Dispensing faucet for a pressurized source
DCFirst Claim
1. A faucet comprising:
- (A) a valve body having a bore, an inlet port, an outlet port, and a seat disposed adjacent said outlet port;
(B) a plunger disposed in said valve body between said inlet port and said outlet port, wherein said plunger has a first, upstream end and a second, downstream end, wherein said plunger is moveable axially within said bore, in a direction parallel to fluid flow, from a valve-open position to a valve-closed position, and wherein said plunger has a flow modifying tip on its downstream end that extends at least partially into said outlet port when the plunger is in said valve-open position; and
(C) a valve seal disposed adjacent to said downstream end of said plunger, wherein said seal seals against said seat when said plunger is in said valve-closed position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A faucet comprises a valve body having a bore, an inlet port and an outlet port. A plunger is disposed in the valve body and is reciprocated in the bore. The inlet port opens into a fluid passage adapted for connection to a pressurized source, and the outlet port opens into a dispensing spigot adapted to discharge materials from the faucet. A handle having a pivotal lever is disposed in the valve body and engages the plunger to reciprocate longitudinally through the bore. A plug is mounted on the plunger and has axial and radial sealing surfaces. The plug is forced against the axial valve seat when the valve is closed to deform in both axial and radial directions. The plunger is alternatively designed with channels on its exterior and passages through its interior for use with low-viscosity fluids and with a sealing arrangement for use with high-viscosity fluids. The dispensing spigot can be removed to ease access to the plug for cleaning. The dispensing spigot can alternatively be attached via an adapter for selective placement of spigots having varied diameters.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A faucet comprising:
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(A) a valve body having a bore, an inlet port, an outlet port, and a seat disposed adjacent said outlet port;
(B) a plunger disposed in said valve body between said inlet port and said outlet port, wherein said plunger has a first, upstream end and a second, downstream end, wherein said plunger is moveable axially within said bore, in a direction parallel to fluid flow, from a valve-open position to a valve-closed position, and wherein said plunger has a flow modifying tip on its downstream end that extends at least partially into said outlet port when the plunger is in said valve-open position; and
(C) a valve seal disposed adjacent to said downstream end of said plunger, wherein said seal seals against said seat when said plunger is in said valve-closed position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27)
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24. A faucet configured to dispense a particulate-laden fluid comprising:
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(A) a valve body having a bore, an inlet port, an outlet port, and a seat disposed adjacent said outlet port;
(B) a plunger disposed in said valve body between said inlet port and said outlet port, wherein said plunger has a first, upstream end and a second, downstream end;
is moveable axially within said bore in a direction parallel to fluid flow, from a valve-open position to a valve-closed position;
has a flow modifying tip on its downstream end; and
has a radial socket that receives a pivotal lever;
(C) a valve seal disposed adjacent to said downstream end of said plunger, wherein said seal seals against said seat when said plunger is in said valve-closed position;
(D) a handle connected with said pivotal lever which terminates within said plunger, said lever being configured to drive said plunger to move axially within said bore upon pivotal movement of said lever; and
(E) a guard that seals an interface between said plunger and said lever from the fluid while permitting relative movement therebetween, wherein said guard comprises an elastomeric boot seal that extends into said socket from a peripheral surface of said bore and that encases a terminal end of said lever.
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25. A faucet for a pressurized material dispenser, comprising:
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(A) a valve body having an inlet port, an outlet port, a first bore extending axially from said inlet port to said outlet port, a seat disposed adjacent said outlet port, and a second bore opening radially into said first bore between said inlet port and said outlet port;
(B) a plunger disposed in said first bore between said inlet port and said outlet port, said plunger having a socket formed therein;
(C) a valve seal which is provided on said plunger, which is disposed entirely within said first bore when said plunger is in a valve-open position, and which seals against said seat when said plunger is in a valve-closed position;
(D) a handle having a pivotal lever which extends through said second bore and into said first bore to terminate within said plunger, said lever being configured to drive said plunger to move axially within said first bore upon movement of said handle; and
(E) a guard that seals an interface between said plunger and said lever from the fluid while permitting relative pivoting movement between said lever and said plunger, wherein said guard comprises an elastomeric boot seal that extends into said socket from said second bore and that encases a terminal end of said lever.
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28. A method of operating a faucet for a pressurized dispenser, said method comprising the steps of:
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(A) dispensing a carbonated fluid through a spigot by transmitting a first, pulling-forward force from a handle to a plunger of a valve within a bore of a valve body, thereby pulling a seal associated with said plunger out of connection with a seat of said valve and permitting said fluid to flow past said seat, then over a flow modifying tip, and then out of said spigot, wherein the flow over the fluid modifying tip prevents CO2 from separating from the fluid before the fluid is discharged from said spigot; and
(B) ceasing dispensing by transmitting a second, opposite force from said handle to said plunger, thereby pushing said seal into a sealing connection with said valve seat to close said valve. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification