Granted Patent B2

US 9,732,862 · App. 14/166,544 · Granted Aug 15, 2017

Abstract

Claims (97)

1. A method of controlling the flow of different flow paths of fluid comprising:

rotating a valve having a valve body to a first position;

establishing fluid communication between an aperture of the valve and a first concentrate upon rotation of the valve to the first position;

receiving the first concentrate in the first position;

discharging the first concentrate through only one of two outlets, the outlets fluidly connected to the aperture at the same time;

rotating the valve to a second position;

establishing fluid communication between the aperture and a second concentrate upon rotation of the valve to the second position;

receiving the second concentrate in the second position; and

discharging the second concentrate through only one of the two outlets,

wherein rotating the valve to the first position aligns the aperture with a first inlet and rotating the valve to the second position aligns the aperture with a second inlet, and

wherein the first and second inlets are circumferentially arranged at an axial position on the valve body.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising after the step of receiving a first concentrate in the first position: directing the first concentrate through a passageway provided in the valve.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein directing the first concentrate through a passageway provided in the valve further comprises: the passageway being sized to retain less than approximately 2 milliliters of concentrate.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising after the step of receiving a second concentrate in the second position: directing the second concentrate through the passageway provided in the valve.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of receiving a first concentrate in the first position further comprises: receiving a first concentrate in the first position from a first port.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the step of receiving a second concentrate in the second position further comprises: receiving a second concentrate in the second position from a second port.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising after the step of receiving a first concentrate in the first position: directing the first concentrate through a passageway provided in the valve.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising after the step of receiving a second concentrate in the second position: directing the second concentrate through the passageway provided in the valve.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of discharging the first concentrate through one of two outlets further comprises: a first of the two outlets being in fluid connection with a first eductor, and a second of the two outlets being in fluid connection with a second eductor.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of discharging the first concentrate through one of two outlets further comprises: the first eductor having a faster flow rate than the second eductor.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

rotating the valve to a third position;

establishing fluid communication between the aperture and a first concentrate upon rotation of the valve to the third position;

receiving the third concentrate in the third position; and

discharging the third concentrate through only one of the two outlets.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

rotating the valve to a fourth position;

establishing fluid communication between the aperture and a fourth concentrate upon rotation of the valve to the fourth position;

receiving the fourth concentrate in the fourth position; and

discharging the fourth concentrate through only one of the two outlets.

13. A method of operating a selector valve assembly to control the flow of different flow paths of fluid comprising:

rotating a member provided in the valve assembly between a plurality of positions;

fluidly connecting one of a plurality of concentrates to a plurality of outlets at the same time via an inlet at each position, the inlets of the plurality of positions circumferentially arranged and aligned with each other on the valve assembly;

rotating the member to a first position of the plurality of positions;

receiving one of the plurality of concentrates; and

discharging one of the plurality of concentrates through only one of the outlets.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising after the receiving step: transporting one of the plurality of concentrates through a passageway provided through the member.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the transporting step further comprises: transporting one of the plurality of concentrates through a passageway extending from a sidewall of the member through the member.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the transporting step further comprises: transporting one of the plurality of concentrates through a first passageway extending into the member from a side wall of the member to a second passageway extending into the member from an end wall of the member.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the transporting step further comprises: the passageway being sized to retain less than approximately 2 milliliters of concentrate.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the rotating step further comprises: each of the plurality of outlets being in fluid connection with a separate eductor.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the rotating step further comprises: each separate eductor has a different flow rate.

20. A method of controlling the flow of different flow paths of fluid comprising:

rotating a valve stem of a valve to a first position;

establishing fluid communication between an aperture of the valve stem and a first concentrate upon rotation of the valve to the first position;

receiving the first concentrate in the first position;

discharging the first concentrate through only one of two outlets, the outlets fluidly connected to the aperture at the same time;

rotating the valve stem to a second position;

establishing fluid communication between the aperture and a second concentrate upon rotation of the valve stem to the second position;

receiving the second concentrate in the second position; and

discharging the second concentrate through only one of the two outlets,

wherein rotating the valve stem to the first position aligns the aperture with a first inlet and rotating the valve stem to the second position aligns the aperture with a second inlet, and

wherein the first and second inlets are circumferentially arranged at an axial position on the valve.

