US3009337A

US3009337A - Drink dispenser

Info

Publication number: US3009337A
Application number: US683758A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herman K Johnson
Original assignee: Bastian Blessing Co
Current assignee: Bastian Blessing Co
Priority date: 1957-09-13
Filing date: 1957-09-13
Publication date: 1961-11-21
Anticipated expiration: 1978-11-21

Description

Nov. 21, 1961 H. K. JOHNSON DRINK DISPENSER 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. l5, 1957 INVENTOR.

Nov. 21,

Filed Sept.

H. K. JOHNSON DRINK DISPENSER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Nov. 21, 1961 H. K. JOHNSON 3,009,337

DRINK DISPENSER Filed Sept. 13, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 www...

INVENTOR.

United States Patent O 3,009,337 DRINK DISPENSER Herman K. Johnson, Grand Haven, Mich., assigner to The Bastian-Blessing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Iliinois Filed Sept. 13, 1957, Ser. No. 683,758 Claims. (Cl. 62-390) This invention lrelates to a method and apparatus for dispensing of refrigerated liquids such as soda water, plain water and syrups in various combinations to provide plain and mixed drinks, with or without ice cream, at a unitary station on a soda fountain or beverage dispenser. This application is a continuation-impart of my earlier filed case Serial No. 377,433, now Patent No. 2,814,184 and relates in part also to subject matterdisclosed in application Serial No. 634,472 and Patents No. 2,657,952 and No. 2,674,263, reference to which is hereby made for better understanding of this invention.

In soda fountains and other similar beverage dispensing installations draft arms are employed vto handle the different beverages served, and the draft arms are usually grouped at one convenient location or station where suitable supply connections and drain facilities can be arranged. Heretofore, the draft arm stations have included draft heads, including valves and conduits therein, subjected to the Warmth of the surrounding atmosphere, and the exposed surfaces are carefully contoured, finished and polished to provide a pleasing appearance at a substantial expense. In many instances the draft arms extend upwardly from the top or counter surface of the cabineton individual pedestals with depending nozzles disposed over the drain as supported on a cabinet having refrigerated storage spaces in which the cooling coils for the beverage liquids are disposed. Another instance, as described in said patent No. 2,814,184, is one in which the cooling coils for the liquid beverages are contained in a housing located above the counter of the cabinet and the draft arm heads are short and extend only a short distance from the housing.

In both instances handles are provided to operate the valves in the draft heads while a glass is either set or held by hand below the depending nozzle. In those instances where the glass is held below the draft nozzle, Itwo hands are required to draw the drink, one to operate the handle and the other to hold the glass. If the glass is set upon the grille of the drain, so that one hand operation may be had of the valve, the drop of the carbonated water from the nozzle to the glass knocks out a great deal of valuable carbonation and often renders the drink very fiat. In each instance physical effort or carbonation is wasted. n

Moreover, with continued striving for absolute cleanliness, top quality and ease of operation in the dispensing of beverages, it is most desirable to have a draft station which, is easily kept spotlessly clean with a minimum of effort; provides a carbonated drink of maximum carbonation and a mixed drink of uniform quality from first to last and over long periods of repeated use; and, in operation, not only minimizes manual movements of the operator but induces such movements and positions of the hands and the glass that a drink of maximum quality will be served each time. In addition to these important consid-` erations, an excellent draft arm station must have compactness; longevity of operation that is free of service calls; easy access to important parts for quick service and maintenance when required; and, be pleasing in appearance for the complete satisfaction of a persons owning and operating a soda fountain or a beverage dispenser.

In the fulfillment of these considerations and others as hereinafter set forth, the invention is characterized by a method of dispensing and a construction in which all the ingredients of the drink are not only cooled to a prede- 3,009,331 Patented Nov. 21:, 19.61

2 termined temperature just above 32 F. but this temperature is maintained clear to the outlet ports of all conduits carrying same so that the very vfirst drink` and the last drink of a series of drinks drawn are the same regardless of the rapidity with which they are drawn.

The invention is further characterized by an upstanding refrigerated draft station completely enclosed in a housing having a smooth surface that is easily cleaned merely by wiping andl wherein the only exposed elements that come in con-tact with the liquids being dispensed are transparent Lucite nozzles which can be readily removed, washed and immediately returned whenever desired, the inside surfaces of the nozzles otherwise being continually washed clean with plain or carbonated water and without any syrup cominginto contact therewith;

A further object of the invention is fulfilled in that a drink can be drawn with one hand operation with the glass held by hand tat its preferredv position while the drink is being drawn, the preferred position being required when the operator draws the drink byone-handed operation in which the drawn liquid leavingthe nozzle flows down the inclined wall ofthe glass.

Another object of the invention is to provide onehanded time-saving controlsy forthe drawing of a single drink or the simultaneous drawing of two drinks by the same operator under conditions which assure minimum loss of carbonation.

The invention alsocontemplates a draft arm station where there are no moving parts within the housing of the station downstream of the cooling coils other than :adjustable orifices at the outlet ports of the liquid cooling conduits that are readily accessible at the nozzlejit being desirable to embed all refrigerated and refrigerating coils and heads completely within the heat insulating-medium withinwhich they are refrigerated and isolated from contact with the air. VEven the outlet ports are preferably, shielded from ambient atmosphere temperatures by collector members or nozzles of l-ow heat conductivity.

The invention is also characterized by minimizing counter space requirements to the utmost by locating any and all parts requiring maintenance and service behind an access panel below the the counter level at the draft arm station. Another object of the invention is to provide a refrigerated carbonated water dispensing coil which is open to atmosphere through a flow-retarding` device which serves both as a metering orifice and as a self-closing outflow relief valve maintaining a reduced or low back-pressure upon carbonated water in the coil.

A further object of the invention is to provide a multioutlet cooler draft station for soda fountains and drink dispensers which can be operated simultaneously without appreciable loss of refrigeration or interference be-4V tween operators, it being appreciated that two operators with a glass in each hand can fill all four of the glasses simultaneously, if desired, from four draft positions.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the tube size of each refrigerated beverage coil to increase the ultimate heat exchange contact area for the liquids supplied to each draft head so that drinks can be drawn with greater ow in less time with uniform refrigerated coolness.

A further object of the invention is to save the expense of metal, and its shaping and finishing operations on irregularly contoured elements heretofore employed in draft arms. This isaccomplished Iby enclosing all parts having irregular contours, Without any external machining or finishing, within a smooth housing which is easily cleaned and polished, and where refrigeration coils can be adhered to the parts as by brazing fory the refrigera-y tion of liquids present in these liquid-bearing parts also.

A further'object of the invention is to provide a fixed orifice or a readily controlled adjustment for varying proportions of a mixed drink which is accessible from the outside yet is adequately concealed to avoid tampering except by those authorized to make adjustments.

Another object of the invention is to provide a supply of carbonated water which is substantially constant both as to pressure, fiow, and carbonation to provide a uniform drink, and, in which unabsorbed CO2 gas present in the carbonator is rebubbled through the water therein during off periods of water injection.

These being among the objects of the invention, other and further objects will become apparent from the drawings, the description relating thereto and the appended claims:

In the drawings:

FIG. l is a perspective view of the improved draft station embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section through the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 taken through one of the heads; showing the coil bank, head, housing, and the glass hand draft control means in their preferred arrangement;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the draft station shown in FIG. 1 with the lower Ifront portion of the access panel removed to expose the valves and refrigeration controls and connections;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a coil bank, its connection and the relative positions of the tubing and draft heads as arranged before insertion in the housing and as located in the housing when finally embedded in insulating material;

FIGS. 5, 8 and 9 are large vertical sections through the several draft heads employed to dispense a plain water mixed drink, a carbonated mixed drink, and coarse and fine streams of carbonated water, respectively;

FIG. 6 is a cut-away view of the arrangement employing a micro-switch control in its preferred form for actuating solenoid valves disposed in the liquid dispensing lines; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic layout of the various components as connected in the preferred embodiment of the invention.

By way of generalizing salient features of the invention for a better understanding of the description that is to follow it will be noted that several draft heads are supplied with carbonated water from the carbonator through a iiow control valve located ahead of a refrigerated coil, from thence through the coil and through flow metering devices in the heads and out through the draft nozzle. In brief, preferably the valve controls are located ahead of or upstream to the refrigerated coils although same may be located in the station housing above the heads if the sacrifice of space and refrigeration is not objected to as when there is no room below the station. Preferably, the valve controls are located in a base below the draft station, which is generally refrigerated, and where the valves are readily connected, and serviced without breaking surface in the draft station housing for access. At this location the valves can be operated either electrically or manually and both methods are shown in the drawings.

The beverage carrying refrigerated coils may be made of tubing or die stamped metal cold plates. They are preferably pre-constructed of stainless steel and assembled in a plate or coil bank with proper bends and configurations for the ends to be connected to the outlets of the valves in predetermined relation either before or after the draft arm station is installed. Flexible conduits of a plastic material such as polyethylene are connected to the inlets of the valves to carry, interchangeably if desired, plain water, carbonated -water or syrup to the respective valves.

