US 11,730,308 B2
Proportional emulsion valve for fluid treatment machines, in particular for the production and delivery of beverages
Francesco Butera, Arese (IT); Stefano Avoledo, Villasanta (IT); and Filippo Lucetti, Carrara (IT)
Assigned to Dolphin Fluidics S.R.L., Corsico (IT)
Filed by DOLPHIN FLUIDICS S.R.L., Corsico (IT)
Filed on May 27, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/884,466.
Claims priority of application No. 102019000008577 (IT), filed on Jun. 11, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2020/0390269 A1, Dec. 17, 2020
Int. Cl. F16K 31/02 (2006.01); A47J 31/06 (2006.01); A47J 31/36 (2006.01); F16K 31/00 (2006.01); A47J 31/46 (2006.01); A47J 31/44 (2006.01); F16K 17/06 (2006.01)
CPC A47J 31/3614 (2013.01) [A47J 31/0605 (2013.01); A47J 31/0615 (2013.01); A47J 31/3619 (2013.01); F16K 31/002 (2013.01); A47J 31/0621 (2013.01); A47J 31/4496 (2013.01); A47J 31/461 (2018.08); F16K 17/06 (2013.01); F16K 31/025 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. Proportional emulsion valve, configured to be used inside a fluid treatment machine, comprising a main body in which an inlet duct is defined, operatively connectable to a hydraulic circuit of a fluid treatment machine and configured to allow entrance into said valve of a fluid at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure, and an outlet duct operatively connectable to said hydraulic circuit of said machine and configured for expulsion of said fluid from said valve, said inlet duct and said outlet duct being in fluid communication with one another, said valve comprising a slider selectively positionable in an opening position, in which it allows the fluid communication between said inlet duct and said outlet duct, and being selectively positionable, against the pressure exerted by the fluid when it is contained in said inlet duct, in a closing position in which the fluid communication between said inlet duct and said outlet duct is interrupted due to direct or indirect action of said slider, said slider being operatively connected to an actuating system comprising a driving element configured to selectively exercise on said slider a desired closing force which tends to bring it towards said closing position, wherein said driving element is configured to exert said closing force on said slider through an elastic element interposed between said driving element and said slider and configured to elastically force said slider towards said closing position, wherein said slider is configured to move in an alternating linear motion along a longitudinal axis of said slider, and said actuating system comprises a second piston at least partially inserted in said main body and movable with alternating motion with respect to the same, according to the same longitudinal axis as said slider, said driving element being configured to selectively exert said desired closing force on said second piston, said second piston slidingly supporting said slider in such a way that the latter can move in said alternating linear motion with respect to said second piston, said elastic element being interposed between said slider and said second piston in such a way that said closing force is transmitted from said second piston to said slider through said elastic element.