# US 5,350,086 A · Ice chest beverage dispenser having a pre-chill coil

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- Number: US 5,350,086 A
- Document ID: US5350086A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/169,180
- Filed: 1993-12-20
- Granted: 1994-09-27
- Earliest claimed: 1993-01-15
- Assignees: Wilshire Partners
- Inventors: Herman H. Martin; Michael S. Long
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5350086A

## CPC

- F25D 3/005: {combined with heat exchangers}
- B67D 1/0857: {Cooling arrangements (cooling systems per se F25B)}
- B67D 1/0862: {in the form of a cold plate or a cooling block}
- F25D 3/02: using ice, e.g. ice-boxes
- F28F 13/00: Arrangements for modifying heat-transfer, e.g. increasing, decreasing (F28F1/00 - F28F11/00 take precedence)
- F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B)
- B67D: DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes B08B9/02; emptying or filling of bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels, or similar containers, not otherwise provided for B67C; water supply E03; pipe systems F17D; domestic hot-water supply systems F24D; measuring volume, volume flow, mass flow or liquid level, metering by volume G01F; coin-freed or like apparatus G07F)
- F28F: DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION (water and air traps, air venting F16)

## Abstract

An ice chest-type soft drink dispenser containing a body of ice in contact with a cold plate at the bottom thereof. The cold plate contains syrup and carbonated water tubes through which syrup and carbonated water passes, respectively. A pre-chill coil of a plurality of turns of tubing embedded in an aluminum body is provided, separate from the cold plate and the tubing is in fluid communication with the carbonated water tube and a source of carbonated water.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An improvement in a beverage dispensing comprising a source of carbonated water; at least one source of flavored syrup; an ice chest adapted to contain a body of ice having a bottom, four side walls and a top, said bottom comprising a cold plate; said cold plate containing syrup tubes through which syrup passes; and at least one carbonated water tube through which said carbonated water passes; at least one beverage dispensing valve adapted to receive carbonated water and syrup from said cold plate and dispense a mixture of said carbonated water and syrup; the improvement comprising: a pre-chill coil comprised of a plurality of turns of tubing embedded within an aluminum body, separate from said cold plate, said pre-chill coil comprising four interconnected generally linear segments, said four segments general adjacent said ice chest side walls, said pre-chill coil in fluid communication with said source of carbonated water and said cold plate carbonated water tube.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The improvement of claim 1 wherein said aluminum body has a generally uniform cross-section comprising a generally vertical outer surface, a generally vertical inner surface, a bottom surface comprising a segment sloping upwardly over a portion of the distance from said outer surface to said inner surface and a top surface.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The improvement of claim 2 wherein said aluminum body top surface comprises a segment sloping downwardly over a portion of the distance from said outer surface to said inner surface.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The improvement of claim 3 wherein said bottom surface additional comprises a horizontal surface adapted to rest upon a horizontal surface of said cold plate.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The improvement of claim 4 wherein said cold plate comprises a raised lip around it's entire periphery, said raised lip having a horizontal upper surface, said lip upper surface supporting said aluminum body.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The improvement of claim 4 wherein said bottom surface additionally comprises a downwardly extending vertical flange adapted to closely surround said cold plate whereby said pre-chill coil is locked in place.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The improvement of claim 1 wherein said cold plate has an ice receiving surface and a peripheral lip surrounding said surface; and, the pre-chill coil does not obstruct said ice receiving surface whereby said ice receiving surface is adapted to be in contact with ice over it entire surface.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The improvement of claim 1 wherein said pre-chill coil has a downwardly inwardly sloping top surface whereby ice in said ice chest will slide past said pre-chill coil.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The improvement of claim 1 wherein said pre-chill coil is thermally isolated from said cold plate.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The improvement of claim 9 wherein said cold plate is provided with a raised peripheral lip having a horizontal top surface of relatively small area and said pre-chill coil is provided with a lower horizontal surface of relatively small area resting on said cold plate lip, whereby a small area of contact between said cold plate and said pre-chill coil is provided and provides said thermal isolation.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The improvement of claim 10 whereby a body of elastomeric sealant is positioned between said lip top surface and said pre-chill coil lower surface, adding to said thermal isolation.

