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AssigneeShurflo Pump Manufacturing Co.
InventorsMichael Saveliev, Thomas Gagliano, James R. Schuster, Louis J. Paolini, JR.
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Preferred embodiments of the present invention have a nozzle assembly capable of controlling pressure of comestible fluid exiting the nozzle assembly, a refrigeration system in which refrigerant pressure and temperature is controllable to enable control of comestible fluid temperature, heat exchangers connected to cool comestible fluid in the nozzles, an ultraviolet sterilization system for sterilizing locations outside and inside the system, and a hand held comestible fluid dispenser capable of cooling and selectively dispensing one of several comestible fluids supplied thereto. To provide comestible fluid at rack pressure to the nozzles in one highly preferred embodiment, each nozzle preferably has a valve movable through a number of closed positions to change pressure within the nozzle. Prior to fluid dispense, pressure at the nozzle is preferably reduced by actuating the valve through its range of closed positions. To improve temperature control and cooling efficiency, the present invention preferably employs heat exchangers adjacent to the nozzle assemblies. Due to their locations close to the nozzle assemblies, the heat exchangers generate convective recirculation through the nozzle assemblies to cool comestible fluid to the discharge openings thereof. The present invention can take the form of a multi-fluid dispensing gun having such a nozzle and heat exchanger relationship and having the pressure controlling valve as described above. To further improve control of comestible fluid temperature, the present invention preferably has an evaporator pressure regulator to control refrigerant pressure upstream of the refrigeration system compressor and a hot gas bypass valve to control refrigerant temperature.
A comestible fluid dispensing apparatus having a sterilizing device, the comestible fluid dispensing apparatus comprising:
A comestible fluid dispensing apparatus having a sterilizing device, the comestible fluid dispensing apparatus comprising:
A method of sterilizing a comestible fluid dispensing apparatus having a comestible fluid storage vessel, a nozzle for dispensing comestible fluid, and a fluid line coupled to and in fluid communication with the comestible fluid storage vessel and the nozzle, the method comprising the steps of:
A comestible fluid dispensing apparatus having a sterilizing device, the comestible fluid dispensing apparatus comprising:
A method of sterilizing a comestible fluid dispensing gun nozzle, comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.