Beverage dispenser pump system with pressure control device

A method for dispensing a post-mix beverage comprising:

• (a) providing a positive displacement, concentrate metering pump having check valves for controlling the flow of concentrate therethrough from an inlet line connected to said pump to an outlet line connected to said pump;
• (b) connecting said inlet line to a source of pressurized concentrate to be used in dispensing a beverage;
• (c) pressurizing said outlet line of said pump to the pressure of said inlet line plus an additional pressure, to prevent said pressurized concentrate from blowing through said check valves;
• and
• (d) said pressurizing step comprising placing a poppet valve in said outlet line, applying inlet line pressure to said valve in a direction urging it closed, applying outlet line pressure to said valve in a direction urging it open, and applying a biasing spring force against said valve in a direction urging said valve closed.

A post-mix beverage dispenser apparatus comprising:

• (a) a water line connected to a mixing chamber having a dispensing nozzle;
• (b) a concentrate line connected to said mixing chamber;
• (c) a positive displacement, concentrate metering pump in said concentrate line and having an inlet concentrate line to said pump and an outlet concentrate line from said pump, and said pump having check valves to control the flow of concentrate therethrough;
• and
• (d) means for pressurizing the outlet line from said pump with the pressure of the inlet line to said pump plus an additional pressure, said pressurizing means including a valve in said outlet line, means for applying inlet line pressure to said valve urging it closed, means for applying outlet line pressure to said valve urging it open, and means for applying an additional biasing force against said valve urging it closed.

A post-mix beverage dispenser apparatus comprising:

• (a) a water line connected to a mixing chamber having a dispensing nozzle;
• (b) a concentrate line connected to said mixing chamber;
• (c) a positive displacement, concentrate metering pump in said concentrate line and having an inlet concentrate line to said pump and an outlet concentrate line from said pump, and said pump having check valves to control the flow of concentrate therethrough;
• (d) means for pressurizing the outlet line from said pump with the pressure of the inlet line to said pump plus an additional pressure;
• and
• (e) said pressurizing means including a poppet valve in said outlet line, means for applying inlet line pressure to said poppet valve urging it closed, means for applying outlet line pressure to said poppet valve urging it open, and means for applying a biasing spring force against said poppet valve urging it closed.

A method for converting a post-mix juice dispensing system that feeds concentrate from a pressurized concentrate source to a mixing chamber without using a metering pump, to a system using a metering pump, without converting the pressurized concentrate source to a vented source comprising:

• (a) connecting said concentrate source as the inlet to a positive displacement metering pump having check valves;
• (b) connecting an outlet line from said metering pump to a mixing chamber;
• and
• (c) pressurizing said outlet line to the pressure of the inlet line plus an additional pressure sufficient to prevent "blow-thru" of pressurized concentrate through said check valves of said pump, said pressurizing step comprising placing a valve in said outlet line, applying inlet line pressure to said valve in a direction urging it closed, applying outlet line pressure to said valve in a direction urging it open, and applying an additional biasing force against said valve in a direction urging said valve closed.

A post-mix soft drink dispensing system comprising:

• (a) a source of pressurized concentrate;
• (b) a positive displacement concentrate metering pump including check valves for controlling the flow therethrough;
• (c) a mixing chamber;
• (d) an inlet line from said source to an inlet of said pump;
• (e) an outlet line from an outlet of said pump to said mixing chamber;
• and
• (f) a pressure control device associated with said pump for pressurizing said oulet line of said pump with the pressure of said inlet line plus an additional pressure, said device including a valve in said outlet line, means for applying inlet line pressure to said valve urging it closed, means for applying outlet line pressure to said valve urging it open, and means for applying an additional biasing force against said valve urging it closed.

A method for dispensing a post-mix beverage comprising:

• (a) providing a positive displacement, concentrate metering pump having check valves for controlling the flow of concentrate therethrough from an inlet line connected to said pump to an outlet line connected to said pump;
• (b) connecting said inlet line to a source of pressurized concentrate to be used in dispensing a beverage, said concentrate being in a rigid container under the pressure of a pressurizing gas;
• and
• (c) pressurizing said outlet line of said pump to the pressure of said pressurizing gas plus an additional pressure, to prevent said pressurized concentrate from blowing through said check valves, said pressurizing step comprising placing a valve in said outlet line, applying said pressurized gas to said valve in a direction urging it closed, applying outlet line pressure to said valve in a direction urging it open, and applying an additional biasing force against said valve in a direction urging said valve closed.

