US 2023/0054529 A1 · WATER DISPENSING STATION

Abstract

A drink station is provided with an alkaline filter cartridge in fluid communication with an ambient temperature water line provide alkaline water, and with a chilled water mixed with the alkaline water at a spigot to provide chilled alkaline water. A hot water heating element is located below the spigot so hot water flows upward for dispensing from the spigot, with a vent line between the heating element and spigot helping hot water to flow from the spigot to the heating element. A refrigeration system and a carbonation system is also provided. The refrigeration system uses the ice-bank technology. A submersible agitator pump improves heat exchanged between ice-bank and water by forced convection. The agitator pump operating based on the temperature of the drinking water. A figure eight evaporator coil can provide two cylindrical ice banks and two chilled water coils to increase the chilled water capacity.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A beverage dispensing apparatus, comprising:

a housing;
a heat exchanger arranged within the housing and comprising a reservoir configured to store a heat exchange fluid;
a chiller coil configured to circulate a beverage, wherein at least a portion of the chiller coil is arranged within the reservoir and is configured to be submerged in the heat exchange fluid;
a refrigeration system comprising an evaporator coil, wherein the evaporator coil is arranged within the reservoir, wherein the evaporator coil is configured to circulate a refrigerant to form an ice bank in the reservoir around the evaporator coil;
a spigot in communication with the chiller coil for dispensing the beverage;
a temperature sensor arranged within the reservoir and configured to detect a temperature of the heat exchange fluid within the reservoir;
and
a controller in communication with the temperature sensor and the refrigeration system, wherein the controller is configured to operate the refrigeration system based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor.

5 more elements

A beverage dispensing apparatus, comprising:

a housing;
a heat exchanger arranged within the housing and comprising a reservoir configured to store a heat exchange fluid;
an agitator arranged within the reservoir and configured to circulate the heat exchange fluid within the reservoir;
a chiller coil configured to circulate a beverage, wherein at least a portion of the chiller coil is arranged within the reservoir and is configured to be submerged in the heat exchange fluid;
a refrigeration system comprising an evaporator coil, wherein the evaporator coil is arranged within the reservoir, wherein the evaporator coil is configured to circulate a refrigerant to form an ice bank around the evaporator coil;
a spigot in communication with the chiller coil for dispensing the beverage;
a first temperature sensor arranged within the reservoir and configured to detect a temperature of the heat exchange fluid within the reservoir;
a second temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the beverage in the chiller coil;
and
a controller in communication with each of the first temperature sensor, the second temperature sensor, the agitator, and the refrigeration system,
wherein the controller is configured to operate the refrigeration system based on the temperature of the heat exchange fluid as detected by the first temperature sensor, and wherein the controller is configured to operate the agitator based on the temperature of the beverage in the chiller coil as detected by the second temperature sensor.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Water dispensing station

Life of this patent

Water dispensing station

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20