IL100735A - Installation for the preparation of carbonated flavoured beverages - Google Patents

Description

o ia D^pnaia τηκργ» η: πί7 ro-iy» NSTALLATION FOR THE PREPARATION OF CARBONATED FLAVOURED BEVERAGES AN INSTALLATION FOR THE PREPARATION OF CARBONATED FLAVOURED BEVERAGES FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to installations used for the preparation of carbonated beverages .

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Carbonated beverages are generally prepared by admixing plain water and C02 gas to make up carbonated or soda water and adding thereto flavoured syrup in a suitable proportion, the mixture then being dispensed by a valve directly to cups or glasses to be served, for instance in bars, hotels, restaurants and the like (in contradistinction to such beverages being served in bottles ) · Such installations thus include a vessel of pressurized C02; a water source; an apparatus (including a turbine wheel or similar agitating means ) for mixing the gas with the water to produce carbonated water; pipe means for supplying the carbonated water to a consumer dispensing valve; exchangeable containers or vessels of flavoured syrup which are supplied by the syrup manufacturer; and pipe means for feeding the syrup to the dispensing valve.

The pressure of the C02 gas is conventionally employed to discharge the syrup through a syphon tube dipped into the syrup container and leading to the dispensing valve as aforesaid, so that upon opening the valve the two liquids become mixed and dispensed in suitable proportions .

It is well known with respect to these installations, that even after the complete consumption of the syrup from the container, the consumer valve is still operable, and can continue to dispense soda water. This is regarded as a severe disadvantage since, customarily, the owner or operator of the dispensing installation is normally licensed to only serve flavored beverages.

Several attempts have been made to remedy this situation. According to one method, use has been made of the fact that the syrup is usually coloured, so that its flow can be detected through a transparent pipe section? once a change of colour is detected — by suitable detector devices or actually upon the disappearance of coloured fluid flowing through the pipe — the detector is activated and the dispensing system disabled.

However, this method fails to function where the syrup itself is colourless. In addition, difficulties have been encountered in resetting the system upon resumption of the supply of coloured syrup, once the empty vessel is replaced.

Another proposed method included the use of pressure gauges , installed within or in direct communication with the syrup vessel, in order to detect a pressure drop in the system.

However, this method has proved to be unsuccessful because the difference in pressure between carbon-dioxide dispensing the syrup and only dispensing carbonated water is very small and therefore could not be reliably detected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is thus a major object of the invention to provide a solution to the problem of shutting off the dispensing of carbonated water upon exhaustion of syrup from the syrup containing vessels in a straightforward, reliable and low cost manner.

It is a further object of the invention to provide self-sealing valve means within the syrup vessel responsive to the dropping of the syrup level below a predetermined level .

It is a still further object of the invention that such self-closing valves be simple, float-T operated devices associated with the lowermost end of the syphon tube.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a pressure responsive element or device for disabling the beverage dispensing device upon the closure of the syphon tube by the self-closing valve.

According to the invention there is provided an improvement to installations for the preparation of carbonated flavoured beverages by admixing flavoured liquid syrup with carbonated water, the installation comprising a pressurized C02 source, a water source, means for dissolving the C02 in the water thereby forming the carbonated water, means for supplying the carbonated water to a dispensing valve, a vessel containing syrup held under pressure, a syphon tube having an inlet end submerged in the flavoured syrup vessel and an outlet end outside the said vessel, and conduit means for supplying the syrup from the syphon tube outlet to the dispensing valve, whereby upon the opening of the valve the syrup and the carbonated water become admixed and dispensed for consumption, the improvement of providing a liquid level responsive, self-closing valve operatively associated with the inlet end of syphon tube such that when the syrup drops below a predetermined level the syphon tube is cut-off from the syrup, means for monitoring pressure in the said syrup supply conduit means, and means for disabling the dispensing valve upon sensing a pressure drop in the syrup supply conduit- According to one preferred embodiment of the invention the self-closing valve comprises a sealing flap mounted on a fulcrum bar at the lower end of the syphon tube, and a float coupled to the bar such that the flap becomes raised to seal the lower end of the syphon tube upon the syrup dropping to a preset level .

