Beverage dispenser system with integrated carbonator
AssigneeThe Coca-Cola Company
InventorArthur G. Rudick
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A chilling reservoir for providing in-line carbonation in a beverage dispenser includes a housing having a first beverage material pathway extending therethrough. The first beverage material pathway may have a flow inlet arrangement and a flow outlet arrangement. The chilling reservoir also includes a heat exchanger arrangement that is positioned and configured to be selectively operated to chill beverage material passing through the first beverage material pathway. The chilling reservoir also includes a carbonation chamber operably positioned in the first beverage material pathway of the housing. The carbonation chamber may be configured to removably receive therein a carbonator.
Claims18
A chilling reservoir for a beverage dispenser;
- the chilling reservoir comprising:
- a housing defining a first beverage material pathway extending therethrough, the first beverage material pathway having a flow inlet arrangement and a flow outlet arrangement wherein the first beverage material pathway is a coil formed of stainless steel tubing;
- a heat exchanger arrangement that is positioned and configured to be operated to chill beverage material passing through the first beverage material pathway;
- and
- a carbonation chamber including an outer shell, the outer shell of the carbonation chamber being operably positioned in the first beverage material pathway of the housing, the outer shell of the carbonation chamber being configured to removably receive therein a carbonator;
- wherein the chilling reservoir is a cold plate that is formed as a cast metal around the stainless steel tubing.
A beverage dispensing system comprising:
- a dispenser having a nozzle;
- a macro-ingredient reservoir in fluid communication with the nozzle;
- a pump in fluid communication with the macro-ingredient reservoir;
- a chilling reservoir having at least one beverage material pathway extending therethrough with a flow inlet arrangement and a flow outlet arrangement, wherein the chilling reservoir is positioned and configured to be operated to chill beverage material passing through the at least one beverage material pathway, wherein the at least one beverage material pathway is a coil formed of stainless steel tubing;
- a carbonation chamber including an outer shell, the outer shell of the carbonation chamber being operably positioned in the at least one beverage material pathway of the chilling reservoir;
- and
- a carbonator including a water input, a gas input, and a carbonated water output in fluid communication with the nozzle, the outer shell of the carbonation chamber being configured to removably receive therein the carbonator;
- wherein the carbonator is housed in an inner shell, the inner shell residing in the outer shell of the carbonation chamber;
- and
- wherein the chilling reservoir is a cold plate that is formed as a cast metal around the stainless steel tubing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.