US 5,381,926 A · Beverage dispensing value and method

Abstract

A post-mix beverage dispensing valve for dispensing syrup and soda in the desired ratio without the need for flow controls for periodic adjustment of the ratio. The valve includes a flow meter for measuring the flow rate of the soda and a pump for dispensing metered quantities of syrup. The pump preferably includes a chamber within a ceramic sleeve having first and second distal ends and a double-acting ceramic piston mounted for reciprocating sliding movement within the sleeve. A solenoid valve control system including a pair of solenoid valves controls syrup flow through the pump, in response to signals from the flow meter. The valve preferably also includes a syrup flow regulator. The valve can include a single externally manually adjustable flow rate control to vary the dispensing flow rate to any desired value.

Claims52

Dependent claims

An apparatus for supplying metered volumes of concentrate and diluent in controlled proportions to a mixing station in a beverage dispenser to produce a post-mix beverage comprising:

a first conduit for accommodating a flow of diluent to the dispenser;
a second conduit for accommodating a flow of concentrate to the dispenser;
flow meter means for measuring a flow rate of diluent in the first conduit and determining a quantity of diluent flowing over a given time interval;
pump means in liquid communication with said second conduit for injecting metered quantities of concentrate into said diluent at said mixing station, said pump means including,
a chamber defined by a sleeve of ceramic material, said chamber having first and second distal ends, and
a double acting piston formed of ceramic material mounted for reciprocating sliding movement within said sleeve between the distal ends, said sleeve and piston being in close contact and being devoid of any sealing gaskets therebetween;
a pair of inlet passages connecting the second conduit to said chamber on both sides of said piston to apply fluid pressure from said concentrate to opposite sides of said piston;
a pair of outlet passages connecting said chamber to said mixing station;
first valve means operatively connected in one of said pair of inlet passages for permitting the flow of concentrate to said chamber on one side of said piston when in a first position and stopping the flow thereto when in a second position, said second valve means when in said second position also connecting the chamber on said one side of said piston to said mixing station through one of said outlet passages;
second valve means in the other one of said pair of inlet passages for permitting the flow of concentrate to the chamber on the other side of said piston when in a first position and stopping the flow thereto when in a second position, said second valve means when in said second position also connecting the chamber on said other side of said piston to said mixing station through one of said outlet passages;
and
control means operatively connected to said flow meter means and said first and second valve means for alternately activating said first and second valve means to opposite ones of said first and second positions in response to the measurement of a quantity of diluent flow of a predetermined value, to thereby alternately direct said concentrate to opposite sides of said piston to thereby slide said piston in said chamber from one distal end to the other each time the flow meter measures said predetermined value of the quantity of said diluent;
whereby a fixed volume of concentrate from said chamber is injected into the mixing station and mixed with each quantity of diluent of said predetermined value.

10 more elements

An apparatus for supplying metered volumes of concentrate and diluent in controlled proportions to a mixing station in a beverage dispenser to produce a post-mix beverage comprising:

a first conduit for accommodating a flow of diluent to the dispenser;
a second conduit for accommodating a flow of concentrate to the dispenser;
flow meter means for measuring a flow rate of diluent in the first conduit and determining a quantity of diluent flowing over a given time interval;
pump means in liquid communication with said second conduit for injecting metered quantities of concentrate into said diluent at said mixing station, said pump means including,
a chamber defined by a sleeve, said chamber having first and second distal ends, and
a double acting piston mounted for reciprocating sliding movement within said sleeve between the distal ends;
a pair of inlet passages connecting the second conduit to said chamber on both sides of said piston to apply fluid pressure from said concentrate to opposite sides of said piston;
a pair of outlet passages connecting said chamber to said mixing station;
first valve means operatively connected in one of said pair of inlet passages for permitting the flow of concentrate to said chamber on one side of said piston when in a first position and stopping the flow thereto when in a second position, said second valve means when in said second position also connecting the chamber on said one side of said piston to said mixing station through one of said outlet passages;
second valve memos in the other one of said pair of inlet passages for permitting the flow of concentrate to the chamber on the other side of said piston when in a first position and stopping the flow thereto when in a second position, said second valve means when in said second position also connecting the chamber on said other side of said piston to said mixing station through one of said outlet passages;
and
control means operatively connected to said flow meter means and said first and second valve means for alternately activating said first and second valve means to opposite ones of said first and second positions in response to the measurement of a quantity of diluent flow of a predetermined value, to thereby alternately direct said concentrate to opposite sides of said piston to thereby slide said piston in said chamber from one distal end to the other thereof each time the flow meter measures said predetermined value of quantity of said diluent;
whereby a fixed volume of concentrate from said chamber is injected into the mixing station and mixed with each quantity of diluent of said predetermined value.

10 more elements

An apparatus for supplying metered volumes of concentrate and diluent in controlled proportions to a mixing station in a beverage dispenser to produce a post-mix beverage comprising:

a first conduit for accommodating a flow of diluent to the dispenser;
a second conduit for accommodating a flow of concentrate to the dispenser;
flow meter means for measuring a flow rate of diluent in the first conduit and determining a quantity of diluent flowing over a given time interval;
pump means in liquid communication with said second conduit for injecting metered quantities of concentrate into said diluent at said mixing station, said pump means including,
a chamber defined by a sleeve of ceramic material, said chamber having first and second distal ends, and
a double acting piston formed of ceramic material mounted for reciprocating sliding movement within said sleeve between the distal ends, said sleeve and piston being in close contact and being devoid of any sealing gaskets therebetween;
and
valve means for alternately directing concentrate from said second conduit into the chamber on opposite sides of said piston in response to measurement by said flow meter of a quantity of diluent flow of a predetermined value, to thereby alternately slide said piston in said chamber from one distal end to the other each time the predetermined value is measured, and alternately dispensing concentrate from said chamber to said mixing station from the other side of the piston from which concentrate is being directed;
whereby a fixed volume of concentrate from said chamber is injected into the mixing station and mixed with each quantity of diluent of said predetermined value.

6 more elements

An apparatus for supplying metered volumes of concentrate and diluent in controlled proportions to a mixing station in a beverage dispenser to produce a post-mix beverage comprising:

a first conduit for accommodating a flow of diluent to the dispenser;
a second conduit for accommodating a flow of concentrate to the dispenser;
flow meter means for measuring a flow rate of diluent in the first conduit and determining a quantity of diluent flowing over a given time interval;
pump means in liquid communication with said second conduit for injecting metered quantities of concentrate into said diluent at said mixing station, said pump means including,
a chamber defined by a sleeve, said chamber having first and second distal ends, and
a double acting piston mounted for reciprocating sliding movement within said sleeve between the distal ends;
and
valve means for alternately directing concentrate from said second conduit into the chamber on opposite sides of said piston in response to measurement by said flow meter of a quantity of diluent flow of a predetermined value, to thereby alternately slide said piston in said chamber from one distal end to the other each time the predetermined value is measured, and alternately dispensing concentrate from said chamber to said mixing station from the other side of the piston from which concentrate is being directed;
whereby a fixed volume of concentrate from said chamber is injected into the mixing station and mixed with each quantity of diluent of said predetermined value.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Beverage dispensing value and method

Life of this patent

Beverage dispensing value and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims52