BEVERAGE DISPENSING
First Claim
1. A apparatus for controlling beverage flow comprising:
- a dispensing tube having a distal end; and
a ball plug configured for linear reciprocal motion between a first position and a second position such that the ball plug is abutting the distal end of the dispensing tube in the first position and is separated from the distal end of the dispensing tube in the second position.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for controlling beverage flow includes a dispensing tube having a distal end. The apparatus also includes a ball plug configured for linear reciprocal motion between a first position and a second position so that the ball plug abuts the distal end of the dispensing tube in the first position and is separated from the distal end of the dispensing tube in the second position. A flow rate controller for compensation of flow in a fluid dispensing system includes a body portion and a first set of flow restricting nodes and a second set of flow restricting nodes formed in the body portion. The controller also includes a first channel formed in the body portion and configured to receive and partially surround a portion of a first fluid conduit such that the first fluid conduit is in contact with the first set of flow restricting nodes. The controller also includes a second channel formed in the body portion and configured to receive and partially surround a portion of a second fluid conduit such the second fluid conduit is in contact with the second set of flow restricting nodes. Flow through the first fluid conduit is compensated by adjusting the contact between the first set of flow restricting nodes and the first fluid conduit, and flow through the second fluid conduit is compensated by adjusting the contact between the second set of flow restricting nodes and the second fluid conduit.
127 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A apparatus for controlling beverage flow comprising:
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a dispensing tube having a distal end; and a ball plug configured for linear reciprocal motion between a first position and a second position such that the ball plug is abutting the distal end of the dispensing tube in the first position and is separated from the distal end of the dispensing tube in the second position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A nozzle assembly, comprising:
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a tube having a distal end; a rod disposed within the tube and having a proximal and distal end, the rod configured for reciprocal movement between a first position and a second position; and a ball plug coupled to the distal end of the rod such that when the rod is in the first position the ball plug is sealed against the distal end of the tube thereby preventing fluid flow from the nozzle assembly, and when the rod is in the second position the ball plug is separated from the distal end of the tube such that fluid flows from the nozzle assembly. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for dispensing a beverage, the method comprising:
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selectively opening a linearly reciprocating ball plug in order to direct flow of the beverage from a distal end of a dispensing nozzle; and selectively closing the linearly reciprocating ball plug to seal against flow of the beverage from the dispensing nozzle. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A flow rate controller for compensation of flow in a fluid dispensing system comprising:
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a body portion; a first set of flow restricting nodes formed in the body portion; a second set of flow restricting nodes formed in the body portion; a first channel formed in the body portion and configured to receive and partially surround a portion of a first fluid conduit such that the first fluid conduit is in contact with the first set of flow restricting nodes; and a second channel formed in the body portion and configured to receive and partially surround a portion of a second fluid conduit such the second fluid conduit is in contact with the second set of flow restricting nodes, wherein flow through the first fluid conduit is compensated by adjusting the contact between the first set of flow restricting nodes and the first fluid conduit, and flow through the second fluid conduit is compensated by adjusting the contact between the second set of flow restricting nodes and the second fluid conduit. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for controlling flow rate of two distinct beverage dispensing nozzles comprising the steps of:
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providing a flow rate controller comprising a body portion, a first set of flow restricting nodes formed in the body portion, a second set of flow restricting nodes formed in the body portion, a first channel formed in the body portion and configured to receive and partially surround a portion of a first fluid conduit such that the first fluid conduit is in contact with the first set of flow restricting nodes, and a second channel formed in the body portion and configured to receive and partially surround a portion of a second fluid conduit such the second fluid conduit is in contact with the second set of flow restricting nodes; selectively altering flow through the first beverage conduit by adjusting the contact between the first set of flow restricting nodes and the first beverage conduit; and selectively altering flow through the second beverage conduit by adjusting the contact between the second set of flow restricting nodes and the second beverage conduit. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A method of manufacturing a body portion of a flow rate controller comprising the steps of:
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forming a first set of flow restricting nodes in the body portion; forming a second set of flow restricting nodes in the body portion; forming a first channel in the body portion configured to receive and partially surround a portion of a first fluid conduit such that the first fluid conduit is in contact with the first set of flow restricting nodes; and forming a second channel in the body portion configured to receive and partially surround a portion of a second fluid conduit such that the second fluid conduit is in contact with the second set of flow restricting nodes. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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33. An apparatus comprising:
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a flow rate controller body defining an internal passageway configured to receive a coolant therein; a nozzle assembly coupled to the flow rate controller and configured to dispense a beverage therefrom; a beverage conduit coupled to and extending between the flow rate controller and the nozzle assembly; and a thermally conductive element disposed around the beverage conduit and extending between and coupled to the flow rate controller body and the nozzle assembly, wherein the thermally conductive element is configured to remove energy from a beverage in the beverage conduit. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification