Beverage dispenser pump system with pressure control device

• US 4,779,761 A
• Filed: 03/12/1987
• Issued: 10/25/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Coca-Cola Company (The Coca-Cola Company)
• Original Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Inventors: Rudick, Arthur G., Kirschner, Jonathan, Paisley, Gary V., Hughes, Robert D. IV, Smazik, Kenneth G.
• Primary Examiner(s): HUPPERT, MICHEAL
• Application Number:
  US07/024,933
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 137/565, 251/61.4, 251/61.5, 417/245, 417/349, 222/129.1-129.4, 222/61, 222/135, 222/145, 222/146.1, 222/146.2, 222/146.5, 222/146.6, 222/255, 222/263, 222/334, 222/372, 222/373, 222/386.5 , 222/399, 222/105, 222/1
• 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 1/0031 in the form of a metering pump
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0046 Mixing chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1218 modulating the opening of a valve
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1234 to determine the total amount
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1288 Multi-chamber piston pumps construction of pumps: B67D1/10
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/0828 in pressurised housing
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00125 Treating or conditioning the concentrate, e.g. by heating, freezing
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 13/00 Pumps specially modified to deliver fixed or variable measured quantities

Abstract

In a post-mix beverage dispenser in which the concentrate is metered (or portioned) by a positive displacement metering pump having check valves, the improvement of a pressure control device for pressurizing the outlet line from the pump to prevent "blow-thru" of pressurized concentrate through the check valves of the pump, whereby the dispenser can be inexpensively used with a pressurized concentrate source. In addition, a post-mix beverage dispensing system including such metering pump and pressure control device and also including a pressurized canister holding pliable 5+1 juice concentrate at a temperature below 32° F., and a heater for heating the concentrate in the concentrate line.

Claims

1. A method for dispensing a post-mix beverage comprising:

(a) providing a positive displacement, concentrate metering pump having check valves for controlling the flow of concentrate therethrough from an inlet line connected to said pump to an outlet line connected to said pump;

(b) connecting said inlet line to a source of pressurized concentrate to be used in dispensing a beverage; and

(c) pressurizing said outlet line of said pump to the pressure of said inlet line plus an additional pressure, to prevent said pressurized concentrate from blowing through said check valves, said pressurizing step comprising placing a valve in said outlet line, applying inlet line pressure to said valve in a direction urging it closed, applying outlet line pressure to said valve in a direction urging it open, and applying an additional biasing force against said valve in a direction urging said valve closed.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 including adjusting said additional pressure as desired.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said pump is the concentrate side of a volumetric ratio control pump used in a post-mix beverage dispenser, said pump also having a water side operated by water pressure.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said dispenser is a juice dispenser, and said concentrate is juice concentrate.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said connecting step comprises connecting said inlet line to a pressurized canister containing a quantity of pliable juice concentrate at a temperature below 32°

F., and including the step of heating the concentrate in said inlet line downstream from said canister and upstream from said pump.

3. A method for dispensing a post-mix beverage comprising:

(a) providing a positive displacement, concentrate metering pump having check valves for controlling the flow of concentrate therethrough from an inlet line connected to said pump to an outlet line connected to said pump;

(b) connecting said inlet line to a source of pressurized concentrate to be used in dispensing a beverage;

(c) pressurizing said outlet line of said pump to the pressure of said inlet line plus an additional pressure, to prevent said pressurized concentrate from blowing through said check valves; and

(d) said pressurizing step comprising placing a poppet valve in said outlet line, applying inlet line pressure to said valve in a direction urging it closed, applying outlet line pressure to said valve in a direction urging it open, and applying a biasing spring force against said valve in a direction urging said valve closed.

7. A post-mix beverage dispenser apparatus comprising:

(a) a water line connected to a mixing chamber having a dispensing nozzle;

(b) a concentrate line connected to said mixing chamber;

(c) a positive displacement, concentrate metering pump in said concentrate line and having an inlet concentrate line to said pump and an outlet concentrate line from said pump, and said pump having check valves to control the flow of concentrate therethrough; and

(d) means for pressurizing the outlet line from said pump with the pressure of the inlet line to said pump plus an additional pressure, said pressurizing means including a valve in said outlet line, means for applying inlet line pressure to said valve urging it closed, means for applying outlet line pressure to said valve urging it open, and means for applying an additional biasing force against said valve urging it closed.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 including means for adjusting said additional pressure.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 including a pressurizable canister connected to said concentrate line and including means for holding and dispensing a quantity of pliable juice concentrate at a temperature below 32°

F., means for pressurizing said canister, and means for heating concentrate in said concentrate line between said canister and said pump.

