Constant ratio post-mix beverage dispensing valve
First Claim
1. A constant ratio post-mix beverage dispensing valve comprising:
- a valve body, the valve body having a carbonated water channel first portion and a syrup channel first portion, both first channel portions extending partially through the valve body from first portion first ends initiating at a valve body connecting end for providing connection to sources of carbonated water and syrup respectively and terminating at first portion second ends, and the valve body having a carbonated water channel second portion and a syrup channel second portion therein, both second channel portions extending partially through the valve body from second portion first ends and terminating at second portion second ends for communicating with valve means, the valve means for regulating flow of carbonated water and syrup from the sources thereof to a dispensing nozzle,the carbonated water second channel portion having a flow control means therein,. .a plug releasably insertable into the valve body, said plug including sealing means for sealing with the valve body, providing access to the flow control means, and having a top surface forming an interior surface portion of the carbonated water second channel portion,.!. anda gear ratioing means, the ratioing means having a housing for retaining a carbonated water gear pair and a syrup gear pair therein, one gear of each gear pair secured to a common drive shaft, and the carbonated water gear pair rotating within a carbonated water cavity and the syrup gear pair rotating within a syrup cavity, and each cavity fluidly separate from the other and having an inlet and an outlet, and the ratioing means sealably securable to the valve body so that both the syrup cavity and the carbonated water cavity inlets are in sealed fluid communication with the carbonated water and syrup channel first portion second ends respectively, and so that the syrup cavity and the carbonated water cavity outlets are in sealed fluid communication with the carbonated water and syrup channel second portion first ends respectively so that the carbonated water and syrup can flow through the ratioing means wherein a desired volume ratio between the carbonated water and syrup is maintained as a function of the relative size of the gear pairs to each other.
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Abstract
The present invention is a post-mix beverage dispensing valve for accurately maintaining the proper ratio of two liquid beverage components. The present invention includes a valve main body having a gear pump secured thereto. The gear pump includes two sets of oval gears. One set of oval gears is in fluid communication with a source of pressurized carbonated water, and the second set is in fluid communication with a source of syrup. The valve body also includes solenoid operated pallet valves for each of the beverage components. Ratioing of the solenoid provides for simultaneous opening of both pallet valves whereby the pressurized carbonated water flows between the carbonated water gears and is swept thereby through the valve body to the dispensing nozzle. One gear of each gear pair is secured to a common rotating shaft. Pressurized carbonated water provides for the rotation of the syrup gears, thereby providing for the pumping of the syrup to the nozzle. The gear pairs are sized so that the desired ratio between the beverage components is maintained.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A constant ratio post-mix beverage dispensing valve comprising:
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a valve body, the valve body having a carbonated water channel first portion and a syrup channel first portion, both first channel portions extending partially through the valve body from first portion first ends initiating at a valve body connecting end for providing connection to sources of carbonated water and syrup respectively and terminating at first portion second ends, and the valve body having a carbonated water channel second portion and a syrup channel second portion therein, both second channel portions extending partially through the valve body from second portion first ends and terminating at second portion second ends for communicating with valve means, the valve means for regulating flow of carbonated water and syrup from the sources thereof to a dispensing nozzle, the carbonated water second channel portion having a flow control means therein, . .a plug releasably insertable into the valve body, said plug including sealing means for sealing with the valve body, providing access to the flow control means, and having a top surface forming an interior surface portion of the carbonated water second channel portion,.!. and a gear ratioing means, the ratioing means having a housing for retaining a carbonated water gear pair and a syrup gear pair therein, one gear of each gear pair secured to a common drive shaft, and the carbonated water gear pair rotating within a carbonated water cavity and the syrup gear pair rotating within a syrup cavity, and each cavity fluidly separate from the other and having an inlet and an outlet, and the ratioing means sealably securable to the valve body so that both the syrup cavity and the carbonated water cavity inlets are in sealed fluid communication with the carbonated water and syrup channel first portion second ends respectively, and so that the syrup cavity and the carbonated water cavity outlets are in sealed fluid communication with the carbonated water and syrup channel second portion first ends respectively so that the carbonated water and syrup can flow through the ratioing means wherein a desired volume ratio between the carbonated water and syrup is maintained as a function of the relative size of the gear pairs to each other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 21)
