GB2133086A

GB2133086A - Method and apparatus for dispensing cold beverage

Info

Publication number: GB2133086A
Application number: GB08334086A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Richard Mcmillin
Original assignee: Cornelius Co
Current assignee: Cornelius Co
Priority date: 1982-12-27
Filing date: 1983-12-21
Publication date: 1984-07-18
Also published as: BR8307139A; GB8334086D0; NZ206710A; AU2287083A; NL8304388A; CA1223571A; GB2133086B; DE3346240A1; JPS59174494A

Abstract

A beverage dispensing apparatus comprises a source 13 of compressed gas, a water reservoir 14, a non- pressurised syrup tank 16, a syrup pump 16 in the tank, a dispensing nozzle 30. A pneumatic power valve 19 is operable to connect the gas source 13 to the pump 16 and expel syrup to the nozzle 30, a pneumatic water valve servo 42 is connected to all of the power valves and the opening of any power valve 19 will effect operation of the servo 42 and opening of the water valve 29, which allows water to be forced from reservoir 14 to nozzle 30, where it mixes with the syrup. The apparatus may be located in a refrigerator. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method and apparatus for dispensing cold beverage This invention pertains to an apparatus for a method for dispensing cold post-mixed beverage and has particular reference to the use of a compressed gas for pneumatic power for the dispenser.

The accepted procedure and structure for dispensing post-mix beverages utilises stainless steel syrup tanks. The tanks are filled at a bottling or distribution centre, pressurised, and then transported to a place of use. The tanks always remain pressurised and are connected to a carbon dioxide bottle and kept pressurised during dispensing. The tank size must be of about 25 litres in order to be economically viable or the container cost per unit of volume becomes excessive. However, this 25 litre tank is quite heavy and its use is restricted to commercial distribution channels such as restaurants and bars. A continually pressurised tank also requires an educated and knowledgeable user who can connect and disconnect the pressurised tanks without leakage.The pressurised tank must be returned after usage, for cleaning and refill for its next trip, and therefore two-way transportation over predetermined routes is a business necessity. The usage of pressurised tanks does not lend itself to domestic beverage dispensers, the domestic distribution channels or to use by unskilled people.

An alternate to the usage of pressurised tanks is usage of a package called the bag-in-box (BIB).

The BIB is a plastic bag inside of a cardboard box.

The bag is not pressurised and beverage is drawn out of the bag by a suction pump which may be electrically powered. The BIB has enjoyed limited success for soft drink syrups. There have been may problems including pump failure, leakage, pump burn-out, seal failure, and other causes. The BIB has enjoyed greater success as a retail package for wines, where there has been no need to use a pump. The BIB has been of 10 to 25 litres in order to be an economically viable package.

Smaller package sizes such as the sizes typically retailed for domestic consumption, are not economically effective. Fluid connection to a BIB has been troublesome and leakage is all to frequent.

Attempts have been made to devise a compressed gas powered beverage dispenser that does not require electricity for power of beverage pumps. There have been some technical successes but these examples are extremely complicated, fsilure-prone, and costly. These devices have not been successful in the market place even when used in relatively expensive vending machines. These machines have been very difficult to keep clean, very difficult to sanitise, and very difficult to repair. The prior art also has never been able to integrate the beverage pump and tanks into a very simple leakproof package.

By the present invention there is provided cold beverage dispensing apparatus powerable by compressed gas, comprising a thermally insluated cabinet having a cooling chamber containing a refrigeration evaporator, a source of compressed gas at a predetermined regulated pressure, a water reservoir, a non-pressurised syrup tank and a normally non-pressurised syrup pump having a syrup inlet in fluid communication with the syrup tank, a normally closed water valve fluidly connected to an outlet of the reservoir, a dispensing nozzle on the outside of the cabinet, said nozzle being fluidly connected to the syrup pump and the water valve, a pneumatic dispensing power valve having an inlet connected to the gas source, an outlet connected to the syrup pump, a vent to atmosphere, and a valve element having a normal position in which the valve inlet is closed and the outlet and the syrup pump are fluidly connected to the vent, said valve element being selectiveiy movable to an alternate dispensing position in which the inlet is fluidly connected to the outlet and the gas source is fluidly connected to the syrup pump, and in which the vent is closed and a manually operable dispensing actuator on the outside of the cabinet, said actuator being operatively connected to move the valve element to the dispensing position and to effect opening of the water valve.

The water reservoir is preferably sized to hold a plurality of servings of water and the syrup tank is preferably sized to hold a plurality of servings of syrup, the tank having a breather to atmosphere within the cabinet (rather than outside the cabinet).

The power valve vent may be in the cooling chamber. The water reservoir may have a relief valve venting to atmosphere within the cooling chamber.

The syrup pump may be inside the syrup tank.

The pump gas line may connect the power valve outlet to the syrup pump and there may be a syrup dispensing line connecting the syrup pump outlet to the nozzle, the lines entering the syrup tank through a top of the tank. The tank may have a retainer holding the pump on the bottom of the syrup tank. The pump may have an upwardly extending handle inside the tank.

The apparatus may include a syrup tank having a normally closed and removable filling cover on top of the tank, a syrup dispensing line entering the syrup tank through the top of the tank, the syrup dispensing line having a disconnect outside the tank and a normally closed check valve between the disconnect and the nozzle, a rack inside the cabinet and in the cooling chamber to support the syrup tank, and syrup tank being disconnectable by separation of the syrup delivery line disconnect and being removable from the rack and apparatus, the syrup pump having a filling check valve inside of and adjacent to the bottom of the syrup tank, and the syrup tank and pump and that part of the syrup delivery line between the pump and the disconnect all being self-draining when removed from the apparatus and inverted.

There may be provided in adjustable flow restrictor in a syrup line from the pump to the nozzle, the restrictor being on the outside of the cabinet and being immediately adjacent the nozzle, the restrictor being concealed within a nozzle cover on the outside of the cabinet.