9. A post-mix beverage dispenser apparatus comprising:

(a) a water line connected to a mixing chamber having a dispensing nozzle;

(b) a concentrate line connected to said mixing chamber;

(c) a positive displacement, concentrate metering pump in said concentrate line and having an inlet concentrate line to said pump and an outlet concentrate line from said pump, and said pump having check valves to control the flow of concentrate therethrough;

(d) means for pressurizing the outlet line from said pump with the pressure of the inlet line to said pump plus an additional pressure; and

(e) said pressurizing means including a poppet valve in said outlet line, means for applying inlet line pressure to said poppet valve urging it closed, means for applying outlet line pressure to said poppet valve urging it open, and means for applying a biasing spring force against said poppet valve urging it closed.

11. A method for converting a post-mix juice dispensing system that feeds concentrate from a pressurized concentrate source to a mixing chamber without using a metering pump, to a system using a metering pump, without converting the pressurized concentrate source to a vented source comprising:

(a) connecting said concentrate source as the inlet to a positive displacement metering pump having check valves;

(b) connecting an outlet line from said metering pump to a mixing chamber; and

(c) pressurizing said outlet line to the pressure of the inlet line plus an additional pressure sufficient to prevent "blow-thru" of pressurized concentrate through said check valves of said pump, said pressurizing step comprising placing a valve in said outlet line, applying inlet line pressure to said valve in a direction urging it closed, applying outlet line pressure to said valve in a direction urging it open, and applying an additional biasing force against said valve in a direction urging said valve closed.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 including the step of adjusting said additional pressure.

13. A post-mix soft drink dispensing system comprising:

(a) a source of pressurized concentrate;

(b) a positive displacement concentrate metering pump including check valves for controlling the flow therethrough;

(c) a mixing chamber;

(d) an inlet line from said source to an inlet of said pump;

(e) an outlet line from an outlet of said pump to said mixing chamber; and

(f) a pressure control device associated with said pump for pressurizing said oulet line of said pump with the pressure of said inlet line plus an additional pressure, said device including a valve in said outlet line, means for applying inlet line pressure to said valve urging it closed, means for applying outlet line pressure to said valve urging it open, and means for applying an additional biasing force against said valve urging it closed.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 13 including means for adjusting said additional pressure.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 13 wherein said source of the pressurized concentrate includes a pressurizable canister connected to said inlet line and including means for holding and dispensing a quantity of pliable juice concentrate at a temperature below 32°

F., means for pressurizing said canister, and means for heating said concentrate in said inlet line between said canister and said pump.

16. A method for dispensing a post-mix beverage comprising:

(a) providing a positive displacement, concentrate metering pump having check valves for controlling the flow of concentrate therethrough from an inlet line connected to said pump to an outlet line connected to said pump;

(b) connecting said inlet line to a source of pressurized concentrate to be used in dispensing a beverage, said concentrate being in a rigid container under the pressure of a pressurizing gas; and

(c) pressurizing said outlet line of said pump to the pressure of said pressurizing gas plus an additional pressure, to prevent said pressurized concentrate from blowing through said check valves, said pressurizing step comprising placing a valve in said outlet line, applying said pressurized gas to said valve in a direction urging it closed, applying outlet line pressure to said valve in a direction urging it open, and applying an additional biasing force against said valve in a direction urging said valve closed.

18. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein said pump is the concentrate side of a volumetric ratio control pump used in a post-mix beverage dispenser, said pump also having a water side operated by water pressure.

19. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein said connecting said inlet line to a canister containing a quantity of pliable 5+1 juice concentrate at a temperature below 32°

F. and including the step of heating the concentrate in said inlet line downstream from said canister and upstream from said pump.

