公开(公告)号：US10961104B2

公开(公告)日：2021-03-30

申请号：US16031331

申请日：2018-07-10

Applicant: FLOW CONTROL LLC

Inventor： Bernard L. Perkins ,  Humberto V. Meza

IPC: B67D1/00 ,  B67D1/12 ,  B01F3/00 ,  B01F15/00 ,  B01F3/04 ,  B67D1/08 ,  B01F15/02

Abstract: A dispense tap with integral gas/liquid infusion for dispensing a beverage at a given dispensing point inside a restaurant, a coffee shop, a bar, or a convenience store, features a mixing chamber having at least one gas input port configured to receive at least one incoming gas stream; at least one liquid input port configured to receive at least one incoming liquid or concentrate stream; and an infuser configured to mix the at least one incoming gas stream and the at least one incoming liquid or concentrate stream at the given dispensing point within the dispensing tap, and provide a mixing chamber stream containing a gas infused liquid mixture of the at least one incoming gas stream and the at least one incoming liquid or concentrate stream for dispensing as a beverage. The degree of absorption of the at least one incoming gas stream and the at least one incoming liquid or concentrate stream in the gas infused liquid mixture depends at least in part on sensed gas, liquid or concentrate pressure characteristics of one or more of the at least one incoming gas stream received by the infuser, the at least one incoming liquid or concentrate stream received by the infuser, or the gas infused liquid mixture provided from the infuser.

公开(公告)号：US20200316534A1

公开(公告)日：2020-10-08

申请号：US16830960

申请日：2020-03-26

Applicant: Flow Control LLC

Inventor： Akshaykumar PATEL ,  Derrick TRAN

IPC: B01F3/04

Abstract: A gas liquid absorption device (GLAD), featuring a gas inlet manifold, a liquid inlet manifold and a gas/liquid mixing foamer. The gas inlet manifold has a gas inlet configured to receive and provide an inlet gas, and also has a gas foamer cavity formed therein and coupled fluidically to the gas inlet to receive the inlet gas. The liquid inlet manifold has a liquid inlet configured to receive and provide a non-infused liquid, and also has a liquid foamer cavity formed therein and coupled fluidically to the liquid inlet to receive the non-infused liquid. The gas/liquid mixing foamer is configured between the gas inlet manifold and the liquid inlet manifold and arranged in the gas foamer cavity and the liquid foamer cavity. The gas/liquid mixing foamer has a gas foamer wall configured to form a gas receiving foamer chamber that is fluidically coupled to the gas foamer cavity. The gas foamer wall has gas provisioning holes formed therein to provide dispersed inlet gas from the gas receiving foamer chamber. The gas/liquid mixing foamer has a liquid foamer wall configured to form a liquid receiving foamer chamber that is fluidically coupled to the liquid foamer cavity. The liquid foamer wall having liquid provisioning holes formed therein to provide dispersed non-infused liquid from the liquid receiving foamer chamber. The mixing chamber is configured to receive the dispersed inlet gas and the dispersed non-infused liquid, infuse the dispersed inlet gas and the dispersed non-infused liquid, and provide a foamed gas/liquid mixture from the mixing chamber.

公开(公告)号：US20200063744A1

公开(公告)日：2020-02-27

申请号：US16558858

申请日：2019-09-03

Applicant: FLOW CONTROL LLC

Inventor： Humberto V. MEZA ,  Jeffrey Brian SCHOPPERLE

IPC: F04D15/02 ,  F04D15/00

Abstract: A pump system or device is provided for removing water from a pool cover or sump, featuring a controller configured to respond to a signal containing information about the ambient temperature in relation to a pump and to provide a controller signal containing information to control the operation of the pump based at least partly on the ambient temperature. The pumping system or device me be configured to include some combination of the following: temperature sensing, including a Thermistor, to change control logic at temperatures below a specific level (e.g. below 35 degrees F.); the initiation of impeller cycling at low operating temperatures to avoid ice formation in the impeller cavity and/or hose, but not for level sensing; the use of temperature feedback to turn off pump at low temperatures that may result in damage to the system; the addition of control logic to ignore torque increases due to contamination or flow-back Inclusion of soft-start of motor to reduce stress on impeller/motor; the option to connect Garden-style hose with an integral heating element to avoid freezing; a heating element to receive power from the pump via, e.g., a plug connector, where power to the heating element is supplied only when the temperature device is activated at some specified setting; the addition of a temperature sensor to render the pump inoperative if the temperature should fall below a set point (freezing); and/or the use of a field effect level sensor, such that the temperature sensing is substantially independent of the level sensing device.

