US 9,753,464 B2 · Concentrate level sensing

Abstract

A beverage system includes a pump that draws a set amount of a flavored concentrate into a mixing chamber through a conduit for mixing with water to form a beverage. A sensor detects when the amount of the flavored concentrate in the conduit is low or the amount of the flavored concentrate in a concentrate container is low or out. The sensor includes two wings each including a recessed surface that together define a circular space. A portion of the conduit is received in the circular space. Each of the wings includes an ultrasonic portion that emits ultrasonic waves that are non-intrusive. When the amount of flavored concentrate in the conduit is low, air bubbles are generated in the flow of the flavored concentrate as it flows along the conduit and/or a vacuum is created in the conduit to draw the conduit away from the recessed surfaces. The ultrasonic waves detect either of these two features, indicating that the amount of the flavored concentrate is low.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A concentrate system comprising:

a fluid conduit, wherein concentrate flows from a concentrate container to a pump along the fluid conduit, and the pump controls a flow of the concentrate into a mixing chamber;
a locking mechanism that secures a first component of the pump and a second component of the pump together;
an ultrasonic sensor that generates ultrasonic waves to detect the concentrate in the fluid conduit and to detect when an amount of the concentrate in the fluid conduit is below a threshold value;
and
a controller that shuts down the pump when the ultrasonic sensor detects that the amount of the concentrate in the fluid conduit is below the threshold value.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Concentrate level sensing

Life of this patent

Concentrate level sensing

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15