According to a second preferred embodiment of the invention the self-closing valve comprises a ball valve member freely displaceable within the inlet end of the syphon tube, an opening formed in the wall of the tube upstream of the valve member, a ball valve seat ' provided upstream of the opening, and a float having an inner surface conforming the outer profile of the tube, slidable along the tube and adapted to restrict/close the said opening as the liquid drops below a preset level .

According to a third embodiment of the invention the said inlet end of the syphon tube comprises a flared-out portion defining a circumferential conical surface with at least one opening leading to the interior of the tube, and the self-closing valve comprises a toroidal float slidable along the tube and having an inner conical surface complementary to the tube surface such that the said opening in the syphon tube becomes closed by the float upon the syrup dropping to a preset level .

The pressure monitoring means comprises an elastic sleeve dressed on the said conduit, causing a portion of the sleeve overlying the opening to inflate and swell under the normal operating pressure within the liquid, a NC micro-switch placed in juxtaposition to the said sleeve portion so that the swell depresses an operator element of the switch thus enabling the operation of the dispensing spout when said normal pressure prevails in the conduit and disabling the operation upon occurrence of a pressure drop within the said conduit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

The invention will be more clearly understood in light of the ensuing description of some preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of the installation for the preparation of carbonated flavoured beverages, including the improvement provided according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a syrup containing vessel; Fig. 3 is a detail showing one embodiment of the self-closing valve according to the present invention; Fig. 4 is a detail showing a second embodiment thereof .

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a third embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a bottom view of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a pressure responsive element in the spout disabling state; Fig. 8 is a top view of Fig. 7; and Fig. 9 is a section taken along line IX-IX of Fig. 8, showing the element in its normal spout enabling state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a general layout of the installation, which is conventional except for the improvement of providing a self-closing valve within the syrup vessel in a manner as described in greater detail below.

Hence, the installation comprises a water source designated 10, an apparatus 12 for admixing and dissolving carbon-dioxide gas supplied from a pressure vessel 14 with the water from the source 10. The soda water flows via conduit 16 through dispensing valve or spout 20 normally electrically operated by an operator lever 22 when pushed by the consumer cup 24.

The pressurized C02 vessel 14 is connected by conduit 26 to a syrup containing vessel 28. As schematically shown, the pressure applied by the C02 gas causes the syrup to become dispensed through syphon tube 30, and therefrom, by conduit 32 to the other side of the dispensing spout 20.

It will thus be readily appreciated that in conventional systems should the syrup become exhausted from the vessel 28, a direct gas connection would be established between dispensing spout 20 and vessel 14. This, however, would not prevent continued use of the system for preparing and dispensing soda water as described above, without admixture of the flavoured syrup .

This, as explained above, is against the beverage manufacturers ' interests and is obviated by the improvement proposed according to the present invention, as will now be described in greater detail with reference to Figs . 2 and 3.

The syrup vessel 28 is generally conventional in the respect that it comprises a rigid shell 40, usually made of stainless steel, a plastic base 42 and a plastic rim 44. There is provided a first quick coupling device 46 for connecting the vessel to the carbon-dioxide source (not shown), and a second quick coupling device 48 connectable to conduit 32 (Fig. 1). The syphon tube 30 extends inside the shell 40 and is provided with a self-closing liquid level responsive valve designated 50, further details of which will be given in conjunction with Fig. 3.

A releasable lid 52 with a suitable closing bridge 54, tightened by means of butterfly bolt 56, or any other conventional closing means, is provided as shown .

As better seen in Fig. 3, the syphon tube 30 is provided at its bottom open end with a flap valve device 50 which comprises a fulcrum bar 60 with a valve flap 62 and seal disc 63 at one end, and float 64 at the opposite end. The bar is thus pivotable about fulcrum pin 66 between an open position as shown, namely where the liquid syrup level is anywhere above the float 64 — and a closed position whereby the disc 63 closes the valve seat designated 70 formed in valve mounting bushing 72.

