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Self-contained beverage dispensing system

  • US 5,411,179 A
  • Filed: 08/31/1993
  • Issued: 05/02/1995
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A self-contained beverage dispensing system comprising:

  • a) a cabinet;

    b) a refillable source of CO2 gas under pressure and disposed in said cabinet;

    c) a water storage tank disposed in said cabinet and for storing flat water, said water storage tank including an upper water storage portion having a water refill inlet and a flat water outlet, and further including a lower COa gas portion and water isolation means for separating said upper water storage portion from said lower CO2 gas portion;

    d) a first pipeline for communicating said CO2 gas portion of said water storage tank with said CO2 gas source thereby to apply pressure against said water isolation means;

    e) a flat water line connected to said flat water outlet of said water storage tank;

    f) a refillable beverage storage tank disposed in said cabinet and for storing a first beverage and including a take-up tube;

    g) a second pipeline for communicating said CO2 gas source with an upper portion of said refillable beverage storage tank, so that pressurized CO2 gas directly contacts said first beverage and is operative to force said first beverage through said take-up tube and out of said refillable beverage storage tank;

    h) an isolation storage tank disposed in said cabinet and for storing a second beverage, said isolation storage tank including an upper beverage storage portion for storing said second beverage, a lower portion and a beverage isolation means for separating said upper beverage storage portion from said lower portion;

    i) a third pipeline for communicating said CO2 gas source with said lower portion of said isolation storage tank thereby to apply pressure against said beverage isolation means and operative to force said second beverage out of said isolation storage tank;

    j) a carbonator, in communication with said CO2 gas source and also with said flat water line, for carbonating at least a portion of said flat water;

    k) dispensing valve means for dispensing a selected one of said flat water, said carbonated water, said first beverage in carbonated form and said second beverage in non-carbonated form; and

    l) means for communicating said dispensing valve means with each of said water storage tank, said carbonator, said isolation storage tank and said refillable beverage storage tank.

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