GB2267891A - Controlling beverage dispense according to water supply - Google Patents

Abstract

Beverage dispense head 27, Fig. 1, will not dispense a mixture of syrup and soda or still water if pressure sensor 31 in the head detects low still water pressure or if sensor 32 at the head detects an absence of soda water. Sensor detection is indicated by one or more lamps 33. Only sensor 32 may be used. In sensor 32, Fig. 3, water between probes 35, 36 completes an electric circuit which may include a time delay to ensure that local bubbles do not issue a spurious signal. Probe 36 can be located in cavity 37 which will retain water briefly as gas passes in the pipe. A droplet trap may be positioned near the probes. <IMAGE>

Description

Water Sensor Arrangements for Beverage Dispense The present invention relates to water sensor arrangements for beverage dispense.

A post-mix beverage dispense system includes a dispense head in which beverage syrup/concentrate is mixed with carbonated or still water. The quality of the presented drink is highly dependent upon brix or the ratio between syrup and water. Thus, it is important that water flow which is dependent upon pressure is maintained otherwise too much syrup in relation to water will be dispensed, or if the water supply fails completely syrup only may be dispensed.

A post-mix beverage dispense system consequently includes a water pressure sensor to detect reduced or lack of water pressure or flow. If there is no or reduced water pressure or flow, the dispense head is incapacitated and/or a warning lamp illuminated.

Figure 1 schematically illustrates a traditional water pressure sensing arrangement for a post-mix beverage dispense system. A carbonator 1 is fed with C02 gas through pipe 3 and with still water through pipe 5. The carbonator 1 provides soda or carbonated water to a dispense head 7 through a pipe 6. Still water is provided to the dispense head 7 through pipe 8 and may be pressure boosted by a pump/ check valve 9 in the carbonator 1. The dispense head 7 mixes the soda water or still water with beverage syrup through a dispense nozzle 10 into a cup 11. A water pressure sensor 12 is arranged in the water supply of the carbonator 1 to sense input water pressure to the carbonator. If the sensed water pressure is below a pre-determined level, the dispense head 7 is incapacitated and a warning lamp 14 illuminated.

A problem with this traditional water pressure sensing arrangement is that the sensor 12 is quite remote from the head 7. Thus, installation of this traditional sensor arrangement is overly complicated and expensive.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a water sensor arrangement that substantially overcomes the above problem of remote sensor position.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a water sensor arrangement for beverage dispense, the arrangement including a water pressure sensor and a water present sensor, the water pressure sensor being arranged to detect still water pressure at a still input to a beverage dispense head and the water present sensor being arranged to sense soda water presence at a soda input to the beverage dispense head, both the water pressure sensor and the water present sensor being coupled to control means arranged to control dispense through the dispense head dependent upon water pressure detected by the water pressure sensor and upon whether water presence is detected by the water present sensor.

Preferably, the water present sensor operates upon electrical conductance, photo-absorption or any other difference between water and gas.

In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention there is provided a water sensor arrangement for carbonated beverage dispense, the arrangement including a water present sensor arranged to sense soda water presence at a soda input to a beverage dispense head and being coupled to control means to provide an indication of whether soda water is present, the control means dependent upon the indication whether soda water is present being arranged to control dispense of carbonated beverage through the head.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawing.

Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of a water sensor arrangement in accordance with the present invention. As with Figure 1, a carbonator 21 is fed with C02 gas by pipe 23 and water by pipe 25.

However, there is no equivalent sensor 12 (Figure 1).

A dispense head 27 again receives both soda or carbonated water through pipe 26 and still water through pipe 28. Furthermore, syrup and either soda or still water are mixed through a nozzle 22 and dispensed into a cup 19. A pump/check valve arrangement 29 may again boost the still water pressure.

In the present sensor arrangement there are two sensing elements both mounted in, or about, the dispense head 27. A liquid pressure sensor 31 and a liquid present sensor 32.

The liquid pressure sensor 31 senses water pressure for still water upon entry to the head 27.

Furthermore, as the still water supply can be the same as the water supply to the carbonator 21, the sensor 31 may also detect water entry pressure to the carbonator 21. A reduction or loss of water pressure detected by sensor 31 will be reported to control means (not illustrated) which shall incapacitate the dispense head 27 to prevent dispense and/or illuminate a warning lamp 33. The sensor 31 may be any type of mechanical, electrical or electronic pressure sensing arrangement provided the control means can be suitably stimulated.

