REMOTE-SUPPLY LIQUID DISPENSING SYSTEM

• US 3,590,855 A
• Filed: 04/01/1969
• Issued: 07/06/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Charles E. Woollen, Robert W. Boehlow
• Original Assignee: Charles E. Woollen, Robert W. Boehlow
• Inventors: Woollen, Charles E., Boehlow, Robert W.
• Application Number:
  US04/812,276
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• US Class Current: 137/375
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/00 Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught B67D3/00 takes precedence; apparatus for making beverages A47J31/00
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0867 the cooling fluid being a liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00049 Pipes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7036 Jacketed

Abstract

A remote-supply liquid-dispensing system in which a plurality of counter-mounted dispensing units, each having a plurality of dispensing valves for dispensing different liquids, are supplied with liquids (e.g., syrups, carbonated water, plain water, beer, hot or cold coffee, etc.) from a temperature control unit at a location remote from the dispensing units via a system of thermally insulated fittings and conduits each having a plurality of tubes therein for the respective liquids, with quickattachable couplings between the ends of the conduits and the fittings adapted for simultaneous quick connection of all the tubes in a conduit to all the tubes in a fitting, with the tubes for the respective liquids in the conduits and fittings in proper register, also the multiple-tube conduit and fittings used in the system.

Claims

1. A distribution system for a liquid-dispensing installation wherein a plurality of liquids are to be delivered from supplies thereof through a liquid temperature control unit to dispensing units each having a plurality of dispensing valves, the control unit being at location remote from the dispensing units, said system comprising a plurality of multiple-tube conduits and multiple-tube fittings for conducting the liquids from the control unit to the dispensing units, each of said conduits and each of said fittings comprising an assembly of tubes for individually conducting the respective liquids, each of said conduits including a sleeve of flexible thermal insulation material sleeved around the tubes thereof with the tubes in heat exchange relation with one another within the sleeve, each of said conduits having coupling means at the ends of the said sleeve thereof including a plurality of terminals, one for each tube in the sleeve, to which the ends of the tubes in the sleeve are connected, each of said fittings having coupling means at the ends thereof including a plurality of terminals, one for each tube in the fitting, to which the ends of the tubes in the fitting are connected, the coupling means on the conduit mating with the coupling means on the fittings, and means for interconnecting the coupling means of the conduits and the fittings.

2. A distribution system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the coupling means at each end of the conduit comprises a head, the terminals therefor each comprising a tubular element mounted in the head having an inner end portion extending inward from the head and a cylindric nose extending outward from the head, the tubes in the sleeve being connected to said inner end portions of said tubular elements, each nose having an annular peripheral groove and a resilient sealing ring in the groove, the normal external diameter of the ring being greater than the external diameter of the nose, and the coupling means at each end of each fitting comprising a body having sockets therein constituting its terminals, the tubes of the fitting being connected to said sockets, the noses being received in said sockets, the diameter of said sockets being less than the external diameter of said rings for radial compression thereof on entry into said sockets, and said interconnecting means comprising means for retaining said head on the outer end of said body with said noses entered in said sockets.

3. A distribution system for a cold-beverage-dispensing installation wherein a plurality of liquids are to be delivered from supplies thereof through a refrigeration unit to dispensing units each having a plurality of dispensing valves, the refrigeration unit being at location remote from the dispensing units, said system comprising a plurality of multiple-tUbe conduits and multiple-tube fittings for conducting the liquids from the refrigeration unit to the dispensing units, each of said conduits and each of said fittings comprising an assembly of tubes for individually conducting the respective liquids, each of said conduits including a sleeve of flexible thermal insulation material sleeved around the tubes thereof with the tubes in heat exchange relation with one another within the sleeve, each of said conduits having coupling means at the ends of the said sleeve thereof including a plurality of terminals, one for each tube in the sleeve, to which the ends of the tubes in the sleeve are connected, each of said fittings having coupling means at the ends thereof including a plurality of terminals, one for each tube in the fitting, to which the ends of the tubes in the fitting are connected, the coupling means on the conduit mating with the coupling means on the fittings, and means for interconnecting the coupling means of the conduits and the fittings.

4. A distribution system as set forth in claim 3 wherein the coupling means on the conduits and fittings have interengageable keying means for providing registration of tubes throughout the system.

5. A distribution system as set forth in claim 4 wherein each fitting has the tubes thereof jacketed in thermal insulation.

6. A distribution system as set forth in claim 5 comprising a multiple-tube S-fitting for downward flow of the liquids from the refrigeration unit, and multiple-tube T-fittings and elbows for interconnection of conduits to provide a main line of multiple-tube conduit extending from the lower end of the S-fitting, one or more branch lines of multiple-tube conduit extending from the main line, and multiple-tube riser conduits extending upward from the main and branch lines to the dispensing units.

7. A distribution system as set forth in claim 4 comprising multiple-tube T-fittings and elbows for interconnection of conduits to provide a main line of multiple-tube conduit extending from the lower end of the S-fitting, one or more branch lines of multiple-tube conduit extending from the main line, and multiple-tube riser conduits extending upward from the main and branch lines to the dispensing units.

8. A distribution system as set forth in claim 3 wherein the coupling means at each end of the conduit comprises a head, the terminals therefor each comprising a tubular element mounted in the head having an inner end portion extending inward from the head and a cylindric nose extending outward from the head, the tubes in the conduit being connected to said inner end portions of said tubular elements, each nose having an annular peripheral groove and a resilient sealing ring in the groove, the normal external diameter of the ring being greater than the external diameter of the nose, and the coupling means at each end of each fitting comprising a body having sockets therein constituting its terminals, the tubes of the fitting being connected to said sockets, the noses being received in said sockets, the diameter of said sockets being less than the external diameter of said rings for radial compression thereof on entry into said sockets, and said interconnecting means comprising means for retaining said head on the outer end of said body with said noses entered in said sockets.

