GB2116058A

GB2116058A - Mixing drinks

Info

Publication number: GB2116058A
Application number: GB08301633A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Olaf Ralph Richardson
Original assignee: Booth Dispensers Ltd
Current assignee: Booth Dispensers Ltd
Priority date: 1982-02-02
Filing date: 1983-01-21
Publication date: 1983-09-21
Also published as: GB8301633D0; GB2116058B

Abstract

The apparatus comprise a body 10 formed of two releasably interconnected portions 12, 14 each having a cone-shaped recess therein which form a mixing chamber 26 whose cross- sectional area in the central region is greater than at the periphery. The mixing chamber 26 is provided with two inlets 22, 24 for admitting water under pressure and fruit juice concentrate into the mixing chamber, the inlets being disposed so that rotational turbulent flow is created in the mixing chamber to produce intimate mixing of the liquids therein. An outlet 28, connected to the peripheral portion of the mixing chamber, is provided and the mixed liquids are dispensed therethrough. The mixing chamber is provided with an air bleed hole 30 to facilitate draining thereof and the water inlet is directed across the open end of the fruit juice concentrate inlet so that admission of water alone cleans concentrate from its associated inlet and the mixing chamber. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION improvements in or relating to drink dispensing apparatus This invention relates to drink dispensing apparatus and more particularly, but not exclusively, to apparatus for preparing and dispensing a drink formed of a mixture of two liquids such as water and a fruit juice concentrate.

Although machines are already known for preparing and dispensing such drinks, the usual type of machine is provided with a large size container into which the fruit juice concentrate and water are inserted. The container is provided with a mixing apparatus for continuously stirring the fruit juice concentrate and water and the fruit juice drink is then dispensed through a manually-operated valve which is normally mounted on the container and forms an integral part thereof.

As the container of this known type of machine constitutes a storage reservoir for the mixed drink it is essential for this to be of a relatively large size so that an adequate volume of prepared drink is available. Consequently, such known machines suffer from the disadvantage that they occupy a relatively large space on the counter of a sales outlet and the object of this invention is to provide a more compact drink dispensing machine.

According to this invention, drink dispensing apparatus for dispensing a drink formed of two or more liquids comprises a body portion having a mixing chamber formed therein, two or more inlets formed in the body adapted to be in fluid communication with the mixing chamber and an outlet in the body communicating with the mixing chamber through which the drink is dispensed, wherein means is provided for effecting turbulent mixing of the two or more liquids in the mixing chamber.

Preferably, the turbulent mixing is effected by producing a rotary motion of the liquids in the mixing chamber.

Preferably, also, at least one of the liquids is supplied under pressure to the mixing chamber to facilitate turbulent mixing thereof.

The mixing chamber in section is, preferably, formed with a larger cross-sectional area at the centre than at the periphery thereof which facilitates the production of rotary motion of the liquids supplied thereto through the inlets.

Preferably, the surface of the mixing chamber onto which the liquid flowing through at least one inlet impinges is disposed at an angle to the direction of flow of said liquid.

Preferably, also, the outlet is connected to at least the peripheral portion of the mixing chamber.

The inlet through which one liquid, such as water, is admitted to the mixing chamber is, preferably, arranged to direct at least part of the liquid supplied therethrough across at least part of the other inlet to produce a reduction of pressure in said other inlet to extract liquid therefrom and/or effect cleaning thereof.

Preferably, valve means is provided to control the flow of liquid through the inlets and the valve means may be adapted to enable water to be supplied through the associated inlet to the mixing chamber whilst preventing the flow of liquid through the or each other inlet.

Preferably, also, the body is formed from at least two releasably interconnected portions each con taining at least part of the mixing chamber and which, when disconnected, allow access to be gained to the mixing chamber to facilitate cleaning thereof.

A bleed hole formed in the body is, preferably, connected to the mixing chamber to facilitate drain ing of liquid from the mixing chamber.

A preferred embodiment of th is invention will now be described, by way of example only, with refer ence to the accompanying drawings of which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sectional side elevation of a drink dispensing apparatus with parts omitted for the sake of clarity; and Figure 2 is a diagrammatic sectional plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, drink dispensing apparatus for preparing and dispensing a drink formed of a mixture of two liquids such as a fruit juice concentrate and water comprises a reservoir for containing the fruit juice concentrate (not shown) a supply of water (not shown) and supply means (not shown) for supplying the fruit juice concentrate and the water under pressure to the portion of the drink dispensing apparatus indicated generally at 10.

The apparatus 10 comprises two body portions 12 and 14which are releasably secured together in sealing engagement. The body portion 12 has two inlet passages 16 and 18 formed therein which are respectively supplied with fruit juice concentrate under pressure and water under pressure by the supply means (not shown).

