Brewed iced tea or non-carbonated drink dispenser

A beverage dispensing apparatus comprising:

• a dispensing device;
• a reservoir containing concentrate;
• a concentrate pump distributing the concentrate;
• a sensor that senses a depleted condition of said reservoir, said concentrate pump drawing the concentrate from said reservoir through said sensor;
• and
• at least one valve distributing diluent,
• wherein said at least one diluent valve and said concentrate pump distribute the diluent and concentrate, respectively, into said dispensing device to form a mixture that is dispensed from said dispensing device, and
• wherein said sensor comprises:
• a chamber;
• an electrode assembly provided in said chamber;
• an inlet port provided in said chamber;
• an equalizing port provided in said chamber at an elevation no lower than an elevation of said inlet port;
• and
• an outlet port provided in said chamber at an elevation that is lower than the elevation corresponding to said inlet port.

A beverage dispensing apparatus comprising:

• a dispensing device;
• a concentrate pump distributing concentrate;
• at least one valve distributing diluent;
• a hot water tank;
• a heating source in said hot water tank that heats water in said hot water tank as a diluent, said at least one diluent valve distributing hot water from said hot water tank;
• and
• an air ejector assembly that removes air from hot water distributed by said at least one diluent valve,
• wherein said at least one diluent valve and said concentrate pump distribute the diluent and concentrate, respectively, into said dispensing device to form a mixture that is dispensed from said dispensing device, and
• wherein said air ejector assembly comprises:
• a liquid chamber;
• an inlet provided in said chamber;
• and
• an outlet provided in said chamber,
• wherein said outlet is provided in said chamber at a lower elevation than said inlet,
• wherein the hot water enters said chamber through said inlet and exits said chamber through said outlet, and
• wherein air in the hot water separates from the hot water and rises to an upper portion of said chamber.

Beverage dispensing apparatus comprising:

• a dispensing device;
• at least one valve distributing diluent;
• a concentrate pump distributing concentrate, said at least one diluent valve and said concentrate pump distribute the diluent and concentrate, respectively, into said dispensing device to form a mixture that is dispensed from said dispensing device,
• a hot water tank;
• a heating source that heats water in said hot water tank as a diluent, said at least one diluent valve distributing hot water from said hot water tank;
• an air ejector assembly that removes air from the hot water distributed by said at least one diluent valve;
• and
• a controller that controls said air ejector assembly to automatically drain hot water from said air ejector assembly through said dispensing device at predetermined intervals.

A dispensing device, comprising:

• a mixing chamber having at least two fluid inlet ports and an exit, said at least two inlet ports comprise a first inlet located at a rear entrance of said mixing chamber, and a second inlet located between said first inlet and said exit, said mixing chamber for mixing hot and cold water as diluents and a concentrate;
• and
• a dispensing nozzle provided at said exit of said mixing chamber for dispensing a mixture of the diluents and concentrate,
• wherein the hot water, the concentrate, and cold water are distributed into said mixing chamber through at least said first and second inlets.

A beverage dispensing apparatus, comprising:

• dispensing means for dispensing a beverage;
• a fluid source containing concentrate;
• concentrate distributing means for distributing the concentrate;
• sensor means for detecting when the concentrate in said fluid source is depleted, said concentrate distributing means drawing the concentrate from said fluid source through said sensor means;
• at least one diluent distributing means for distributing diluent;
• heating means for heating water and forming hot water as a diluent, said at least one diluent distributing means distributing the heated hot water;
• air ejector means that removes air from hot water distributed by said at least one diluent distributing means;
• and
• control means for (a) controlling said at least one diluent distributing means and said concentrate distributing means to respectively control distribution of diluent and the concentrate, (b) controlling said sensor means to detect when the concentrate in said fluid source is depleted, and (c) controlling said heating means to heat the water,
• wherein said at least one diluent distributing means and said concentrate distributing means distribute the diluent and concentrate, respectively, into said dispensing means to form a mixture that is dispensed from said dispensing means.