公开(公告)号：US20190214204A1

公开(公告)日：2019-07-11

申请号：US16158503

申请日：2018-10-12

Applicant: Flow Control LLC

Inventor： Michael Howard IRVING

IPC: H01H23/12

CPC classification number: H01H23/12 ,  H01H23/00 ,  H01H23/006 ,  H01H23/02 ,  H01H23/04 ,  H01H2215/03 ,  H01H2215/052

Abstract: A rocker switch assembly features a rocker switching mechanism and a rocker base housing. The rocker switching mechanism has a switch cover and rocker configured to rock between rocking positions in response to rocking switch forces applied thereon, and provide a rocking switch actuator force. The rocker base housing has a piezo buzzer and rocker switch circuitry, e.g., including contacts/terminals. The piezo buzzer is configured to respond to the rocking switch actuator force, and provide signaling from the piezo buzzer to rocker switch circuitry, based upon the rocking switch actuator force applied.

公开(公告)号：US10267303B2

公开(公告)日：2019-04-23

申请号：US14474775

申请日：2014-09-02

Applicant: Flow Control LLC.

Inventor： Christopher H. Verdugo ,  Bernard L. Perkins ,  Humberto V. Meza

IPC: F04B7/02 ,  F04B43/00 ,  F04B49/03 ,  F04B49/06 ,  F04B43/067 ,  F04B43/073

Abstract: A high viscosity portion pump system has a single piston portion pump having a piston/diaphragm assembly arranged on a piston shaft forming liquid and gas chambers, which moves from a starting-position and provides high viscosity fluid from the liquid chamber when gas is received by the gas chamber; has an elastic member arranged on a retainer coupled to the shaft in a compartment in a pump housing, which moves the assembly back to the position and draws further fluid into the liquid chamber when the gas is released; and has a piston position sensor that responds to the position of the shaft and provides signaling containing information about when the assembly is in the position or completed a stroke from the position. A gas control system includes a signal processor that receives the signaling, and provides corresponding signaling containing information about when to provide or release the gas.

公开(公告)号：US10221954B2

公开(公告)日：2019-03-05

申请号：US15638675

申请日：2017-06-30

Applicant: FLOW CONTROL LLC

Inventor： John J. Fong

IPC: F16K15/06 ,  F04B53/10

Abstract: A check valve is provided having a seat and a poppet. The seat is made of a plastic material, has an aperture for enabling fluid to flow through the seat, and also has one end portion that has a circumferential edge with a thin sealing lip. The poppet is slidably arranged in the aperture of the seat and has an elastic member. The poppet is configured for opening to enable fluid to flow in one direction when fluid pressure is detected. The elastic member is configured for ensuring sealing between an outer surface of the poppet and the thin sealing lip of the seat when there is no fluid flow in the one direction so as to substantially prevent fluid flow in the opposite direction. According to some embodiments of the present invention, the thin plastic sealing lip may have a thickness of about 0.01″ Embodiments are also envisioned where the thickness may be in a range of 0.003″-0.03″.

公开(公告)号：US09810241B2

公开(公告)日：2017-11-07

申请号：US14219508

申请日：2014-03-19

Applicant: Flow Control LLC.

Inventor： William A. Gell, III ,  Jeffrey D. Lopes ,  Jesus Estrada ,  Randall H. Moormann

IPC: F04D29/60 ,  F04D13/02 ,  F04D29/42 ,  F04D13/08 ,  F04D15/02 ,  F04D29/46

CPC classification number: F04D15/0218 ,  B63B13/00 ,  F04D1/12 ,  F04D13/021 ,  F04D13/0686 ,  F04D13/086 ,  F04D29/4293 ,  F04D29/466 ,  F04D29/605 ,  F05D2260/33

Abstract: A pumping system featuring a pump chamber configured with a central portion having a tangential outlet, and configured with a tubular coupling end portion having inwardly flexible rim portions on one side; and a mounting base, having a circular portion with an inner circumferential rim configured to receive and engage the inwardly flexible rim portions of the tubular coupling portion of the pump chamber so as to be rotationally coupled to the pumping chamber so that the pumping chamber may be rotated 360° in relation to the mounting base.

