Abstract: Metering valve, including a substantially vertically-disposed tubular housing, the housing having an upper and a lower end, the lower end of the housing having a valve seat formed thereon and an outlet opening formed therein, a cap being integral with the upper end of the housing and having an impact surface formed thereon, a substantially tubular ram being axially liftable by a magnetic force field in the housing, the ram having an upper and a lower end, the lower end of the ram having a sealing cone formed thereon and the ram having drainage ports formed therein in vicinity of the sealing cone, the drainage ports being operable to leak fluid below the ram when the ram is lifted, the upper end of the ram being operable to adjoin the impact surface of the cap when the ram is lifted, and the valve seat having at least one selectively operable air inlet formed therein being associated with the outlet opening.

Abstract: Automatic household beverage dispenser including an equipment cabinet having a front and defining a mixing space with a dispensing station and an equipment space formed therein, detachable and replaceable functional parts including supply tanks for beverage concentrate and a device for dispensing carbon dioxide, electrical and flow devices for proportionate dispensing of concentrate, forming a mixture of concentrate and water and conducting the mixture to the dispensing station, the equipment space having a coverable opening formed at the front of the equipment cabinet for removal and replacement of all of the functional parts.

Abstract: A waste disposal device includes a receptacle for holding liquid and waste materials, a liquid drainline secured to the receptacle, a collecting tank connected in the drainline to collect the liquid and waste materials from the receptacle, a waste disintegrator extending into the collecting tank, drive means for operating the waste disintegrator, and control means in the drainline for actuating the drive means upon collection of liquid over a given level in the collecting tank and upon the flow of the liquid out of the tank through the drainline. The waste disintegrator is a rotatable impact knife, the drive means is a motor coupled to the knife, and the control means includes a siphon tube directing the flow of the liquid over a given level out of the tank, and pressure sensitive switching means for sensing a change in pressure in the siphon tube upon the occurrence of the flow of liquid to actuate the motor.