It will be understood by persons skilled in the art, that by mounting the sensor 31 in the dispense head 27 it is possible that water pressure may be maintained even though supply pressure has been lost. This may be due to the containment effect of check valves such as that which may be used in the pump/check valve arrangement 29. It will also be understood that water authorities may require use of check valves to protect the general water system.

Thus, if there is a water supply failure that is not detected by sensor 31 there is provided the water present sensor 32 positioned in the soda water pipe 26.

The water present sensor 32 does not detect pressure, as the CO2 gas pressure from the carbonator would activate the sensor 32 even though there was no soda water present. Thus, the sensor 32 depends upon some physical or possibly chemical property of soda water such as conductivity or photo-absorbance compared to CO2 gas.

Figure 3 schematically illustrates an example of the water present sensor 32. The electrical conductance R between two probes 35, 36 is measured.

If soda water is present then there is an electrical circuit between the probes 35, 36, whilst if there is only C02 gas between the probes 35, 36 there is no electrical circuit. A similar arrangement can be envisaged between a light source and a photo-detector arranged to determine the slight change in light absorption/transmission between soda water and C02 gas.

The sensor 32 as with sensor 31 instructs the control means (not shown) that there is insufficient or no soda water present in the pipe 26. Furthermore, as with sensor 31, if the control means is instructed by the sensor 32 that there is insufficient or no soda water present the dispense head 27 is incapacitated and/or the warning lamp 33 illuminated. It will be appreciated that a distinction may be made by the control means between sensor 31 and sensor 32, in that if sensor 32 instructs that there is insufficient or no soda water in pipe 26, it is likely that that pipe 26 will require purging of CO2 gas before the head 27 can return to service. Thus there may be two warning lamps 33, one of each sensor 31, 32 or different modes of illumination.

The combination of sensors 31, 32 provides an effective water sensor system mounted in the dispense head 27 to enable with the control means that beverage is only dispensed when there is adequate water pressure both for still and soda water. If there is inadequate water pressure the water flow rate is altered and the proportion between syrup and water is detrimentally changed.

It is possible that limited CO2 gas bubbles may 'break out' in the pipe 26 and it may be necessary to ensure these bubbles do not incapacitate the head 27 when detected by the sensor 32. This may be achieved by incorporating a time delay in the control means to ensure that insufficient or no soda water must be detected by sensor 32 for several seconds.

Alternatively, the probe 35 may be recessed to provide a cavity 37 in which soda water can dwell after the pipe 26 is empty. Obviously, by a venturi suction effect as CO2 gas passes the cavity 37 this 'dwell' soda water will be sucked out eventually but there will be a 'mechanical' time delay. Advantage can be taken of this 'mechanical' time delay, if the second probe 36 is moved from its illustrated position (Figure 3) to be mounted in a wall of the cavity 37.

It is possible that droplets of soda water may pass between probes 35, 36 giving the effect that there is an electrical circuit. This may be prevented by appropriate positioning of the probes 35, 36 and/or by providing some kind of droplet trap such as a sponge.

Although it would be most convenient to use both a water pressure sensor and water present sensor as described above, in a system for carbonated water post-mix only there would be no still water inlet.

Consequently the water present sensor alone may be used.

Claims (7)

CLAIMS:

1. A water sensor arrangement for beverage dispense, the arrangement including a water pressure sensor and a water present sensor, the water pressure sensor being arranged to detect still water pressure at a still input to a beverage dispense head and the water present sensor being arranged to sense soda water presence at a soda input to the beverage dispense head, both the water pressure sensor and the water present sensor being coupled to control means arranged to control dispense through the dispense head dependent upon water pressure detected by the water pressure sensor and upon whether water presence is detected by the water present sensor.

2. A water sensor arrangement for carbonated beverage dispense, the arrangement including a water present sensor arranged to sense soda water presence at a soda input to a beverage dispense head and being coupled to control means to provide an indication of whether soda water is present, the control means dependent upon the indication whether soda water is present being arranged to control dispense of carbonated beverage through the head.

3. A water sensor arrangement as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein the water present sensor senses water presence in comparison with gas by differences in electrical conductance or photo-absorption.

4. A water sensor arrangement as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein a time delay is provided to ensure transient changes in still water and/or carbonated water pressure do not adversely effect dispense.

5. A water sensor arrangement as claimed in any proceeding claim wherein either water sensor is located within a cavity such that water dwells in the cavity for a period of time until sucked out by gas passing the cavity and then the sensor senses no water.

6. A water sensor arrangement is claimed in any proceeding claim wherein a droplet trap is located about the water sensors.

7. A water sensor arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.