The power valve outlet may have a flow restrictor upstream of a gas line connecting the power valve to the pump, the gas line being frictionally connected to both the power valve and the pump.

There may be provided a pneumatic opening servo operatively connected to the water valve and a gas line fluidly connecting the servo to the power valve outlet. The water valve servo may be normally fluidly connected to the power valve vent.

The cabinets may have a normally closed door, the syrup tank being mounted upon an inside surface of the door. The syrup tank may have a normally closed and removable filling cover, the tank and cover being pivotable out of the cooling chamber and being unobstructively accessible when the cabinet door is fully opened.

The water reservoir may have a circular profile when viewed from above and the evaporator may have a U-shape when viewed from above, the evaporator being larger than and wrapped around at least half of the reservoir. Each leg of the Ushaped evaporator may be larger than a diameter of the reservoir, the reservoir being completely within the U-shaped section when viewed from above.

There may be provided a pair of wheels along and under a lower edge of a back panel of the cabinet, a pair of spacer handles projecting rearward from adjacent an upper edge of the cabinet back panel, a refrigeration condenser on the back panel and in between the wheels and the spacer handles, and a water supply line extending through and down the outside of the cabinet back panel.

The cabinet door may comprise a front side of the cabinet, the nozzle being mounted on an inside surface of the door. The water reservoir may be mounted in the cabinet adjacent to the back panel and forward of the wheels.

The refrigeration compressor may be mounted laterally between the wheels and directly under the water reservoir.

The dispensing actuator may be a downwardly depressible push button. There may be provided a water filter and a water shut-off in the water supply line in between the wheels and the spacer handles.

The compressed gas source may be a supply of carbon dioxide gas. The supply of carbon dioxide may be provided through a carbon dioxide bottle and pre-set carbon dioxide pressure regulator mounted in a gas bottle rack within the cooling chamber. The gas bottle, regulator and bottle rack may be mounted on the inside surface of the cabinet door. The bottle, regulator and bottle rack may be immediately adjacent a hinge upon which the door is pivotally mounted.

The apparatus may dispense a plurality of flavours and may include a plurality of syrup tanks, a plurality of syrup pumps each pump having its syrup inlet in fluid communication with a respective syrup tank, a pneumatic valve opening servo operatively connected to the water valve, a like plurality of power valves, each power valve having its outlet fluidly connected to a respective syrup pump and to the servo.

A carbon dioxide gas supply line may connect the gas source to a gas filled head space above a water level in the water reservoir. The gas line may extend through the power valves, the gas source being a source of carbon dioxide gas. The power valves may be connected in series. Each power valve may have a first and second outlet, the first outlet being in fluid communication with a respective syrup pump and a second outlet being in fluid communication with the servo. The servo may be mounted inisde the cabinet door.

Each power valve may be individually connected to the servo, the servo having a pneumatic OR logic mechanism.

The servo may have a servo chamber for each power valve and fluid tight barriers separating the servo chambers from one another.

There may be provided a carbonated water power valve having an inlet, a vent and a valve element, the carbonated water power valve having an outlet, connected only to the servo, the gas source being a source of carbon dioxide gas.

There may be provided a water pump for filling the reservoir against the head pressure, the water pump being within the cooling chamber and underneath the evaporator.

The present invention further provides a method of dispensing cold post-mixed beverage, comprising the steps of cooling a reserve of water to just above freezing, cooling a tankfull of syrup at ambient pressure to substantially the same temperature as the cooled water, pressurising the water with a head of compressed gas at a regulated predetermined pressure, transferring by gravity a fraction of the syrup in the syrup tank into a normally non-pressurised compressed gas powerable syrup pump and maintaining the syrup in the pump at least as cool as syrup in the syrup tank, concurrently dispensing cooled water and syrup at substantially the same pressure and temperature by fluidly connecting the compressed gas to the syrup pump and propelling syrup from the pump to a dispensing nozzle with the head pressure while opening a water valve and propelling water with and under the head pressure to the dispensing nozzle; combining the flows of water and syrup to form a cold postmixed beverage and terminating dispensing by closing the water valve and disconnecting the compressed gas pressure from the syrup pump, and then venting used compressed gas from the pump and into a cooling chamber within which the water reservoir, syrup tank and syrup pump are commonly cooled.

The step of transferring the syrup may be done entirely within the syrup tank.

The post mixed beverage may be carbonated, the compressed gas being carbon dioxide. The method may include the step of fluidly connecting the carbon dioxide gas at the head pressure to a servo for opening the water valve, and effecting pneumatic opening of the water valve. The carbon dioxide gas may be simultaneously connected to the syrup pump and the servo. Used carbon dioxide gas may be vented from the servo into the cooling chamber. Dispensing may be terminated by disconnecting carbon dioxide head pressure from the servo.

The present invention yet further provides a pneumatically powerable multi-flavour post-mix carbonated beverage dispensing apparatus comprising a source of carbon dioxide gas at a predetermined regulated pressure, a source of cold carbonated water under pressure, a plurality of non-pressurised syrup storage tanks, each syrup tank being sized to hold a quantity of syrup sufficient for dispensing a plurality of servings of post-mix carbonated beverage, each syrup tank having a breather to atmosphere, a like plurality of pneumatically powerable syrup pumps, each pump having a syrup inlet in fluid communication with a respective syrup tank; a normally closed water valve having an inlet in fluid communication with the carbonated water source, a dispensing nozzle connected by a water dispensing line to an outlet of the water valve, and to an outlet of a respective syrup pump by a syrup dispensing line, a pneumatic servo for opening the water valve, a like plurality of pneumatic power valves for dispensing, each power valve having an inlet in fluid communication with the carbon dioxide source, an outlet in fluid communication with a respective syrup pump and with the servo, a vent to atmosphere, a valve element movable from a normal position in which the inlet is closed to the outlet and the outlet is fluidly connected to the vent, to an alternate dispensing position in which the inlet is fluidly connected to the outlet and the outlet is closed to the vent and a dispensing actuator connected to move a selected valve element from the normal position to the dispensing position.

