Low height beverage dispensing apparatus

• US 5,190,189 A
• Filed: 10/30/1990
• Issued: 03/02/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IMI Cornelius Incorporated (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: IMI Cornelius Incorporated (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Goulet, Douglas, Zimmer, Elvis S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): Derakshani, Philippe
• Application Number:
  US07/605,709
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 222/67, 222/129.1, 222/146.6, 62/392, 62/389, 62/394, 62/429, 261/DIG. 7, 261/27
• US Class Current: 222/67
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0021 the components being mixed at the time of dispensing, i.e. post-mix dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0057 Carbonators
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0068 Cooling bath
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0864 in the form of a cooling bath
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/0006 Manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00154 Level detected by a float
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 261/07 Carbonators

Abstract

The present invention is a beverage dispenser having a low overall vertical height profile. The dispenser includes a water bath tank. The tank volume is enclosed along a top surface thereof by a support plate. A condenser extends horizontally with and adjacent to a top surface of the support plate. A motor is secured to the top plate and includes a shaft with a blade on one end thereof for agitating the water held within the water bath, and includes a condenser cooling fan on the opposite end of the shaft thereof for cooling the condenser. An evaporator is located in the tank horizontally with and closely adjacent to the tank bottom surface. An elongate carbonator extends lengthwise in a substantially horizontal manner in the tank and is located therein between the support plate and the evaporator. In one embodiment, the level of water within the carbonator is regulated by the buoyancy level of the carbonator in the tank.

Claims

1. A carbonated beverage dispenser, comprising:

a cooling tank having a bottom end surface and perimeter walls extending upwardly therefrom to a top end defining a tank interior volume for holding a volume of water therein, and a rigid support cover extending over the tip end the support cover having a top surface, and a bottom surface facing the tank interior volume,

a drive motor secured to the cover top surface and including a drive shaft, the drive shaft having an upwardly extending portion having a cooling fan thereon,

refrigeration means including a condenser and an evaporator, the condenser extending substantially horizontally with the support cover top surface and positioned adjacent to and above the cooling fan, and the evaporator held in the tank and extending substantially parallel with and adjacent the bottom end surface of the cooling tank for cooling the water therein,

an elongate carbonator secured within the cooling tank and extending substantially horizontally therein between the cover and the tank bottom surface, and

means for maintaining a volume of carbonated water in the carbonator within a desired volume range.

2. The dispenser as defined in claim 1, and the drive motor drive shaft having a portion extending downwardly into the tank volume and having an agitating blade thereon, the agitating blade held within the volume of water for providing movement thereof within the tank volume.

3. The dispenser as defined in claim 1, and the means for maintaining a volume of carbonated water in the carbonator comprising a level sensing probe within the carbonator for sensing the level of water in the carbonator and the probe connected to electrical control circuit means for operating a water pump fluidly connected to the carbonator for pumping water therein from a water source in response to the sensed water level for maintaining a desired volume of water in the carbonator.

4. The dispenser as defined in claim 3, and the probe having a high water level sensing portion and a low water level sensing portion.

5. A carbonated beverage dispenser, comprising:

a cooling tank having a bottom end surface and perimeter walls extending upwardly therefrom to a top end defining a tank having an interior volume for holding a volume of water therein, and a rigid support cover extending over the top end the support cover having a top surface, and a bottom surface facing the tank interior volume, refrigeration means including a condenser and an evaporator, the condenser extending substantially horizontally with and secured adjacent to the support cover top surface and the evaporator held in the tank and extending substantially horizontally with and adjacent to the bottom end surface of the cooling tank for cooling the water therein,

water pump means connected to a source of water and operable for providing a pressurized flow of water from the water source, a carbonator pivotally secured on one end thereof within the cooling tank and extending lengthwise therein between the evaporator and the cover the carbonator having a gas inlet for connecting to a pressurized source of carbon dioxide, a water inlet connected to the pump means for permitting filling of the carbonator with water by operating of the pump means and a carbonated water outlet connected to a dispensing valve, and

control means for operating the pump means for pumping water into the carbonator when the water therein goes below a desired low level and for turning off the operating of the pump means when the water level in the carbonator reaches a desired high level, and the control means including switch means secured to the support cover and the switch means responsive to movement of the carbonator to a first position for turning on the pump means for filling the carbonator and the switch means responsive to movement of the carbonator to a second position for turning off the pump means when the carbonator reaches the second position.

6. The dispenser as defined in claim 5, and the control means including a level sensing probe within the carbonator and the probe connected to electrical control circuit means for operating the pump means in response to the level of water in the carbonator as sensed by the probe.

