Method and apparatus for dispensing a beverage

• US 4,076,145 A
• Filed: 08/09/1976
• Issued: 02/28/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cornelius Co. (Minnesota) (IMI PLC)
• Original Assignee: Cornelius Co. (Minnesota) (IMI PLC)
• Inventors: Zygiel, deceased, Alfred E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reeves, Robert B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bartuska, Francis J.
• Application Number:
  US05/712,935
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 222/129.2, 222/133, 222/334, 222/1, 222/373, 222/386.5, 137/564.5, 137/101.11
• US Class Current: 222/1
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0027 control of the amount of one component, the amount of the other components(s) being dependent on that control
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0052 by means for directing respective streams together

Abstract

Apparatus for mixing and dispensing a beverage has a mixing head, a water line having a partially restricted outlet for backing up water pressure, a concentrate chamber having a diaphragm, a bypass line from the water line to the chamber for bypassing water from the water line against the diaphragm and forcing concentrate to the mixing head, an open drain in the bypass line for exhausting water from the concentrate chamber, and a self-actuatable valve in the drain for closing the drain during dispensing; also disclosed is a method of mixing and dispensing a beverage in which pressurized water is first used to propel concentrate and then exhausted out a drain.

Claims

1. Apparatus for mixing and dispensing a beverage comprising:

a. a dispensing head for mixing of water and beverage concentrate;

b. a water line having one end for being connected to a supply of pressurized water, a valve for control of flow of water through the line, and a water chamber downstream of the valve and having a partially obstructed outlet for developing pressure in the chamber during flow of water therethrough, the outlet being in fluid communication with the dispensing head;

c. a reservoir for containing a supply of beverage concentrate;

d. a concentrate metering chamber in fluid communication with the reservoir and being fillable from the reservoir;

e. a valve between the reservoir and the metering chamber for allowing concentrate flow from the reservoir to the metering chamber and for preventing concentrate flow from the metering chamber to the reservoir;

f. a concentrate line between the metering chamber and the dispensing head, there being a valve in the concentrate line for controlling flow of concentrate therethrough;

g. a bypass line fluidly connecting the water chamber to the metering chamber, for bypassing water from the water chamber to the metering chamber under the pressure formed by the flow of water through the partially obstructed outlet;

h. a diaphragm positioned in the metering chamber for physically separating concentrate and water in the metering chamber, the diaphragm being distortable upon flow of and under the pressure of bypassed water flowing into the metering chamber, for pressurizing the concentrate in the mixing chamber and forcing concentrate through the concentrate line to the dispensing head;

i. a bypass drain fluidly connected to the bypass line and having a normally open self-actuatable drain valve which is responsive to and closable upon flow of bypass water under bypass pressure into the drain, and which is self openable upon dropping of the bypass pressure for drainage of the bypass water from the bypass line to a waste outlet.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the drain valve has a ball which is movable by a flow of bypass water to a position against a seat for closing of the drain valve.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which the ball is movable upwardly for closing of the drain valve.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the bypass drain has an inlet from the bypass line to the drain valve which is sized to have a lesser restriction to flow of bypass water than does an outlet from the drain valve.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, including a bypass check valve fluidly in the bypass line between the water chamber and the drain, the bypass check valve being operative for allowing flow of bypass water only from the water chamber toward the metering chamber.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, including means in the concentrate line for controlling the rate of flow of concentrate in the concentrate line.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the drain valve is self-opening against the pressure of concentrate in the reservoir and metering chamber and under the force of gravity.

8. A method of mixing and dispensing a beverage comprising the steps of:

a. providing a beverage concentrate in a metering chamber;

b. opening a dispensing valve and passing a flow of water through a water line from a pressurized water source to a dispensing head;

c. partially obstructing the flow of water and developing a bypass pressure downstream of the valve when the valve is opened;

d. directing a bypass flow of water under the bypass pressure through a bypass line to an open drain valve;

e. closing the drain valve with the flow of water thereinto;

f. maintaining the drain valve closed with the bypass pressure;

g. directing the bypass flow of water under the bypass pressure into the metering chamber and displacing concentrate therefrom;

h. transferring the displaced concentrate to the dispensing head and combining the concentrate with water to form a palatable beverage;

i. closing the dispensing valve, thereby terminating the flow of water and limiting the amount of beverage dispensed, and dropping the bypass pressure;

j. opening the drain valve in response to the dropping of the bypass pressure; and

subsequently

k. draining the bypass water from the metering chamber through the open drain valve.

9. A method according to claim 8, including the step of restricting the transferring of displaced concentrate to the dispensing head and developing a concentrate back pressure as a consequence of said restricting.

10. A method according to claim 8, including the step of checking against reverse flow of bypass water between the water line and the drain valve.

11. A method according to claim 8, including the step of opening the drain valve in response to a dropping of the bypass pressure into the range of 1.5 to 3.5 PSI.

12. A method according to claim 8, including the step of draining at least part of the bypass water under the pressure of concentrate refilling the metering chamber under the force of gravity.