US2979232A - Beverage dispensing system - Google Patents

Description

April 11, 1961 l.. J. woon BEVERAGE DISPENSING SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet x Filed Jan. 23, 1957 April 11, 1961 L. J. WOOD BEVERAGE DISPENSING SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 23, 1957 E R D y Wwf/*9 0 E n m O R R RW%M P/.\\ l. W\ n m 3 M N A 0 m M 5% l. v. B pai ed M m/ m. F

United States Parent BEVERAGE DISPEN SING SYSTEM Leonard J. Wood, Rockaway, NJ. (135 Patricia Place, Clifton, NJ.)

Filed Jan. 23, 1957, Ser. No. 635,634

3 Claims. (Cl. 222-129.l)

This invention relates to carbonated beverage dispensing machines and, more particularly, to carbonated beverage dispensing machines wherein the beverage is mixed prior to being dispensed.

In general, carbonated beverage dispensinglmachines are of one of two types, commonly designated postmix and pre-mix machines. In a post-mix machine, the syrup and carbonated water which together comprise the beverage are dispensed separately and mixed in the cup. Machines of this type suffer from certain inherent disadvantages, such as pressure differences in the syrup and carbonate dispensing systems, resulting in an improperly mixed beverage. Another disadvantage of such machines results from the fact that diierent beverages, eg., cola drinks, ginger ale, fruit drinks, require dilferent degrees of carbonation. 1f the machine is designed to dispense any one of several beverages, the problem of setting and maintaining the proper proportions of syrup and carbonate becomes quite diiiicult of solution.

These and other disadvantages of post-mix machines are to a large extent overcome in machines of the pre-mix type, wherein the beverage is mixed in the proper proportions and stored in the machine, to be dispensed upon demand. Machines of the pre-mix type, in general, have a tendency to dispense beverages in an excessively foamy state or beverages lacking the proper degree of carbonization. This tendency is the result of the behavior of a mixed carbonated beverage under the influence of varying pressure and temperature conditions. Mixed carbonated drinks are prone to lose carbonation under the varying pressure and temperature conditions present in most dispensing machines, and in addition, most beverages contain a foaming agent which produces excessive foam if the proper amount of carbonation is not present. The changes in pressure and temperature in dispensing systems, as well as the several valves and tanks usually present, also tend to cause turbulence in the beverage which causes it to lose carbonation and to foam. Turbulence likewise is generally produced at the point of passage of the beverage from the machine into the container from which it is consumed.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to dispense highly carbonated pre-mixed drinks upon demand without excessive foaming or loss of carbonation.

It is another object of this invention to prevent turbulence and foaming in a pre-mixed'carbonated beverage throughout the major portion of its travel through a dispensing system from supply tank to the users cup.

It is a further object ot this invention to dispense any one of a plurality of pre-mixed, chilled carbonated beverages, each having the proper' degree of carbonation, under conditions of temperature `and pressure such that excessive foaming and loss of carbonation are prevented.

It is a still further object of this invention to construct a pre-mixed carbonated beverage dispensing system which is simple and reliable in operation despite variations in temperature or pressure externally of the system.

In accordance with one feature of the present invenice tion, the dispensing system is divided into a high pressure portion .and a low pressure portion which are maintained in temperature and pressure isolation from each other.

In accordance with another feature of the present invention, the pre-mixed beverage is introduced, after chilling, into a turbulence reducing member where itis maintained in a chilled quiescent state until dispensed.

In one specic embodiment illustrative of the present invention, one or more pre-mixed beverages are stored, under high pressure, in separate tanks. Each tank is connected through a pressure reducing turbulence preventing member to a cooling system which is maintained at a con-V stant temperature and pressure. Each cooling unit, in turn, is connected to a butter tank which is maintained at the temperature and pressure of the cooling unit, and which has a system of internal vanes and battles which act to reduce the turbulence in the beverage. Each buier The invention and the aforementioned and other features .thereof will be understood more clearly and fully from the following `detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a dispensing system embodying the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional elevation view of the turbulence reducing buffer tank;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional plan view taken along the line A-A of the tank of Fig. 2;

Figs. 4A and 4B are partial plan views showing alternative arrangements for mounting the butter tanks; and,

Figs. 5A land 5B are sectional views of a preferred form of pressure reducing, turbulence preventing mem- `ber for use in the systems of Fig. l.