Preferably, all draft heads are substantially identical in their fundamental construction and vary only as to outlet fittings or nozzles for different liquids that are to be dispensed. At any head, the center opening can deliver a hard or fine stream of carbonated water or a syrup and the second opening spaced therefrom can deliver plain water or a coarse stream of carbonated water, and in any combinations, depending upon the connection made at the inlets of the valves. It is preferred to have the second or outermost opening in the head carry carbonated or plain water so that the inside of the transparent Lucite houle is continually washed with clear water. If only one of the heads is for plain water only, a syrup valve for that head can be omitted and only the plain water will be dispensed at that particular head. However, changes can be made from time to time as desired and a Lucite nozzle or collector which is disposed at the outlets of each head surrounds and encloses the metal fittings to provide not only a uniform finishing element for appearances sake but a very effective shield against the loss of refrigeration from the metal parts during stand-by perods.

The danger of accidentally or purposely varying the proportions of a mixed drink by a partially opened handoperated valve is eliminated in the present invention since the flow control valve is either open or shut and the flow of the drink ingredients is not only controlled by metered orifices, but even the outgoing carbonated water pressure is made substantially uniform by the use of an expansion tank arrangement whereby the pressure of the CO2 gas that is compressed more rapidly than it is absorbed, when replenishing water is injected into the carbonator, is substantially leveled off and any excess gas is fed to the syrup tanks at pressure for the purposes set forth in said Patent No. 22,674,263 or rebubbled back through the water in the carbonator during the off cycle.

In the present invention, where the carbonated water is under refrigeration up to and through the outlet nozzle itself, the valving of the ow of carbonated water is provided ahead of the coils where same may occupy otherwise unused space instead of being disposed out in the open air where refrigeration can be lost. The temperature of the carbonated water is retained at 40 F. or less and therefore while the carbonated water is resting in the refrigerated coils the pressure thereon can be greatly reduced, in some instances to atmospheric pressure, without the carbonated water losing much of its charge or bubbling in the refrigerated conduit. However, since the carbonated water should be metered while it is flowing when the fiow con-trol valve opens, it is desirable to have some back pressure at the nozzle and this can be accomplished by a flow restricting orifice or by a spring loaded valve opening with the flow of carbonated water.

Referring now to the drawings in further detail, a draft station 10 is shown in FIG. l which comprises a housing 11 provided with an overhanging portion 12 that has fastened thereto depending nozzles 13 located over a drain 14 with sufficient space therebetween to accommodate soda glasses of maximum height. On the vertical wall 15 of the housing just below the nozzles 13 are provided a series of finger press areas 16 whose individual identity is indicated with suffixes of letters a to d inclusive hereinafter. These finger press areas formed by reversely offset concentric rings (FIG. 6) serve as waterproof covers for switches 17 located behind them which are also identified by like suffix letters. The switches are preferably micro-switches and are mounted upon the plate 18 in which the finger press areas are integrally formed. The mounting is accomplished by a securement at one end to a flexible bracket 19 and at the other end by a screw and spring arrangement 19a by which the switch button 19b can be moved to the exact position when the finger press area 16 is touched gently (FIG. 3).

The switches 17 control solenoid valves 110 (FIG. 3) also identified by suffix letters individually, which valves are located behind the access panel Z1 near the bottom of the wall 15 at the rear edge of the drain grille 14. Push buttons or rod 22 (FIG. 2) may supplement the switches 17 for the control of the solenoid valves either as alternate or accompanying equipment. The draft head is supported on the counter top 38 of a soda fountain 23 that has fruit jar rails Z4 on opposite sides of the drain board.

Referring now to the draft heads and their particular construction as shown in FIGS. 5, 8 and 9, it will be observed from FIGS. l, 3 and 4 that there are provided on this particular embodiment four draft heads 25, with letter suflixes identifying each draft head individually. Head 25a (FIG. 9) is arranged to provide `a coarse stream of carbonated water and a soft stream of carbonated water dependent upon which switch control 16a' or 16a is pressed. The head 13b and the head 13e both provide a carbonated mixed drink (FIG. 3) depending upon which switch 16h or 16e is pressed; and, draft head 13d may be constructed to provide a sweet water mixed drink or merely plain water for a cold water drink depending upon which switch 16d or 16d is pressed. If push button controls 22 are supplied then those identified by sutiix letters corresponding with those applied to the electric switches provide the same liow control effects above described.

