Water and beverage concentrate dispenser

• US 3,949,903 A
• Filed: 09/12/1974
• Issued: 04/13/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Benasutti, Louis D., Sucro, Jost S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reeves, Robert B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rolla, Joseph J.
• Application Number:
  US05/505,452
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: 222/57, 222/129.1, 222/129.2, 222/129.3, 222/129.4, 222/133, 222/193, 222/505, 222/509, 137/604, 137/613, 137/614.11, 239/318, 417/167, 417/174, 261/DIG. 7, 261/DIG. 77, 261/75, 261/76, 261/77, 259/4
• US Class Current: 222/129.2
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/31243 Eductor or eductor-type venturi, i.e. the main flow being injected through the venturi with high speed in the form of a jet
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0043 Mixing devices for liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0045 Venturi arrangements; Aspirators; Eductors
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/126 Water cooler

Abstract

A beverage concentrate and water dispenser for a household refrigerator cabinet wherein multiple spouts with individual actuating and mixture diluting means are accessible from the exterior of the refrigerator cabinet. The dispenser includes a plurality of valves, fed with chilled water via a manifold from a water storage tank within the cabinet, for flow through jet nozzle aspirator means, operative for drawing beverage concentrate through a suction tube for mixing with the water prior to being dispensed. The dispenser concentrate-water mixture diluting means includes a valve in a water bypass passageway for selecting the proportion of bypass water dilution desired to be added to the concentrate-water mixture. An electrical switch is operative in sequence with resiliently biased valve plug members to delay the admission of source water under line or water main pressure into the manifold until the selected valve plug has been unseated.

Claims

1. In a beverage concentrate dispenser, a discharge valve casing including a valve chamber having an inlet for connection to a source of water supply under pressure, a nozzle passage extending from said valve chamber and communicating with a mixing tube, said mixing tube having a first enlarged bore joined to a second reduced downstream bore by means of a tapered throat section, said first enlarged bore having enclosed therein in axially aligned fashion a primary Venturi nozzle whereby the flow from said nozzle passage may enter said Venturi nozzle, a beverage concentrate feed tube in communication with said enlarged bore, said primary Venturi nozzle having the downstream portion of its outer peripheral surface reduced in diameter relative to said first enlarged bore, a secondary straight jet nozzle disposed in spaced relation within said enlarged bore and coaxial with said primary Venturi nozzle and downstream therefrom, said secondary straight jet nozzle having its outer peripheral surface generated in the shape of a cone converging toward its downstream exit orifice, said secondary nozzle outer surface being reduced in diameter relative to said first enlarged bore whereby an annular flow channel in the form of one-half of a cone section is defined therebetween, said primary Venturi nozzle having its downstream end telescoped in spaced relation within the entrance of said secondary nozzle defining a first stage beverage concentrate aspirator in communication with said concentrate feed tube, whereby a first stage primary mixing of concentrate and water is achieved in the passage of said secondary jet nozzle, said secondary jet nozzle having its exit orifice located in the annular area of said tapered throat section thereby forming a second stage concentrate aspirator in conjunction with said jet nozzle which is in communication with said concentrate feed tube via said annular flow channel, such that a secondary mix of concentrate with said primary water-concentrate mix is achieved in said second reduced downstream bore for dispensing the beverage into a container from the exit of said second reduced bore.

2. In a beverage concentrate dispenser, a discharge valve casing including a valve chamber having an inlet for connection to a source of water supply under pressure, a mixing water passage extending from a first exit in said valve chamber terminating in a jet pump aspirator, said aspirator including a nozzle section having an initial downstream converging conical portion and a cylindrical ring outlet portion, said nozzle outlet exiting into an enlarged pump cavity, a vertical beverage concentrate feed tube communicating with a bottom opening in said pump cavity, said aspirator including a mixing tube section disposed in axially spaced downstream relation to said nozzle outlet, said mixing tube section having a converging cone entrance portion and a downstream diverging portion interconnected by a cylindrical neck portion whereby said nozzle is adapted to feed a jet of water to said mixing tube entrance portion creating a low pressure suction region in said pump cavity for drawing up concentrate from said feed tube and into said mixing tube entrance portion, a dilution water by-pass passageway including a tube extending from a second exit in said valve chamber in generally parallel relation with said mixing water passage, passage means connecting a downstream portion of said by-pass passageway with said mixing tube diverging portion, valve means in said by-pass passageway permitting a selected quantity of diluting water to pass through said by-pass passageway into said mixing tube diverging portion whereby the beverage concentrate-water mixture exiting said mixing tube neck portion may be diluted without substantially affecting the low pressure region created in said pump cavity.

