Modular volumetric valve system

• US 6,435,375 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2001
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Original Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Inventors: Paisley, Gary Vance, Durham, Samuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Kwon, John
• Application Number:
  US09/802,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20010019067A1
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• Field of Search: 222/129.1, 222/129.2, 222/129.3, 222/129.4, 222/57, 222/504, 222/249
• US Class Current: 222/129.1
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0032 using flow-rate sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1218 modulating the opening of a valve
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/122 modulating a pumping rate
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00091 Bar management means

Abstract

A beverage dispensing system for providing a beverage from a plurality of beverage concentrate sources. The beverage dispensing system includes a nozzle, a modular diluent valve for supplying diluent to the nozzle, a plurality of modular volumetric concentrate valves each in fluid communication with one of the beverage concentrate sources, and an electronic control board. The electronic control board determines the diluent flow rate through the modular diluent valve and instructs one of the modular volumetric concentrate valves to supply a predetermined volume of a beverage concentrate to the nozzle based upon the diluent flow rate.

Claims

1. A beverage dispensing system for providing a beverage from a plurality of beverage concentrate sources, comprising:

a nozzle;

a modular diluent valve for supplying diluent to said nozzle;

a plurality of modular volumetric concentrate valves, said plurality of modular volumetric concentrate valves each in fluid communication with one of said plurality of beverage concentrate sources;

said modular diluent valve and said plurality of modular volumetric concentrate valves being interchangeable; and

an electronic control board for determining the diluent flow rate through said modular diluent valve and instructing one of said plurality of modular volumetric concentrate valves to supply a predetermined volume of a beverage concentrate to said nozzle based upon the diluent flow rate.

2. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1, wherein said modular diluent valve comprises a flow meter to determine the diluent flow rate therethrough.

3. The beverage dispensing system of claim 2, wherein said flow meter comprises a sensor to determine the diluent flow rate therethrough.

4. The beverage dispenser system of claim 3, wherein said flow meter is operably connected to said electronic control board and wherein said electronic control board determines the diluent flow rate through said modular diluent valve based upon an input from said flow meter.

5. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1, wherein said modular diluent valve comprises a solenoid to control the flow of the diluent therethrough.

6. The beverage dispensing system of claim 5, wherein operation of said solenoid is controlled by said electronic control board.

7. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of modular volumetric concentrate valves comprises a metering device.

8. The beverage dispensing system of claim 7, wherein said metering device comprises a piston positioned within a chamber with a first end and a second end.

9. The beverage dispensing system of claim 8, wherein each of said plurality of modular volumetric concentrate valves comprises a first and a second solenoid valve.

10. The beverage dispensing system of claim 9, wherein said first solenoid valve is in fluid communication with said first end of said chamber and said second solenoid valve is in fluid communication with said second end of said chamber.

11. The beverage dispensing system of claim 10, wherein operation of said first and said second solenoid valves is controlled by said electronic control board so as to regulate the flow of concentrate into said metering device.

12. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1, wherein said electronic control board monitors the total volume of concentrate dispensed by said plurality of modular volumetric concentrate valves.

13. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1, wherein one of said beverage concentrate sources comprises a beverage flavoring source and wherein a second one of said plurality of modular volumetric concentrate valves is in fluid communication with said beverage flavoring source.

14. The beverage dispensing system of claim 13, wherein said electronic control board instructs said second one of said plurality of modular volumetric concentrate valves to supply a predetermined volume of beverage flavoring to said nozzle.

15. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of modular volumetric concentrate valves comprises three modular volumetric concentrate valves.

16. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1, wherein said modular diluent valve supplies carbonated water to said nozzle.

17. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1, wherein said modular diluent valve supplies noncarbonated water to said nozzle.

