Apparatus for dispensing a carbonated beverage
First Claim
1. Apparatus for dispensing a carbonated beverage, comprising:
- (a) a plurality of beverage dispensing valves;
(b) a beverage reservoir, said reservoir being fluidly connected to each of said beverage valves;
(c) a beverage supply conduit having a downstream end fluidly connected to said reservoir and an upstream end adapted to be fluidly connected to a supply vessel having carbonated beverage therein;
(d) means for pressurizing such a supply vessel with propellant gas;
(e) portion control means operatively connected to said plurality of said dispensing valves for controlling activation of said dispensing valves for dispensing a predetermined volume of carbonated beverage from each respective valve, said portion control means being operable for simultaneously activating each of said plurality of dispensing valves for the simultaneous dispensing of a plurality of discrete predetermined portions of beverage;
(f) means for maintaining a predetermined quantity of carbonated beverage within said reservoir, said quantity having a volume which is less than the total volume of the reservoir;
(g) means fluidly connected to the reservoir for regulating the pressure of gas within the reservoir at a pressure less than the pressure from said supply vessel pressurizing means; and
at a pressure at least equal to the carbonation saturation pressure of the beverage in the reservoir for maintaining the beverage carbonation;
(h) means for maintaining a predetermined quantity of gas in said reservoir and atop of said quantity of carbonated beverage, said gas quantity maintaining means including an automatic vent for releasing gas originating with said carbonated beverage; and
(i) a normally closed solenoid valve in said beverage supply conduit for normally precluding flow of beverage through the supply conduit in a direction from the supply to the reservoir, said normally closed valve being connected to and being openable by said beverage quantity maintaining means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for dispensing a carbonated beverage including a source of propellant gas, a reservoir for beverage to be dispensed, one or more dispensing valves connected to the reservoir, a propellant gas conduit for applying a first gaseous propellant pressure upon beverage supply vessels and for applying a second and lesser gaseous propellant pressure upon beverage in the reservoir, a beverage supply conduit for transferring beverage from a supply vessel to the reservoir and normally closed valves in the beverage supply and gas conduits, which valves are controllable by a level sensor in the reservoir; the apparatus also features structure for automatically switching from one supply vessel to another as vessels become emptied; a method of dispensing includes the steps of providing a supply of carbonated beverage, applying a first propellant pressure upon the supply, selectively transferring beverage from the supply to a reservoir, applying a second and lesser propellant pressure upon the reservoir and dispensing from the reservoir; there is also a step of automatically switching supply vessels as they become empty.
126 Citations
1 Claim
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1. Apparatus for dispensing a carbonated beverage, comprising:
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(a) a plurality of beverage dispensing valves; (b) a beverage reservoir, said reservoir being fluidly connected to each of said beverage valves; (c) a beverage supply conduit having a downstream end fluidly connected to said reservoir and an upstream end adapted to be fluidly connected to a supply vessel having carbonated beverage therein; (d) means for pressurizing such a supply vessel with propellant gas; (e) portion control means operatively connected to said plurality of said dispensing valves for controlling activation of said dispensing valves for dispensing a predetermined volume of carbonated beverage from each respective valve, said portion control means being operable for simultaneously activating each of said plurality of dispensing valves for the simultaneous dispensing of a plurality of discrete predetermined portions of beverage; (f) means for maintaining a predetermined quantity of carbonated beverage within said reservoir, said quantity having a volume which is less than the total volume of the reservoir; (g) means fluidly connected to the reservoir for regulating the pressure of gas within the reservoir at a pressure less than the pressure from said supply vessel pressurizing means; and
at a pressure at least equal to the carbonation saturation pressure of the beverage in the reservoir for maintaining the beverage carbonation;(h) means for maintaining a predetermined quantity of gas in said reservoir and atop of said quantity of carbonated beverage, said gas quantity maintaining means including an automatic vent for releasing gas originating with said carbonated beverage; and (i) a normally closed solenoid valve in said beverage supply conduit for normally precluding flow of beverage through the supply conduit in a direction from the supply to the reservoir, said normally closed valve being connected to and being openable by said beverage quantity maintaining means.
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Specification