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US 4,742,939 AGranted
Remote soda-circulating beverage dispenser
AssigneeAutomation Projects Inc.
InventorLongin Galockin
Life of this patent
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AssigneeAutomation Projects Inc.
InventorLongin Galockin
Estimating the term…
The recirculating beverage dispenser unit comprises a cooling unit, a carbonation unit, an inlet connection between a source of fresh water and the cooling unit, a fresh water valve and spigot, a delivery conduit coupling the fresh water valve and spigot to the cooling unit, at least one mixing valve and spigot coupled by a conduit to the carbonation unit and coupled by another conduit to a source of pressurized syrup, and a pump and other conduits for circulating carbonated water from and to the at least one mixing valve and spigot to and from the carbonation unit. The carbonation unit is mounted in the cooling unit and has a refrigerant carrying conduit coiled therearound in parallel relationship with a carbonation unit water inlet conduit. A spiral baffle is positioned around the carbonation unit to direct fresh water coming into the cooling unit around the parallel coiled tubings. Syrup carrying tubings extend through and are coiled about an inner surface of the cooling unit. An electric pump is provided at the bottom of the cooling unit for circulating fresh water and for supplying fresh water to the fresh water valve and spigot. A vane pump is coupled to the fresh water delivery conduit and to the carbonated water carrying conduit through a three-way valve assembly which permits recirculation of carbonated water or the supplying of fresh water to be carbonated by a venturi charging unit to the carbonation unit.
A recirculating beverage dispenser unit comprising a cooling unit, a carbonation unit, an inlet connection between a source of fresh water and said cooling unit, a fresh water valve and spigot, a delivering conduit coupling said fresh water valve and spigot to said cooling unit, at least one mixing valve and spigot coupled by a conduit to said carbonation unit and coupled by another conduit to a source of pressurized syrup, means for circulating carbonated water from and to said at least one mixing valve and spigot to and from said carbonation unit, said carbonation unit being mounted in said cooling unit, said cooling unit including a first coiled tubing which is mounted about said carbonation unit in said cooling unit and which is coupled to a source of refrigerant, said first tubing forming a cooling coil for cooling water received in the cooling unit and for cooling carbonated water in said carbonation unit, said means for circulating carbonated water including a second separate tubing which extends from the at least one mixing valve and spigot into said cooling unit and which is coiled in between and in abutting and parallel relationship with said first refrigerant carrying tubing, coils of said first tubing being disposed between coils of said second tubing such that said first and second tubings appear as one continuous tubing, the inner diameters of the coils of both said first and second abutting tubings being adjacent said carbonation unit, said carbonation unit having a top, a bottom and an inlet at said top thereof, said second carbonated water carrying tubing which is coiled in an abutting interlaced relationship with and between coils of said first refrigerant carrying tubing being arranged to extend from and carry carbonated water from said bottom of said carbonation unit to said top of said carbonation unit and to said inlet, said first refrigerant carrying tubing extending from and carrying refrigerant from said top of said carbonation unit to said bottom of said carbonation unit, and a spirally arranged baffle arranged about and around said carbonation unit in the path of fresh water directed into said cooling unit.
A recirculating beverage dispenser unit comprising a cooling unit having a top and a bottom, a carbonation unit, an inlet connection between a source of fresh water and said cooling unit, a fresh water valve and spigot, a delivering conduit coupling said fresh water valve and spigot to said cooling unit, at least one mixing valve and spigot coupled by a conduit to said carbonation unit and coupled by another conduit to a source of pressurized syrup, means for circulating carbonated water from and to said at least one mixing valve and spigot to and from said carbonation unit said carbonation unit being mounted in said cooling unit, said connection to a source of fresh water including a pipe extending into said top of said cooling unit for directing fresh water toward said carbonation unit mounted therein, and a spirally arranged baffle arranged about and around said carbonation unit in the path of fresh water directed into said cooling unit.
A recirculating beverage dispenser unit comprising a cooling unit, a carbonation unit, an inlet connection between a source of fresh water and said cooling unit, a fresh water valve and spigot, a delivering conduit coupling said fresh water valve and spigot to said cooling unit, at least one mixing valve and spigot coupled by a conduit to said carbonation unit and coupled by another conduit to a source of pressurized syrup, means for circulating carbonated water from and to said at least one mixing valve and spigot to and from said carbonation unit, said carbonation unit being mounted in said cooling unit, said fresh water inlet connection having a valve therein, said carbonation unit having a first float switch therein and said cooling unit having a second float switch therein connected in series with said float switch in said carbonation unit, and the carbonated water circulating means including a three-way valve assembly having an inlet connected to a conduit from said at least one mixing valve and spigot, an outlet coupled to a conduit emptying into said carbonation unit and a second inlet coupled to a conduit that extends into said cooling unit and haa an inlet at the bottom of said cooling unit, whereby said first float switch, when in a lower position, energizes said three-way valve assembly to close said first inlet whereby fresh water can be suctioned from the bottom of said cooling unit through said three-way valve assembly and into said carbonation unit until said carbonation unit is filled with carbonated water and whereby raising of said second float switch coupled to said valve in said fresh water inlet connection will close said valve to stop the injection of water into said cooling unit when both float switches are in the raised position.
A recirculating beverages dispenser unit comprising a cooling unit, a carbonation unit, an inlet connection between a source of fresh water and said cooling unit, a fresh water valve and spigot, a delivering conduit coupling said fresh water valve and spigot to said cooling unit, at least one mixing valve and spigot coupled by a conduit to said carbonation unit and coupled by another conduit to a source of pressurized syrup, means for circulating carbonated water from and to said at least one mixing valve and spigot to and from said carbonation unit, said carbonation unit being mounted in said cooling unit, means for pumping carbonated water and for pumping fresh water, and said fresh water inlet connection including a pressure sensitive switch which is coupled to said pumping means and is operable on sensing a high pressure or a low pressure, particularly a low pressure, for closing said fresh water inlet connection, thereby to prevent dry running of said pumping means.
A recirculating beverage dispenser unit comprising a cooling unit, a carbonation unit, an inlet connection between a source of fresh water and said cooling unit, a fresh water valve and spigot, a delivering conduit coupling said fresh water valve and spigot to said cooling unit, at least one mixing valve and spigot coupled by a conduit to said carbonation unit and coupled by another conduit to a source of pressurized syrup, means for circulating carbonated water from and to said at least one mixing valve and spigot to and from said carbonation unit, said carbonation unit being mounted in said cooling unit, said circulating means including a three-way valve assembly having a solenoid and a floating armature in a first inlet end of said assembly coupled to a conduit from the at least one mixing valve and spigot, said armature being urged against a valve seat when said solenoid is energized, and a check valve assembly being provided in a second inlet of said three-way valve assembly coupled to said fresh water delivering conduit, said outlet of said three-way valve assembly being coupled to an inlet of a pump whereby energization of said pump will cause recirculating of the carbonated water or the introduction of fresh water past said check valve assembly and into said carbonation unit when said armature is seated on said valve seat.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.