9. A distribution system as set forth in claim 8 wherein each said head has an integral key extending outward therefrom and each said body has a keyway for receiving said key for providing registration of tubes throughout the system.

10. A distribution system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said head comprises a disc and said interconnecting means comprises a nut rotary on the disc surrounding the disc and extending outward therefrom, the body being cylindric and externally threaded for threading the nut thereon.

11. A distribution system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the disc has a reduced diameter extension on the inside thereof providing an annular shoulder, thE tubular elements being mounted in slots extending radially inward from the periphery of the disc, the nut having an inwardly directed flange seated against said shoulder and surrounding said extension, and wherein a fastener is provided on said extension holding the nut in assembly with the disc while permitting it to rotate.

12. A distribution system as set forth in claim 11 wherein the extension has an annular peripheral groove and said fastener comprises a snapring received in said groove, said snapring holding said tubular elements in said slots and also holding the nut on said extension.

13. A multiple-fluid passage connection comprising a plurality of tubes, a head member, a plurality of terminals, one for each tube, mounted in the head member, each terminal having an inner end portion extending inward from one face of said head member constituting its inner face, each tube being connected to said inner end portion of a respective terminal, each terminal being tubular for flow of fluid therethrough and having a cylindric nose extending from the other face of the head member constituting its outer face, the cylindric nose of each terminal having a resilient sealing ring thereon surrounding the nose and projecting outward from the periphery of the nose, a coupling element comprising a body member having sockets therein, one for each nose, each adapted for entry of a nose therein and being dimensioned for radial compression of the sealing ring on the nose entered therein, and means for coupling said head and body members together.

14. A multiple-fluid passage connection as set forth in claim 13 wherein said coupling means comprises a nut rotary on one of said members, the other being threaded for receiving the nut.

15. A multiple-fluid passage connection as set forth in claim 13 wherein said head and body members have interengageable keying means for registration of certain terminals with certain sockets.

16. A multiple-fluid passage connection as set forth in claim 13 wherein the head member comprises a disc and wherein the coupling means comprises a nut rotary on the disc with means for holding it captive on the disc while permitting it to rotate, the nut surrounding the disc and extending axially outward therefrom, the body member being cylindric and externally threaded for receiving the nut.

17. A multiple-fluid passage connection as set forth in claim 16 wherein the terminals are mounted in slots extending radially inward from the periphery of the disc.

18. A multiple-fluid passage connection as set forth in claim 17 wherein the disc has a reduced diameter extension on its inner face providing a shoulder, the nut having an inwardly directed flange bearing against the shoulder, the extension having an annular peripheral groove, the means for holding the nut captive comprising a fastener ring received in said groove.

19. A multiple-tube conduit comprising a plurality of tubes, a head at each end of the conduit, a plurality of terminals, one for each tube, mounted in each head at each end of the conduit, each terminal being tubular for flow of fluid therethrough and having a cylindric nose extending from the outer face of the head, the cylindric nose of each terminal having a resilient sealing ring thereon surrounding the nose and projecting outward from the periphery of the nose, means on each head for coupling it to a body having sockets for receiving the noses, and a sleeve of thermal insulation surrounding said plurality of tubes extending from the head at one end to the head at the other end of the conduit.

20. A multiple-tube conduit as set forth in claim 19 wherein the coupling means comprises a nut rotary on the head, and wherein means is provided for holding the nut captive on the head while permitting it to rotate, and wherein the thermal insulation sleeve extends over the nuts at each end of the conduit and the material of the sleeve is soft and resilient to enable the ends of the sleeve to be squeezed back off the nuts,.

21. A multiple-tube conduit as set forth in claim 20 having a key extending outward from each head for reception in a keyway in said body.

22. A multiple-tube conduit as set forth in claim 20 wherein the head comprises a disc and the nut surrounds the disc and extends axially outward therefrom, the terminals being mounted in slots extending radially inward from the periphery of the disc.

23. A multiple-tube conduit as set forth in claim 22 wherein the disc has a reduced diameter extension on its inner face providing a shoulder, the nut having an inwardly directed flange bearing against the shoulder, the extension having an annular peripheral groove, the means for holding the nut captive comprising a fastener ring received in said groove.

24. A multiple-tube fitting comprising a rigid support, coupling elements carried by the support spaced each comprising a body having a plurality of terminals, a plurality of tubes carried by the support extending between the terminals, and thermal insulation surrounding the tubes.

25. A multiple-tube fitting as set forth in claim 24 wherein the support comprises a bar bent to have an end portion extending back toward the other end of the bar, and having a coupling element mounted on the outside of said bent-back end portion and a coupling element mounted oppositely thereto at the other end of the bar, the fitting thereby being an S-fitting.

26. A multiple-tube fitting as set forth in claim 24 wherein the support comprises a first bar having end portions bent at right angles to an intermediate portion of the bar, and a second bar of U-shape having a base and legs mounted transversely of the intermediate portion of the first bar in inverted position, having coupling elements mounted on the outside of said end portions of the first bar and the base of the second bar, and tubes extending between the coupling elements on said end portions of the first bar and tubes branching therefrom extending to the coupling element on the base of the second bar, the fitting thereby being a T-fitting.

27. A multiple-tube fitting as set forth in claim 24 wherein the support comprises a bar bent to have legs at an angle to one another, and having a coupling element mounted on the outside of each leg, the fitting thereby being an elbow fitting.