispensing system according to claim 13 in which there is a second check valve means located at the outlet from said liquid dispensing reservoir means to permit flow from said liquid dispensing reservoir means to said liquid dispenser outlet means and to prevent reverse flow from said outlet means to said reservoir means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 15. A liquid dispensing system according to claim 13 in which said liquid dispenser valve means and said control valve means are both actuated by electric solenoids, said solenoids being electrically connected to a single switch means so that they can be energized simultaneously. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 16. A liquid dispensing system according to claim 13 in which said control valve means is comprised of a three-way valve having a first and second position, said valve operable when in said first position to place said liquid dispensing reservoir means into communication with said source of air under pressure and at the same time shut off communication between said reservoir and said reservoir vent means, said valve being further operable when in said second position to place said liquid dispensing reservoir means into communication with the atmosphere through said reservoir vent means and at the same time to cut off communication between said liquid dispensing reservoir means and said source of air under pressure. .Iaddend..Iadd. 17. A liquid dispensing system according to claim 13 in which there is a liquid level sensing means for sensing the level of the liquid in the system and for energizing a warning means when the liquid level reaches a predetermined level. .Iaddend..Iadd. 18. A liquid dispensing system according to claim 17 in which said liquid level sensing means is comprised of a floating magnetic member positioned within the liquid system and a reed switch means mounted on the exterior of the system adjacent said floating magnetic member, said magnetic member operable to actuate said reed switch means when the liquid level in the system reaches a predetermined level. .Iaddend..Iadd. 19. A liquid dispensing system according to claim 17 in which said liquid level sensing means is comprised of a float member mounted within the liquid system, a flexible membrane exposed to the exterior of the system and positioned for contact by said float member for movement in response to corresponding movement of said float member, and a switch means having an actuating arm operatively associated with said membrane for actuation of said switch means in response to movement of said membrane. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 20. A liquid dispensing system according to claim 17 in which said control valve means is comprised of a three-way valve having a first and second position, said valve operable when in said first position to place said liquid dispensing reservoir means into communication with said source of air under pressure and at the same time to shut off communication between said reservoir and said reservoir vent means to thereby cause liquid to flow under pressure from said reservoir out through said dispenser outlet, said valve means further operable when in said second position to place said liquid dispensing reservoir into communication with the atmosphere through said reservoir vent means and at the same time to cut off communication between said liquid dispensing reservoir means and said source of air under pressure to thereby allow liquid to flow by gravity from said container means to said reservoir means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 21. A liquid dispensing system according to claim 20 in which said three-way valve and said liquid dispenser valve are operatively connected to each other so that when said three-way valve is actuated to its second position, said liquid dispensing valve will be actuated to its open position. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 22. A liquor dispensing system comprising: a liquor dispensing reservoir;   a liquor supply container means including a manifold assembly comprising a leg portion and a plurality of spout members mounted on the leg portion in spaced relationship with each other and in fluid communication with said leg portion, said spout members adapted to receive the necks of liquor containers for fluid connection therewith when the liquor containers are positioned in an inverted position, said manifold assembly further including a sealing means for sealing the necks of the liquor containers in said spout members, said manifold assembly serving to support the weight of the liquor containers and the contents thereof, said points of fluid communication between said spout members and said leg portion being at successively lower elevations from one end of said leg portion to the other, said one end of said leg portion being vented to atmosphere through a manifold breather tube and said other end of said leg portion connected to said liquor dispensing reservoir, said breather tube extending upwardly from said one end of said leg portion to an elevation higher than that of the liquor level in said manifold assembly;   a first check valve means interposed between said container means and said reservoir to permit liquid flow from said container means to said reservoir and to prevent reverse flow from said reservoir to said container means;   a liquor dispenser outlet means in fluid communication with said liquor dispensing reservoir;   a second check valve means in said liquor dispenser outlet means;   a liquor dispenser valve means adapted to control liquor flow through said outlet means;   a source of air under pressure connected to said liquor dispensing reservoir;   a vent means to atmosphere connected to said liquor dispensing reservoir means, said vent to atmosphere being at an elevation higher than that of the liquor level in said manifold assembly; and   a control valve means associated with said liquor dispensing reservoir, said source of air under pressure and said reservoir vent means, said control valve means operative to alternately place said reservoir in communication with said source of air under pressure and subsequently cut off said source of air under pressure and place said reservoir into communication with the atmosphere through said reservoir vent means, said liquor dispenser valve means and said control valve means both actuated by electric solenoids, said solenoids being electrically connected to a dispenser switch means so that they can be energized simultaneously by the operator, said liquor dispenser valve means and said control valve means adapted when so energized to place the liquor in the liquor dispensing reservoir into communication with said source of air under pressure causing liquor to flow under pressure from said liquor dispensing reservoir, through said liquor dispensing outlet means and out through said liquor dispensing valve means, said liquor dispensing valve means and said control valve means further adapted when de-energized to shut off flow of liquor through said liquor dispenser valve means and to cut off communication between said liquor dispensing reservoir and said source of air under pressure at the same time vent said liquor dispensing reservoir to atmosphere which in turn will cause liquor to flow by gravity from said manifold assembly to said liquor dispensing reservoir after which air from atmosphere will flow into said manifold assembly through said manifold breather tube which air will flow back through said leg portion of said manifold assembly until it reaches the highest spout having a container therein containing liquor at which point the air will rise up through the liquor in such container causing a displacement flow of liquor therefrom into said manifold assembly until the entire liquor system reaches equilibrium at which time flow will stop. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 23. A liquor dispensing system according to claim 22 in which there is a timer means to maintain said liquor dispenser valve means and said control valve means energized for a predetermined period of time to thereby cause a predetermined volume of liquor to be dispensed each time said dispenser switch means is actuated by the operator. .Iaddend..Iadd. 24. A liquor dispensing system according to claim 23 in which the manifold assembly includes a plurality of clamp members which are adapted to engage and grip the bottom of each liquor container when mounted in the manifold in an inverted position. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 25. A liquor dispensing system according to claim 22 in which said sealing means for sealing the necks of the liquor containers in said spout members is comprised of a nozzle member of resilient material having a base portion and a tip portion, said base portion adapted to fit over the neck of the container in sealed relationship therewith and said tip portion adapted to fit inside one of said spout members in sealed relationship therewith. .Iaddend..Iadd. 26. A liquor dispensing system according to claim 22 in which said control valve means is comprised of a three-way valve having a first and second position, said valve operable when in said first position to place said liquor dispensing reservoir into communication with said source of air under pressure and at the same time shut off communication between said reservoir and said reservoir vent means, said valve being further operable when in said second position to place said liquor dispensing reservoir into communication with the atmosphere through said reservoir vent means and at the same time to cut off communication between said liquor dispensing reservoir and said source of air under pressure. .Iaddend..Iadd. 27. A liquor dispensing system according to claim 22 in which there is a liquor level sensing means for sensing the level of the liquor in the system and for energizing a warning means when the liquor level reaches a predetermined level. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 28. A liquor dispensing system comprising:   a liquor dispensing reservoir;   a liquor supply container means including a manifold assembly comprising a leg portion and a plurality of spout members mounted on the leg portion in spaced relationship with each other and in fluid communication with said leg portion, said spout members adapted to receive the necks of liquor containers for fluid connection therewith when the liquor containers are positioned in an inverted position, said manifold assembly further including a sealing means for sealing the necks of the liquor containers in said spout members, said manifold assembly serving to support the weight of the liquor containers and the contents thereof, said points of fluid communication between said spout members and said leg portion being at successively lower elevations from one end of said leg portion to the other, said one end of said leg portion being vented to atmosphere through a manifold breather tube and said other end of said leg portion connected to said liquor dispensing reservoir, said breather tube extending upwardly from said one end of said leg portion to an elevation higher than that of the liquor level in said manifold assembly;   a first check valve means interposed between said container means and said reservoir to permit liquid flow from said container means to said reservoir and to prevent reverse flow from said reservoir to said container means;   a liquor dispenser outlet means in fluid communication with said liquor dispensing reservoir;   a liquor dispenser valve means adapted to control liquid flow through said outlet means;   a source of air under pressure connected to said liquor dispensing reservoir;   a vent means to atmosphere connected to said liquor dispensing reservoir means, said vent to atmosphere being at an elevation higher than that of the liquor level in said manifold assembly; and   a control valve means associated with said liquor dispensing reservoir, said source of air under pressure and said reservoir vent means, said control valve means operative to alternately place said reservoir in communication with said source of air under pressure and subsequently cut off said source of air under pressure and place said reservoir into communication with the atmosphere through said reservoir vent means, said liquor dispenser valve means and said control valve means both actuated by electric solenoids, said solenoids being electrically connected to a dispenser switch means so that they can be energized simultaneously by the operator, said liquor dispenser valve means and said control valve means adapted when so energized to place the liquor in the liquor dispensing reservoir into communication with said source of air under pressure causing liquor to flow under pressure from said liquor dispensing reservoir, through said liquor dispensing outlet means and out through said liquor dispensing valve means, said liquor dispensing valve means and said control valve means further adapted when de-energized to shut off flow of liquor through said liquor dispenser valve means and to cut off communication between said liquor dispensing reservoir and said source of air under pressure at the same time vent said liquor dispensing reservoir to atmosphere which in turn will cause liquor to flow by gravity from said manifold assembly to said liquor dispensing reservoir after which air from atmosphere will flow into said manifold assembly through said manifold breather tube which air will flow back through said leg portion of said manifold assembly until it reaches the highest spout having a container therein containing liquor at which point the air will rise up through the liquor in such container causing a displacement flow of liquor therefrom into said manifold assembly until the entire liquor system reaches equilibrium at which time flow will stop. .Iaddend.