As more particularly shown in FIG. 8 the head 25b comprises a casting 26b flanged as at 27h to rest in the opening 28 in the floor 30 of the overhang 12 where it is preferably secured by insulating plastic nut '29 which shields the depending metal flange 37 from the atmosphere. As in each head, head 2511 has a downwardly facing cavity 3112 defined by an internally threaded wall 32 threadedly receives the upper end of the nozzle 13b. A water passageway 33b and a syrup passageway 34h are provided in the head with their mouths 35 enlarged to receive the ends of tubing brazed therein as indicated at 36. The nozzle 45b which handles the syrup beyond the passageway 34h comprises a stem 46,5 threaded at its upper end 47b to be received in sealed relationship with the passage 34b by the joint made between the bottom of the recess 31b and the upper shoulder of -a radial iiange 4gb upon the stern. Below the flange, the stem is` provided with a cylindrical surface and in externally threaded as at 51b and internally threaded at the lower end as at 5211. Flats S311 upon the sides of the stem provide wrenching surfaces and a distributor screw 54h is received in the lower end preferably having a conical end SSb for selective adjustment of syrup flow in combination with a castellated lower end of the stem indicated at 57b. Moreover, the stern is provided with -a syrup check 841; preferably formed of a resilient rubber material and fitting over the lower end with normally compressed lips opening only when syrup under pressure is being forced down through the stem.

With the nozzle 13b removed, once the stem 45b is threaded into place upon the dra-ft head body 25h, a collar 60h is slipped upwardly into place that has a flange seal 6111 on its upper surface engaging the body 25!) in sealed relationship marginally around the recess 31b. The collar umbrellasoutwardly and downwardly to provide a surface first along a truste-conical surface as indicated at 66h and then terminates in a downwardly extending cylindrical wall 67h.

Below the collar 60h an umbrella guide 7017 telescoping upwardly on the stem and nestles in the collar with -a clearance of `approximately .003 inch between its upper face and the frusto-conical surface of the collar to define an annular passage. An apron 72b on the guide extends below the wall 671) and curves outwardly as at 73b.

The guide 7Gb is preferably held in place by a compression spring 7711 and lock-nut assembly 78b. 'The locknut is guided upon a cylindrical portion 50b and received upon la threaded portion 51b of the stem and when tightened it holds the guide rigidly in place. However, the compression spring is received in -a cavity 80h to urge the guide into place whenever a looseness of the lock-nut places such a burden upon the spring. Thus, whenever the lock-nut is loosened the guide 70b is free to drop down to the extent permitted by the Spring whenever i-t is desired to vary the back pressure upon the carbonated water.

Passage of carbonated water from the passage 33b, to the cavity 31b is under the control of a check valve 80b which opens with the ii-ow of the carbonated water as held in closed relationship by a spring 81b whose tension is adjustably established by a set screw 82h. Preferably it requires a pressure in the range of between 10 and 30 pounds per square inch to open the check valve so that an effective back pressure is maintained against the carbonated water in excess of 10 p.-s.i. This discourages ebullition of CO2 gas from the water in the refrigerated conduit when the flow of the carbonated water stops and the iiow control valve closes.

The collector 13b is preferably formed with its inner collecting surface passing close to the outward curve 73b to receive the water therefrom in easy, undisturbed gravity tiow relationship. The lower end of the collector conducts the water flowing therethrough over the compressed lips to keep them washed clean of any syrup upon the outside thereof.

In the embodiment shown in FIGQ 9 the stem is constructed to discharge a coarse or fine stream of carbonated water, all the other features remaining substantially the same `as described in connection with the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, like numerals identifying like parts. In FIG. 9 lthe stem 46a has lan enlarged portion 90u therein in which is received a valve 91a urged upwardly by compression spring 93a to close at its headed end against a conical va-lve seat 92a. The lower end of the stem 46a is .threaded as at 94a to receive a nozzle 95a therein whose inner end is drilled for flow and to guide the stem of the valve 91a and also to establish a predetermined tension upon the spring 93a. A lock-nut 96a holds the assembly together with the element 78a slidable in place instead of threaded in place. Here again the valve is preferably set to open in thepdirection of ow of carbonated water entering the passage 34a at a pressure from 10 to 30 p.s.i., thereby serving the same function as the valve a in the coarse stream line 33a and also serving to establish a flow-retarding effect upon the movement of the carbonated water with a semi-metering effect.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 `the plain water passage 33d is wide open. The shield 60a' has passages 69d therethrough for the free ow of Water from the passage 33d to the collector 13d. The center stem received in passage 34d, however, which serves as la syrup feed is somewhat different from-that disclosed in FIG. 8 in that it does not have the resilient collar on it but does have a cross -apertured screw 97d `at the bottom thereof with a squared end portion 99d. The screw can be threaded in and out of the stem 45d to permit the syrup to be metered through the cross `aperture ports and flow through the enlarged opening 98d which provides a clearance between thel lower end of the stern and the adjusting screw so that the syrup is carried into contact with the water as is leaves the nozzle 13d.

