US 5,487,493 A · Frozen beverage dispensing apparatus

Abstract

Improved frozen beverage dispensing apparatus includes a latch member for inhibiting operation of the dispensing apparatus when the apparatus is in a defrost cycle. The apparatus includes a container for storing a beverage under pressure in at least a partially frozen state, a normally closed dispensing valve mounted with the container and a manually operable lever for operating the dispensing valve. The dispensing valve has a longitudinal bore communicating with the interior of the container. A defrost relay operates a solenoid at the onset of the defrost cycle to move the latch member into engagement with the lever. When the defrost cycle has been completed, the solenoid disengages the latching member from the lever so that the lever can be operated to open the dispensing valve. A faucet member extends downwardly from the dispensing valve. The faucet member includes a diffusion member for diffusing the frozen beverage passing through the faucet member generally outwardly from a central axis of the faucet member and downwardly. In one embodiment, the diffusion member is a diffusion valve which is biased toward a closed position to prevent passage of the frozen beverage through the faucet member when the dispensing valve is closed.

Claims22

Dependent claims

Apparatus for dispensing material in at least a partially frozen state, said apparatus having a container for storing the material under pressure and a valve mounted with the container for controlling the dispensing of the material, said valve including a valve body with a bore communicating with the interior of the container, closure means disposed in the bore and being adapted to close the bore to prevent the material from passing therethrough when the closure means is in a first position, and actuating means for moving the closure means to a second position whereby the material is allowed to pass through the bore, the closure means being normally in said first position, a portion of the actuating means being external to the valve body, the improvement comprising securing means for automatically engaging said external portion of said actuating means in response to a predetermined condition to prevent said actuating means from being able to move said closure means to said second position, whereby said closure means is secured in said first position to prevent the material from being dispensed.

Apparatus for dispensing material in at least a partially frozen state, said apparatus comprising:

a container for storing the material under pressure;
a valve mounted with said container for controlling the dispensing of the material, said valve having a valve body with a bore communicating with the interior of said container, closure means disposed in said bore and being adapted to close the bore to prevent the material from passing therethrough when the closure means is in a first position, and actuating means for moving said closure means to a second position, whereby the material is allowed to pass through the bore, said closure means being normally in said first position;
and
diffusion means mounted with said valve body, said diffusion means having a conduit with an internal passageway communicating with said bore, the material being allowed to pass through said bore for being dispensed through said conduit when said closure means is in said second position, said diffusion means further including a diffusion member for diffusing the material generally outwardly from a central longitudinal axis of said conduit and downwardly, the central longitudinal axis of said conduit being oriented generally transversely relative to a longitudinal axis of said bore.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Frozen beverage dispensing apparatus

Life of this patent

Frozen beverage dispensing apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22