Plain water pressure boost system for a carbonated beverage dispenser

• US 5,553,746 A
• Filed: 12/30/1994
• Issued: 09/10/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cornelius Inc. (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Wilshire Partners
• Inventors: Jones, Brian C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): Derakshani, Philippe
• Application Number:
  US08/366,474
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 222/63, 222/64, 222/129.1, 222/144.5, 222/318, 222/330, 222/333, 222/399, 222/146.6, 222/504, 137/563
• US Class Current: 222/129.1
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0057 Carbonators

Abstract

A plain water boost system for a carbonated beverage dispenser provides for a pressure boost of plain water to be dispensed without the need for a second pump. A pressure regulator protected by an isolation valve is actuated when plain water is dispensed to reduce the output pressure of the carbonator input pump to an appropriate level for dispensing pressure boosted plain water.

Claims

1. In a carbonated beverage dispenser comprising a water pump having an inlet and an outlet and a nominal outlet pressure, a carbonator adapted to receive water from said pump outlet, at least one carbonated beverage dispensing valve and at least one non-carbonated beverage dispensing valve, the improvement comprising:

said non-carbonated dispensing valve being adapted to receive water from said pump outlet,

said carbonated dispensing valve adapted to receive carbonated water from said carbonator,

a pressure regulator connected to said pump outlet, said regulator adapted to maintain the pressure at said pump outlet at a selected pressure less than said nominal outlet pressure,

an isolation valve adapted to allow flow into said regulator when said non-carbonated beverage dispensing valve is actuated and to stop flow into said regulator when said non-carbonated beverage dispensing valve is not actuated; and

,

means energizing said pump when said non-carbonated beverage dispensing valve is actuated.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said means energizing said pump comprises a relay and said relay also actuates said isolation valve.

3. The improvement of claim 2 wherein said relay is a double pole single throw relay.

4. The improvement of claim 2 wherein said non-carbonated dispensing valve includes an electrical switch, said switch controlling said relay.

5. The improvement of claim 4 wherein said non-carbonated dispensing valve is an electrically actuated valve and said switch controls both said electrically actuated valve and said relay.

6. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said pressure regulator has a bypass outlet and said bypass outlet is connected to said pump inlet.

7. In a water circuit of a carbonated beverage dispenser having:

a carbonator;

a water pump adapted to supply high pressure water to said carbonator with an inlet, an outlet and a nominal outlet pressure;

at least one carbonated beverage dispensing valve adapted to receive water from said carbonator; and

, at least one non-carbonated beverage dispensing valve;

the improvement comprising;

said non-carbonated dispensing valve being adapted to receive water from said pump outlet;

a pressure regulator adapted to limit the pressure of water received by said non-carbonated dispensing valve to a selected pressure less than said nominal outlet pressure.

8. The improvement of claim 7 wherein said pressure regulator is only active when said non-carbonated beverage dispensing vale is actuated.

9. The improvement of claim 7 wherein an isolation valve is connected in series with said regulator whereby water flows to said regulator only when said isolation valve is actuated.

10. The improvement of claim 9 wherein said non-carbonated beverage dispensing valve has an electrical switch, said switch adapted to actuate said dispensing valve and said isolation valve.

11. The improvement of claim 10 wherein said switch actuates a relay which in turn actuates said isolation valve and said pump.

12. The improvement of claim 7 wherein a pre-chill coil receives water from said pump and provides water to said non-carbonated dispensing valve.

13. In a carbonated beverage dispenser comprising a water pump having an inlet and an outlet and a nominal pressure rise, a carbonator adapted to receive water from said pump outlet, at least one carbonated beverage dispensing valve and at least one non-carbonated beverage dispensing valve, the improvement comprising:

said non-carbonated dispensing valve being adapted to receive water from said pump outlet,

said carbonated dispensing valve adapted to receive carbonated water from said carbonator,

a pressure regulator connected between said pump inlet and said pump outlet, said regulator adapted to maintain the pressure rise across said pump at a selected pressure rise less than said nominal pressure rise of said pump,

an isolation valve adapted to allow flow into said regulator when said non-carbonated beverage dispensing valve is actuated and to stop flow into said regulator when said non-carbonated beverage dispensing valve is not actuated; and

,

means energizing said pump when said non-carbonated beverage dispensing valve is actuated.

14. The improvement of claim 13 wherein said means energizing said pump comprises a relay and said relay also actuates said isolation valve.

15. The improvement of claim 14 wherein said relay is a double pole single throw relay.

16. The improvement of claim 14 wherein said non-carbonated dispensing valve includes an electrical switch, said switch controlling said relay.

17. The improvement of claim 16 wherein said non-carbonated dispensing valve is an electrically actuated valve and said switch controls both said electrically actuated valve and said relay.

18. In a water circuit of a carbonated beverage dispenser having:

a carbonator;

a water pump adapted to supply high pressure water to said carbonator with an inlet, an outlet and a nominal outlet pressure;

at least one carbonated beverage dispensing valve adapted to receive water from said carbonator; and

,

at least one non-carbonated beverage dispensing valve;

the improvement comprising;

a bypass line connected between said pump inlet and said pump outlet; and

,

a valve in said bypass line allowing flow only when said at least one non-carbonated beverage dispensing valve is activated.

19. The improvement of claim 18 wherein a pre-chill coil receives water from said pump and provides water to said non-carbonated dispensing valve.