'I'he refrigeration of `the plain and carbonated water that is ldischarged through the heads is Iaccomplished in the coil bank, preferably of ten or eleven coils in which alternate coils comprise sections of a continuous refrigerant conduit. The other coils that are sandwiched between the refrigerant coils are made of stainless steel and carry the plain or carbonated water. In event there is expected to be a heavy drain upon the pl'ainwater at the draft station, several coils connected in series can be provided if desired, to assure complete cooling of the plain water under extra heavy withdrawal conditions. In FIG. 7 only one coil is shown for each water outlet whereas in FIGS. 2 and 4 a suicient number of coils is shown to demonstrate that as many as thirteen or more coi-ls may be present in the coil bank with ample space therearound to receive adequate amounts of insulating material.

The coils in the coil bank 100 as also representative of cold plates are of a helical pancake form stacked one upon the other and adhered to each other in intimate heat exchange relationship to form a unitary member by being dipped in solder or other high heat conductive material which joins them permanently together. An extra loop 101 of the refrigerant conduit 102 is brazed in heat exchange contact as at 89 (FIG. 5) along the tops of the heads to assure refrigeration of liquid present in the heads.

The coil bank is shown in place in FIG. 2 and the syrup conduits 104 which also lead to the heads are either laid through a non-refrigerated channel (not shown) or embedded in the insulating medium where they extend from the bottom to the top of the station housing with minimum refrigeration being applied thereto because the syrup as stored in tanks is already refrigerated adequately before entering the conduits. As already mentioned the outlet ends 105 of the coils bearing water and syrup are brazed to the heads in open communication with the pasasges therein and the inlets 106 of the coils and conduits are connected to the outlets 107 of a bank of valves 110, suixes being used to identify the specitic elements, which preferably comprise electrically operated solenoid valves supported upon a bracket '111 from which they can be removed for servicing or replacement. Preferably the valves 110 shown are provided with elongated valve stems 112 exposed inside of the soda fountain cabinet and provided with heads 113 at their ends that can -be operated manually if desired by the push buttons 22 through push rods 114 that operate levers 115 pivoted as at 116 and engaging the valve stems 112 below the heads 113.

In order to accommodate switches for the electrical operation of the valves 110 as already mentioned, the wall of the station next to the operator just below the ends of the nozzles 13 is offset inwardly to provide a horizontal channel 120 which receives the switches 17. This channel is closed by the plate 18 that has the finger press portion 16 located below the appropriate nozzles. At its right end the channel 120 is open to the bottom of the draft station through a conduit 121 (FIG. 3) 1ocated in the near right-hand corner of the housing 11 as formed by a quarter-round sheet metal member 121a laid in the corner when the insulation is poured. The plate 18 is fastened in waterproof relationship marginally around the channel opening to prevent moisture from entering the channel and substantially ush with the base of the wall 15.

Thus, the plate 18 which closes the channel, serves as an access plate which carries the micro-switches if the solenoids are energized by mechanical switches, or it can carry antenna buttons 122 if the solenoids are energized electronically. As already mentioned where microswitches are employed, the plate is of thin, stainless steel sheet metal mechanically upset with oppositely offset concentric rings so that the center cavity centers the finger of an operator and is displaceable inwardly by a slight finger pressure at the approximate level where the ends of an operators lingers would be located when holding a glass properly under the nozzle. It will be appreciated that with the micro-switches mounted as already described their operation is accomplished through a grounded member with no danger of electrical shock when the operator touches the center portion to actuate the switch behind it.

In the event electronically controlled switches are employed the antenna buttons 122 (FIG. 6) are located in the hollow central portion where nger movement comes very close thereto where a glass is held under the nozzle. With capacitance control a thyratron tube is employed and the grid thereof is connected to the button 122. Such a circuit is well known in the art as where the control of the tube is lost and current flows when the environmental A C. capacitance present in an operators body is applied to the antenna button by close proximity thereto of an operators fingers.

With either type of valve actuating devices, a timer (not shown) may be employed if desired which is set to permit a predetermined amount of liquid to be dispensed before the solenoid valve is deactivated. Where a timer is employed, capacitance buttons such as 122 may be arranged along the vertical edge of the overhang as at 123 if two handed operation is demanded by a user. However, it is not preferable to have the buttons located on the overhang as at 123 because if the glass is set on the drain grille 14 the fall of the carbonated water from the nozzle to the glass knocks much of the carbonation out of it.