Each syrup tank may have a respective syrup pump. A carbon dioxide gas supply line may connect the gas source to the water source, the supply line extending through the power valves.

The power valves may be connected in series in the gas line. Each power valve may have first and second inlets, a first inlet of a first power valve being directly connected to the gas source, a second inlet in the last power valve being connected to the head space, a second inlet of the first power valve being connected to the first inlet of the next valve and so on until a second inlet of the next to last power valve is connected to a first inlet of the last power valve.

Each power valve may have a first and second outlet, the first outlet being in fluid communication with a respective syrup pump and a second outlet being in fluid communication with the servo.

There may be provided a carbonated water power valve having a similar inlet, vent and valve element for dispensing carbonated water only and also having an outlet in fluid communication only with the servo. The evaporator may be on the back side of the water reservoir, the syrup tank being mounted on the front side of the reservoir.

Tha evaporator may extend around each side of the water reservoir. The syrup tank may be mounted on the door, the tank being pivotable out of the cooling chamber when the door is opened.

Figure 1 is a schematic view showing the arrangement of a fluid elements and connections of a preferred embodiment of an apparatus for dispensing beverage; Figure 2 is a simplified elevational view in section through the preferred structural embodiment of the present invention with fluid lines being omitted for the purpose of clarity; Figure 3 is a downward looking section view through the lines Ill-Ill of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the structure of Figure 2 with a front door opened to show the contents of the cabinet; Figure 5 is a perspective view of part of the structure of Figure 2 with a nozzle cover removed and sitting on top of the cabinet; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the back of the apparatus of Figure 2; Figure 7 is a detail sectional view of a power valve in the apparatus of Figure 2;; Figure 8 is a detail sectional view of a disconnect structure in the apparatus of Figure 2; Figure 9 is a detail view of a servo operated water valve in the apparatus of Figure 2; Figure 10 is an elevational side view in partial section of a syrup tank and pump of the apparatus of Figure 2; Figure 11 is an elevational end view in partial section of the structure of Figure 10; and Figure 1 2 is a side elevational detail view of the pump of the apparatus of Figures 2 and 10.

The principles of the present invention are particularly useful when embodied in cold beverage dispensing apparatus schematically represented in Figures 1 to 3 and generally indicated by the numeral 10. The apparatus 10 has a thermally insulated cabinet 11 having a cooling chamber 12 which contains a compressed gas source 13, a water reservoir 14, non-pressurised syrup tanks 1 5 and normally non-pressurised syrup pumps 1 6.

The gas source 13 is a bottle having an integral pressure regulator 1 7 set at a predetermined propellant pressure. The water reservoir 14 is a thermally conductive metal tank sized to hold a plurality of servings of water, for example at least 4 litres and preferably about 20 litres. The reservoir 14 is connected to the gas source 1 3 by a supply line 1 8 which extends through pneumatic dispensing power valves 19 from a quarter turn gas connector 20 connected to the regulator 17. The reservoir 14 has a gas inlet 21, a water inlet 22 connected to a water supply line 23 having a double check valve 24, a water filter 25 and shut-off device 26. A water pump 27 may be provided inside of the chamber 12 for filling the reservoir 14.A water dispensing line 28 leads from a water outlet 33 of the reservoir 14 to a normally closed water valve 29 and then to an external dispensing nozzle 30 which is on the outside of the cabinet 11. The water level in the reservoir 14 is maintained well below the top of the reservoir 14 by a conventional float and needle valve (not shown) and there is a propellant gas head space 31 above the water. An automatic pressure relief-valve 32 is on top of the reservoir 14 in fluid communication with the head space 31; the relief valve 32 vents to atmosphere in the cooling space 12.

Each syrup tank 1 5 has a normally closed but removable filling cover 34 and a breather aperture 86 (Figure 10) which vents the tank 1 5 to atmosphere within the cooling chamber 12 and which keeps the inside of the tank 1 5 nonpressurised and at atmospheric pressure. Each power valve 19 has an inlet comprised of a first gas inlet 35 and a second gas inlet 36.The power valves 1 9 are connected in series in the gas supply line 1 8 with the first inlet 35 of a first power valve 19 being directly connected to the gas source 13, and a second outlet 36 of the last power valve 19 being connected to the head space 31, and a second inlet 36 of the first power valve 19 being connected to a first inlet 35 of the second or next power valve 19 and so on until a second outlet 36 of the next to last power valve 1 9 is connected to a first inlet 35 of the last power valve 19. Each power valve has an outlet split into a first outlet 37 and a second outlet 38.

Each first outlet 37 is connected to a propellant gas delivery line 39 which goes through a disconnect 40 to a respective syrup pump 16.

Each second outlet 38 is connected by a servo propellant gas line 41 to a pneumatically operable servo 42 having a hammer 43 for forcing a valve anvil 44 to effect opening of the water valve 29.

Within the servo 42 is a pneumatic OR logic mechanism comprised of diaphragms 46 between the hammer 43 and the servo lines 41; a diaphragm is also between each pair of adjacent servo lines 41. Each power valve 19 has a vent 47 to atmosphere within the cooling chamber, and a valve element 48 having a normal position in which the inlets 35, 36 and the gas source 13 are closed to the outlets 37, 38 and in which the vent 47 is fluidly connected to the outlets 37, 38 and thereby to a respective syrup pump 16. The valve element 48 is movable to an alternate dispensing position in which the inlets 35, 36 and the gas source 13 are fluidly connected to the outlets 37, 38, and to a respective syrup pump 16 and the servo 42, and in which the outlets 37, 38 are closed to the vent 47. The valve element 48 is spring biased and uni-stable and automatically returns to the normal position.Each of the outlets 35, 36 has a flow restrictor 49 which seems to keep the surge of propellant gas from blowing off unclamped and frictionally secured propellant lines 39,41.