Turning now to Fig. l, there is shown a ldispensing system 11 which normally is housed in a suitable cabinet 12 which, for simplicity, is shown in dotted lines. It is to be understood that cabinet 12 may take any one of a variety of well known forms, and is shown here merely schematically.

Within the cabinet 12 are located a plurality of prernixed beverage supply tanks 13, 14, and 15, the actual number of which depending upon the number of different drinks it is desired to dispense. As here shown, by way of example, tank 13 carries one beverage and tanks 14 and 15 carry a second beverage being connected in series through conduit 20 so that the system 11 can` dispense twice as much of the second beverage as the first. The beverages in tanks 13, 14, and 15 are kept under high pressure and proper degree Vof carbonation by CO2 gas contained under pressure in a tank 16, which is connected through pressure regulating valves 17 and 18 and conduits 19 and 21 to tanks 13 and 15 respectively. Pressure meters 22 and 23 are located adjacent valves 17 and 1S to permit adjustment of the valves so that the proper degree of pressure and carbonation may be maintained for the beverages in the tanks 1'3, 14, and 15. It is to be understood that the pressure regulating arrangement shown is by way of illustration only and that meters 22 and 23 can, for example, represent automatic pressure regulating valves, in which case valves 17 and 1S may be relief valves. Tanks `13 and 14 are connected through conduits 24 and 25 to input couplings 26 and 27 respectively of the pressure reducing and cooling portion 2S of the system which is contained in a thermally insulated cabinet 29 shown here, for simplicity, in dot-dash lines.

Thus far, the high pressure portion of the dispensing system has been shown. This portion of the system necessarily must afford easy access so that the supply of beverages and CO2 gas can readily be replenished. It is impractical to enclose the tanks 13, 14,115, and '16 within an insulated housing along with the cooling system since replacement tanks which are to ybe installed are usually at a high temperature and placing directly into the cooling system will completely unbalance the cooling'system whichnecessitat'es a substantial time delay while the temperature is again reduced, and places an undue strain on the cooling system. Anyone using the machine during this period will receive a foamy and generally unsatisfactory drink. By isolating the high pressure portion of the system from the low pressure portion, I am able to atord easy access to the CO2 and beverage tanks, eliminate excessive temperature uctuations and hence pressure fluctuations in the cooling system, and yet, as will be apparent hereinafter, insure the dispensing of a properly chilled and carbonated drink upon demand.

Within the cabinet 29 are located valves 31 and 32, here shown schematically, to which are connected, respectively, coupling connections 26 and 27. Valves 31 and 32 serve to control the ow of liquid from the high pressure portion of the system to the low pressure portion 28, and their operation will be more fully explained in connection with the operation of the system as a whole. The outlet side of valve 3-1 is connected to a pressure reducing, turbulence reducing member 33 and the outlet side of valve 32 is connected to a like member 34. The purpose of members 33 and 34 whose operation will be explained more fully in connection with Fig. 5, is to insure that the carbonated liquid which comes from a high pressure and temperature region will enter the cooling region at a greatly reduced pressure with a minimum of turbulence and substantially no loss of carbonation. The outputs of members 33 and 34 are connected respectively to conduits 35 and 36 which lead to an evaporator 37 shown schematically, which lowers the temperature of the liquids to the desired value and maintains a constant pressure. Evaporator 37 is of conventional design and comprises cooling coils 38, shown schematically, which are supplied through conduits with refrigerant which passes through a radiator 39, compressor 41 and automatic expansion valve 42. Radiator 39 is cooled by a motor and fan unit 43. The temperature in the evaporator is maintained constant by means of a thermostatic control unit 44, which governs the operation of the compressor 41 and the motor 43. Conduits 35 and 36 are connected to coils 45 and 46 respectively which pass through the evaporator wherein the beverages in the coils are cooled to the desired low temperature and then pass by way of conduits 47 and 48 to turbulence reducing ` buffer tanks 49 and 51 which are preferably mounted in thermal contact with the evaporator 37 to insure that the liquids in the tanks 49 and 51 are maintained at the desired temperature. Buffer tanks 49 and 51 are joined to control valves 52 and 53 through conduits 54 and 55 respectively which control the ow of beverage to nozzles 56 and 57. Nozzles 56 and 57 feed into a drink dispensing unit of conventional design cornprising a cup dispenser S8, a chute 59, arms 61 and 62 for holding the cup while it is being lled, and a drip pan 63.