In operation, when the level of the syrup drops sufficiently, the valve seat 70 closes. As a consequence of being disconnected from the C02 pressure source 14, the pressure within the tube 30 and the conduit 32 falls abruptly.

Referring back to Fig. 1, it will be noted that a pressure sensitive element 80 is associated with the line 32 and is electrically coupled to and controls the operation of the dispensing spout 20. Therefore, once such pressure drop is sensed, the valve 20 will become disabled and will prevent further dispensing of the soda water supplied, via the line 16.

A resetting device 82 is provided to allow for the normal operation of spout 20 to be resumed once vessel 28 is replaced.

In the embodiment of Fig. 4, a different type of float valve is shown. The syphon tube, designated 90, is provided with a conical, widened portion 92 having one or more openings 94 leading to the interior of the tube 90. A hollow, toroidal float 96, preferably made of stainless steel, longitudinally slidable on tube 90 is provided. A conical surface 98 is defined at the lower inner side of the float 96, exactly matching the cone-shaped surface of the widened portion 92. Thus, when the float becomes seated upon surface 92, openings 94 become sealed thereby causing the pressure to drop and thus shut off the supply of soda water.

In the embodiment of Fig. 5, there is shown the bottom end of the syphon tube, marked 100, to which an alternative, float operated valve assembly, generally denoted 102, is mounted.

The valve 102 comprises a tubular fitting 104, press-fitted to the tube 100, defining a passage 106. Preferably, the diameter of the passage 106 is somewhat smaller than the inner diameter of the tube 100 (the reason for which is described below).

A valve seat 108 is provided at the lower end of the passage 106, which may be constituted by an O-ring 110 simply seated around an inner shoulder 112.

The extended, thinner wall portion 104' of the fitting 104 has one or more openings 114 therearound; its bottom end is formed with abutment(s) 116, against which a ball valve member rests (when in the inoperative, i.e. open, position).

A cylindrical float 120, made of a lightweight material, is freely slidable between a lifted position (delimited by stop ring 122), and a lower position (shown in broken lines in Fig. 5) where the float rests against stop ring 124.

As long as the float 120 is held in suspension by it's buoyancy in the liquid syrup, the flow into the passage 106 and up to the syphon tube 100 continues unrestricted both through the openings 114 and through the gaps 126, between the abutments 116, below the ball 118. However, as the level of the liquid descends, the inner surface of the float 120 gradually covers the openings 114. The consequent pressure difference, as well as the impact of the upwards directed flow develops a suction force sufficient to overcome the weight of the ball 118 (although made of steel or material of a specific gravity greater than of water!) and sweeps it against the valve seat 108. The tube 100 thus becomes effectively sealed.

It is partly for this reason that the passage 106 is made more restricted (of a smaller diameter) than the tube 100, as mentioned above.

The openings 114 need not - and cannot - be hermetically sealed by the float 120, but the drastic restriction of the flow therethrough will still suffice to cause the desired response, that is, to force the ball 118 to become lifted into it's sealing position.

Referring now to Figs . 7 - 9 , a novel design of a pressure control device ( "pressostat " ) is proposed, for disabling the operation of the beverage dispensing valve or spout 20 (see Fig. 1) once a significant pressure drop, as a result of the closure of the valve 102, is sensed along the pipe line 32 (see Fig. 1).

The pressostat generally denoted 130 is conveniently made as an "on-line" unit and comprises a tube 132 with flexible pipe connection sections 132a and 132b at each of it's ends, and a central opening 132c. An elastic tubular sleeve 134 is tightly dressed over the tube 132, externally covering the opening 132c.

A bushing 136 is fitted over the sleeve 134, one side thereof being removed to present a flat mounting surface 136a.

A micro-switch 138, with terminals 139 and 139' are provided, seated within a cavity formed in the surface 136a, and having it's operator element (button) 138 projec ing in the direction of and in register with the opening 132c, and terminating a short distance from the sleeve 134.