A syrup dispensing line 50 extends from a respective syrup pump 1 6 to the nozzle 30. Each dispensing line has an open disconnect 51 connected to a normally closed check valve and disconnect 52 in a further dispensing line 53 which is connected to an adjustable flow restrictor 54 alongside the nozzle 30. Each syrup pump 1 6 has a syrup inlet 55 in fluid communication with the inside of a respective syrup tank 15, and a syrup outlet 56 to which a respective dispensing line 50 is connected. A selfchecking fill valve 57 allows syrup to flow into the pump 1 6 but prevents flow of syrup from the pump 1 6 back to the tank 15. The propellant line 39 is connected to a propellant port 58 and an expandable elastomeric bladder 59 separates propellant gas from syrup.The pump 16 is preferably within the tank 15, and is insertable through and withdrawable out of the tank 15, when the cover 34 is removed. An upward extending pump handle 60 enables manual insertion and removal of the pump 1 6 with respect to the tank 15. Each tank 15 has a top wall 61 through which both the beverage dispensing line 50 and the propellant line 39 extend. The tank 1 5 has no openings below the top wall 61 and the pump 16 is held against a tank bottom 62 by inwardly dimpled retainers 63 which frictionally engage the pump 16 but are flexible enough to allow the pump 16 to be manually pulled out by the handle 60. The nozzle 30 is mounted in a dispensing station 64 which is mounted on the outside of a normally closed cabinet door 65.The station 64 has a drip tray 65, downwardly depressable actuator buttons 66 which engage respective power valves 1 9 and effect pressurisation of a selected pump 1 6 and the servo 42 to open the water valve 29, and a removable nozzle cover 67 that normally covers the adjustable syrup flow restrictors 54. The cabinet 11 includes a box 68 having a back panel 69 upon which is mounted a refrigeration condenser 70. A pair of wheels 71 are mounted under the back panel 69 on opposite corners and a pair of fold-out spacer handles 72 are mounted on opposite corners adjacent an upper edge 73 of the back panel 69. The water reservoir 14, which is the heaviest single structure in the apparatus 10, is mounted adjacent the back panel 69 and the heavy refrigeration compressor 74 is mounted directly under the reservoir 14 and between the wheels 71 for stability. In the cooling chamber 12 is a U-shaped refrigerant evaporator 75 having extended legs 76 facing toward the cabinet door 65. The water reservoir 1 4 has a circular section when viewed from above and the length of each evaporator leg 76 is greater than a diameter of the reservoir 14 so that the reservoir 14 is completely within the evaporator 75 when viewed from above.

Cabinet hinges 77 pivotally mount the door 65 to one side edge of the box 68 and the door 65 is openable about a vertical axis defined by the hinges 77. On the inside of the door 65 is a tank rack 78 for the syrup tanks 1 5, and a bottle rack 79 for the gas source 13. At the top of the door 65 is a control chamber 80 which houses the power valves 19, the servo 42 and the water valve 29. The control chamber 80 is fluidly open to the cooling chamber 12, but access and view are blocked by a removable control chamber cover 81. The control chamber 80 is in direct fluid communication with the cooling chamber 12 and is considered to be part of the cooling chamber 12.

The apparatus 10 may alternatively not be connected to a running water supply and may be provided with a water vat 82 inside of the cooling chamber 12. The water vat is connected to an inlet of the pump 27 and the pump 27 is under the control of a conventional water level control (not shown) for the reservoir 14. There is an advantage to the vat 14 in that it can be filled with ice and water to assist cooling and increase the cold drink capacity of the apparatus 10.

Figures 2 and 3 best show the efficient and effective arrangement of the structure in the apparatus 10. The evaporator 75 is positioned near the top of the cooling chamber 12 with the closed end of the U-shape at the rear with the legs 76 extending toward the door 65. The water reservoir 14 is within the U-shaped evaporator 75 as best seen in Figure 3, and the reservoir 14 is backed up against the back panel 69 while leaving room for the evaporator 75 and a downward flow of cold air between the back panel 69 and the reservoir 14. The syrup tanks 15 are supported by the tank racks 78 on the inside of the door 65. The tanks 1 5 are positioned side by side to one another at the open end of the Ushaped evaporator 75 which gives a static cooling preference to the reservoir 14 without the use of a fan.The gas bottle 13, which is preferably a bottle of high pressure carbon dioxide gas, is supported by the bottle rack 79 on the inside of the door 65. The gas bottle 13 is supported closeiy adjacent to the axis of the hinges 77. The optional water pump 27 is in the cooling chamber 12 under the reservoir 14. The optional water vat 82 may replace the lowermost syrup tank 15 (if and when the vat 82 is used). The dispensing power valves 19, the servo 42 and the water valve 29 are all in the control chamber 80 of the door 65. The chamber cover 81 conceals the tubing, valves and various components in the control chamber 80 but lets vented propellant gas into the cooling chamber 12. The downwardly depressable actuators 66 are connected to pivot and push in the valve elements 48.The downward force resisted by the buttons gives no lateral force to move the apparatus 10 on the floor upon which it rests. The compressor 74 being under the reservoir 14 and laterally between the wheels 71, concentrates the weight of the apparatus 10 just forward of the wheels 71 and a child may easily grasp the spacer handles 72 and move the apparatus 10 about. The spacer handles 72 also serve to space the apparatus 10 off of a building wall for ensuring an upward convective air flow over the compressor 74 and condenser coil 70. Figures 2 and 3 are shown without tubing for purposes of clarity.

In Figure 4, the door 65 is shown opened and the syrup tank 1 5 and gas bottle 13 all swing out into a position of unobstructed access in which the bottle 13 can be removed and/or changed, and in which the tank covers 34 can be removed for easy filling without removal of the tanks 1 5 from the tank racks 78. The placement of the reservoir 14 and compressor 74 adjacent the back panel 69 each gives increased stability to the apparatus 10 when the door 65 is opened, so the apparatus will not fall over forward.