It can be seen that the system 11, as thus far described, comprises a high pressure portion and a low constant pressure portion. As `was pointed out, easy access to the supply tanks is necessary, yet it is impractical to place them within the low temperature region. By the unique arrangement of the present embodiment, the supply tanks may be left in a region uninsulated from atmospheric luctuations in temperature and corresponding pressure fluctuations, while the remainder `of the dispensing system is in a region of low, constant temperature and low, constant pressure, thereby insuring a minimum of turbulence and loss of carbonation during passage of a beverage through the major portion of the system, without sacrificing the advantages of a straight through or free flow type of system.

in Figs. 2 and 3 there are shown the details of construction of a preferred embodiment of the turbulence reducing buffer tank, such as tank 49. 'Ihe tank comprises a circular cylindrical outer wall, having an end closure 64 at its upper end and an end closure 65 at its lower end. Conduit 47 passes through an aperture 66 in end closure 64 and extends for a considerable distance into the tank 49. The point Where conduit 47 passes through aperture 66 is hermetically sealed by a suitable tting, which for simplicity is not shown, thereby preventing the escape of gas from the tank. A bleeder valve 67 for adjusting the pressure in the tank is connected through a conduit 68 to the interior of the tank, conduit 68 passing through an aperture 69 in end closure 64 and forming an hermetic seal therewith. Liquid in the tank is withdrawn through conduit 54 which passes outwardly from the tank through an aperture 71 in the lower portion of the side wall of the tank, the point where it passes through being hermetically sealed by a suitable tting, not shown. On the interior of tank 49 and extending for a substantial portion of the length thereof are a plurality of radially extending hollow triangularly shaped vanes 72 which are joined at their apex to the side walls of tank 49 as by welding and at their base to each other and to a hollow cylindrical tube 73 through which passes conduit 47. Tube 73 is closed olf at the bottom by an end closure as best seen in Fig. 2. The area enclosed by each vane 72 is open, as well as the area between any two vanes, hence the cross-sectional area of the tank is divided into twice as many discrete areas as there are vanes 72. When liquid is introduced into the tank 49 through conduit 47, valve 52 being closed, it passes up through tube 73 and down through the spaces `between the vanes 72. As the tank fills, all of the spaces within and between the vanes become filled with liquid. Inasmuch as each of the several discrete regions formed vby the vanes 72 is isolated from all of the others, the turbulence of the liquid in any region cannot affect or be affected by the turbulence in any other, a yfactor which tends to reduce turbulence. In addition, because the vanes 72 present a very great metallic area at a low temperature to be contacted by the liquid, the turbulence in any region formed by the vanes is quickly reduced. It can readily be seen, therefore, that the buffer tank acts to reduce turbulence rapidly, with a minimum loss of carbonation and a minimum of foaming, and stores the liquid in a chilled, low pressure state for dispensing on demand. It is to be understood that the particular structure of the buffer tank here shown is by way of example only, and that other arrangements of battles and vanes are possible, or alternatively, a plurality of small diameter tubes or pipes might be used. In operation, the system 11 is prepared for use by the following sequence of steps. The operator installs and connects the CO2 tank 16 and the desired number of beverage tanks 13, 14, 15 in parallel or in series, depending upon the number of different beverages to be dispensed and the anticipated demand for each. The proper pressure for each tank, which depends upon the degree of carbonation of the beverage therein, is then set with valves 1,7 and 18 and meters 22 and 23, valves 31 and 32 being closed. After the thermostatic control 44 has been set and the evaporator cooled to the proper temperature and pressure, the operator opens valves 31 and 32, which are preferably provided with manual controls for this purpose, while valves 52 and 53 remain closed. The beverages from each of the tanks then pass through the pressure and turbulence reducing members 33 and 34, the cooling coils 45 and 46 and into the buffer tanks 49 and 51. Valves 31 and 32 remain open until tanks 49 and 51 are completely filled, at which time they are closed. During this operation, any excess in pressure in tanks 49 and 51 is relieved through bleeder valve 67 which may be an automatic pre-set type of valve or a simple manual control type, after which valve 67 is closed. The dispensing system is now in condition to dispense drinks upon demand.

