Beverage dispensing system
OwnerRaymond Edward Gust, Patrick Henry Murphyinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A beverage dispensing system which will deliver a precise, pre-set quantity of a selected beverage at each actuation. The system is operated by low pressure gas from a quickly replaceable source, and utilizes a controlled stroke piston pump which is driven and returned by the pressurized gas. All the valves for automatic operation of the punp are contained in the compact pump housing, but the gas and liquid sections are completely isolated to avoid contamination. The pump and valve unit contains a minimum of parts, all of which are readily accessible for cleaning and servicing. An automatic count of operations is maintained and the system shuts off when the liquid level is too low for a full serving.
Claims9
A beverage dispensing system, comprising:
- a pump unit having a pair of end blocks with a cylinder secured therebetween;
- a piston slidable in said cylinder between a retracted position and an extended position;
- the first of said end blocks having a liquid inlet and liquid outlet therein, communicating with the interior of the cylinder;
- the second of said end blocks having a barrel extending axially into said cylinder;
- said piston being hollow with a closed end and an open end and being telescopically slidable over said barrel;
- said piston being circumferentially spaced from said barrel and slidably sealed thereto at axially spaced positions, defining a cushion chamber between the piston and barrel;
- a source of liquid beverage connected to said liquid inlet;
- a source of pressurized gas connected to said pump unit;
- valve means in said pump unit for controlling the flow of pressurized gas to drive said piston to the extended position, and for conducting gas into said cushion chamber to return the piston to the retracted position in a continuous cycle;
- and actuating means coupled to said source of pressurized gas for initiating the cycle of piston motion.
A beverage dispensing system, comprising:
- a pump unit having a pair of end blocks with a cylinder secured therebetween;
- a piston slidable in said cylinder between a retracted position and an extended position;
- the first of said end blocks having a liquid inlet and liquid outlet therein, communicating with the interior of the cylinder;
- the second of said end blocks having a barrel extending axially into said cylinder;
- said piston being hollow with a closed end and an open end and being telescopically slidable over said barrel;
- a source of liquid beverage connected to said liquid inlet;
- a source of pressurized gas connected to said pump unit;
- said barrel having an axial bore through which pressurized gas enters the piston to drive the piston to the extended position;
- said piston being circumferentially spaced from said barrel and the open end of the piston having a sliding seal against the barrel;
- a seal fixed on the barrel and engaging the piston in axial spaced relation to the sliding seal and defining a cushion chamber therebetween;
- valve means in said pump unit for controlling the flow of pressurized gas to drive said piston to the extended position, and for conducting gas into said cushion chamber to return the piston to the retracted position in a continuous cycle;
- and actuating means coupled to said source of pressurized gas for initiating the cycle of piston motion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.