In Figure 5, the door 65 is shown closed with the nozzle cover 67 removed from the dispensing station 64, for access to the adjustable flow restrictors 54, and to the dispensing actuators 66 and the connections on the nozzle 67. The drip tray 65 is removable for disposal of its contents.

The valve elements 48 are removable out the front upon removal of the actuator buttons 66.

Figure 6 shows the water inlets enabling connection to virtually all municipal water supplies. The water supply line 23 comes through the back panel 69 and runs down the back panel 69 to one side of the condenser 70. The water line 23 has an external double check valve 24 to prevent reverse flow of water back into a municipal supply, a water filter 25 and a shut-off valve or disconnect 26. The water line 23 is very flexible plastic tubing and is held in place by a clamp 83 which frictionally grasps and holds the filter 25. When the filter 25 is held by the clamp 83, the plastic tubing is stretched taut. The water supply line 23 and its components are kept in place by the clamp 83 and are protected from damage by the spacer handles 72.Yet, the filter 25 may be pulled out of the clamp 83 and the line 23 and its components may be moved to a position of easy access for inspection, repair, connection or disconnection, cleaning of the filter 25 or shut-off.

A pneumatic power valve 1 9 is shown in detail in Figure 7. The spring-biased valve element 48 is shown in the normal position and is pushed rearward to the alternate dispensing position. The flow restrictor 49 helps with clampless tubing connections which are held on the pump 16, the servo 42, and the power valve 1 9 by friction.

The beverage disconnect 51 is shown in detail in Figure 8. The open disconnect 51 comes apart from the normally closed check 52 to disconnect the beverage dispensing line 50 from the further line 53. The adjustable flow restrictors 54 in the further lines 53 are of the needle valve type. The servo 42 and water valve 29 are detailed in Figure 9. Regardless of which servo propellant line 41 is pressurised, the hammer 43 is driven out to engage the anvil 44 and open the water valve 29.

The diaphragm 46 affects the OR logic device of the servo 42 by fluid tightly separating a servo chamber for each power valve 19 from other servo chambers.

A syrup tank 15 and pump 16 are detaiied in Figures 10, 11 and 12. The pump 16 is shown in its preferred location inside of the tank 1 5. The fill cover 34 covers the breather 35 which keeps the tank 1 5 non-pressurised. The beverage dispensing line 50 and the gas propellant line 39 both go through apertures in a top wall 61 of the tank and there are no apertures of any kind in the tank 1 5 so that there is no possibility of leaks. The pump 16 is retained on the bottom 62 of the tank 1 5 by the retainers 63 which are inward facing dimples that hold the pump 16 to the bottom 62.

The syrup pump 16 has its inlet 55 in fluid communication with the inside of the tank 1 5 and a filling check valve 57 automatically opens the inlet 55 to allow syrup flow into the pump 16 and automatically closes to prevent flow from the pump 1 6 back to the tank 1 5. The beverage outlet 56 is connected to the dispensing line 50 which has an open half of a disconnect 51 which easily connects to or disconnects from the normally closed check valve/disconnect 52. The bladder 59 divides the inside of the pump 16 into a pumping chamber 84 and propellant chamber 85. A propellant port 58 extends into the propellant chamber 85 and is connected to the propellant delivery line 39 which has a disconnect 40.An upward extending handle 60 enables manual insertion and removal of the pump 1 6 into and from the tank 15 through the top wall 61 when the cover 34 is removed.

In operation of the apparatus 10 and in the practice of the method of the present invention, a compressed gas bottle 13, having either carbon dioxide or compressed air is placed in the cooling chamber 12 and connected to the supply line 18.

The gas bottle 13 has a tamperproof preset pressure regulator 17 and the gas disconnect/ connector 20 hooks into an outlet of the regulator 17; no setting of pressures is required in the apparatus 10, and the regulator 1 7 goes with the bottle for refill and the regulator 1 7 is checked by the filler of the bottle 13. The regulator 17 maintains a predetermined and preset 1.75 kg/mm2 pressure. Upon such connection, all of the power valves 19 and the water reservoir 14 are supplied with gas pressure. The water supply line 23 is connected and opened and the reservoir 14 is filled with water to the desired level while a head space 31 of compressed carbon dioxide (or air) is maintained above the water.The water is sprayed into the reservoir 14 for carbonation, and a conventional porous stone (not shown) admits carbon dioxide gas at the bottom of the reservoir 14 if the apparatus 10 is making carbonated beverage. Each syrup tank 1 5 is filled with beverage syrup. Examples of beverage syrups, sometimes called concentrates, are concentrated syrups for the non-carbonated beverages such as fruit juices, punch, tea, flat wines, cold coffee and dairy beverages. Examples of syrups for carbonated drinks include colas, lemon-lime, orange, diet beverages and the like. If alcohoiic drinks are to be served, alcoholic beverages may be placed in the tank 15.During the initial fill of each tank 1 5, the retainers 63 hold the air filled pump 16 down on the bottom 21 so the pump 16 does not float to the top of the tank 1 5 and turn upside down. To fill the pump 16, an actuator 66 is depressed and a valve element 48 pushed in.

Compressed gas is supplied to the pump 16 which inflates the bladder 59 and expels air from the pumping chamber 84. The actuator 66 is released and the valve element 48 returns to its normal position and the pump propellant chamber 85 vents to atmosphere and the bladder 59 collapses as the beverage comes into the pumping chamber 84 under the influence of gravity from the non-pressurised tank 1 5. A second such priming actuator will usually purge air from the dispensing line 50 and the apparatus 10 is primed. It is necessary to likewise prime all of the pumps 16 and dispensing lines 50.When the refrigeration is turned on, the water reservoir 1 4 is given a preference to the refrigeration cooling by virtue of a downdraft on three sides, specifically left, back and right sides, and the much smaller and less important syrup tanks 1 5 are given what's left. When the apparatus 10 is cooled overnight, the water and syrups will both be cooled to the same temperature, just above freezing, for example 1 OC to 20C. After being filled and cooled down, the adjustable flow regulator 54 is manually set to give a correct ratio of syrup flow to water flow and the apparatus 10 is ready to dispense post-mix type beverages. The reservoir 14 and each tank 1 5 hold at least a day's supply of cooled water and syrup respectively.

In the dispensing of a serving of beverage, a selected actuator 66 is pushed down. The actuator 66 depresses a valve element 48. The depressed valve element fluidly connects the power valve inlets 35, 36 to the outlets 37,38 and thereby connects the gas source 13 to a respective pump 1 6 for a selected beverage, and to the servo 42. The power valve vent 47 is also closed. The servo 42 opens the water valve 29 and water begins to flow out of the nozzle 30 under the gas pressure which is maintained in the head space 31. When the valve element 48 is in the dispensing position, the gas source 13 is still fluidly connected to the reservoir 14 through the actuated power valve 1 9. Simultaneously and concurrently, the same gas pressure is applied upon the pump 16 which immediately begins expelling syrup up to and out of the nozzle 30.

When the serving is completed, the actuator button 66 is released and the spring-biased valve element 48 returns to its normal position which closes the inlets 35, 36 to the outlets 37, 38 and disconnects the compressed gas from the servo 42 and the respective pump 16, and which connects the outlets 37, 38 to the vent 47 and connects the pump 16 and servo 42 to atmosphere. Used propellant gas in the pump 1 6 and servo 42 immediately vents to atmosphere in the cooling chamber 12. The predetermined and identical head pressure in the servo 42 drops immediately because of the small volume, and it takes just a few seconds for the propellant chamber to empty as the pumping chamber 84 refills with syrup.The syrup in the pump 16 is always maintained at least as cool as the syrup in the tank 1 5 so the water and syrup are dispensed at substantially the same temperature and pressure. The flows of syrup and water are combined at the nozzle 30 to form the cold postmixed beverage be it non-carbonated with compressed air or carbonated with carbon dioxide gas. The transferring of syrup from the tank 1 5 to the pump 16 is done entirely within the tank 15 and there is no possibility of leakage or contamination.

In the apparatus 10 as shown, there are four actuators 66 and power valves 19, but only three syrup tanks 15 and pumps 1 6. The fourth actuator 66 and power valve 1 9 is for carbonated water, or cold water, only. One of the outlets 38 on the power valve 1 9 is connected to the servo 42, and the other outlet 37 is plugged. The fourth actuator 66 and power valve 1 9 is an effective option for cooled water, be it flat or carbonated.

For changing flavours, or cleaning or sanitising of the syrup tanks and pumps, the disconnects 40, 51 are disconnected and the tank 1 5 and pump 1 6 removed from the apparatus 10. The normally closed check valves 52 prevent seepage from the nozzle 30. The tank 1 5 and pump 1 6 are completely self-draining out of the fill opening and the dispensing line 50 when the tank 1 5 and pump 1 6 are inverted. The retainers 63 hold the pump 1 6 when the tank is inverted. The pump 16 is easily removed from the tank 1 5 and all tank 1 5 and pump 16 parts may be cleaned in a dishwasher.

The advantages of the apparatus 10 and method of the present invention are many. An outstanding feature is the silence of the apparatus 10. There is no cooling fan, no mechanical pushbutton or latches and the venting of compressed gas from the power valves 19, servo 42 and reservoir relief valve 32, and operation of the regulator 1 7 and the propellant and delivery lines and the pump 16 cannot be heard. The apparatus 10 is absolutely silent save for the compressor 74. The venting by the power valves 19 and servo 42 of propellant into the cooling chamber also seems to decrease frost build-up on the evaporator 75 because the used propellant gas is dry and it expels moisture bearing air. The apparatus 10 dispenses multiple flavours without the use of electric components or complicated parts.The pneumatic and liquid connections have been reduced to a minimum, and the failure of any of these connections will not result in spillage. The usual mess of pneumatic and beverage lines has been concealed. The apparatus 10 will work with carbonated or non-carbonated beverages. The apparatus 10 is a multiple flavour dispenser without electrical or mechanical switches, interlocks and mechanisms, and without multiple water valves and lines. The ratio of syrup to water is easily adjusted and is very accurate and repeatable because the syrup and water are at the same temperature and pressure.

The syrup tank 1 5 and pumps 1 6 are normally not pressurised; only the pumps are intermittently pressurised. If a pump 1 6 leaks, the leakage stays in the tank 1 5. The tank 1 5 has no apertures to leak. The water, of which more is used, gets priority to the refrigeration cooling. The tank 1 5 and pumps 1 6 are easily cleaned, and flavour changes are easy. The syrup never contacts metal and there is no chance for metallic off-tastes. The quality of beverage dispensed by the apparatus 10 is so excellent that the beverage can be depended upon to be comparable to beverage from a glass bottle. Most importantly, the apparatus 10 is usable in a domestic household because it is simple, it is sanitary and not messy, it is foolproof and extremely reliabie, it is leakproof, it is easily cleaned, it cannot explode, and it is easily diagnosed and repaired if not working as intended.

Claims

Claims 1. Cold beverage dispensing apparatus powerable by compressed gas, characterised in that it comprises in combination: a. a thermally insulated cabinet having a cooling chamber containing

1. a refrigeration evaporator,

2. a source of compressed gas at a predetermined regulated pressure,

3. a water reservoir,

4. a non-pressurised syrup tank, and

5. a normally non-pressurised syrup pump having a syrup inlet in fluid communication with the syrup tank; b. a normally closed water valve fluidly connected to an outlet of the reservoir; c. a dispensing nozzle on the outside of the cabinet, said nozzle being fluidly connected to the syrup pump and the water valve;; d. a pneumatic dispensing power valve having an inlet connected to the gas source, an outlet connected to the syrup pump, a vent to atmosphere, and a valve element having a normal position in which the valve inlet is closed and the outlet and the syrup pump are fluidly connected to the vent, said valve element being selectively movable to an alternate dispensing position in which the inlet is fluidly connected to the outlet and the gas source is fluidly connected to the syrup pump, and in which the vent is closed; and e. a manually operable dispensing actuator on the outside of the cabinet, said actuator being operatively connected to move the valve element to the dispensing position and to effect opening of the water valve.