to Work equally as well.

4 garages A customer, desiring a "particular beverage vinitiates the dispensing operation by the insertions of the proper coin and pressing the desired button. For the sake `of simplicity, `the' coin actuated mechanism and ythe beverage selecting mechanism have not been shown. Such mechanisms maytakeany one of a number offforms well known to workers in the art, hence their inclusion in the igures is believed to be unnecessary. Upon actuating the drink selecting mechanism after insertion of the coin, a cup drops into place and the proper one of valves 52 or 53 is opened and the proper drink is dispensed. Valves k52 and 53, here vshown schematically, may be any one of a number of types well known in the art which meter out the proper amount of beverage, either through a timing mechanism, not shown, or -a conventional volume flow meter. At the same time that either valve 52 or 53 is opened, the corresponding valve 31 or 32 is opened,'through conventional mechanical or electrical connections, not shown, and when valve 52 or 53 closes, the corresponding valve 31 or 32 closes through the same agency. It can be seen, therefore, that as a drink is withdrawn from a buffer tank, it is immediately replaced by a like quantity of the same drink, a factor which tends to minimize turbulence and loss of carbonation by preventing creation of air or gas pockets in the system. Inasmuch as the beverages are stored in the buier tanks 49 and 51 in a chilled, low pressure state, and the distance of travel from the butter tanks and valves to the nozzles 56 and 57 is quite short, the drink is dispensed with a minimum of foaming and loss of carbonation.

In Figs. 4A and 4B there is shown one preferred embodiment of the pressure and turbulence reducing member as used in members 33 and 34 of Fig. 1. rl`he member comprises a hollow cylindrical member 101 having at each end a conical seat 102 and 103 formed by angularly oriented iiange 104 and 105 respectively. A hollow externally threaded member 106 having la tapered end face 107 is seated in conical seat 102 and is held in place by a nut 108 as shown. `In like manner, a hollow member 109 having a tapered end face 111 is seated in conical seat 103 and held in place by nut 112. Members 106 and,109 may be merely formed end portions of the conduits leading to and away from the pressure reducing member or they may be separate pieces axed to these conduits as by welding. Inside member 101 is a cylindrical member 113 having an outside diameter slightly less than the inside diameter of member 101. The ends of member 113 are preferably peened into a tapered and broadened shape as best seen in Fig. 4B so that it cannot shift or move during operation. When a liquid is introduced under high pressure into member 101 through member 106, the restricted passageway between members 101 and 113 acts to convert the pressure energy into velocity energy, in the manner of a venturi. The liquid ows smoothly in a thin sheet Ialong the restricted pass-age formed by members 101 and 113, and much of its energy is given up as a result of friction. AIt has been found, in practice, that if the length of the restricted passageway is great enough, the liquid will exit through member 109 at a greatly reduced pressure and `almost completely lacking in turbulence regardless of temperature and pressure fluctuations in the high pressure portion of the system, and a minimum of carbonation will have been lost. While the structure of Figs. 4A and 4B represents one preferred embodiment of the pressure reducing member, other types of structures have been found For instance, small diameter tubing, such as capillary tubing, of the proper length has proven very eflcient in reducing pressure and turbulence. The most eiective length of the pressure reducing member depends upon the degree of carbonation of the beverage passing through it, hence it is desirable to make members 33 and 34 easily replaceable so that when new beverages are added, .the proper length member can be quickly installed. n

In Figs. 5A and 5B there are shown alternative ways of mounting buffer tanks 49 and 51`on the evaporator to maintain the liquids in Athe tanks at the proper low temperature. For example, as seen in Fig. 5A, tank 49 may be encased in a block .121 of material of high thermal conductivity which in turn is welded, brazed, or the like, 4to evaporator ,37. Alternatively, las shown in Fig. 5B, the buffer tank 49 may be shaped to conform somewhat to the shape of the evaporator and mounted, as by straps or welding or the like, in good thermal contact therewith. It is to be understood that, while in the explanation land discussion of the buier tanks, tank 49 has chiey been referred to, the discussion applies equally as well to all of the buffer tanks.

From the foregoing, it can readily be seen that the dispensing system of the present invention dispenses drinks with a minimum of foaming and loss of carbona tion. It is to be understood that, while the invention has been described in connection with the dispensing of only two different types of drinks, any number of drinks may be dispensed by the simple expedient of adding or subtracting elements corresponding to those already disclosed.

While I have here shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that changes and modiiicatio-ns thereto may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A beverage dispensing system comprising a carbonated beverage storage tank, a high pressure source for maintaining the beverage in said tank under pressure,

valve means for controlling the flow of beverage from said storage tank, pressure and turbulence reducing means having a restricted beverage passageway connected to the outlet side of said valve means, beverage cooling means, said cooling means being thermally insulated from said beverage storage tank, cooling coils in said cooling means, means connecting said pressure reducing means to said cooling coils, a storage and turbulence reducing tank adjacent said cooling means, said storage and turbulence reducing tank having a plurality of beverage passageways therein, means for conveying the cooled bever# age to said storage and turbulence reducing tank, beverage dispensing means, means for conveying the beverage stored in said storage and turbulence reducing tank to said dispensing means, and valve means for controlling the ow of beverage from said storage and turbulence reducing tank to said dispensing means.

2. A beverage dispensing system as claimed in claim l wherein said storage and turbulence reducing tank is in thermally conductive contact with a portion of said beverage cooling means.

3. For use in a beverage dispensing system, means for reducing the turbulence in and storing a beverage to be dispensed, said means comprising a hollow cylindrical tank closed at each end, a hollow cylindrical member within said tank, said cylindrical member being open at its upper end and closed at its lower end, means passing through one closed end of said tank for introducing beverage into said hollow cylindrical member, and a plurality of members located between said hollow cylindrical member and the side walls of said tank defining a plurality of beverage passageways in said tank, said members being spaced from the closed ends of said cylindrical tank.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Sheehan Mar. 21, 1916 Owens Aug. 19, 1919 (Other references on following page) UNITED STATES PATENTS Orr Sept. 4, 1923 Sproul Apr. 27, 1926 Schnetzler Oct. 28, 1930 Greenwald Sept. 27, 1932 Myrick Nov. 14, 1939 Waite et al. Sept. 16, 1947 Booth Feb. 21, 1950 Tanner Apr. 4, 1950 Little NOV. 1l, 1952 Mojonnier May 26, 1953 8 Rupp et a1. Apr. 6, 1954 Gaddis et al. Dec. 13, 1955 Kromer Apr. 17, 1956 Welty et al. June 12, 1956 Lawson et al. July 24, 1956 St. Laurence Jau. 1, 1957 Fischer Mar. 12, 1957 Kresberg Apr. 30, 1957 Andrews et al May 13, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS Australia Aug. 6, 1956

Images