Bulk syrup delivery system

• US 4,553,573 A
• Filed: 10/20/1983
• Issued: 11/19/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pepsico Incorporated Anderson Hill RD Purchase NY 10577
• Original Assignee: PepsiCo Incorporated
• Inventors: McGarrah, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Bell, Jr., Houston S.
• Application Number:
  US06/543,846
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 141/234-248, 141/98-107, 141/346-362, 141/98, 141/231, 141/329, 141/326, 141/327, 285/137 R, 138/111, 137/375, 222/144.5, 222/132, 222/610
• US Class Current: 141/98
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/04 Apparatus utilising compressed air or other gas acting directly or indirectly on beverages in storage containers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/08 Arrangements of devices for controlling, indicating, metering or registering quantity or price of liquid transferred arrangement of flow- or pressure-control valves B67D7/36; computing, calculating, counting G06; coin-freed apparatus for dispensing fluids G07F13/00; prepayment devices for metering liquids G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/24 with means for producing or issuing a receipt or record of sale
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/38 Arrangements of hoses, e.g. operative connection with pump motor hoses in general F16L11/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 39/02 for hoses
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/4874 Tank truck type

Abstract

A bulk syrup delivery system in which a compartmentized tank delivery truck includes a plurality of separate compartments or tanks, generally one for each of several different types of soft drink syrup. One multichannel delivery hose, having one channel or passageway for each type of syrup, extends from a hose reel on the delivery truck to a delivery receptacle at the account. The account has a plurality of separate storage tanks, each of which is coupled to the delivery receptacle, which is designed to couple to the end of the delivery hose, such that each compartment in the delivery truck couples to the proper storage tank in the account. A plurality of separate check or closure valves are installed in each side of the coupling between the hose and the delivery receptacle, such that flow therebetween is prevented until the valves are opened. The compartments in the delivery truck are pressurized (e.g. 100 psi), such that the syrups flow from the truck into the account storage tanks until the latter are full, after which the hose/receptacle connection is terminated. Each of the fluid channels or passageways is coupled to a separate delivery meter such that the amount of each type of syrup is metered during the delivery. The meters can be operated in conjunction with a load ticket carried by the driver, the insertion of which into the meter arrangement resets to zero each of the meters and also enables operation of the delivery system.

Claims

1. A bulk syrup delivery system for the bulk delivery to an account of a plurality of different flavored syrups, to thereby eliminate many of the problems associated with the delivery of syrups to accounts in individual transfer containers, the delivery of which requires a substantial amount of manual labor in a time consuming and labor intensive delivery operation, and also eliminates the sizeable investment in transfer tanks and the problems associated with the storage of and connection to the transfer tanks, the bulk delivery system, comprising:

a. a compartmentized tank delivery truck having a plurality of separate compartments thereon for the storage and delivery of a plurality of different flavored syrups;

b. a multichannel delivery hose coupled to said plurality of separate compartments on said delivery truck and having at least one channel for each different flavored syrup; and

c. a multichannel delivery coupling at a delivery end of said multichannel delivery hose and having a plurality of closure valves therein, one for each channel in the delivery coupling.

2. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 1, said delivery truck including means for pressurizing each of said plurality of compartments thereon to pump the syrups into corresponding separate tanks at an account, at least one for each different flavored syrup, such that after connection to an account, the syrups flow under pressure into the corresponding tanks at an account until the tanks are full, at which time an equilibrium is reached and the delivery can be terminated.

3. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 1, said multichannel delivery hose having a plurality of different sized channels therein, with at least one larger sized channel being provided for a flavored syrup which the account dispenses a greater volume of than other different flavored syrups.

4. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 1, including a plurality of delivery meters on said delivery truck for metering of the syrups passed therethrough, with a separate meter being provided for each different flavored syrup, said plurality of delivery meters having an associated receptacle for the receipt of a load ticket, the insertion of which into the receptacle zeros each of the meters and enables operation of the delivery system, with the load ticket recording the quantity of each different flavored syrup delivered to an account.

5. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 1, said multichannel delivery hose comprising a one piece, extruded honeycomb hose.

6. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 1, said multichannel delivery hose comprising a plurality of separate tubes which are encased by an outer jacket.

7. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 1, said multichannel delivery hose and multichannel delivery coupling including the channels configured with a central channel and a plurality of circumferential channels positioned around said central channel.

8. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 7, said multichannel delivery hose having a plurality of different sized channels therein, with at least one larger sized channel being provided for a flavored syrup which the account dispenses a greater volume of than other different flavored syrups, and at least one larger sized channel comprising one of said circumferential channels to provide for proper positioning of the delivery coupling with respect to a corresponding receiving coupling at an account.

9. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 8, said central channel also comprising a larger sized channel.

10. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 1, further including a hose storage drum on said delivery truck, about which said multichannel delivery hose is wound between deliveries to different accounts.

11. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 1, in combination with a plurality of separate tanks at an account, one for each different flavored syrup, the account including a receiving terminal in which a corresponding matching multichannel receiving coupling is provided for connection to said multichannel delivery coupling.

12. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 11, said multichannel delivery and receiving couplings having a manually operated coupling means for securing said delivery coupling to said receiving coupling, with the manual operation of said coupling means to effect a connection of said coupling members simultaneously securing and sealing the corresponding delivery and receiving coupling members together and also opening said plurality of closure valves to enable delivery of the different flavored syrups to an account.

13. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 12, said multichannel receiving coupling including a plurality of check valves therein, one for each channel in the receiving coupling.

14. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 13, said terminal being mounted exterior to a building at the account, and comprising a terminal housing with a lock thereon to prevent unauthorized access thereto.

15. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 14, said delivery truck including means for pressurizing each of said plurality of compartments thereon to pump the syrups into corresponding separate tanks at an account, one for each different flavored syrup, such that after connection to an account, the syrups flow under pressure into the corresponding tanks at an account until the tanks are full, at which time an equilibrium is reached and the delivery can be terminated.

16. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 15, including a plurality of delivery meters on said delivery trucks for metering of the syrups passed therethrough, with a separate meter being provided for each different flavored syrup, said plurality of delivery meters having an associated receptacle for the receipt of a load ticket, the insertion of which into the receptacle zeros each of the meters and enables operation of the delivery system, with the load ticket recording the quantity of each different flavored syrup delivered to an account.

17. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 16, said multichannel delivery hose having a plurality of different sized channels therein, with at least one larger sized channel being provided for a flavored syrup which the account dispenses a greater volume of than other different flavored syrups.

18. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 17, said multichannel delivery hose, multichannel delivery coupling and multichannel receiving coupling including the channels configured with a central channel and a plurality of circumferential channels positioned around said central channel.

19. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 18, at least one larger sized channel comprising one of said circumferential channels to provide for proper positioning of said delivery coupling with respect to said corresponding receiving coupling at the account.

20. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 19, said central channel also comprising a larger sized channel.

21. A bulk syrup system for the bulk receipt and storage by an account of a plurality of different flavored syrups, to thereby eliminate many of the problems associated with the delivery of syrups to accounts in individual transfer containers, the delivery of which requires a substantial amount of manual labor in a time consuming and labor intensive delivery operation, and also eliminates the sizeable investment in transfer tanks and the problems associated with the storage of and connection to the transfer tanks, the bulk delivery system, comprising:

a. the account having a plurality of separate syrup storage tanks for the receipt and storage of a plurality of different flavored syrups;

b. a multichannel hose coupled at a first end to said plurality of separate syrup storage tanks and having at least one channel for each different flavored syrup; and

c. a syrup delivery receiving terminal mounted exterior to a building at the account, comprising a terminal housing with a lock thereon to prevent unauthorized access thereto; and

d. a multichannel receiving coupling at a second, syrup delivery receiving end of said multichannel delivery hose mounted in said syrup delivery receiving terminal, and having a plurality of closure valves therein, one for each channel in the delivery coupling, whereby a bulk syrup delivery to the account can be made by coupling a multichannel delivery coupling from a syrup delivery truck to said receiving coupling.

22. A bulk syrup system as specified in claim 21, said multichannel hose having a plurality of different sized channels therein, with at least one larger sized channel therein, being provided for a flavored syrup which the account dispenses a greater volume of than other different flavored syrups.

23. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 21, said multichannel delivery hose comprising a plurality of separate tubes which are encased by an outer jacket.

24. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 21, said multichannel hose and multichannel receiving coupling including the channels configured with a central channel and a plurality of circumferential channels positioned around said central channel.

25. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 24, said multichannel hose having a plurality of different sized channels therein, with at least one larger sized channel being provided for a flavored syrup which the account dispenses a greater volume of than other different flavored syrups, and at least one larger sized channel comprising one of said circumferential channels to provide for proper positioning of the delivery coupling with respect to a corresponding receiving coupling at an account.

26. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 25, said central channel also comprising a larger sized channel.

27. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 21, said mulitchannel receiving coupling having a manually operated coupling means for securing a delivery coupling to said receiving coupling, with the connection of said coupling members simultaneously securing and sealing the corresponding delivery and receiving coupling members together and also opening said plurality of closure valves to enable delivery of the different flavored syrups to an account.

28. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 27, said multichannel receiving coupling including a plurality of check valves therein, one for each channel in the receiving coupling.