Disclosed is a device for dispensing a fluid, in particular a carbonated beverage, from a storage chamber of a container towards the outside via at least one closeable discharge port, comprising a pressure reservoir which is separated from the storage chamber and in which a pressurized propellant is accommodated, and which can be connected to the storage chamber via a pressure regulation mechanism. The pressure regulation mechanism includes an axially moveable regulating element that is impinged upon by means of a spring in the direction of an open position in which propellant is discharged from the pressure reservoir into the storage chamber. The ambient pressure to which the container is exposed acts upon the regulating element in the direction of the open position, and the internal pressure inside the storage chamber of the container acts upon the regulating element in the direction of the closed position.

The invention relates to a device of the type adapted to deliver fluids, notably medicaments, under pressure. The device comprises a container 1 of variable volume in the form or shape of a pouch or flexible receptacle of generally cylindrical shape with longitudinal pleats 2 containing the fluid under pressure to be delivered and equipped with an actuator C permitting to open a valve 15 a , 15 b to enable the delivery of said fluid, the whole being located inside a container 4 capable of resisting to an elevated internal pressure, the internal volume of the latter container comprised between its wall and the container of variable volume being filled with a neutral gas under a pressure sufficient to exert on the container of variable volume a pneumatic constraint sufficient to permit the delivery of the therein contained fluid when the above-said valve permitting said delivery is operated by the aforementioned actuator C.

A manually-actuated device for the deliver of a volume of liquid which includes an outlet through which liquid is in use delivered and a cover member which is movably disposed relative to the housing between a first position in which the cover member at least partly covers the outlet and a second position in which the cover member acts as a lever which in use is acted upon by a user to actuate the delivery device.

Equipment (10) for the preparation of a hot beverage comprising a boiler (10) capable of containing a liquid component of the beverage, for example water, a collection container (14) and means (22, 20, 28) defining a delivery path for the liquid component from the boiler to the collection container. The equipment also comprises valve means (40) located along the delivery path for the liquid component comprising a plug (44) which can move between a position in which the delivery path is closed and one in which it is open and means (70, 72; 74, 76; 78) to immobilise the plug in the open position. These means are arranged in such a way that they can be activated and deactivated by a force exerted in the direction of movement of the plug.

A brewing receptacle for an apparatus for brewing a beverage such as coffee. The receptacle has a brewing chamber (13; 63; 113) having an entry passage and an exit passage for displacing water through the chamber (13; 63; 113) for brewing the beverage, a bottom (14; 64; 114) for supporting the particles (18; 118, 118′) (18), and a discharge 5 opening (19; 69; 119) in the bottom (14; 64; 114) for discharging beverage liquid through the bottom (14; 64; 114). At least the bottom (14; 64; 114) is invertible between a first and a second operative position. The brewing chamber (13; 63; 113) has a first volume and a first shape when the bottom (14; 64; 114) is in said first position and at least a second volume or a second shape of the brewing chamber in said second position is different from the first volume or shape, respectively.

An airless dispensing pump for liquid products including a push button with a spray nozzle which communicates with a network of channels that is provided locally on the wall of an internal truncated-cone-shaped bore, and a housing. An upper part of the housing includes a dosing cell having an elastically-deformable wall, which is equipped with an intake valve and topped with a rigid collar for fixing same inside the bore of the aforementioned button. Moreover, the outer periphery of the collar has an inclined face which defines a swirl chamber opposite the above-mentioned network, while the inner periphery thereof is quipped with a passage to the chamber.

An electric beverage maker 2 comprises a lower, water boiling vessel 4 , a funnel 14 extending into the lower vessel, a compartment 10 for receiving a beverage, and an upper vessel 6 mounted over the funnel 14 to receive liquid which has passed up the funnel 14 through the compartment 10 and from which the beverage is dispensed. The base 30 of the lower vessel 4 is provided with electric heating means 32 and with a thermally sensitive control 40 for switching off, or reducing the power of, the heating means 32 when the lower vessel 4 boils substantially dry. It further has an overheat protector 42 for switching off, or reducing the power of, the heating means 32 in the event of severe overheating of the base 30.

The present invention concerns a means for controlling and/or measuring the flow of a running fluid, wherein the throttling of the flow is controlled utilizing the fluid's own differential pressure arising from the flow. The valve comprises a cover provided with a flow aperture, a main valve disc and control means consisting of a cylinder volume/piston assembly, the movement of said piston being connected to the main valve disc, and wherein the cylinder volume has been connected by a first opening (d1 min ) to the high pressure side and by a second opening (d2 min ) to the low pressure side so that the ratio of the areas of the openings is adjustable. The means comprises at least one sensing member by the aid of which the position of a part of the cylinder volume/piston assembly moving axially in the direction of the flow is measured; a data processing unit, to which the signal from the sensing member is conveyed after appropriate processing; a memory unit, in the first part of which have been stored data concerning the characteristic curve of the valve or equivalent, from which based on the signal from said sensing element, with the aid of the data processing unit, the variations of volumetric flow and or pressure can be calculated, and in the second part of said memory unit being stored the desired values of the volumetric flow and/or pressure, with which the calculated values mentioned before are compared; and at least one actuator by the aid of which the ratio of areas of the openings (d1 min , d2 min ) is adjustable for realizing the desired volumetric flow and/or pressure.

1. An automatic liquid-raising device with a storage tank (3) positioned above a closed working chamber (1), and a closed suction chamber (2) positioned above the storage tank (3) and having an outlet for liquid ; the working chamber (1) having a drain pipe (5) extending a certain distance downwards from its bottom and a suction-transfer pipe (7) rising from its top to the suction chamber (2) ; the storage tank (3) being connected through a charging pipe (6) to the working chamber (1) ; the suction chamber (2) having a feed pipe through which it aspirates liquid ; the charging pipe (6) having a valve (6a) for controlling the flow of liquid reaching the working chamber (1) from the storage tank (3) in dependence on the amount of liquid in the working chamber (1) ; the suction chamber (2) having a non-return valve (16) in its outlet (2a) for preventing return flow of liquid back into the suction chamber (2), characterised in that the storage tank (3) is mounted directly on top of the working chamber (1) and delivers working liquid through a charging pipe (6) to the top of the working chamber (1), the charging pipe (6) penetrating into the interior of the storage tank (3) ; the charging pipe (6) having a downwards-directed mouth (6a, 6a') cooperating with a valve plate (13, 23) actuated by a device (9, 12 or 24, 25) controlled by an actuator (9, 25) located in the working chamber (1) ; the actuator (9, 25) being connected to the valve plate (13, 23) through at least one sealed aperture (12, 24) in the separation wall (3a) between the storage tank (3) and the working chamber (1).