In-home drink dispenser
AssigneeCadbury Schweppes, PLC
InventorEdward L. Jeans
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A post mix in-home carbonated drink dispenser has a novel expansion chamber and an anti-surge valve. The expansion chamber is a gradually expanding chamber which reduces carbonation loss as the carbonated liquid passes from the carbonator to the point where the liquid is discharged. The anti-surge valve, which is provided between the carbonator and the expansion chamber is designed to reduce the spitting and sputtering often experienced on start-up of a drink dispenser. The dispensing valve for carbonated water is part of the carbonator and not the dispensing head. This means that no carbonated water exists outside the carbonator. In addition, the dispenser is provided with a thin gas cylinder connecting probe which provides for a simple and easy to use CO.sub.2 cylinder connection.
Claims47
In a post mix drink dispenser including a source of diluent under pressure, a dispensing outlet having a cross section for dispensing said diluent and a dispensing valve between said dispensing outlet and said source, the improvement comprising, an expansion chamber having a curved path and being disposed between said source and said dispensing outlet and which has an inlet of narrow cross section and an outlet of a cross section sized similarly to said cross section of said dispensing outlet, the cross section of said expansion chamber gradually increasing between said inlet and said outlet.
In a post mix drink dispenser including a source of concentrate;
- a concentrate valve;
- a carbonator tank containing diluent under pressure, a dispensing spout having an outlet for dispensing said diluent into a container and a dispensing valve between said dispensing outlet and said source, the improvement comprising:
- (a) said dispensing valve mounted to the outlet of the carbonator tank and having an inlet coupled to a fitting extending through the wall of said tank;
- and
- (b) said dispensing valve comprising:
- (i) valve body containing therein a bore open on one end and closed at the other, said tank fitting opening into said bore;
- (ii) a shuttle supported for movement in said bore, said shuttle having formed therein a passage with an axial outlet and an inlet opening;
- (iii) means biasing said shuttle axially outwardly;
- (iv) stop means for limiting the axial outward movement of said shuttle, such that by pushing said shuttle inwardly, against said biasing means, said inlet can be coupled with said tank fitting to permit flow through said shuttle and out said outlet.
In a carbonated drink dispenser, a mating assembly for connecting a removable carbonation tank to said carbonated drink dispenser comprising:
- a) a first assembly,
- i) being attached to said carbonating tank, and
- ii) having a cylindrical fitting, and a tapered bore;
- and
- b) a second assembly,
- i) being attached to said carbonated drink dispenser, and
- ii) having
- a projecting member adapted to mate with said tapered bore,
- a tubular valve adapted to mate with said cylindrical fitting, and having an opened state and a closed state, and
- a locking mechanism having an unlocked state and a locked state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.