Back to results
US 5,538,160 AGranted
Postmix beverage dispenser with water boost
AssigneeThe Coca-Cola Company
InventorLawrence B. Ziesel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A water boost for a postmix beverage dispensing system in which the water pump for the carbonator is used to also pump water into the water boost tank by the use of a three-way solenoid valve and a control circuit.
Claims4
A postmix dispensing system including:
- (a) a postmix dispenser;
- (b) a water line connected to said dispenser for feeding water to said dispenser;
- (c) a water pump connected in said water line;
- (d) a carbonator tank and a carbonated water line connected between said carbonator tank and said dispenser for feeding carbonated water to said dispenser;
- (e) an air bladder water boost tank and a still water line connected between said boost tank and said dispenser for feeding still water to said dispenser;
- (f) a pressure switch for sensing the pressure of still water fed from said boost tank to said dispenser;
- (g) a carbonator level switch for sensing the level of water in said carbonator;
- (h) a three-way solenoid valve having an inlet port connected to said water line, a carbonator outlet port connected to said carbonator tank and a water boost tank outlet port connected to said water boost tank, said valve having a first position in which it is open between said pump and carbonator tank and closed between said pump and boost tank and a second position the reverse of the first position, said valve being normally in said first position;
- (i) an electrical control circuit for switching said three-way valve from its first to its second position to feed water to said boost tank when said pressure switch senses a pressure below a predetermined value and for switching said valve back to its first position the pressure sensed by said pressure switch reaches a predetermined higher pressure, and for turning on said pump when said level switch senses a predetermined low water level in said carbonator tank to feed water thereto and for turning off said pump when said level switch senses a predetermined higher level.
6 more elements
A method for providing a still water boost for a postmix dispenser system including a carbonator having a water pump and a carbonator tank and a water line therebetween comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a three-way valve in said water line between said pump and said carbonator tank, said valve being normally open therebetween;
- (b) providing an air bladder water boost tank in a water line from said valve to said dispenser;
- (c) turning on said pump when said carbonator tank calls for water;
- and
- (d) switching said three-way valve and turning on said pump when the water pressure from said boost tank falls below a predetermined value, thereby feeding water to said boost tank.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.