US1246804A

US1246804A - Apparatus for dispensing beverages.

Info

Publication number: US1246804A
Application number: US11992816A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jerone Josiah Edmundson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1916-09-13
Filing date: 1916-09-13
Publication date: 1917-11-13
Anticipated expiration: 1934-11-13

Description

J. I. EDMUNDSON.

APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING BEVERAGES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 13. I9I6.

Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

JEBONE JOSIAH EDMUNDSON, 0E BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING BEVERAGES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedNov. 13, 1917.

Application filed September 13, 1916. Serial No. 119,928.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JERONE JOSIAH En- MUNDSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Birmingham, in the county or Jefferson and State of Alabama, have 1nvented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Dispensing Beverages, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing beverages, and more particularly to a relatively small portable apparatus designed to keep or dispense liquids or beverages at uniform consistency and temperature.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a simple and practical apparatus of the above general character wh ch will be cheap to manufacture and having relatively few parts, thereby permitting the same to be easily and quickly assembled.

Another object is to provide an apparatus of the above general character so constructed as to keep the beverages contained therein at substantially uniform temperature and consistency for a reasonable length of time.

Other objects will be in part obvious from the annexed drawings and in part indicated in connection therewith by the following analysis of this invention.

This invention accordingly cons1sts in the features of construction, combination of parts and in the unique relations of the members, and in the relative proportioning and disposition thereof, all as more completely outlined herein.

To enable others skilled in the art so fully to comprehend the underlying features thereof that they may embody the same by the numerous modifications in structure and relation contemplated by this invention, drawings depicting several forms have been annexed as a part of this disclosure, and in such drawings like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout all the views, in wl11c h Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4: are sect onal elevational views. partly diagrammatic, of modified forms of apparatus.

Fig. 5 is a detailed sectional view of one of the parts shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the same part, and

Fig. '7 is a diagrammatlc transverse sectional plan View showing the preferred form or arrangement for a multicell container. v

In order to obtain a clearer understanding of the present invention it may bei stated that the present apparatus is particularly designed for dispensing what may be known as soft mixed drinks, such as ginger ale, coca-cola and the like, and may be made relatively small, compact, and portable, convenient for automobile parties, picnics, and the like. On the other hand, however, it may be made of a larger size, particularly adapted for soda fountain trade, in which the containers of the mixed drinks are delivered every three or four days, and guaranteed to keep cold for a similar length of time. The delivered contents are then placed within an outer container or cabinet and dispensed in a manner as will appear clear from the following dcscription:

Referring now to Fig. 1, 10 denotes a casing of substantially rectangular shape, preferably double wall, and provided between the walls with suitable packing material 11, such as mineral wool. An air-tight cover ,or opening closure 12 is provided at the top, having a bushing 18 into which an outlet pipe 14 projects. The other part 15 of the outlet pipe is provided with a tap or faucet 16 adapted to withdraw the liquid contents from a receptacle 17 'mounted within the container 10. Supporting legs 18 hold the container 17 in spaced relation with respect to the walls of the chamber or casing '10. This receptacle 17, which is adapted to contain the beverages to be dis: pensed, is provided with a pressure regulator valve 20. The cover 12 is also provided with an air valve 21. It is of course to be understood that the receptacle 17 may be degree with the beverage to be dispensed and placed within the container or casing 10 after removing the inlet door 12. The pipes; I

14 and 15 are connected and air is forced into the interior of the casing 10 through valve 21 to any desired pressure. Very cold air is preferably used in order to keep the temperature of the liquid or beverage as low as possible within the insulated casing 10.

The pressure regulator valve 20 is adjusted to permit the passage of air therethrough at a certain pressure to the upper part of the receptacle 17. This will force the beverage out through the pipes 1 1 and 15 when the faucet 16 is opened. T he cold air admitted through the pressure regulator valve 20 will in this manner keep the temperature of the beverage comparatively low and thereby increase the eliiciency of the device.

Referring now to Fig. 2, there is shown substantially the same construction of casing 10, container 17, outlet pipes 1d and 15 and faucet 16. This apparatus however is more particularly designed for dispensing carbonated beverages, and an additional receptacle or cylinder 25 of carbon dioxid is preferably admitted through the opening 12, and connected with the receptacle 1? by means of pipe 26, which is also provided with a regulator valve 20.

An air valve 26 is provided in the cover 12 but it will be noted that this valve operates in a manner opposite to the operation of valve 21, for in this modification the interior of the casing 10 is kept at reduced pressure or vacuum instead of being filled with compressed air.

In using a device of this character the receptacle 1? after being filled with the beverage to be dispensed is passed in through the opening 12 to the supporting racks 18 and the

pipes

14 and 15 connected through a bushing 15. The air chamber 25 is then positioned within the casing 10 and connected with the receptacle 17 as shown. The cover is screwed into place or otherwise secured in airtight manner, and the air exhausted from the casing 10 through valve 26 It is of course to be understood that valve 27 connected with the air cylinder 25 is opened to permit the flow of the carbon dioxid into the receptacle 17, thereby to force out and partially carbonate the beverage contained therein.

