Cooling systems for beverage dispensers and methods of maintaining a cooling system
AssigneeThe Coca-Cola Company
InventorLawrence B. Ziesel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cooling system for use in a beverage dispenser, the cooling system including: a cold plate having a top surface and a side surface; a carbonator arranged in a non-horizontal orientation relative to the cold plate, the carbonator having a sidewall, a lower uninsulated portion of the sidewall of the carbonator being in thermal communication with the side surface of the cold plate; and a fastener coupling the carbonator to the cold plate, the fastener having a lower thermal conductivity as compared to a thermal conductivity of the carbonator.
Claims22
A beverage dispenser comprising:
- a sweetener inlet;
- a still water inlet;
- a nozzle;
- a cold plate having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface defining a cooling area, the cold plate defining a portion of a fluid pathway between the sweetener inlet and the nozzle and a portion of a fluid pathway between the still water inlet and a carbonator separate from the cold plate;
- and
- the carbonator including a distal end in thermal communication with the first surface of the cold plate and a proximate end positioned away from the cold plate to encourage convection currents and churn of contents within the carbonator, wherein the carbonator is oriented at an angle of approximately 45 degrees relative to the cold plate, and further wherein the carbonator includes a gas inlet, a liquid inlet in fluid communication with the still water inlet, and a liquid outlet in fluid communication with the nozzle.
A method for causing convection currents of a fluid within a carbonator, the method comprising:
- connecting a portion of the carbonator to a portion of a cold plate with a fastener having a lower thermal conductivity than a thermal conductivity of the carbonator;
- cooling the cold plate;
- causing, in response to the cooling of the cold plate, a temperature drop of the fluid proximate the portion of the carbonator connected to the portion of the cold plate;
- and
- causing, in response to the temperature drop, the fluid proximate the portion of the carbonator connected to the portion of the cold plate to change location within the carbonator, wherein the change in location causes convection currents of the fluid without external mechanical agitation.
A beverage dispenser comprising:
- a cooling system for use in a beverage dispenser, the cooling system comprising:
- a cold plate;
- and
- a carbonator in thermal communication with the cold plate, the carbonator arranged in a non-horizontal orientation with respect to the cold plate and in contact with a portion of the cold plate, the contact providing heat exchange there between;
- and a fastener coupling the carbonator to the cold plate, the fastener having a lower thermal conductivity as compared to a thermal conductivity of the carbonator.
A beverage dispenser comprising:
- a nozzle;
- and
- a cooling system including:
- a sweetener inlet;
- a still water inlet;
- a cold plate having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface defining a portion of an ice storage area;
- and
- a carbonator separate from the cold plate, the carbonator comprising a gas inlet, a liquid inlet, and a liquid outlet, wherein the carbonator includes a distal end on the cold plate and a proximate end positioned away from the cold plate to encourage convection currents and churn of contents within the carbonator, wherein the carbonator is positioned at an angle of approximately 45 degrees relative to the first surface of the cold plate.
A method for constructing a cooling system, the method comprising:
- providing a cold plate;
- and
- securing a carbonator to the cold plate via a fastener made of a material having a lower thermal conductivity than a thermal conductivity of the carbonator, such that the carbonator and the cold plate are able to move independently of one another.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.