公开(公告)号：US20170248143A1

公开(公告)日：2017-08-31

申请号：US15593597

申请日：2017-05-12

Applicant: FLOW CONTROL LLC

Inventor： William A. GELL ,  Jeffrey D. LOPES ,  Jesus ESTRADA ,  Randall H. MOORMANN

IPC: F04D15/02 ,  B63B13/00 ,  F04D29/42 ,  F04D13/06 ,  F04D1/12

CPC classification number: F04D15/0218 ,  B63B13/00 ,  F04D1/12 ,  F04D13/021 ,  F04D13/0686 ,  F04D13/086 ,  F04D29/4293 ,  F04D29/466 ,  F04D29/605 ,  F05D2260/33

Abstract: A pumping system featuring a pump chamber configured with a central portion having a tangential outlet, and configured with a tubular coupling end portion having inwardly flexible rim portions on one side; and a mounting base, having a circular portion with an inner circumferential rim configured to receive and engage the inwardly flexible rim portions of the tubular coupling portion of the pump chamber so as to be rotationally coupled to the pumping chamber so that the pumping chamber may be rotated 360° in relation to the mounting base.

公开(公告)号：US20170099982A1

公开(公告)日：2017-04-13

申请号：US15290374

申请日：2016-10-11

Applicant: Flow Control LLC

Inventor： Jeffrey D. LOPES

IPC: A47J31/46 ,  F16M13/02

CPC classification number: A47J31/46

Abstract: A pump mounting system for mounting a pump to a beverage dispensing system, featuring a pump having a housing configured with a pump-to-mounting bracket portion, and having a pump-to-hose connector portion; an elastic pump mounting bracket having a corresponding pump-to-mounting bracket portion configured to couple to the pump-to-mounting bracket portion of the pump in order to couple together the elastic mounting bracket and the pump, and having a system mounting bracket portion connected to the corresponding pump-to-mounting bracket portion to couple to at least some portion of the system, the elastic pump mounting bracket to dampen the transmission of vibration from one end of the pump to the system; and a flexible looped hose connection having a corresponding pump-to-hose connector portion to coupled to the pump-to-hose connector portion of the pump, and having a hose-to-system connector portion to couple to a corresponding hose-to-system connector portion of the system, an intermediate looped hose connection portion to couple together the corresponding pump-to-hose connector portion and the hose-to-system connector portion, the flexible looped hose connection to provide a flow path connection to the system and dampen the transmission of the vibration of the pump to the system via the flow path connection.

公开(公告)号：US20160348471A1

公开(公告)日：2016-12-01

申请号：US15167260

申请日：2016-05-27

Applicant: FLOW CONTROL LLC.

Inventor： Joel A. KENNEY ,  Robert W. KING

IPC: E21B34/08 ,  E21B43/12 ,  F16K15/14 ,  F16K17/04 ,  F16K15/04 ,  F16K15/02

CPC classification number: E21B43/121 ,  F16K15/021 ,  F16K15/04 ,  F16K17/0473 ,  F16K17/26

Abstract: A fluid release valve includes valve housing (VH) coupled between a pump and an outlet pipe, VH chamber providing fluid from its inlet and outlet when the pump starts, and fluid release orifice (FRO) draining outlet pipe fluid flowing back into the VH when the pump stops; and check valve (CV) combination having a CV shuttle that moves towards/away from the inlet/outlet and an internal shuttle chamber (ISC), and having a CV that moves towards/away from the inlet/outlet within the ISC. The CV combination responds to a pumped fluid pressure when the pump's pumping and stops the fluid from flowing from the inlet around the CV shuttle and out the FRO. The CV combination responds to a fluid differential pressure (FDP) when the pump stops and allows the outlet pipe fluid to drain out the FRO until the FDP reaches an equilibrium.

Abstract translation: 流体释放阀包括联接在泵和出口管之间的阀壳体（VH），当泵启动时从其入口和出口提供流体的VH室以及排出回流到VH中的出口管道流体的流体释放孔口（FRO） 泵停止; 以及具有沿着进/出口进入/离开的CV梭的止回阀（CV）组合和内部梭动室（ISC），并且具有向ISC内的入口/出口移动的CV。 当泵泵送并阻止流体从CV梭子周围的入口流出并流出FRO时，CV组合响应泵送的流体压力。 当泵停止时，CV组合响应流体压差（FDP），并允许出口管道流体排出FRO，直到FDP达到平衡。