Where two or more valves are actuated simultaneously to provide a mixed drink, they are electrically connected in parallel to be actuated by a single switch, and, the levers already described are correspondingly yoked together to be actuated by a single push button 22. On the other hand where as in the draft head 25d water may be drawn separately or in combination with a syrup, water alone may be drawn by the water valve l10n" by switch press 16dl whereas both

valves

110d and 110d are actuated by the switch press 16d. This separation of operations is accomplished in the electrical connections for the appropriate solenoid valves. The switch 17d behind the nger press 16d is a double pole switch with one pole actuating valve 110d and the other pole actuating valve 110d. The switch 17d" (not specifically shown) behind the finger press 16d is a single switch operating only the valve 110d.

Having described the elements incorporated in a draft station reference is now made to FIG. 7 in which the general organization is laid out diagrammatically in connection with sources of supply for the liquids and refrigerant. A refrigerant compressor and condenser is indicated at 130. A pressure regulating valve 131 is shown in the suction line 132 of the refrigerant coil 102. ln the liquid line 133 is located the expansion valve 134 having a thermo-responsive bulb indicated at 135. The bulb 135 is surrounded in heat transfer relationship with conduit inlet sections 1066!', 106C", 106b, 106er and 10611 and the vacuum line 132 at the points where the break lines x in these conduits are shown above the respective valves.

The coils of the coil bank 100 are shown in their relative positions as indicated by the numerals 102 for the refrigerant coils and the numerals 104 with appropriate suffixes for the plain water as at 104d' and the carbonated water as at 104e", 104b, 104a and 104a. A supply line for plain water is indicated at with one connection 141 therefrom leading to the valve 11051 and another connection 142 leading to the pump 143 whose outlet 144 is directed into a carbonator tank 145. A supply of CO2 under high pressure is indicated at 150 with a pressure reducing valve at 151 to lower the pressure to 100 pounds per square inch in a supply' T 152, one leg of which supplies a second regulator 153 with CO2 whose pressure is reduced to approximately l5 p.s.i. in the low pressure CO2 line 154 leading to syrup tanks 155e and 15511. The outlets from the tanks 155 comprise liquid eduction conduits 156C', and 155b, respectively, connected to inlet of the solenoid valves 110C and 110b.

The T line 152 of CO2 at 100 p.s.i. supplies CO2 gas through the line 160 to the bottom of the carbonator 145 from whence the CO2 is bubbled up through the Water present in the carbonator tank 145. Also connected to the T line 152 is a surge tank 161, and the surge tank 161 in turn is connected to the top of the carbonator 145 by a conduit 162 having a check valve 163 therein opening in the direction arrow indicated by the numeral 164.

It will be appreciated that with water only absorbing four or five times its volume of CO2 gas, water displacement occurs in the carbonator under the action of the pump at a greater rate than absorption occurs and gas trapped beyond the regulator 151 is subjected to com- 9 pression which tends toraise its pressure indeterminately depending upon the efficiency of the carbonator during water injection. The surge tank 161 substantially reduces this tendency without any loss of CO2 by receiving CO2 through the check valve 162 while water is being injected into the carbonator and thereafter rebubbling the CO2 gas back into the carbonator 145 through the line 160 while carbonated water is being withdrawn from the carbonator between water injection cycles. Carbonated water is supplied from the carbonator 145 to the valves 110e", 110b, 110a and 110a through a header 164abc.

An additional syrup tank shown in broken. lines 155d may be provided to supply Syrup to the valve 110d" and line 10611" for use with the plain water mixed drink, if desired, in a manner already described. In assembling the unitary draft station the coil bank 100 is preferably staggered as shown in FIG. 2 and after the heads 25 are silver soldered on the outlet ends 105 of the respective refrigerated coils 104 and the syrup conduits 106, and after all the inlets to the coils and conduits are located where they ultimately will be fastened to the valve banks, the coil bank is ready to be slipped into place.

The housing 11 as shown in FIG. 2 is so constructed and is shaped aesthetically and mechanically so that the coil bank 100 with the heads 25 on it can be bodily secured in proper place by steering the upper part into the housing. The housing 11 is inverted, the heads are slipped past the channel 120 and gradually lowered into the position shown through the bottom of the housing 10 which at that time is open. The ring nuts 29 are fastened and a bottom closure plate 140 is located in place over part of the bottom opening as provided with a downwardly opening channel 141 along the left-hand edge thereof that extends along a portion or all of the length of the housing 11 with open space remaining between the channel 141 and the bottom edge of the wall 15 of the housing.

In the channel 141 the expansion valve bulb 135 for the refrigerant is located with its associated contacting inlets of the water coils and from this channel they pass into the space above the plate 140. Thereafter, pellets .of a foam type insulating plastic are inserted into the housing 11 and steam under pressure is applied thereto to blow them up and fill all the interstices and space available around the coils and parts clear to the level of the plate 140 and channel 141 with any excess swelling out of the opening between the channel 141 and the front wall 15. Thereby all refrigerated parts are firmly embedded in the insulating material and held in place thereby as a permanent assembly. Thereafter Hydrolene is poured in to the opening between the channel 141 and the plate 15 as at 142 to hermetically seal the housing assembly. The draft station 10 is then set upon the counter top, fastened in place, and all connections made as already described.