7. The dispenser as defined in claim 5, and further including a drive motor secured to the cover top surface and including a drive shaft, the drive shaft having an upwardly extending portion having a cooling fan thereon, the cooling fan held adjacent the condenser for providing cooling thereof.

8. The dispenser as defined in claim 7, and the drive motor drive shaft having a portion extending downwardly into the tank volume and having an agitating blade thereon, the agitating blade held within the volume of water for providing movement thereof within the tank volume.

9. A carbonated beverage dispenser comprising:

a cooling tank having a bottom end surface and perimeter walls extending upwardly therefrom to a top end defining a tank having an interior volume for holding a volume of water therein, and a rigid support cover extending over the top end the support cover having a top surface, and a bottom surface the tank interior volume, refrigeration means including a condenser and an evaporator, the condenser extending substantially horizontally with and secured adjacent to the support cover top surface and the evaporator extending substantially horizontally with and adjacent to the bottom end for cooling the water therein,

water pump means connected to a source of water and operable for providing a pressurized flow of water from the water source, a carbonator pivotally secured on one end thereof within the cooling tank for permitting floating support thereof by the water therein and the carbonator secured therein so that the carbonator is allowed to float in the water between a top buoyancy water filling level and a bottom minimum buoyancy level, the carbonator having a gas inlet for connecting to a pressurized source of carbon dioxide, a water inlet connected to the pump means for permitting filling of the carbonator with water by operating of the pump means and a carbonated water outlet connected to a dispensing valve, and

control means for maintaining a volume of water in the carbonator within a desired volume range, the control means including switch means secured to the support cover and the switch means responsive to movement of the carbonator for turning on the pump means when the carbonator reaches the top buoyancy position and the switch means for turning off the pump means when the carbonator reaches the minimum buoyancy position.

10. The dispenser as defined in claim 9, and further including a drive motor secured to the cover top surface and including a drive shaft, the drive shaft having an upwardly extending portion having a cooling fan thereon, the cooling fan held adjacent the condenser for providing cooling thereof.

11. The dispenser as defined in claim 10, and the drive motor drive shaft having a portion extending downwardly into the tank volume and having an agitating blade thereon, the agitating blade held within the volume of water for providing movement thereof within the tank volume.

12. A carbonated beverage dispenser, comprising:

a cooling tank having a bottom end surface and perimeter walls extending upwardly therefrom to a top end defining a tank having an interior volume for holding a volume of water therein, and a rigid support cover extending over the top end the support cover having a top surface, and a bottom surface facing the tank interior volume, refrigeration means including a condenser and an evaporator, the condenser extending substantially horizontally with and secured adjacent to the support cover top surface and the evaporator extending substantially horizontally with and adjacent to the bottom end for cooling the water therein,

water pump means connected to a source of water and operable for providing a pressurized flow of water from the water source, a carbonator pivotally secured on one end thereof to the top cover and within the cooling tank for permitting floating support thereof by the water therein so that the carbonator is allowed to float in the water between a top buoyancy water filling level and a bottom minimum buoyancy level, the carbonator having a gas inlet for connecting to a pressurized source of carbon dioxide, a water inlet connected to the pump means for permitting filling of the carbonator with water by operating of the pump means and a carbonated water outlet connected to a dispensing valve, and

control means for maintaining a volume of water in the carbonator within a desired volume range, the control means including switch means secured to the support cover and the switch means responsive to movement of the carbonator for turning on the pump means when the carbonator reaches the top buoyancy position and the switch means for turning off the pump means when the carbonator reaches the minimum buoyancy position.

13. The dispenser as defined in claim 12, and further including a drive motor secured to the cover top surface and including a drive shaft, the drive shaft having an upwardly extending portion having a cooling fan thereon, the cooling fan held adjacent the condenser for providing cooling thereof.

14. The dispenser as defined in claim 13, and the drive motor drive shaft having a portion extending downwardly into the tank volume and having an agitating blade thereon, the agitating blade held within the volume of water for providing movement thereof within the tank volume.