A method for dispensing a post-mix beverage comprising:

• (a) providing a positive displacement, concentrate metering pump having check valves for controlling the flow of concentrate therethrough from an inlet line connected to said pump to an outlet line connected to said pump;
• (b) connecting said inlet line to a source of pressurized concentrate to be used in dispensing a beverage, said concentrate being in a rigid container under the pressure of a pressurizing gas;
• (c) pressurizing said outlet line of said pump to the pressure of said pressurizing gas plus an additional pressure, to prevent said pressurized concentrate from blowing through said check valves;
• and
• (d) said pressurizing step comprising placing a poppet valve in said outlet line, applying said pressurized gas to said valve in a direction urging it closed, applying outlet line pressure to said valve in a direction urging it open, and applying a biasing spring force against said valve in a direction urging said valve closed.

A post-mix beverage dispenser apparatus comprising:

• (a) a water line connected to a mixing chamber having a dispensing nozzle;
• (b) a concentrate bag in a rigid container under pressure of a pressurizing gas;
• (c) a concentrate line connecting said bag to said mixing chamber;
• (d) a positive displacement, concentrate metering pump in said concentrate line and having an inlet concentrate line from said bag to said pump and an outlet concentrate line from said pump to said mixing chamber, and said pump having check valves to control the flow of concentrate therethrough;
• and
• (e) means for pressurizing the outlet line from said pump with the pressure of said pressurizing gas plus an additional pressure, said pressurizing means including a valve in said outlet line, means for applying said pressurizing gas to said valve urging it closed, means for applyng outlet line pressure to said valve urging it open, and means for applying an an additional biasing force against said valve urging it closed.

A post-mix beverage dispenser apparatus comprising:

• (a) a water line connected to a mixing chamber having a dispensing nozzle;
• (b) a concentrate bag in a rigid container under pressure of a pressurizing gas;
• (c) a concentrate line connecting said bag to said mixing chamber;
• (d) a positive displacement, concentrate metering pump in said concentrate line and having an inlet concentrate line from said bag to said pump and an outlet concentrate line from said pump to said mixing chamber, and said pump having check valves to control the flow of concentrate therethrough;
• (e) means for pressurizing the outlet line from said pump with the pressure of said pressurizing gas plus an additional pressure;
• and
• (f) said pressurizing means including a poppet valve in said outlet line, means for applying said pressurizing gas to said poppet valve urging it closed, means for applying outlet line pressure to said poppet valve urging it open, and means for applying a biasing spring force against said poppet valve urging it closed.

A method for converting a post-mix juice dispensing system that feeds concentrate from a pressurized concentrate source to a mixing chamber without using a metering pump, to a system using a metering pump, without converting the pressurized concentrate source to a vented source comprising:

• (a) connecting said concentrate source as the inlet to a positive displacement metering pump having check valves;
• (b) connecting an outlet line from said metering pump to a mixing chamber;
• and
• (c) pressurizing said outlet line to the pressure of the pressurized concentrate source plus an additional pressure sufficient to prevent "blow-thru" of pressurized concentrate through said check valves of said pump, said pressurizing step comprising placing a valve in said outlet line, applying said pressurized concentrate pressure to said valve in a direction urging it closed, applying outlet line pressure to said valve in a direction urging it open, and applying an additional biasing force against said valve in a direction urging said valve closed.

A post-mix soft drink dispensing system comprising:

• (a) a source of pressurized concentrate;
• (b) a positive displacment concentrate metering pump including check valves for controlling the flow therethrough;
• (c) a mixing chamber;
• (d) an inlet line from said source to an inlet of said pump;
• (e) an outline line from an outlet of said pump to said mixing chamber;
• and
• (f) a pressure control device associated with said pump for pressurizing said outlet line of said pump with the pressure of said source of pressurized concentrate plus an additional pressure, said device including a valve in said outlet line, means for applying inlet line pressure to said valve urging it closed, means for applying outlet line pressure to said valve urging it open, and means for applying an additional biasing force against said valve urging it closed.