In operation, whenever a glass is placed beneath the nozzle 13 and the corresponding finger press 16 pressed, the corresponding valve is energized and liquid will ow from the nozzle. If it be for a mixed drink, the carbonated water and syrup flow at predetermined rates until the valves are deactivated. If a soda is being made the iinger press 16a is pressed for a ue stream when such is desired and the finger press 16a" is actuated for a coarse stream of carbonated water when desired.

Once a valve is deactivated, ow stops and the liquid so controlled is kept at 40 F. or less in its respective coil. Carbonated water however is preferably retained by the outlet flow pressure release valves described under back pressure of between `l0 and 30 p.s.i. Thus, the back pressure established upon the carbonated water along with the temperature at which it is kept prevents ebullition of the CO2 gas and when ilow is again induced by opening of the valve 110, no carbonation is lost due 10 to the low temperature at which the carbonated water is kept and the efficiency of the nozzles described.

Consequently, it will be apparent from the description and the drawings relating thereto how the objects of the invention are attained and to those skilled in the art it will be readily apparent how various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a drink dispenser, a draft head having two passageways therethrough, means for dispensing syrup through one passageway including a flow metering device accessible at said head, a conduit leading to said one passageway, and a flow control valve at the inlet of said conduit; and means for dispensing carbonated water through the other passageway including a coil having its outlet connected to said other passageway, a pressure operated valve accessible at said head for normally closing said other passageway, and a ow control valve at the inlet of said coil; means for refrigerating said coil and the syrup, and means for operating said ow control valves simultaneously; and means for -insulating said head conduit and coil from contact with ambient atmosphere. y

2. In combination with a soda fountain having a counter and a refrigerated compartment below the counter, a draft station mounted on said counter over said compartment including an L-shaped housing, draft heads mounted in said housing and including depending nozzles, water conducting coils in said housing with their outlets connected to said draft heads and with their inlets extending into said compartment, means for refrigerating said coils defining a refrigerated space, valvesdisposed in one of saidv refrigerated spaces connected to said coils for controlling the flow of water therethrough to Said draft heads, and means below said nozzles carried by said housing `for operating said valves at a level in close proximity to said nozzles.

3. In combination with a soda fountain having` a counter, a draft station including a housing having an overhanging projection, draft heads mounted in said housing within said projection and including nozzles of low heat conductive material depending from said projection,

water conducting coils in said housing with their outlets connected to said draft heads, means for refrigerating said coils including a refrigerating coil in intimate heat exchange contact with said draft heads, a pluralityv of means for controlling `flow of water through said draft heads and means carried by said housing below said projection for operating said valves at a level in close proximity to said nozzles.

4. A beverage draft station comprising -an L-shaped hollow casing having a vertical main portion and a lateral overhanging portion at the top thereof having a bottom wall, a draft head rigidly mounted .in said lateral por# tion on the upper side of said bottom wall, means for supplying said draft head with a plurality of beverage liquids to be mixed and dispensed downwardlyv by said draft head, said means including a conduit and a flow control valve interconnecting the draft head and a source of liquid supply under pressure for each liquid, a cooling unit substantially filling the main portion of said casing, said cooling unit comprising a plurality of groups of flat coils of tubing, the coils of one group being alternated with those of another group so that no two coils of any one group are next to each other vand with adjacent coils in face to face heat conducting relation with each other, one of said conduits including one of said groups of coils, means for supplying uid refrigerant to another group of said coils, an insulating material substantially filling the spaces within said vertical portion around said conduits and enclosing and insulating said draft head from said lateral portion of the casing, a channel within the front wall of said vertical main portion, solenoid means for operating said valves, and switch means for operating said solenoid means located in said channel below and to the rear of said draft head.

5. A beverage draft station comprising an L-shaped hollow casing having a vertical main portion and a lateral overhanging portion at the top thereof having a bottom wall, a draft head rigidly mounted' in said lateral portion on the upper side of said bottom wall, means for supplying said draft head With Ia plurality of beverage liquids to be mixed and dispensed downwardly by said draft head, said means including a conduit and a flow control valve interconnecting the dr-aft head' and a source of supply under pressure for each liquid, a cooling unit substantially filling the main portion of said casing, said cooling unit comprising a plurality of groups of tiat coils of tubing, the coils of one group being alternated with those of another group with adjacent coils disposed in face to face heat conducting relation with each other, one of said conduits including one of said groups of coils for water, means for supplying iuid refrigerant to another group of coils, an insulating material substantially filling the spaces within said vertical portion around said conduits and enclosing and insulating said draft head from said lateral portion of the casing, another of said conduits being connected to a source of syrup under pressure and' extending through said insulating material out of heat exchange contact with said coils and the other conduits.

