초록

A valve, system and method for the delivery of gases or liquids is shown where the delivery persons can fill the system without having to enter the building and the system can continue to deliver gas to the user. There is no interruption of service while the system is being filled.

대표청구항 ▼

I claim: 1. A valve assembly for receiving and directing the flow of pressurized liquid product to the liquid storage tank and gaseous product to the gaseous storage tank and to the user port for use by a user, the valve assembly comprising: a valve body having an inlet port interconnected with at

I claim: 1. A valve assembly for receiving and directing the flow of pressurized liquid product to the liquid storage tank and gaseous product to the gaseous storage tank and to the user port for use by a user, the valve assembly comprising: a valve body having an inlet port interconnected with at least one each of a liquid port, a gas storage port and a user port, the valve body having a plunger cavity with a plunger stop at one end; a valve stem having a first end with a first end chamfer and a second end with a groove located between a lip and an annular ledge; a circumferential ring located on the valve stem in the groove; an inlet fitting having an inlet hole there through, the inlet fitting for engaging the in let port of the valve body, allowing the flow of pressurized liquid product and retaining the valve stem within the plunger cavity between a chamfer in the inlet fitting and plunger stop of the valve body; and whereby, the flow of pressurized liquid into the inlet hole causes the valve stem and first end chamfer to translate toward and engage the plunger stop in the plunger cavity closing the interconnection of the gas storage port and user port with the liquid port and the inlet port thereby filling and pressurizing the liquid storage tank where upon the reaching of a predetermined pressure, the incoming pressurized liquid ceases to flow, the incoming pressure goes to zero and the valve stem translates toward the inlet fitting where the lip and circumferential ring engage the chamfer of the inlet fitting sealing off the pressurized valve assembly from the atmosphere. 2. The valve assembly of claim 1 further comprising: at least one slot in the inlet hole of the inlet fitting near a tail. 3. The valve assembly of claim 1 further comprising: a burst disk mounted in the valve body interconnecting the plunger cavity and the atmosphere. 4. The valve assembly of claim 1 wherein: the inlet port is configured such that when the inlet fitting is installed in the valve body, the head of the inlet fitting rests below the plane of the inlet end of the valve body to prevent tampering and removal of the inlet fitting by unauthorized persons. 5. The valve assembly of claim 1 further comprising: at least one fill channel connecting the plunger cavity and a second liquid port. 6. A valve assembly for receiving and directing pressurized liquid to a liquid storage tank and directing gaseous product to a gas storage tank and to a user, the valve assembly comprising: a valve body having an inlet port, at least one liquid storage port, at least one gas storage port and at least one user port, a plunger cavity interconnected with the ports having a plunger stop near one end of the plunger cavity; a valve stem having a first end chamfer near a first end and a groove located between a lip and annular ledge on the second end; a circumferential ring located in the groove of the valve stem; an inlet fitting having an inlet hole there through from a head to a tail, a chamfer and at least one slot located near the tail, the inlet fitting engaging the inlet port and retaining the valve stem between the inlet fitting and the plunger stop of the plunger cavity; and whereby pressurized liquid flowing into the inlet hole of the inlet fitting causes the plunger to translate such that the first end chamfer engages the plunger stop closing off the user port and gas port from the other ports, the liquid flows through the slots and liquid storage port to the liquid storage tank, when a pre-determined pressure is reached, the flow of liquid into the inlet fitting ceases the pressure goes to zero, the pressure in the system causes the valve stem to translate toward the inlet fitting and the lip and circumferential ring seal against the chamfer of the inlet fitting sealing the inlet port and valve assembly from the atmosphere. 7. The valve assembly of claim 6 further comprising: at least one fill channel connecting the plunger cavity and a second liquid port. 8. The valve assembly of claim 6 further comprising: a burst disk mounted in the valve body interconnecting the plunger cavity and the atmosphere. 9. The valve assembly of claim 6 wherein: the inlet port is configured such that when the inlet fitting is installed in the valve body, the head of the inlet fitting rests below the plane of the inlet end of the valve body to prevent tampering and removal of the inlet fitting by unauthorized persons. 10. A valve assembly for filling liquid carbon dioxide tanks and providing gaseous carbon dioxide, the valve assembly comprising: a valve body having at least one inlet port, at least one liquid port, at least one gas storage port and at least one user port, interconnecting passages connecting the ports and a plunger cavity, a plunger stop located within the plunger cavity; a valve stem having a lip and groove near the second end and a first end chamfer near a first end, the valve stem for selectively closing the inlet port and liquid port from the gas storage port and the user port; an inlet fitting for engaging the valve body inlet port and valve stem, the inlet fitting having an inlet hole there through from a head to a tail, a circumferential chamfer in the inlet hole near the tail end; a circumferential ring for engaging the groove of the valve stem; and whereby the application of liquid carbon dioxide to the inlet port causes the valve stem to translate and seal the first end chamfer against the plunger stop sealing the user port and gas storage port from the first liquid port and the inlet port, liquid carbon dioxide flows into the inlet port through the inlet fitting and out the first liquid port for storage, upon reaching a pre-set pressure, the flow of liquid carbon dioxide ceases, the pressure in the inlet port goes to zero and the valve stem translates toward the inlet fitting sealing the lip and circumferential ring against the chamfer of the inlet fitting sealing the valve body inlet port from the atmosphere. 11. The valve assembly of claim 10 further comprising: a burst disk housed in the valve body and interconnecting the plunger cavity to the atmosphere. 12. The valve assembly of claim 10 further comprising: at least one slot in the inlet hole of the inlet fitting near the tail. 13. The valve assembly of claim 10 wherein: the inlet port is configured such that when the inlet fitting is installed in the valve body, the head of the inlet fitting rests below the plane of the inlet end of the valve body to prevent tampering and removal of the inlet fitting by unauthorized persons. 14. A system for providing carbonation and beverage delivery of liquids to a user, the system comprising: an inlet line connected to an inlet fitting having slots, the inlet fitting connected to a valve body, the valve body having a valve stem, a plunger cavity with a plunger stop and interconnecting passages, the interconnecting passages also connected to a first liquid port which is attached to a liquid storage tank, a gas storage port which is which is attached to a gas storage tank, a user port which is attached to the beverage delivery system, a circumferential ring attached to one end of the valve stem, whereby liquid carbon dioxide in the inlet line causes the valve stem to translate and seat in the plunger stop isolating the user port and gas storage port and gas storage tank from the remaining system, the liquid carbon dioxide flows around the valve stem through the slots, out the liquid port and fills the liquid storage tank, when the system reaches a pre-determined pressure, the liquid carbon dioxide ceases to flow the pressure goes to zero, the valve stem translates toward the inlet fitting sealing off the system from the atmosphere where the liquid carbon dioxide boils off and flows to the gas storage port and tank and through the user port for carbonation of the beverage and delivery of the beverage to the user. 15. A system for carbonating and delivering beverages to a user, the system comprising: an inlet line for filling the system with liquid carbon dioxide attached to an inlet fitting which is housed in an inlet port of a valve body, the inlet fitting interconnected to a plunger cavity, liquid port, gas port and user port allowing the flow of liquid and gas, the plunger cavity having a plunger stop, a circumferential ring attached to a valve stem which is located in the plunger cavity of the valve body such that when liquid carbon dioxide fills the inlet line, the plunger translates to a plunger stop closing off the user port and gas port from the remainder of the system, the liquid carbon dioxide flows through the inlet fitting and through the liquid port and to a liquid storage receptacle, such that when the liquid storage receptacle fills and the system reaches a pre-determined pressure, the incoming liquid ceases to flow and the valve stem translates toward a chamfer in the inlet fitting such that the system is closed off from the atmosphere, the liquid carbon dioxide boils off and flows to the gas storage port and a gas storage receptacle and the user port for carbonation and selective delivery of the beverage to the user, where the user can selectively get carbonated beverage when the system is filling with liquid carbon dioxide. 16. A method for filling a system that provides for the carbonation and delivery of beverages, comprising the steps of: attaching and pumping a supply of liquid carbon dioxide to an inlet line and valve assembly; providing a means to direct the liquid carbon dioxide to a storage tank while automatically closing off a gas port and a user port; pumping the liquid carbon dioxide until the storage tank, valve assembly and inlet line reach a pre-determined pressure; shutting off and disconnecting the supply of liquid carbon dioxide; and automatically closing the valve assembly from the atmosphere such that the liquid is allowed to boil off and provide carbonation to a beverage and delivery to a user. 17. A method for filling a system that provides carbonation and delivery of beverages to a user, comprising the steps of: attaching a hose and pumping liquid carbon dioxide through an inlet fitting housed in a valve assembly; causing the translation of a valve stem to isolate a gas port and a tank and a user port and directing the liquid carbon dioxide to a liquid port and a tank; and stopping the pumping of the liquid carbon dioxide upon reaching a pre-determined pressure and removing the hose allowing the translation of the valve stem to close the valve assembly from the atmosphere and allowing the liquid to boil to a gas to provide delivery and carbonation to the beverage.