3. In a beverage concentrate dispenser, a discharge valve casing including a valve chamber having an inlet for connection to a source of water supply under pressure, a mixing water passage extending from a first exit in said valve chamber terminating in a jet pump aspirator, said aspirator including a nozzle section having an initial downstream converging conical portion and a cylindrical ring outlet portion interconnected by an inwardly curved portion, said nozzle outlet exiting into an enlarged pump cavity surrounding said nozzle, a vertical beverage concentrate feed tube communicating with a bottom opening in said pump cavity, said aspirator including a mixing tube section disposed in axially spaced downstream relation to said nozzle outlet, said mixing tube section having a converging cone entrance portion and a downstream diverging portion interconnected by a cylindrical neck portion whereby said nozzle is adapted to feed a jet of water to said mixing tube entrance portion creating a low pressure suction region in said pump cavity for drawing up concentrate from said feed tube into said entrance portion, a dilution water by-pass passageway including a tube extending from a second exit in said valve chamber in generally parallel relation with said mixing water passage, passage means connecting a downstream portion of said by-pass passageway with said mixing tube diverging portion, valve means in said by-pass passageway permitting a selected quantity of diluting water to pass through said by-pass passageway into said mixing tube diverging portion whereby the beverage concentrate-water mixture exiting said mixing tube neck portion may be diluted without substantially affecting the low pressure region created in said pump cavity by said mixing water, a right-angled spout passage communicating with the exit of said mixing tube diverging portion, said spout including baffle means in the form of an arcuate trough extending forwardly from the lower half of said mixing tube exit a predetermined distance, said trough defining a restricted region in the vertical portion of said spout passage, whereby air entering said spout exit is prevented from entering said mixing tube diverging portion by the beverage concentrate-water mixture turbulence created in said spout passage.

4. In a beverage concentrate dispenser adapted to dispense a selected water concentrate mixture from any one of a plurality of dispensing spouts, a discharge valve casing including a valve chamber associated with each said spout, each of said valve chambers communicating via water-concentrate mixing aspirator means with its associated spout, each said valve chamber having a tubular stem extending therein connected to a common water supply manifold pipe communicating with a source of water supply under pressure, each said valve chamber stem having a seat, each said valve chamber having a valve control member seated on said stem preventing the inlet flow of water from said manifold pipe to said valve chamber, said valve control member including means for resiliently biasing the valve control member away from said valve chamber stem seat permitting the inlet flow of water from said manifold pipe into said valve chamber, an actuator assembly for each said valve chamber operative to regulate the opening and closing of its associated valve control member, each said actuator assembly including resilient spring means for maintaining the valve control member in closed sealed contact with its valve chamber stem seat, said actuator assembly including camming means thereon operative when moved to relieve the force exerted by said spring means on said valve control member whereby it is free to move to its resiliently biased position and thereby permit the flow of water from the pressure source into the valve chamber, a switch actuating shaft extending transversely across said dispenser casing and supported thereby for rotational movement about its own axis, said switch actuating shaft formed with a plurality of spaced radially directed tabs providing one tab for each actuator assembly, each of said tabs positioned in an aligned elongated opening in its associated actuator, said switch actuating shaft including a finger member positioned thereon adjacent probe means of a normally opened electrical switch, circuit means connecting said switch to a solenoid actuated water line valve controlling the flow of water from the pressurized source into said manifold pipe, the cam means of the selected concentrate mixture actuator operative when moved to initially permit the valve control member to move to its biased upper position, the selected actuator assembly operative upon further movement pivoting said actuating shaft finger into engagement with said probe means closing said electrical switch and energizing said solenoid valve thereby allowing the flow of pressurized water into the opened valve chamber.