### Claim 12

A beverage dispenser comprising a source of carbonated water; at least one source of flavored syrup; an ice chest adapted to contain a body of ice within an ice chamber having a bottom, four side walls and a top; a cold plate forming said ice chest bottom, said cold plate comprising a first distinct body of aluminum having a plurality of tubes adapted to convey liquid embedded therein and a generally flat upper ice bearing surface, a plurality of said tubes adapted to receive flavored syrup from said source of flavored syrup; at least one beverage dispensing valve adapted to receive carbonated water and syrup from said cold plate and dispense a mixture of said carbonated water and syrup; a pre-chill coil comprised of a plurality of turns of tubing embedded in a second distinct body of aluminum, said pre-chill coil comprising four interconnected generally linear segments generally adjacent said ice chest side walls, said pre-chill coil adapted to receive carbonated water from said source of carbonated water and deliver carbonated water to said cold plate, said pre-chill coil being thermally isolated from said cold plate.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The beverage dispenser of claim 12 wherein said pre-chill coil has a lower bearing surface adapted to rest upon said cold plate and said lower bearing surface has a relatively small total area whereby said pre-chill coil is thermally isolated from said cold plate.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The dispenser of claim 13 including a body of elastomeric sealant between said cold plate and said pre-chill coil.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The dispenser of claim 12 wherein said pre-chill coil includes a locking means to fix the position of said pre-chill coil with respect to said cold plate.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The dispenser of claim 15 wherein said locking means comprises a downwardly extending flange engaging said cold plate.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The dispenser of claim 12 wherein said ice chamber has a generally uniform horizontal cross-section, said cross-section being reduced by a portion of said pre-chill coil and said cross section being larger than said reduced portion below said reduced portion.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The dispenser of claim 17 wherein said pre-chill coil has a generally uniform vertical cross-section including a relatively thick central portion and a relatively thin lower portion.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The dispenser of claim 18 wherein said pre-chill coil has a generally flat vertical outer wall and an inner wall comprising a generally downwardly inwardly sloping upper segment, a generally flat vertical central segment and a generally downwardly outwardly sloping lower segment.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The dispenser of claim 19 wherein said pre-chill coil has a lower bearing surface adapted to rest upon said cold plate and lower bearing surface has a relatively small total area, said lower bearing surface being disposed below said downwardly outwardly sloping segment.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The dispenser of claim 20 wherein said pre-chill coil additionally comprises a downwardly extending flange adapted to engage said cold plate, said flange being disposed below said lower bearing surface.

### Claim 22

An improvement in a beverage dispensing comprising a source of diluent; at least one source of flavored syrup; an ice chest adapted to contain a body of ice having a bottom, four side walls and a top, said bottom comprising a cold plate; said cold plate containing syrup tubes through which syrup passes; and at least one diluent tube through which said diluent passes; at least one beverage dispensing valve adapted to receive diluent and syrup from said cold plate and dispense a mixture of said diluent and syrup; the improvement comprising: a pre-chill coil comprised of a plurality of turns of tubing embedded within an aluminum body, separate from said cold plate, said pre-chill coil comprising four interconnected generally linear segments, said four segments general adjacent said ice chest side walls, said pre-chill coil in fluid communication with said source of diluent and said cold plate diluent tube.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The improvement of claim 22 wherein said aluminum body has a generally uniform cross-section comprising a generally vertical outer surface, a generally vertical inner surface, a bottom surface comprising a segment sloping upwardly over a portion of the distance from said outer surface to said inner surface and a top surface.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The improvement of claim 23 where in said aluminum body top surface comprises a segment sloping downwardly over a portion of the distance from said outer surface to said inner surface.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The improvement of claim 24 wherein said bottom surface additional comprises a horizontal surface adapted to rest upon a horizontal surface of said cold plate.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The improvement of claim 25 wherein said cold plate comprises a raised lip around it's entire periphery, said raised lip having a horizontal upper surface, said lip upper surface supporting said aluminum body.

### Claim 27 (depends on 25)

The improvement of claim 25 wherein said bottom surface additionally comprises a downwardly extending vertical flange adapted to a closely surround said cold plate whereby said pre-chill coil is locked in place.

### Claim 28 (depends on 22)

The improvement of claim 22 wherein said cold plate has an ice receiving surface and a peripheral lip surrounding said surface; and, the pre-chill coil does not obstruct said ice receiving surface whereby said ice receiving surface is adapted to be in contact with ice over it entire surface.

### Claim 29 (depends on 22)

The improvement of claim 22 wherein said pre-chill coil has a downwardly inwardly sloping top surface whereby ice in said ice chest will slide past said pre-chill coil.

