Abstract: The apparatus includes a housing having a dispensing location for liquid disposed above a repository for a liquid storage container. A pressurising assembly including an air pump supplies gas to pressurize the container and cause liquid to leave the container via a delivery tube. A replaceable flow assembly including a manifold 30 and a reservoir 18 conveys liquid from the delivery tube 16 to the reservoir and thence from the reservoir 18 to the dispensing location. The manifold has an underside which includes a riser tube connector 36 and a reservoir connector 40 to rigidly mount the manifold on the reservoir. An upper side of the manifold has an outlet 33 located directly above the reservoir connector 40. The manifold contains a chamber 58 configured to convey liquid from the riser tube connector 36 to the reservoir 18 and a connector 37 for feeding a second reservoir provided with a steam venting valve.

Abstract: A replaceable flow assembly for use in a water cooler or similar bottled liquid dispenser includes a liquid reservoir 7 and a manifold 48 incorporating a bottle connector 5, 49 for releasable sealing engagement with a neck formed on an inverted bottle. The manifold is mounted on the reservoir and incorporates a first pathway for conducting liquid from a feed tube 5 to the reservoir 7, and a second pathway for conducting liquid from the reservoir to a discharge outlet 53. A third pathway within the manifold conducts atmospheric air through an air filter 28 and into the interior of the bottle through the feed tube 5 without passing through the reservoir 7. The manifold preferably also incorporates a dispense valve between the reservoir 7 and the discharge outlet 53 (e.g. in arm 52), which co-operates with a fixed valve-operating member within the dispenser.

Abstract: A closure for the neck of a container such as a water bottle includes a cap 32 for engagement with the neck, and a valve plug 44. The cap has an inner guide sleeve 38 which sealingly receives the valve plug 44, which is provided with latches 50. When the bottle is placed on a liquid dispensing station such as a water cooler a probe 5 sealably enters the sleeve 38 and an actuator head 70 engages the latches 50 to carry the plug out of the sleeve 38. The probe requires minimum insertion force. One or more water flow ports 72 are provided in the probe 5 to conduct water out of the bottle, while air may enter the bottle via a vent port 73 and vent apertures in the valve plug 44. This allows simultaneous exchange of air and water without risk of air entrainment whilst providing a short penetration distance.

Abstract: A thermally-insulated reservoir 9 for a dispenser in which liquid is supplied from a bottle to a discharge outlet via a reservoir, has an inner wall 23 and an outer wall 24 defining a sealed and evacuated heat-insulating cavity 30 at least partially surrounding a liquid space 22. In one application of the invention the reservoir takes the form of a cooling vessel with the thermal means provided by a cooling coil 26. The invention may also be applied to reservoirs which form a hot tank with the thermal means provided by an electrical heating element.

Abstract: Bottled water or other liquid is supplied via a bottle connector 5 for releasable sealing engagement with a neck formed on the bottle, and a transfer tube 6 to a reservoir 7 wherein the water may be cooled. The bottle connector 5, the transfer tube 6 and the reservoir 7 are all moulded of a plastics material containing silver bound in a ceramic ion exchange resin so that the silver ions (Ag+) are slowly released to prevent microbial growth on the surface of the components. The bottle connector may include a feed tube 21 or a dip tube which also releases silver ions. Furthermore, the transfer tube 6 may be connected to the reservoir 7 via a reservoir connector 29 which may incorporate a draw tube 31 and one or more outlet tubes 14, 36, e.g. leading to a discharge outlet, all of which release silver ions.

Abstract: An inverted container has a generally cylindrical depending neck, with a cap 18 having an outer wall 19 which engages the neck and an internal sleeve 20 located within the neck and joined to the outer wall by a connecting wall 21. The internal sleeve 20 defines a recess for receiving the feed tube 34, and a frangible seal 28 is secured to the connecting wall of the cap to cover the recess prior to insertion of the feed tube. To prevent pieces of the seal 28 from being separated if the feed tube 34 is inserted with the seal 28 still in place the feed tube has at least one row of upwardly-projecting puncturing elements 48 which create a controlled rupture of the seal prior to penetration of the feed tube.

Abstract: Liquid is supplied from a bottle B to a discharge outlet 8 via a molded plastics reservoir 15 by pressurizing the bottle using an air pump 22. A pressure sensor responds to a rise in air pressure supplied to the bottle by shutting off the pump. Liquid is removed from the reservoir through a dip tube 17 having a main outlet 18 adjacent to the bottom of the reservoir and a smaller auxiliary outlet 21 adjacent to the top of the reservoir. The upper region of the reservoir is received in a finned heat-conducting holder 16 provided with a thermoelectric cooling element. For hygienic purposes the bottle has a connector 12 which can be replaced together with the reservoir 15 and associated supply tubes 24, 13, 14, 17 and 19. A temperature-control mixer 51 may be to mix liquid from the reservoir with liquid from the bottle.