6. A beverage draft station comprising an L-shaped hollow casing having a vertical main portion and a lateral overhanging portion at the top thereof having a bottom wall, a draft head rigidly mounted in said l-ateral portion on the upper side of said bottom wall, means for supplying said draft head with a plurality of beverage liquids to be mixed and dispensed downwardly by said draft head, said means including a conduit and a iiow control valve interconnecting the draft head and a source of supply under pressure for each liquid, a cooling unit substantially filling the main portion of said casing, said cooling unit comprising a plurality of groups of flat co-ils of tubing, the coils of one group being alternated with those of another group with adjacent coils in face to face heat conducting relation with each other, one of said conduits including one of said groups of coils, means for supplying uid refrigerant to another group of coils disposed in part in intimate heat exchange contact with said draft head, an insulating material substantially filling the spaces within said vertical portion around said conduits and enclosing and insulating said draft head from said lateral portion of the casing.

7. A beverage draft station comprising a hollow casing having a vertical main portion a lateral overhanging portion at the top thereof having a bottom wall, a plurality of draft heads rigidly mounted in said lateral portion on the upper side of said bottom wall, means for supplying each draft head with a plurality of beverage liquids to be dispensed downwardly thereby, said means including a conduit and a How control valve interconnecting the draft heads and a source of supply under pressure for each liquid, a cooling unit substantially filling the main portion of said casing comprising a plurality of groups of fiat coils of tubing, the coils of one group being alternated with those of another group with adjacent coils in face to face heat conducting relation with each other, one of said conduits including one of said groups of coils, means for supplying tiuid refrigerant to another group of coils, an insulating material substantially tilling the spaces within said vertical portion around said conduits Iand enclosing and insulating said draft heads 12 from said lateral portion of the casing, and nozzles of low heat conductive material shielding said draft heads in part from ambient temperatures.

8. In combination with a soda fountain having a counter and a refrigerated space therebelow, a beverage draft station comprising an L-shaped hollow casing having a vertical main portion on said counter and a lateral overhanging projection at the top thereof having a bottom wall, a draft head rigidly mounted in said overhanging projection on the upper side of said bottom wall, means for Supplying said draft head with a plurality of beverage liquids to be mixed and dispensed downwardly by said draft head, said means including a conduit and a flow control valve interconnecting the draft head and a source of supply for each liquid disposed in said refrigerated space, a cooling unit substantially filling the main portion of said casing, said cooling unit comprising a plurality of groups of coils of tubing in face to face heat conducting relation with each other, one of said conduits including one of said groups of coils, means for supplying fluid refrigerant to another group of coils disposed in part in intimate heat exchange contact with said draft head of coils, an insulating material substantially filling the spaces within said vertical portion around said conduits and enclosing and insulating said draft head from said lateral portion of the casing, depending nozzle means of low heat conductive material shielding said draft head in part from ambient temperatures and means carried by said vertical main portion below said projection for operating said valves, disposed at a level in close proximity to and behind said nozzles.

9. The combination called for in claim 8 in which another of said conduits is connected to a source of syrup under pressure and extends through said insulating material out of heat exchange contact with said coil and the other conduits.

10. In combination with a soda fountain having a counter and a refrigerated compartment below the counter, a draft station mounted on said counter over said compartment including an L-shaped housing, draft heads mounted in said housing and including depending nozzles, water conducting coils in said housing with their outlets connected to said ldraft heads and with their inlets extending into said compartment, means for refrigerating said coils, manually operated dispensing valves in said compartments connected to the inlets of said coils for controlling the flow of water therethrough, means carried by said housing for operating said valves at a level below said nozzles wherein said valve operating means includes switches mounted in a channel on said housing, and a plate carrying said switches and closing Said channel and having tiexible wall portions displaceable to actuate said switches selectively.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 551,966 Holly Dec. 24, 1895 1,586,745 Hulse June 1, 1926 1,663,683 Doughty Mar. 27, 1928 2,263,977 Brackett Nov. 25, 1941 2,396,460 Di Pietro Mar. 12, 1946 2,500,684 Johnson Mar. 14, 1950 2,554,322 Buchhom May 22, 1951 2,586,499 Anderson Feb. 19, 1952 2,650,808 Cohen et al. Sept. l, 1953 2,678,549 Campbell et al. May 18, 1954 2,681,549 Maxwell June 22, 1954 2,845,964 Harland Aug. 5, 1958