21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising after the step of receiving a first concentrate in the first position: directing the first concentrate through a passageway provided in the valve.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein directing the first concentrate through a passageway provided in the valve further comprises: the passageway being sized to retain less than approximately 2 milliliters of concentrate.

23. The method of claim 21 , further comprising after the step of receiving a second concentrate in the second position: directing the second concentrate through the passageway provided in the valve.

24. The method of claim 20 , wherein the step of receiving a first concentrate in the first position further comprises: receiving a first concentrate in the first position from a first port.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the step of receiving a second concentrate in the second position further comprises: receiving a second concentrate in the second position from a second port.

26. The method of claim 25 , further comprising after the step of receiving a first concentrate in the first position: directing the first concentrate through a passageway provided in the valve.

27. The method of claim 26 , further comprising after the step of receiving a second concentrate in the second position: directing the second concentrate through the passageway provided in the valve.

28. The method of claim 20 , wherein the step of discharging the first concentrate through one of two outlets further comprises: a first of the two outlets being in fluid connection with a first eductor, and a second of the two outlets being in fluid connection with a second eductor.

29. The method of claim 28 , wherein the step of discharging the first concentrate through one of two outlets further comprises: the first eductor having a faster flow rate than the second eductor.

30. The method of claim 20 , further comprising:

rotating the valve to a third position;

establishing fluid communication between the aperture and a third concentrate upon rotation of the valve to the third position;

receiving the third concentrate in the third position; and

discharging the third concentrate through only one of the two outlets.

31. The method of claim 30 , further comprising:

rotating the valve to a fourth position;

establishing fluid communication between the aperture and a fourth concentrate upon rotation of the valve to the fourth position;

receiving the fourth concentrate in the fourth position; and

discharging the fourth concentrate through only one of the two outlets.

32. A method of controlling the flow of different flow paths of fluid comprising:

rotating a valve to a first position in which the valve points to a first concentrate;

receiving a first concentrate in the first position through a first inlet;

discharging the first concentrate through only one of two outlets;

rotating the valve to a second position in which the valve points to a second concentrate;

receiving a second concentrate in the second position through a second inlet circumferentially arranged and aligned with the first inlet on the valve; and

discharging the second concentrate through only one of the two outlets,

wherein the outlets are fluidly connected to the first inlet at the same time, and fluidly connected to the second inlet at the same time.

33. The method of claim 32 , further comprising after the step of receiving a first concentrate in the first position: directing the first concentrate through a passageway provided in the valve.

34. The method of claim 33 , wherein directing the first concentrate through a passageway provided in the valve further comprises: the passageway being sized to retain less than approximately 2 milliliters of concentrate.

35. The method of claim 32 , further comprising after the step of receiving a second concentrate in the second position: directing the second concentrate through the passageway provided in the valve.

36. The method of claim 32 , wherein the step of receiving a first concentrate in the first position further comprises: receiving a first concentrate in the first position from a first port.

37. The method of claim 36 , wherein the step of receiving a second concentrate in the second position further comprises: receiving a second concentrate in the second position from a second port.

38. The method of claim 37 , further comprising after the step of receiving a first concentrate in the first position: directing the first concentrate through a passageway provided in the valve.

39. The method of claim 38 , further comprising after the step of receiving a second concentrate in the second position: directing the second concentrate through the passageway provided in the valve.

40. The method of claim 32 , wherein the step of discharging the first concentrate through one of two outlets further comprises: a first of the two outlets being in fluid connection with a first eductor, and a second of the two outlets being in fluid connection with a second eductor.

41. The method of claim 40 , wherein the step of discharging the first concentrate through one of two outlets further comprises: the first eductor having a faster flow rate than the second eductor.

42. The method of claim 32 , further comprising:

rotating the valve to a third position in which the valve points to a third concentrate;

receiving the third concentrate in the third position through a third inlet; and

discharging the third concentrate through only one of the two outlets, the outlets fluidly connected to the third inlet at the same time.

43. The method of claim 42 , further comprising:

rotating the valve to a fourth position in which the valve points to a fourth concentrate;

receiving the fourth concentrate in the fourth position through a fourth inlet circumferentially arranged and aligned with the third inlet on the valve; and

discharging the fourth concentrate through only one of the two outlets, the outlets fluidly connected to the fourth inlet at the same time.

Assignments (14)