5. In a beverage concentrate dispenser adapted to dispense a selected water concentrate mixture into any one of a plurality of dispensing spouts, a discharge valve casing including a valve chamber associated with each spout, each of said valve chambers communicating via water-concentrate mixing aspirator means with its associated spout, each said valve chamber having a tubular stem extending therein connected to a common water supply manifold pipe communicating with a source of water supply under pressure, each said valve chamber stem having a seat, each said valve chamber having a valve control member seated on said stem preventing the inlet flow of water from said manifold pipe to said valve chamber, said valve control member including means for resiliently biasing the valve control member away from said valve chamber stem seat permitting the inlet flow of water from said manifold pipe into said valve chamber, a slide actuator assembly for each said valve chamber operative to regulate the opening and closing of its associated valve control member, each said slide assembly including resilient spring means for maintaining the valve control member in closed sealed contact with its valve chamber stem seat, said slide actuator assembly including a reciprocal outwardly biased slide having camming means thereon operative when moved inwardly to relieve the force exerted by said spring means on said valve control member whereby it is free to move to its resiliently biased position and thereby permit the flow of water from the pressure source into the valve chamber, a switch actuating shaft extending transversely across said dispenser casing and supported thereby for rotational movement about its own axis, said switch actuating shaft formed with a plurality of spaced radially directed tabs providing one one tab for each slide actuator assembly;

each of said tabs positioned in an aligned elongated opening in the associated slide, said switch actuating shaft including a finger member positioned thereon adjacent probe means of a normally opened electrical switch, circuit means connecting said switch to a solenoid actuated water line valve controlling the flow of water from the pressurized source into said manifold pipe, the slide cam means of the selected concentrate mixture slide operative when moved inwardly to initially permit the valve control member to move to its biased upper position, the selected slide operative upon further inward movement pivoting said actuating shaft finger into engagement with said probe means closing said electrical switch and energizing said solenoid valve thereby allowing the flow of pressurized water into the opened valve chamber.

6. In a beverage concentrate dispenser adapted to dispense a selected water concentrate mixture from any one of a plurality of dispensing spouts, a discharge valve casing including a valve chamber associated with each said spout, each of said valve chambers communicating via water-concentrate mixing aspirator means with its associated spout, each said valve chamber having a vertical tubular stem extending therein connected to a common water supply manifold pipe communicating with a source of water supply under pressure, each said valve chamber stem having a seat, each said valve chamber having a resilient valve control member seated on said stem preventing the inlet flow of water from said manifold pipe to said valve chamber, said valve control member including resilient means integral therewith for resiliently biasing the valve control member upwardly away from said valve chamber stem seat permitting the inlet flow of water from said manifold pipe into said valve chamber, a slide actuator assembly for each said valve chamber operative to regulate the opening and closing of its associated valve control member, each said slide assembly including a resilient leaf spring for maintaining the valve control member in normally sealed contact with its valve chamber stem seat, said slide actuator assembly including a reciprocal outwardly biased slide having a camming wedge on its inward and operative when moved inwardly by an operator to flex said leaf spring upwardly thereby relieving the force exerted by said leaf spring on said valve control member whereby said member is free to move to its resiliently biased position and thereby permit the flow of water from the pressure source into the valve chamber, said leaf spring operative by means of contact with said camming wedge to bias said slide actuator to its outer position upon removal of pressure by the operator, a switch actuating shaft extending transversely across said dispenser casing and supported thereby for rotational movement about its own axis, said switch actuating shaft formed with a plurality of spaced radially directed tabs providing one tab for each slide actuator, each of said tabs positioned in an aligned elongated opening in its associated slide, said switch actuating shaft including a finger member positioned thereon adjacent probe means of a normally opened electrical switch, circuit means connecting said switch to a solenoid actuated water line valve controlling the flow of water from the pressurized source into said manifold pipe, the slide cam means of the selected concentrate mixture slide operative when moved inwardly to initially cam said leaf spring upwardly permitting said valve control member to move to its biased upper position, the selected slide operative upon further inward movement pivoting its associated tab and said actuating shaft finger into engagement with said probe means closing said electrical switch and energizing said solenoid valve thereby allowing the flow of pressurized water into the opened valve chamber.