2. The apparatus of Claim 1 ,further characterised in that the power valve vent is in the cooling chamber and the syrup tank has a breather to atmosphere within the cooling chamber.

3. The apparatus of Claim 1 or Claim 2, further characterised in that the water reservoir has a relief valve venting to atmosphere within the cooling chamber.

4. The apparatus of any one of Claims 1 to 3, further characterised in that the syrup pump is inside of the syrup tank.

5. The apparatus of Claim 4, further characterised in that there is a pump gas line connecting the power valve outlet to the syrup pump and a syrup dispensing line connecting a syrup pump outlet to the nozzle, said lines entering into the syrup tank through a top of said tank.

6. The apparatus of Claim 4 or Claim 5, further characterised in that the tank has a retainer holding the pump on a bottom of the syrup tank.

7. The apparatus of any one of Claims 4 to 6, further characterised in that the pump has an upward extending handle inside of the tank.

8. The apparatus of any one of Claims 4 to 7, further characterised in that: a. the syrup tank has a normally closed and removable filling cover on a top of the tank; b. a syrup dispensing line enters into the syrup tank through the top of the tank, and the syrup dispensing line has a disconnect outside of the tank and a normally closed check valve between the disconnect and the nozzle; c. a rack inside of the cabinet and in the cooling chamber supports the syrup tank, the syrup tank being disconnectible by separation of the syrup delivery line disconnect and being removable from the rack and the apparatus; and in which d. the syrup pump has a filling check valve inside of and adjacent to a bottom of the syrup tank, the syrup tank and pump and that part of the syrup delivery line between the pump and the disconnect all being completely self-draining when removed from the apparatus and inverted.

9. The apparatus of any one of Claims 1 to 8, further characterised in that there is provided an adjustable flow restrictor in a syrup line from the pump to the nozzle, said restrictor being on the outside of the cabinet and being immediately adjacent the nozzle, said restrictor being concealed within a nozzle cover on the outside of the cabinet.

10. The apparatus of any one of Claims 1 to 9, further characterised in that the power valve outlet has a flow restrictor upstream of a gas line connecting the power valve to the pump, said gas line being frictionally connected to both the power valve and the pump.

11. The apparatus of any one of Claims 1 to 10, further characterised in that there is a pneumatic opening servo operatively connected to the water valve, and a gas line fluidly connecting the servo to the power valve outlet.

12. The apparatus of Claim 11, further characterised in that the water valve servo is normally fluidly connected to the power valve vent.

13. The apparatus of any one of Claims 1 to 12, further characterised in that the cabinet has a normally closed door, said syrup tank being mounted upon an inside surface of the door.

14. The appartaus of Claim 13, further characterised in that the syrup tank has a normally closed and removable filling cover the tank and cover being pivotable out of the cooling chamber and being unobstructively accessible when the cabinet door is fully opened.

1 5. The apparatus of any one of Claims 1 to 14, further characterised in that the water reservoir has a circular profile when viewed from above, in which the evaporator has a U-shape when viewed from above, and in which the evaporator is larger than and is wrapped around at least half of the reservoir.

16. The apparatus of Claim 15, further characterised in that each leg of the U-shaped evaporator is larger than a diameter of the reservoir, said reservoir being completely within the U-shaped section when viewed from above.

1 7. The apparatus of any one of Claims 1 to 16, further characterised in that there is provided a pair of wheels along and under a lower edge of a back panel of the cabinet, a pair of spacer handles projecting rearward from adjacent an upper edge of the cabinet back panel, a refrigeration condenser on the back panel and in between the wheels and the spacer handles, and a water supply line extending through and down the outside of the cabinet back panel.

18. The apparatus of Claim 17, further characterised in that there is provided a cabinet door which comprises a front side of the cabinet, said nozzle being mounted on an outside surface of the door.

19. The apparatus of Claim 17 or Claim 18, further characterised in that the water reservoir is mounted in said cabinet adjacent to the back panel and forward of the wheels.

20. The apparatus of Claim 19, further characterised in that there is provided a refrigeration compressor laterally between the wheels and directly under the water reservoir.

21. The apparatus of any one of Claims 17 to 20, further characterised in that the dispensing actuator is a downwardly depressible push button.

22. The apparatus of any one of Claims 1 7 to 21, further characterised in that there is provided a water filter and a water shut-off in the water supply line and in between the wheels and the spacer handles.

23. The apparatus of any one of Claims 1 to 22, further characterised in that the compressed gas source is a supply of carbon dioxide gas.

24. The apparatus of Claim 23, further characterised in that the supply comprises a carbon dioxide bottle and a pre-set carbon dioxide pressure regulator mounted in a gas bottle rack within the cooling chamber.

25. The apparatus of Claim 24, further characterised in that the gas bottle, the regulator and the bottle rack are mounted on an inside surface of a cabinet door.

26. The apparatus of Claim 25, further characterised in that the bottle, regulator and bottle rack are immediately adjacent a hinge upon which the door is pivotally mounted.

27. The apparatus of any one of Claims 1 to 26, for multi-flavours, further characterised in that there is provided a. a plurality of said syrup tanks; b. a like plurality of said syrup pumps, each pump having its syrup inlet in fluid communication with a respective syrup tank; c. a pneumatic valve opening servo operatively connected to the water valve; d. a like plurality of said power valves, each power valve having its outlet fluidly connected to a respective syrup pump and to the servo.

28. The apparatus Claim 27, further characterised in that there is a carbon dioxide gas supply line connecting the gas source to a gas filled head space above a water level in the water reservoir, said gas line extending through the power valves, said gas source being a source of carbon dioxide gas.