Abstract: Liquid is supplied from a bottle B to a discharge outlet 8 via a molded plastics reservoir 15 by pressurizing the bottle using an air pump 22. A pressure sensor responds to a rise in air pressure supplied to the bottle by shutting off the pump. Liquid is removed from the reservoir through a dip tube 17 having a main outlet 18 adjacent to the bottom of the reservoir and a smaller auxiliary outlet 21 adjacent to the top of the reservoir. The upper region of the reservoir is received in a finned heat-conducting holder 16 provided with a thermoelectric cooling element. For hygienic purposes the bottle has a connector 12 which can be replaced together with the reservoir 15 and associated supply tubes 24, 13, 14, 17 and 19. A temperature-control mixer 51 may be to mix liquid from the reservoir with liquid from the bottle.

Abstract: Liquid is supplied from a bottle B to a discharge outlet 8 via a molded plastics reservoir 15 by pressurizing the bottle using an air pump 22. A pressure sensor responds to a rise in air pressure supplied to the bottle by shutting off the pump. Liquid is removed from the reservoir through a dip tube 17 having a main outlet 18 adjacent to the bottom of the reservoir and a smaller auxiliary outlet 21 adjacent to the top of the reservoir. The upper region of the reservoir is received in a finned heat-conducting holder 16 provided with a thermoelectric cooling element. For hygienic purposes the bottle has a connector 12 which can be replaced together with the reservoir 15 and associated supply tubes 24, 13, 14, 17 and 19. A temperature-control mixer 51 may be to mix liquid from the reservoir with liquid from the bottle.

Abstract: Air drawn in by a fan 4 is cooled by evaporator coils 2 and re-warmed by a condenser 3. A microcontroller MC and sensor S reads the temperature of the incoming air at regular intervals, e.g. once every minute, and controls a compressor 1 to operates in successive run periods, during which the evaporator 2 removes moisture from the air, separated by defrost periods in which the compressor is switched off so that warm incoming air melts any ice on the evaporator. The temperature at the start of a run period determines the duration of the respective run period, and the temperature at the end of a run period determines the length of the following defrost period. The length of the run period is constant at low temperatures but increases to a longer constant period at higher temperatures. The length of the defrost period is a maximum close to freezing point, but is reduced by decreasing increments as air temperature increases. At higher temperatures the dehumidifier operates continuously with no defrost.

Abstract: A water dispenser which dispenses liquid from an inverted bottle includes a housing 31 provided with a mounting arrangement for the bottle. A feed tube incorporated in a removably mounted manifold body is positioned to project into the neck of the bottle to conduct water to a reservoir from which water is discharged through a valve 80. The valve includes a pinch bar 106 acting on a flexible plastics or rubber tube 96 which can easily be replaced. The outlet end of the tube is recessed behind the housing 31 to prevent accidental hand contact. Liquid discharged from the bottle is replaced by air which passes through a one-way float valve mounted on the manifold body for removal therewith, and the float valve incorporates an air filter.

Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing liquid from an inverted bottle having a neck through which the liquid is discharged, is provided with a mount 32 having a feed tube 34 to project into the neck of the bottle. The feed tube forms part of a reservoir 152 which incorporates a drainage channel 153 to sealably receive the neck of the bottle with closure of drain valve 144. Water travels from the feed tube 34 to a cold reservoir 160 comprising a flexible bag 163 received within a fixed rigid outer 162. Cooled water leaves the bag 163 to a discharge valve 168. The feed tube 34 may also supply a hot water reservoir (FIG. 3 ) which is also replaceable. To maintain strict hygiene, the manifold 152 and both reservoirs are completely replaced at intervals together with the interconnecting pipework.

Abstract: The apparatus is intended for dispensing liquid from an inverted container having a neck through which the liquid is discharged, and includes a housing 31 provided with a mounting arrangement 32 for receiving and supporting the inverted container. A feed tube 34 is arranged to project into the neck of said liquid container to conduct liquid to a reservoir, and cover flaps 62 and 63 are biassed together by tension springs 69 and 70 to cover the feed tube 34 upon removal of the liquid container. The feed tube may alternatively be covered by a resilient diaphragm.