Each of the inlet passages 16 and 18 has manuallyoperable valve means indicated generally at 20 mounted therein for controlling the flow of liquid therethrough to associated inlets 22 and 24. The inlets 22 and 24 are connected to a mixing chamber 26. A first conical section of the mixing chamber 26 is formed in the body portion 12 and a second conical section of the chamber 26 is formed in the body portion 14 so that on separation of the portions 12 and 14 access is obtained thereto to enable the chamber 26 to be cleaned.

The inlets 22 and 24 are oriented so that the direction of flow of the liquid is disposed at an angle to the surface of the chamber 26 on which the liquid impinges and this tends to produce turbulent rotational movement of the liquids in the chamber 26.

This rotational movement of the liquids is also assisted by the conical configuration of the chamber 26 producing a section having a larger cross sectional area at the centre ofthe chamberthan at the periphery. This tends to create a higher velocity of rotation of the liquids at the periphery of the chamber 26 than at the centre thereof.

An outlet passage 28 formed in the body portion 14 communicates with the periphery of the chamber 26 so that a major portion of the volume of the liquid flowing from the chamber 26 is drawn from said periphery. This again facilitates the production of a rotational turbulent flow in the chamber 26 to cause intimate mixing of the fruit juice concentrate and water in said chamber.

An air bleed hole 30 formed in the body 12 is connected to and allows air to flow into the upper central portion of the chamber 26. This admission of air into the chamber 26 allows the liquids therein to completely drain therefrom when the valve means 20 is closed.

The valve means 20 is operatively connected to a lever 32 so that manual actuation thereof opens the valve means 20 and simultaneously supplies both the fruit juice concentrate and the water to the chamber 26. An additional manually operable lever 34 is operatively connected to the valve means 20 associated with the inlet passage 18 to enable water alone to be supplied to the chamber 26 to facilitate periodic cleaning thereof. The body portions 12 and 14 are formed of a transparent material such as a plastics material to enable an operative to easily inspect the mixing chamber 26 to ensure that the necessary cleaning operation has been effected.

In a modification, a jet 34 is mounted in the inlet 24 to direct water across at least part of the inlet 22 during this cleaning operation thus producing a low pressure in the inlet 22 to draw fruit juice concentrate therefrom and effectively clean the inlet 22. The utilisation of such a jet 34 has also been found to facilitate the production of the tubulent rotational movement of the liquids in the chamber 26.

In another modification, the body portion 12 has a cooling water inlet, outlet and manifold formed therein to effect cooling of the fruit juice concentrate contained in the inlet passage 16.

In a further modification, where the jet 34 is mounted in the water inlet 24 or other means are provided to direct water across at least part of the fruit juice inlet 22 to draw the fruit juice therefrom, it is unnecessary for the fruit juice concentrate to be supplied under pressure to the inlet 22 as the incoming water produces sufficient reduction in pressure in the inlet 22 to draw fruit juice concentrate from the reservoir through the valve means 20 and the inlet 22 into the mixing chamber 26. It will be appreciated that in this modification a simplified form of reservoir can be utilised as it is not necessary for the reservoir to be of a form which is capable of storing fruit juice concentrate under pressure.

Claims

1. Drink dispensing apparatus for dispensing a drink formed of two or more liquids comprising a body portion having a mixing chamber formed therein, two or more inlets formed in the body adapted to be in fluid communication with the mixing chamber and an outlet in the body communicating with the mixing chamber through which the drink is dispensed, wherein means is provided for effecting turbulent mixing of the two or more liquids in the mixing chamber.

2. Drink dispensing apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein turbulent mixing is effected by producing a rotary motion of the liquids in the mixing chamber.

3. Drink dispensing apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein at least one of the liquids is supplied under pressure to the mixing chamber to facilitate turbulent mixing thereof.

4. Drink dispensing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mixing chamber in section is formed with a larger crosssectional area at the centre than at the periphery thereof which facilitates the production of rotary motion of the liquids supplied thereto through the inlets.

5. Drink dispensing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the surface of the mixing chamber onto which the liquid flowing through at least one inlet impinges is disposed at an angle to the direction of flow of said liquid.

6. Drink dispensing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outlet is connected to at least the peripheral portion of the mixing chamber.

7. Drink dispensing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inlet through which one liquid, such as water, is admitted to the mixing chamber is arranged to direct at least part of the liquid supplied therethrough across at least part of the other inlet to produce a reduction of the pressure in said other inlet to extract liquid therefrom and/or effect cleaning thereof.

8. Drink dispensing apparatus according to Claim 7, wherein valve means is provided to control the flow of liquid through the inlets and the valve means is adapted to enable said one liquid to be supplied through the associated inlet to the mixing chamber whilst preventing the flow of liquid through the or each other inlet.

9. Drink dispensing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body is formed from at least two releasably interconnected portions each containing at least part of the mixing chamber and which, when disconnected, allow access to be gained to the mixing chamber to facilitate cleaning thereof.

10. Drink dispensing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a bleed hole formed in the body is connected to the mixing chamber to facilitate draining of liquid from the mixing chamber.

11. Drink dispensing apparatus constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated by, the accompanying drawings.