15. A carbonated dispenser, comprising:

a cooling tank having a bottom end surface and perimeter walls extending upwardly therefrom to a top end defining a tank having an interior volume for holding a volume of water therein, and a rigid support cover extending over the top end the support cover having a top surface, and a bottom surface facing the tank interior volume, refrigeration means including a condenser and an evaporator, the condenser extending substantially horizontally with and secured adjacent to the support cover top surface and the evaporator held in the tank and extending substantially horizontally with and closely adjacent to the bottom end for cooling the water therein,

an elongate carbonator secured within the tank and extending substantially horizontally therein between the cover and the evaporator, the carbonator having a gas inlet for connecting to a pressurized source of carbon dioxide, a water inlet connected to the pump means for permitting filling of the carbonator with water by operating of the pump means, and a carbonated water outlet connected to a dispensing valve,

a level sensing probe means within the carbonator for sensing the level of water in the carbonator and the probe connected to electrical control circuit means for operating the pump means in response to the sensed water level for maintaining a desired volume of water in the carbonator.

16. The dispenser as defined in claim 15, and further including a drive motor secured to the cover top surface and including a drive shaft, the drive shaft having an upwardly extending portion having a cooling fan thereon, the cooling fan held adjacent the condenser for providing cooling thereof.

17. The dispenser as defined in claim 16, and the drive motor drive shaft having a portion extending downwardly into the tank volume and having an agitating blade thereon, the agitating blade held within the volume of water for providing movement thereof within the tank volume.

18. A carbonated beverage dispenser, comprising:

a cooling tank having a substantially horizontal bottom end surface and perimeter walls extending upwardly therefrom to a top end defining a tank having an interior volume for holding a volume of water therein, and a rigid support cover extending over the top end support cover having a top surface, and a bottom surface facing the tank interior volume,

refrigeration means a condenser and an evaporator, the condenser extending substantially horizontally and secured adjacent the support cover top surface and the evaporator held in the tank and extending substantially horizontally and adjacent to the bottom end for cooling the water therein,

an elongate carbonator pivotally secured within the tank on one end thereof and extending lengthwise between the cover and the evaporator, the carbonator having a gas inlet for connecting to a pressurized source of carbon dioxide, a water inlet connected to the pump means for permitting filling of the carbonator with water by operating of the pump means, and a carbonated water outlet connected to a dispensing valve,

control means responsive to movement of the carbonator and connected to the pump means for controlling the operating thereof wherein the control means initiates the operating of the pump means for filling the carbonator with water when the carbonator moves to a water filling position and stops the operating of the pump means when the carbonator moves to a carbonator full position.

19. The dispenser as defined in claim 18, further including a drive motor secured to the cover top surface and including a drive shaft, the drive shaft having an upwardly extending portion having a cooling fan thereon, the cooling fan held adjacent the condenser for providing cooling thereof.

20. The dispenser as defined in claim 19, and the drive motor drive shaft having a portion extending downwardly into the tank volume and having an agitating blade thereon, the agitating blade held within the volume of water for providing movement thereof within the tank volume.

21. A carbonated beverage dispenser, comprising:

a cooling tank having a substantially horizontal bottom end surface and perimeter walls extending upwardly therefrom to a top end defining a tank having an interior volume for holding a volume of water therein, and a rigid support cover extending over the top end the support cover having a top surface, and a bottom surface facing the tank interior volume,

refrigeration means including a condenser and an evaporator, the condenser extending substantially horizontally and secured adjacent the support cover top surface and the evaporator held in the tank and extending substantially horizontally and adjacent to the bottom end for cooling the water therein,

an elongate carbonator pivotally secured within the tank on one end thereof and extending lengthwise between the cover and the evaporator, the carbonator having a gas inlet for connecting to a pressurized source of carbon dioxide, a water inlet connected to the pump means for permitting filling of the carbonator with water by operating of the pump means and a carbonated water outlet connected to a dispensing valve, control means responsive to movement of the carbonator and connected to the pump means for controlling the operating thereof wherein the control means initiates the operating of the pump means for filling the carbonator with water when the carbonator moves to a water filling position and stops the operating of the pump means when the carbonator moves to a carbonator full position, and the control means including switch means secured to the support cover and the carbonator pivotally secured to the cover, and the switch responsive to movement of the carbonator towards a first position adjacent the support cover for turning on the pump means for filling the carbonator and the switch responsive to movement of the carbonator towards a second position below the support cover for turning off the pump means.

22. The dispenser as defined in claim 21, and further including a drive motor secured to the cover top surface and including a drive shaft, the drive shaft having an upwardly extending portion having a cooling fan thereon, the cooling fan held adjacent the condenser for providing cooling thereof.

23. The dispenser as defined in claim 22, and the drive motor drive shaft having a portion extending downwardly into the tank volume and having an agitating blade thereon, the agitating blade held within the volume of water for providing movement thereof within the tank volume.