Beverage dispenser valve with controllable flow rate
AssigneeThe Coca-Cola Company
InventorWilliam S. Credle, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A postmix valve for a beverage dispenser, including a volumetric ratio control device incorporated therein to provide positive ratio control. The device includes a syrup piston and a soda piston linked together, syrup and soda chambers, and valve means for controlling the flow to and from the chambers. The soda pressure drives the pistons. The valve means preferably includes four solenoid valves for the water circuit and four one-way valves and a pressure regulator for the syrup circuit. The valve includes means for varying the total flow rate of the beverage being dispensed.
Claims4
A beverage dispensing valve for mixing together a quantity of water and concentrate and for dispensing the mixture therefrom comprising:
- (a) a dispensing valve body including first and second liquid passageways extending therethrough, said first passageway being for water and said second passageway being for concentrate;
- (b) a nozzle connected to said body and including means for mixing water and concentrate together and for dispensing the mixture therefrom;
- (c) means for controlling the ratio of water to concentrate fed to said nozzle;
- (d) first valve means for controlling the flow through said first passageway;
- (e) second valve means for controlling flow through said second passageway;
- (f) a switch for starting and stopping the dispense function of said beverage dispensing valve;
- and
- (g) means for varying the total flow rate of beverage from said nozzle while said beverage dispensing valve maintains a constant ratio of water to concentrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.