Brewed iced tea or non-carbonated drink dispenser

• US 20050166766A1
• Filed: 03/30/2005
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Brian C. Jones, Fernando Ubidia, Mark Tauer, Sanjay Kumar, Scott A. Dzibela
• Original Assignee: Brian C. Jones, Fernando Ubidia, Mark Tauer, Sanjay Kumar, Scott A. Dzibela
• Inventors: Jones, Brian C., Tauer, Mark, Kumar, Sanjay, Dzibela, Scott A., Ubidia, Fernando
• Application Number:
  US11/093,680
• Publication Number:
  US 20050166766A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 99/330
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/402 Liquid dosing devices

Abstract

A beverage dispensing apparatus includes a mixing chamber for mixing hot water, a beverage concentrate and cold water, as well as one or more additives. The hot water and cold water are supplied at a predetermined flow rate at a predetermined proportion, regardless of the pressure of the water supply. A water heater supplies the hot water within a specified pressure range and without significant entrapped air.

Claims

1. A water heating apparatus comprising:

a tank having a top, a water inlet and a water outlet, said outlet provided at the top of said tank;

a heating unit for heating water in said tank;

a dip tube extending from said outlet into said tank to establish a headspace between the top of said tank and the water level in said tank; and

a pressure check valve communicating with the headspace to maintain the headspace of said tank at no more than a predetermined maximum pressure.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said heating unit comprises a low watt density heater blanket.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a vacuum check valve communicating with the headspace.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the water in the tank and controlling said heating unit.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a second temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of an outside surface of said tank to prevent overheating of said tank.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, having no level sensing device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tank has a volume of about 0.75 to about 1.75 liters and wherein the apparatus is contained within cladding having the appearance of a real leaf tea brewing urn.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressure check valve opens at a pressure in the range of about 5 to about 7 psig.

9. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the pressure check valve opens at a pressure in the range of about 3 to about 4 psig.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

an inlet valve connected to the water inlet and an outlet valve connected to the water outlet and

a controller adapted to close the inlet valve and the outlet valve before or upon initiation of heating.

11. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising:

an inlet valve connected to the water inlet and an outlet valve connected to the water outlet and

a controller adapted to open the inlet valve and the outlet valve upon demand for heated water.

12. A method of heating water comprising:

introducing water into a water heating apparatus comprising a tank having a top, a water inlet, a water outlet, and a dip tube extending from said outlet into said tank to establish a headspace between the top of said tank and the water level in said tank said outlet provided at the top of said tank;

heating the water in the tank with a low watt density heater blanket to a temperature in the range of about 140°

F. to about 200°

F.,

releasing gas from the headspace when the headspace of said tank reaches a predetermined pressure.

13. The method of heating water of claim 12, wherein the water heating apparatus further comprises an inlet valve connected to the water inlet and an outlet valve connected to the water outlet, further comprising:

opening the inlet valve and the outlet valve upon demand for heated water.

14. A water heating apparatus comprising:

a tank having a top, a water inlet and a water outlet, said outlet provided at the top of said tank;

a heating unit for heating water in said tank;

an inlet valve connected to the water inlet;

an outlet valve connected to the water outlet; and

a controller adapted to open the inlet valve and the outlet valve upon demand for heated water.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising:

a dip tube extending from said outlet into said tank to establish a headspace between the top of said tank and the water level in said tank; and

a pressure check valve communicating with the headspace to maintain the headspace of said tank at no more than a predetermined maximum pressure.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the pressure check valve opens at a pressure in the range of about 5 to about 7 psig.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a vacuum check valve communicating with the headspace, wherein the pressure check valve opens at a pressure in the range of about 3 to about 4 psig.

18. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said heating unit comprises a low watt density heater blanket.

19. The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a second temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of an outside surface of said tank to prevent overheating of said tank.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the tank has a volume of about 0.75 to about 1.75 liters and wherein the apparatus is contained within cladding having the appearance of a real leaf tea brewing urn.