Nozzle for a beverage dispensing valve

• US 5,269,442 A
• Filed: 05/22/1992
• Issued: 12/14/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IMI Cornelius Incorporated (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cornelius Co. (Minnesota) (IMI PLC)
• Inventors: Vogel, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson, Gregory L.
• Application Number:
  US07/887,458
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 222/129.1-129.4, 222/564, 222/566, 239/590.5
• US Class Current: 222/129.1
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0044 for mixing inside the dispensing nozzle
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0048 with baffles
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/005 with means for converging streams
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0085 electro-mechanical
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/12 Flow or pressure control devices or systems , e.g. valves, gas pressure control, level control in storage containers

Abstract

A nozzle for a post-mix beverage dispensing valve is shown for optimizing flow at flow rates above 3.5 oz./sec. The nozzle includes a first diffuser plate followed by a central flow piece having a frusto-conical outer water flow surface and an interior syrup flow channel. Second and third diffuser plates follow the frusto-conical portion. The second and third diffuser plates have perimeter edges that contact the inner surface of a nozzle housing so that the carbonated water must flow through holes in the diffusers. In this manner the gradual reduction of pressure of the carbonated water to atmospheric can be controlled in part by increasing the surface area of the holes in each successive diffuser.

Claims

1. A nozzle for use in a beverage dispensing valve, the valve connectable to sources of carbonated water and syrup and having a body portion having a carbonated water channel and a syrup channel, and the carbonated water channel and syrup channels terminating in a first valve body cavity wherein the syrup channel terminates centrally of the body cavity, the nozzle comprising:

a nozzle housing having an inner surface defining a central space thereof, the nozzle housing also having a top open end for securing to the valve body portion and a bottom drink dispensing opening, a pressure reducing portion retained within the central space and the reducing portion having a central syrup channel and means for providing sealing engagement between the valve body syrup channel of the first body cavity and the reducing portion syrup channel, and the pressure reducing portion having a first diffuser plate for sealing inserting into the body cavity for creating a first annular space extending around the centrally terminating syrup channel wherein the first annular space is in fluid sealed communication with the valve body carbonated water channel, and the first plate having a plurality of holes there through, and the reducing portion having a frusto-conical portion extending below the first plate and defining a conical surface increasing in area in a direction of flow there along away from the first plate from an upper frusto-conical portion end to a lower frusto-conical portion end and the upper end having a diameter less than that of the first plate and the lower end having a diameter less than that of the nozzle housing, and the reducing portion having a second plate, the second plate having a plurality of holes extending there through and the second plate spaced from the lower frusto-conical portion end, and the pressure reducing portion having a third diffuser plate substantially parallel to and spaced from the second plate, and the third plate having a plurality of holes there through, and the second and third diffuser plates having perimeter edges closely adjacent the housing inner surface so that carbonated water can not flow there between.

2. The nozzle as defined in claim 1, and the total surface area of the holes in the second plate being larger than the total surface area of the holes in the first plate.

3. The nozzle as defined in claim 2, and the total surface area of the holes in the third plate being larger than the total surface area of the holes in the second plate.