### Claim 30 (depends on 22)

The improvement of claim 22 wherein said pre-chill coil is thermally isolated from said cold plate.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The improvement of claim 30 wherein said cold plate is provided with a raised peripheral lip having a horizontal top surface of relatively small area and said pre-chill coil is provided with a lower horizontal surface of relatively small area resting on said cold plate lip, whereby a small area of contact between said cold plate and said pre-chill coil is provided and provides said thermal isolation.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The improvement of claim 31 whereby a body of elastomeric sealant is positioned between said lip top surface and said pre-chill coil lower surface, adding to said thermal isolation.

### Claim 33 (depends on 22)

The improvement of claim 22 wherein said pre-chill coil is in fluid communication with a carbonator which is, in turn, in fluid communication with said cold plate diluent tube.

### Claim 34

An improvement in a beverage dispensing comprising a source of diluent; at least one source of flavored syrup; an ice chest adapted to contain a body of ice having a bottom, four side walls and a top, said bottom comprising a cold plate; said cold plate containing syrup tubes through which syrup passes; and at least one diluent tube through which said diluent passes; at least one beverage dispensing valve adapted to receive diluent and syrup from said cold plate and dispense a mixture of said diluent and syrup; the improvement comprising: a pre-chill coil comprised of a plurality of turns of tubing embedded within an aluminum body, separate from said cold plate, said pre-chill coil comprising four interconnected generally linear segments, said four segments general adjacent said ice chest side walls, said pre-chill coil in fluid communication with said source of diluent and a carbonator, said carbonator in fluid communication with said cold plate diluent tube.

### Claim 35

An improvement in a beverage dispenser comprising a source of diluent; at least one source of flavored syrup; an ice chest adapted to contain a body of ice having a bottom, at least three side walls and a top, said bottom comprising a cold plate; said cold plate containing syrup tubes through which syrup passes; and at least one diluent tube through which said diluent passes; at least one beverage dispensing valve adapted to receive diluent and syrup from said cold plate and dispense a mixture of said diluent and syrup; the improvement comprising: pre-chill means for pre-chilling said diluent, said pre-chill means being thermally isolated from said cold plate.

### Claim 36 (depends on 35)

The improvement of claim 35, wherein said pre-chill means is cooled by contact with said body of ice.

### Claim 37 (depends on 36)

The improvement of claim 36, wherein said pre-chill means is adapted to pre-chill said syrup.

### Claim 38 (depends on 35)

The improvement of claim 35, wherein said pre-chill means is disposed within at least one of the walls of said ice chest.

### Claim 39 (depends on 37)

The improvement of claim 37, wherein said pre-chill means comprises at least one segment of tubing disposed within at least one of said ice chest side walls and in fluid connection with said source of syrup and said cold plate and at least one segment of tubing disposed within at least one of said ice chest side walls and in fluid connection with said source of diluent and said cold plate.

### Claim 40 (depends on 39)

The improvement of claim 39, wherein said segment of tubing is embedded within a body of aluminum.

### Claim 41 (depends on 35)

The improvement of claim 35, wherein said pre-chill means comprises a pre-chill coil comprised of a plurality of turns of tubing embedded within an aluminum body, separate from said cold plate, said tubing generally adjacent at least one of said ice chest side walls.

### Claim 42 (depends on 41)

The improvement of claim 41, wherein said pre-chill coil is in fluid communication with said source of diluent and a carbonator, said carbonator in fluid communication with said cold plate diluent tube.

### Claim 43

A beverage dispenser comprising an ice chest adapted to contain a body of ice having a bottom, at least three side walls and a top; a source of diluent; at least one source of flavored syrup; at least one beverage dispensing valve adapted to received said diluent and said syrup and dispense a mixture of said diluent and syrup; a chilling means for chilling said diluent, said chilling means fluidly connected between said diluent source and said at least one dispensing valve; and a pre-chill means thermally isolated from said chilling means for pre-chilling said diluent, said pre-chilling means fluidly connected between said chilling means and said diluent source.

### Claim 44 (depends on 43)

A beverage dispenser according to claim 43, wherein said cold plate and said pre-chill means are in thermal contact with said body of ice.

### Claim 45 (depends on 43)

A beverage dispenser according to claim 43, in which said pre-chill means and said chilling means are disposed within said ice chest.

### Claim 46 (depends on 43)

A beverage dispenser according to claim 43, wherein said chilling means is adapted to chill said diluent and said syrup.