29. The apparatus of Claim 27 or Claim 28, further characterised in that the power valves are connected in series.

30. The apparatus of any one of Claims 27 to 29, further characterised in that each power valve has a first and second said outlet, the first outlet being in fluid communication with a respective syrup pump, and a second outlet being in fluid communication with the servo.

31. The apparatus of any one of Claims 27 to 30, further characterised in that the servo is mounted inside of a cabinet door.

32. The apparatus of any one of Claims 27 to 31 further characterised in that each power valve is individually connected to the servo, said servo having a pneumatic OR logic mechanism.

33. The apparatus of Claim 32, further characterised in that the servo has a servo chamber for each power valve, and barriers fluid tightly separating the servo chambers from each other.

34. The apparatus of any one of Claims 27 to 33, further characterised in that there is provided a carbonated water power valve having a similar inlet, vent and valve element, said carbonated water power valve having an outlet connected only to the servo, said gas source being a source of carbon dioxide gas.

35. The apparatus of any one of Claims 1 to 34, further characterised in that there is provided a water pump for filling the reservoir against the head pressure, said water pump being within the cooling chamber and underneath the evaporator.

36. A method of dispensing cold post-mixed beverage, characterised in that it includes the steps of a. cooling a reserve of water to just above freezing, b. cooling a tankfull of syrup at ambient pressure to substantially the same temperature as the cooled water, c. pressurising the water with a head of compressed gas at a regulated predetermined pressure; d. transferring by gravity a fraction of the syrup in the syrup tank into a normally nonpressurised compressed gas powerable syrup pump and ?naintaining the syrup in the pump at least as cool as syrup in the syrup tank;; e. concurrently dispensing cooled water and syrup at substantially the same pressure and temperature by (i) fluidly connecting the comrpessed gas to the syrup pump and propelling syrup from the pump to a dispensing nozzle with the head pressure while (ii) opening a water valve and propelling water with and under the head pressure to the dispensing nozzle; f. combining the flows of water and syrup to form a cold post-mixed beverage; and g. terminating dispensing by closing the water valve and disconnecting the compressed gas pressure from the syrup pump, and then venting used compressed gas from the pump and into a cooling chamber within which the water reservoir, syrup tank and syrup pump are commonly cooled.

37. The method of Claim 36, further characterised in that the step of transferring is done entirely within the tankfull of syrup.

38. The method of Claim 36 or Claim 37, further characterised in that the post-mixed beverage is carbonated and in which the compressed gas is carbon dioxide gas.

39. The method of Claim 38, further characterised in that there is provided the step of fluidly connecting the carbon dioxide gas at the head pressure to a servo for opening the water valve, and effecting pneumatic opening of the water valve.

40. The method of Claim 39, further characterised in that there is provided the step of simutlaneousiy connecting the carbon dioxide gas to the syrup pump and the servo.

41.The method of Claim 39 or Claim 40, further characterised in that there is provided the step of venting used carbon dioxide gas from the servo into the cooling chamber.

42. The method of Claim 39, Claim 40 or Claim 41, further characterised in that there is provided the step of terminating dispensing includes the step of disconnecting the carbon dioxide head pressure from the servo.

43. A pneumatically powerable multi-flavour post-mix carbonated beverage dispensing apparatus characterised in that it comprises in combination: a. a source of carbon dioxide gas at a predetermined regulated pressure; b. a source of cold carbonated water under pressure; c. a plurality of non-pressurised syrup storage tanks, each syrup tank being sized to hold a quantity of syrup sufficient for dispensing a plurality of servings of post-mix carbonated beverage, each syrup tank having a breather to atmosphere; d. a like plurality of pneumatically powerable syrup pumps, each pump having a syrup inlet in fluid communication with a respective syrup tank; e. a normally closed water valve having an inlet in fluid communication with the carbonated water source;; f. a dispensing nozzle connected by a water dispensing line to an outlet of the water valve, and to an outlet of a respective syrup pump by a syrup dispensing line; g. a pneumatic servo for opening the water valve; h. a like plurality of pneumatic power valves for dispensing, each power valve having

1. an inlet in fluid communicatidn with the carbon dioxide source,

2. an outlet in fluid communication with a respective syrup pump and with the servo,

3. a vent to atmosphere, and

4. a valve element movable from a normal position in which the inlet is closed to the outlet and the outlet is fluidly connected to the vent, to an alternate dispensing position in which the inlet is fluidly connected to the outlet and the outlet is closed to the vent; and i. a dispensing actuator connected to move a selected valve element from the normal position to the dispensing position.

44. The apparatus of Claim 43, further characterised in that each syrup tank has therein a respective syrup pump.

45. The apparatus of Claim 43 or Claim 44, further characterised in that a carbon dioxide gas supply line connects the gas source to the water source, and in which the supply line extends through the power valves.

46. The apparatus of Claim 45, further characterised in that the power valves are connected in series in the gas line.

47. The apparatus of Claim 45 or Claim 46, further characterised in that each power valve has first and second said inlets, a first inlet of a first power valve being directly connected to the gas source, a second inlet in the last power valve being connected to the head space, a second inlet of the first power valve being connected to the first inlet of the next valve and so on until a second inlet of the next to the last power valve is connected to a first inlet of the last power valve.

48. The apparatus of any one of Claims 43 to 47, further characterised in that each power valve has a first and second said outlet, the first outlet being in fluid communication with a respective syrup pump, and a second outlet being in fluid communication with the servo.

49. The apparatus of any one of Claims 43 to 48, further characterised in that each power valve is individually connected to the servo, said servo having a pneumatic OR logic mechanism.

50. The apparatus of any one of Claims 43 to 49, further characterised in that there is provided a carbonated water power valve having a similar said inlet, vent and valve element, and also having an outlet in fluid communication only with the servo.

51. Apparatus for dispensing beverage substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.