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4. A constant ratio post-mix beverage dispensing valve, comprising:
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a valve body, the valve body having a carbonated water channel first portion and a syrup channel first portion, both first channel portions extending partially through the valve body from first portion first ends initiating at a valve body connecting end for providing connection to sources of carbonated water and syrup respectively and terminating at first portion second ends, and the valve body having a carbonated water channel second portion and a syrup channel second portion therein, both second channel portions extending partially through the valve body from second portion first ends and terminating at second portion second ends for communicating with valve means, the valve means for regulating flow of carbonated water and syrup from the sources thereof to a dispensing nozzle, the syrup second channel portion having a flow control means therein, a plug releasably insertable into the valve body, said plug including sealing means for sealing with the valve body, providing access to the flow control means, and having a top surface forming an interior surface portion of the syrup second channel portion, and a gear ratioing means, the ratioing means having a housing for retaining a carbonated water gear pair and a syrup gear pair therein, one gear of each gear pair secured to a common drive shaft, and the carbonated water gear pair rotating within a carbonated water cavity and the syrup gear pair rotating within a syrup cavity, and each cavity fluidly separate from the other and having an inlet and an outlet, and the ratioing means sealably securable to the valve body so that both the syrup cavity and the carbonated water cavity inlets are in sealed fluid communication with the carbonated water and syrup channel first portion second ends respectively, and so that the syrup cavity and the carbonated water cavity outlets are in sealed fluid communication with the carbonated water and syrup channel second portion first ends respectively so that the carbonated water and syrup can flow through the ratioing means wherein a desired volume ratio between the carbonated water and syrup is maintained as a function of the relative size of the gear pairs to each other. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. A constant ratio post-mix beverage dispensing valve, comprising:
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a valve body, the valve body having a carbonated water channel first portion and a syrup channel first portion, both first channel portions extending partially through the valve body from first portion first ends initiating at a valve body connecting end for providing connection to sources of carbonated water and syrup respectively and terminating at first portion second ends, and the valve body having a carbonated water channel second portion and a syrup channel second portion therein, both second channel portions extending partially through the valve body from second portion first ends and terminating at second portion second ends for communicating with valve means, the valve means for regulating flow of carbonated water and syrup from the sources thereof to a dispensing nozzle, the carbonated water second channel portion and the syrup second channel portion each having a flow control means therein, first and second plugs releasably insertable into the valve body, said first and second plugs including sealing means for sealing with the valve body, providing access to the flow control means in the carbonated water channel portion and the syrup channel portion respectively, and having a top surface forming an interior surface portion of the carbonated water second channel portion and the syrup second portion respectively, and a gear ratioing means, the ratioing means having a housing for retaining a carbonated water gear pair and a syrup gear pair therein, one gear of each gear pair secured to a common drive shaft, and the carbonated water gear pair rotating within a carbonated water cavity and the syrup gear pair rotating within a syrup cavity, and each cavity fluidly separate from the other and having an inlet and an outlet, and the ratioing means sealably securable to the valve body so that both the syrup cavity and the carbonated water cavity inlets are in sealed fluid communication with the carbonated water and syrup channel first portion second ends respectively, and so that the syrup cavity and the carbonated water cavity outlets are in sealed fluid communication with the carbonated water and syrup channel second portion first ends respectively so that the carbonated water and syrup can flow through the ratioing means wherein a desired volume ratio between the carbonated water and syrup is maintained as a function of the relative size of the gear pairs to each other. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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10. A constant ratio post-mix beverage dispensing valve, comprising:
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a valve body, the valve body having a carbonated water channel first portion and a syrup channel first portion, both first channel portions extending partially through the valve body from first portion first ends initiating at a valve body connecting end for providing connection to sources of carbonated water and syrup respectively and terminating . .of.!. .Iadd.at .Iaddend.first portion second ends, and the valve body having a carbonated water channel second portion and a syrup channel second portion therein, both second channel portions extending partially through the valve body from second portion first ends and terminating at second portion second ends for communicating with valve means, the valve means for regulating flow of carbonated water and syrup from the sources thereof to a dispensing nozzle, a gear ratioing means, the ratioing means having a housing for retaining a carbonated water gear pair and a syrup gear pair therein, one gear of each gear pair secured to a common drive shaft, and the carbonated water gear pair rotating within a carbonated water cavity and the syrup gear pair rotating within a syrup cavity, and each cavity fluidly separate from the other and having an inlet and an outlet, and the ratioing means having a pair of inlet legs and a pair of outlet legs extending from a lower end of the housing thereof, the inlet legs having channels extending there through for fluidly communicating with the carbonated water and syrup cavity inlets respectively, and the outlet legs having channels extending there through for fluidly communicating with the carbonated water and syrup cavity outlets respectively, and the valve body having a ratioing means receiving top surface, and the first channel second ends and second channel first ends terminating on the top surface with carbonated water and syrup inlet leg receiving apertures and carbonated water and syrup outlet leg receiving apertures respectively, the apertures including sealing means for providing fluid sealing with the inlet and outlet legs when inserted therein so that the carbonated water and syrup can flow through the ratioing means wherein a desired volume ratio between the carbonated water and syrup is maintained as a function of the relative size of the gear pairs to each other, and the dispensing valve having releasable retaining means operable to secure the rationing means to the valve body when the legs thereof are inserted into the apertures. - View Dependent Claims (11, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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22. Iaddend..Iadd.24. A constant ratio post-mix beverage dispensing valve comprising:
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a valve body, the valve body having a carbonated water channel first portion and a syrup channel first portion, both first channel portions extending partially through the valve body from first portion first ends initiating at a valve body connecting end for providing connection to sources of carbonated water and syrup respectively and terminating at first portion second ends, and the valve body having a carbonated water channel second portion and a syrup channel second portion therein, both second channel portions extending partially through the valve body from second portion first ends and terminating at second portion second ends for communicating with valve means, the valve means for regulating flow of carbonated water and syrup from the sources thereof to a dispensing nozzle, the syrup channel second portion having a flow control means therein, and a gear ratioing means, the ratioing means having a housing for retaining a carbonated water gear pair and a syrup gear pair therein, one gear of each gear pair secured to a common drive shaft, and the carbonated water gear pair rotating within a carbonated water cavity and the syrup gear pair rotating within a syrup cavity, and each cavity fluidly separate from the other and having an inlet and an outlet, and the ratioing means sealably securable to the valve body so that both the syrup cavity and the carbonated water cavity inlets are in sealed fluid communication with the carbonated water and syrup channel first portion second ends respectively, and so that the syrup cavity and the carbonated water cavity outlets are in sealed fluid communication with the carbonated water and syrup channel second portion first ends respectively so that the carbonated water and syrup can flow through the ratioing means wherein a desired volume ratio between the carbonated water and syrup is maintained as a function of the relative size of the gear pairs to each other. .Iaddend..Iadd.25. The dispensing valve as defined in claim 24, and the flow control means comprising a flow washer. .Iaddend..Iadd.26. The dispensing valve as defined in claim 24 and further including a plug releasably insertable into the valve body, said plug including sealing means for sealing with the valve body and for providing access to the flow control means. .Iaddend..Iadd.27. The dispensing valve as defined in claim 26, and the flow control means comprising a flow washer. .Iaddend.
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Specification