18. A beverage dispensing system for providing a beverage with an intermediate level of carbonation from one or more beverage concentrate sources, comprising:

an electronic control board;

a nozzle;

a first modular diluent valve for supplying a carbonated water to said nozzle;

a second modular diluent valve for supplying a noncarbonated water to said nozzle;

operation of said first and said second modular diluent valves controlled by said electronic control board such that said first and said second diluent valves are pulsed on and off by said electronic control board; and

one or more modular volumetric concentrate valves for supplying a concentrate to said nozzle, said one or more volumetric concentrate valves each in fluid communication with said one or more beverage concentrate sources;

said electronic control board determining the flow rate of said carbonated water through said first modular diluent valve and the flow rate of said noncarbonated water through said second modular diluent valve and instructing one of said one or more volumetric concentrate valves to supply a predetermined volume of beverage concentrate to said nozzle based upon the flow rate of said carbonated water and said noncarbonated water.

19. A beverage dispensing system for providing a beverage selection from a plurality of beverage options, said beverage options representing a plurality of beverage concentrate sources, comprising:

an electronic control board;

a plurality of nozzles;

a plurality of modular diluent valves, each of said plurality of diluent valves supplying diluent to one of said plurality of nozzles;

operation of said plurality of modular diluent values controlled by said electronic control board such that said electronic control board activates one of said plurality of modular diluent valves in response to said beverage selection; and

a plurality of modular volumetric concentrate valves, said plurality of modular volumetric concentrate valves each in fluid communication with one of said plurality of concentrate sources, and said plurality of modular volumetric concentrate valves each supplying beverage concentrate to one of said plurality of nozzles;

said plurality of modular diluent valves and said plurality of modular volumetric concentrate valves being interchangeable;

operation of said plurality of modular volumetric concentrate valves controlled by said electronic control board such that said electronic control board activates one of said plurality of modular volumetric concentrate valves that corresponds to said beverage selection;

said electronic control board determining the diluent flow rate through said one of said plurality of modular diluent valves and instructing said one of said plurality of volumetric concentrate valves to supply a predetermined volume of beverage concentrate to one of said plurality of nozzles based upon the diluent flow rate so as to provide said beverage selection.

20. A method for providing a beverage selection from a beverage dispenser comprising a plurality of beverage concentrate sources, one or more nozzles, one or more modular diluent valves, and a plurality of modular volumetric concentrate valves, said plurality of modular diluent valves and said plurality of modular volumetric concentrate valves being interchangeable, such that each of said one or more nozzles comprises fluid access to said one or more diluent valves and to said plurality of concentrate valves, said method comprising the steps of:

activating one of said one or more modular diluent valves in response to said beverage selection so as to provide a supply of diluent to one of said one or more nozzles;

determining the diluent flow rate through said one of said one or more modular diluent valves;

activating one of said plurality of modular volumetric concentrate valves that corresponds to said beverage selection; and

instructing said one of said one or more modular volumetric concentrate valve to supply a predetermined volume of beverage concentrate to said one of said one or more nozzles based upon the diluent flow rate.

21. A beverage dispensing system for providing a beverage with a variable level of carbonation, comprising:

an electronic control board;

a nozzle;

a first modular valve for supplying a first fluid to said nozzle;

a second modular valve for supplying a second fluid to said nozzle;

one or more third modular valves for supplying a third fluid to said nozzle; and

said electronic control board determining the flow rate of said first fluid through said first modular valve and instructing said second modular valve to supply a predetermined volume of said second fluid to said nozzle based upon the flow rate of said first fluid and instructing one of said one or more third modular valves to supply a predetermined volume of said third fluid to said nozzle based upon the flow rate of said first fluid.

22. The beverage dispensing system of claim 21, wherein said second modular valve comprises a volumetric valve.

23. The beverage dispensing system of claim 21, wherein said one or more third modular valves comprise a volumetric valve.

24. The beverage dispensing system of claim 21, wherein said third fluid comprises a concentrate.

25. The beverage dispensing system of claim 24, wherein said first fluid comprises a carbonated water.

26. The beverage dispensing system of claim 25, wherein said second fluid comprises a non-carbonated water.

27. The beverage dispensing system of claim 24, wherein said first fluid comprises a non-carbonated water.

28. The beverage dispensing system of claim 27, wherein said second fluid comprises a carbonated water.