17. A method for dispensing a post-mix beverage comprising:

(a) providing a positive displacement, concentrate metering pump having check valves for controlling the flow of concentrate therethrough from an inlet line connected to said pump to an outlet line connected to said pump;

(b) connecting said inlet line to a source of pressurized concentrate to be used in dispensing a beverage, said concentrate being in a rigid container under the pressure of a pressurizing gas;

(c) pressurizing said outlet line of said pump to the pressure of said pressurizing gas plus an additional pressure, to prevent said pressurized concentrate from blowing through said check valves; and

(d) said pressurizing step comprising placing a poppet valve in said outlet line, applying said pressurized gas to said valve in a direction urging it closed, applying outlet line pressure to said valve in a direction urging it open, and applying a biasing spring force against said valve in a direction urging said valve closed.

20. A post-mix beverage dispenser apparatus comprising:

(a) a water line connected to a mixing chamber having a dispensing nozzle;

(b) a concentrate bag in a rigid container under pressure of a pressurizing gas;

(c) a concentrate line connecting said bag to said mixing chamber;

(d) a positive displacement, concentrate metering pump in said concentrate line and having an inlet concentrate line from said bag to said pump and an outlet concentrate line from said pump to said mixing chamber, and said pump having check valves to control the flow of concentrate therethrough; and

(e) means for pressurizing the outlet line from said pump with the pressure of said pressurizing gas plus an additional pressure, said pressurizing means including a valve in said outlet line, means for applying said pressurizing gas to said valve urging it closed, means for applyng outlet line pressure to said valve urging it open, and means for applying an an additional biasing force against said valve urging it closed.

22. The apparatus as recited in claim 20 including a pressurizable canister connected to said concentrate line and including means for holding and dispensing a quantity of pliable juice concentrate at a temperature below 32°

F., means for pressurizing said canister, and means for heating concentrate in said concentrate line between said canister and said pump.

21. A post-mix beverage dispenser apparatus comprising:

(a) a water line connected to a mixing chamber having a dispensing nozzle;

(b) a concentrate bag in a rigid container under pressure of a pressurizing gas;

(c) a concentrate line connecting said bag to said mixing chamber;

(d) a positive displacement, concentrate metering pump in said concentrate line and having an inlet concentrate line from said bag to said pump and an outlet concentrate line from said pump to said mixing chamber, and said pump having check valves to control the flow of concentrate therethrough;

(e) means for pressurizing the outlet line from said pump with the pressure of said pressurizing gas plus an additional pressure; and

(f) said pressurizing means including a poppet valve in said outlet line, means for applying said pressurizing gas to said poppet valve urging it closed, means for applying outlet line pressure to said poppet valve urging it open, and means for applying a biasing spring force against said poppet valve urging it closed.

23. A method for converting a post-mix juice dispensing system that feeds concentrate from a pressurized concentrate source to a mixing chamber without using a metering pump, to a system using a metering pump, without converting the pressurized concentrate source to a vented source comprising:

(a) connecting said concentrate source as the inlet to a positive displacement metering pump having check valves;

(b) connecting an outlet line from said metering pump to a mixing chamber; and

(c) pressurizing said outlet line to the pressure of the pressurized concentrate source plus an additional pressure sufficient to prevent "blow-thru" of pressurized concentrate through said check valves of said pump, said pressurizing step comprising placing a valve in said outlet line, applying said pressurized concentrate pressure to said valve in a direction urging it closed, applying outlet line pressure to said valve in a direction urging it open, and applying an additional biasing force against said valve in a direction urging said valve closed.

24. A post-mix soft drink dispensing system comprising:

(a) a source of pressurized concentrate;

(b) a positive displacment concentrate metering pump including check valves for controlling the flow therethrough;

(c) a mixing chamber;

(d) an inlet line from said source to an inlet of said pump;

(e) an outline line from an outlet of said pump to said mixing chamber; and

(f) a pressure control device associated with said pump for pressurizing said outlet line of said pump with the pressure of said source of pressurized concentrate plus an additional pressure, said device including a valve in said outlet line, means for applying inlet line pressure to said valve urging it closed, means for applying outlet line pressure to said valve urging it open, and means for applying an additional biasing force against said valve urging it closed.