Low cost beverage dispensing apparatus

• US 5,280,711 A
• Filed: 02/25/1993
• Issued: 01/25/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IMI Cornelius Incorporated (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: IMI Cornelius Incorporated (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Motta, Carlos F. C., Freitas, Francisco de A. R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sollecito, John M.
• Application Number:
  US08/023,221
• Time in Patent Office: 334 Days
• Field of Search: 62/389, 62/390, 62/393, 62/396, 62/398, 62/399, 62/400, 62/177, 62/183
• US Class Current: 62/177
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0857 Cooling arrangements cooling systems per se F25B
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/0006 Manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 31/003 with immersed cooling element

Abstract

A beverage dispenser is shown and includes an insulated water bath tank for retaining a plurality of beverage heat exchange coils. The coils deliver the beverage to a plurality of beverage dispensing valves. The water bath tank includes an area for holding an ice retaining basket. The dispenser includes a top access door for permitting removal and replacement of the basket from the tank. An overflow drain serves to maintain the water in the tank at a desired level, and an agitator provides for agitation thereof. In operation, the basket is first removed and filled with ice. The basket is then placed into the tank and the access door closed. Water in the bath is displaced by the basket and ice, and any that rises above the overflow drain level is dispensed there through. The agitator causes movement of the water for faster cooling thereof by heat exchange with the ice, and therefore, faster heat exchange cooling of the beverage coils in the water bath. When the ice has substantially melted, the basket can again be filled with further ice and replaced into the water bath tank.

Claims

1. A beverage dispenser, comprising:

an exterior housing defining an internal water tank for holding a volume of water therein and the tank having a partition wall, the wall defining a first ice retaining area and a second area in the tank, and the wall having a plurality of holes therein for permitting fluid communication of the water between the first and second areas, the second area retaining one or more beverage heat exchange coils therein, the one or more coils providing for a flow of beverage from one or more sources thereof to one or more beverage dispensing valves,

an agitating means for agitating water held in the second area for creating a flow of water between the first area and the second area through the partition wall holes for facilitating cooling of the coils by heat exchange with ice retained in the first area.

2. The dispenser as defined in claim 1, and the exterior housing having a top enclosing portion for covering the tank and the enclosing portion having an access door therein through which door ice can be added to the ice retaining area.

3. The dispenser as defined in claim 1, and further including control means for regulating the operation of the agitator.

4. The dispenser as defined in claim 3, and further including a temperature sensing means in the water tank and a temperature signalling means, the temperature sensing and signalling means connected to the control means so that if the temperature sensed by the temperature sensing means is greater than a predetermined temperature for a predetermined period of time the temperature signalling means is operated for indicating insufficient ice.

5. A beverage dispenser, comprising:

an exterior housing defining an internal water tank for holding a volume of water therein and the tank having a first area and a second area therein,

an ice retaining basket means for removable placement in the first area and having a plurality of holes,

the second area retaining one or more beverage heat exchange coils therein, the one or more coils providing for a flow of beverage from one or more sources thereof to one or more beverage dispensing valves, an agitating means for agitating water in the second area for creating a flow of water between the first area and the second area through the basket means holes for facilitating cooling of the coils by heat exchange with ice retained in the basket means.

6. The dispenser as defined in claim 5, and the exterior housing having a top enclosing portion for covering the tank and the enclosing portion having an access door therein through which door ice can be added to the ice retaining area.

7. The dispenser as defined in claim 5, and further including control means for regulating the operation of the agitator.

8. The dispenser as defined in claim 7, and further including a temperature sensing means in the water tank and a temperature signalling means, the temperature sensing and signalling means connected to the control means so that if the temperature sensed by the temperature sensing means is greater than a predetermined temperature for a predetermined period of time the temperature signalling means is operated for indicating insufficient ice.

9. A beverage dispenser, comprising:

an exterior housing defining an internal water tank for holding a volume of water therein and the tank having a first area and a second area therein,

an ice retaining basket means for removable placement in the first area and having a plurality of holes,

the second area retaining one or more beverage heat exchange coils therein, the one or more coils providing for a flow of beverage from one or more sources thereof to one or more beverage dispensing valves,

a carbonator retained in the second tank area and in contact with the water therein, the carbonator for providing carbonated water to the valves,

an agitating means for agitating water in the second area for creating a flow of water through the basket means holes between the first area and the second area for facilitating cooling of the coils and carbonator by heat exchange with ice retained in the basket means.

10. The dispenser as defined in claim 9, and the exterior housing having a top enclosing portion for covering the tank and the enclosing portion having an access door therein through which door ice can be added to the ice retaining area.

11. The dispenser as defined in claim 9, and further including control means for regulating the operation of the agitating means.

12. The dispenser as defined in claim 11, and further including a temperature sensing means in the water tank and a temperature signalling means, the temperature sensing and signalling means connected to the control means so that if the temperature sensed by the temperature sensing means is greater than a predetermined temperature for a predetermined period of time the temperature signalling means is operated for indicating an over warm condition of the water in the tank.