On opening the faucet 16 the beverage will be forced upwardly through the pipe 14 under the pressure of the carbonating gas. At this point it may be stated that in filling the receptacle 1? there is preferably used a frozen mixture of syrup or flavoring extracts and plain water with which it is mixed. Thus for example the desired proportions of plain or distilled water and cocacola syrup are mixed and frozen into small cubes or into a large cube which is subsequently crushed and this crushed ice mixture ispacked into the receptacle 17 and the cover 22 ,gscrewed into place. This mixture will of course gradually melt but if kept in a vacuun chamber, as shown in Fig. 2, several days time will probably be required. The length of time may of course be varied at will by using less ice and more water. If for example the device is to be used on an automobile trip of a few days duration a comparatively small amount of ice and a relatively large amount of water is used in filling the receptacle 1?, while on the other hant if the apparatus is used in connection with a soda-fountain and the receptacle 17 is of the capacity of several galions, then it is preferably filled practically solid with a frozen mixture. in this way the beverage is kept at a substantially uniform temperature and consistency and the weakening of the drink by melting ice as would otherwise occur is thereby eliminated.

The modification shown in Fig. 3 is substantially tne same in construction and operation as that shown in Fig. 2. This modiiication however is provided with a tube 30 depending within the receptacle 17 the lower end of which is provided with a rotary agitator 31 as shown clearly in Figs. 5 and 6. The carbon dioxid gas passing through the pipe 30 from the receptacle or cylinder 25 will cause the agitator 31 at the lower end thereof to spin around therethrough thoroughly stirring and mixing the beverage contained in the receptacle 17. In this modification a pressure retaining valve 32 may be provided to prevent the How of beverage therefrom when the pressure is reduced below a predetermined amount.

'lhe modification shown in Fig. 4 is quite similar to that immediately above described but is particularly designed for dispensing beverages which are not to be carbonated and with which it is desirable to keep the compr ssed air out of contact. F or this purpose the pipe it is centrally disposed with respect to the receptacle 1? and is provided with a follower plate 35 closely fitting the pipe 1st and the adjacent walls of the receptacle. The pipe 26 admitting compressed air from the chamber or cylinder 25 forces this plat 35 downwarc ly, consequently urging the liquid up through the pipe 11 and thence to the outlet-at all times keeping the liquid out of contact witn the compressed air.

In Fig. 7 there is shown a diagrammatic transverse sectional view of the preferred arrangement of the apparatus designed for use in connection with soda-fountains. In this arrangement the casing is provided with partitions 36 within which a plurality of beverage containers 1? are placed. Disposed centrally with respect to these receptacles is a single large compressed air or carbon dioxid cylinder 25, as the case may be, communicating with the receptacles 17, each of which is provided with its individual outlet. The casing 10 is of course of insulated material and each chamber formed by the partition 36 constitutes a vacuum chamber within which the receptacle 17 is positioned, each chamber being protected on two sides by the adjacent vacuum chambers, and in this way increases the efficiency of the device in that the temperature will remain at a low degree for a relatively longer time.

From the above it is believed that the construction, method of use and operation of the device will be clear. The apparatus is simple and practical, inexpensive to manufacture and operate, and is designed to accomplish, among others, all of the objects and advantages herein set forth.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of this invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting certain features that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention, and therefore such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an apparatus of the character described in combination, an insulated casing provided with an inlet opening. a receptacle contained in said casing from which beverages are adapted to be dispensed, an outlet pipe from said receptacle having'a controlling faucet outside of said casing, an air valve for controlling the pressure within the casing, and a second air valve for controlling the pressure within the receptacle.

2. In an apparatus of the character described in combination, a double wall insulated casing, a receptacle adapted to contain a beverage to be dispensed positioned within said casing and spaced apart from the walls thereof, an outlet tube from said receptacle provided with controlling means outside of said casing, means for decreasing the pressure in the space within the casing surrounding the receptacle, and means for carbonating the beverages dispensed from said receptacle.

3. In an apparatus of the character described in combination, a double wall insulated casing provided with an inlet opening, a receptacle adapted to contain beverages to be dispensed positioned within said casing in spaced relation with respect to the walls thereof, an outlet pipe from said receptacle, a second receptacle within said casing adapted to contain carbonating gas, a pressure regulator in the connecting pipe between said receptacles, and means for decreasing the pressure in the space surrounding said receptacles within the casing.

4. In an apparatus of the character described in combination, a double wall insulated casing provided with an inlet opening, a receptacle adapted to contain beverages to be dispensed positioned within said casing in spaced relation with respect to the walls thereof, an outlet pipe from said receptacle, a second receptacle within said casing adapted to contain carbonating gas, a pressure regulator in the connecting pipe between said receptacles, and an agitator within the first mentioned receptacle adapted to be actuated by the flow of carbonating gas in the said receptacle.

5. In an apparatus of the character described in combination, an insulated casing provided with an inlet opening, a receptacle within said casing adapted to contain a beverage to be dispensed, a gas chamber within said casin g, communicating means between the gas chamber and the lower part of said receptacle, and an agitator in the lower part of the communicating means and adapted to stir the liquid as the gas passes from said chamber into said receptacle, and means associated with the insulated casing adapted to reduce the pressure within said casing when the opening therein is closed.

In testimony whereof I a'liix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JERONE JOSIAH EDMUNDSON.

Witnesses:

F. L. BROWNE, E. F. CAMP.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 3). C.