A recess 136c is made around the button 138a.

The switch housing 138 is affixed by a bracket 140 and screws 142.

The operation of the unit 130 as a flow pressure responsive device will be readily understood. As long as the pressure within the tube 132 is sufficiently high, the sleeve portion overlying the opening 132c inflates (see Fig.9) physically depressing the button 138a. The switch 138 is now in its making position (being of the normally closed type). The swelled or bulging portion of the sleeve 134 will allow the switch to open upon a drop in pressure within the tube 132, which, in turn, will disable the electrically operated spout 20. Thus, soda water will no longer be dispensed.

It will now be readily appreciated that automatic closure of the dispensing syphon tube, in direct relation to and upon lowering of the syrup level, provides an efficient and extremely simple solution to the problem of continued use even after depletion of -Jthe. flavoured syrup, of a conventional installation, such as in Fig. 1. As noted, this problem results in the dispensing of soda water, thereby depriving the beverage manufacturer of his profit and causes the user of the installation to be in breach of his obligation toward the manufacturer.

Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many variations, modifications and changes may be applied to the liquid lever responsive valve and/or the pressostat device of the invention as herein exemplified without departing from its scope as defined in and by the appended claims.

Claims (1)

100735/2 WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An installation for the preparation of carbonated flavoured beverages by admixing flavoured liquid syrup with carbonated water, comprising a pressurized C02 source, a water source, means for dissolving the C02 in the water thereby forming the carbonated water, means for supplying the carbonated water to a dispensing valve, a vessel containing syrup held under pressure, a syphon tube having an inlet end, submerged in the flavoured syrup vessel, and conduit means for supplying the syrup from the syphon tube outlet to the dispensing valve, whereby upon the opening of the valve the syrup and the consumption, characterized by a liquid level responsive, self-closing valve operatively associated with the inlet end of syphon tube such that when the syrup drops below a predetermined level the syphon tube is cut-off from the syrup, means for monitoring pressure in the said syrup supply conduit means, and means for disabling the dispensing valve upon sensing a pressure drop in the syrup supply conduit. 100735/2 The installation of Claim 1 wherein the self-closing valve comprises a sealing flap mounted on a fulcrum bar at the lower end of the syphon tube, and a float coupled to the bar such that the flap seals the lower end of the syphon tube upon the syrup dropping to a preset level. The installation of Claim 2 wherein the said inlet end of the syphon tube comprises a flared-out portion defining a circumferential conical surface with at least one opening leading to the interior of the tube, and the self-closing valve comprises a toroidal float slidable along the tube and having an inner conical surface complementary to the tube surface such that the said opening in the syphon tube becomes closed by the float upon the syrup dropping to a preset level . The installation of Claim 1 wherein the self-closing valve comprises a ball valve member freely displaceable within the inlet end of the syphon tube, an opening formed in the wall of the tube upstream of the valve member, a ball valve seat provided upstream of the opening, and a float having an inner surface conforming the outer profile of the tube, slidable along the tube and adapted to restrict/close the said opening as the liquid drops below a preset level. The installation of Claim 1 wherein the pressure monitoring means comprises an elastic sleeve dressed on the said conduit, causing a portion of 100735/2 The sleeve overlying the opening to inflate and swell under the normal operating pressure within the liquid, a NC micro-switch placed in juxtaposition to the said sleeve portion so that the swell depresses an operator element of the switch thus enabling the operation of the dispensing spout when said normal pressure prevails in the conduit and disabling the operation upon occurrence of a pressure drop within the said conduit. A syrup vessel for use in installations for the preparation of carbonated flavoured beverages as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the vessel contains an immersed syphon tube with a lower open end, a float operated valve means mounted on the tube and operable so as to seal the open end thereof upon the syrup dropping to a predetermined low level . An installations for the preparation of carbonated flavoured beverages substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings . A syrup vessel for use in installations for the preparation of carbonated flavoured beverages substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. For the Applicant, DANIEL FREIMANN, Advocate -16-s