US2653802A

US2653802A - Dispenser circulatory device

Info

Publication number: US2653802A
Application number: US246844A
Authority: US
Inventors: Carl C Bauerlein
Original assignee: Dole Valve Co
Current assignee: Dole Valve Co
Priority date: 1951-09-15
Filing date: 1951-09-15
Publication date: 1953-09-29
Anticipated expiration: 1970-09-29

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. l5 1951 TEL/q l W49, 4' iV/@A HHS Sept. 29, 1953 c. c. BAUERLEIN 2,553,302'

DISPENSER CIRCULATORY DEVICE Filed Sept. l5, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @ad CY. czz/er/a'zz Patented Sept. 29, 1953 DISPENSER CIRCULATORY DEVICE Carl C. Bauerlein, Mukwonago, Wis., assigner to The Dole Valve Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application September 15, 1951, Serial No. 246,844

1 This invention relates to dispensers for diluting or carbonating and dispensingr iiuids or concentrates, such as concentrated juices, malts,

liquors, colas, fiavcrs and the like.

A principal object of my invention is to provide a new and improved form of dispenser operable to maintain the consistency of the iiuid to be dispensed of a uniform consistency throughout the tank.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel and improved form of dispenser for refrigerated concentrates and the like having circulatory means for maintaining the temperature of the iiuid within the tank uniform throughout the tank.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved form of dispenser wherein the consistency of the fluid to be dispensed is maintained uniform throughout the tank by creating a circulation of the uid by an agitating vibrator.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel and improved form of agitator for circulating the contents of a dispensingr tank in- 10 Claims. (Cl. 259-39) cluding a vibrating blade in the form of a ilat armature extending along a Wall of the tank in parallel spaced relation with respect thereto and an oscillating iield on the outside of the tank in alignment with said armature. f

Still another object of my invention is to provide a novel and improved form of dispenser for concentrates and the like including a dispensing valve recessed in the bottom of a concentrate tank and a vibrating circulating mem-ber secured thereto and movable with respect to the wall of the tank, for creating a circulation of liquid therein.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a simple form of circulating means for concentrate dispensers including a diluting and dispensing valve detachably mounted in tbe bottom of a tank and recessed therein, a vibrator in the form of a flat armature secured to said valve and extending in parallel relation with respect to the bottom of said tank, and an oscillating field beneath the bottom of said tank, for setting said armature into vibratory motion.

A further and more detailed object of my invention is to provide a novel and improved form v of dispenser comprising a tank constructed from a non-magnetic material and having a dispensing and mixing valve recessed in the bottom thereof, and forming a detachable mounting for a vibratory armature in the bottom of said tank and also including an oscillating eld on the outside of said tank setting said armature into vibratory motion and creating a circulatory movement of the uid in said tank.

These and other objects of my invention will appear from time to Vtime as the following specication proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a dispenser constructed in accordance with my invention with the top cover removed and certain parts thereof broken away in order to show the oscillating field for setting the armature into vibratory motion;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along line '1I-1I of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along line III-III of Figure l; and

Figure 4 is a top plan View of the vibrating circulatory armature of my invention.

In Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, I have shown a part of a dispenser for diluting or carbonating and dispensing various types of fluids or concentrates, such as concentrated fruit and vegetable juices, malts, liquors, colas, iiavors and the like, and particularly adapted to dilute fruit or vegetable concentrates to the normal consstency of the juice of the fresh natural fruits or vegetables and to deliver a cool uniformly mixed juice for drinking purposes. The dispenser may include a casing IB having a container or tank II therein, and spaced from and insulated from the wall thereof. The tank II may be of a generally cylindrical form and may be secured at its upper end to the top of the container I0, as by a iiange I2 herein shown as being formed integrally with said tank and extending outwardly therefrom. Said tank may be closed by a cover I3 and may have a bottom Iii leading to an opening I5 therein and forming a receptacle for recessing a diluting and mixing valve I6 within the bottom of said tank with its top substantially flush, or a slight distance beneath the bottom thereof.

As herein shown, the receptacle I5 has an enlarged diameter cylindrical wall I'I terminating into an inverted frustoconical wall I8 forming a seat for the valve I6, The Wall I8 terminates at its end of reduced diameter into a depending cylindrical wall I9 encircling the lower end portion and spout of the valve I5.

The supply pipe for diluting water may enter the casing Iii through a wall thereof and may be coiled around the outside of the wall of the tank i E in radially spaced relation with respect thereto as indicated by reference character Said supply pipe may be connected at its delivery end with a constant Volume solenoid operated delivery valve (not shown) like the valve Shown and described in my application Serial No. 229,121, died May 31, 1951, and no part ci my present invention so not herein shown or described. The delivery valve (not shown) may be connected withl a fitting 23` (Figure. 3.) con-` nected with a conduit' 2t extending outwardly from the enlarged diameter wall portion l1 of the receptacle for the valve l5, and communicating with the inside of said receptacle, for supplying a constant volume oi diluting fluid thereto and' to the dispensing valve i5, as my prior ap piication Serial No. 229,121. Where,- the cencen trate or uid to be dispensed must be maintained cool to prevent the breeding oi bacteria, the tank ii may be cooled by a refrigerating coil 25 encircling the outer periphery thereof may be connected with a compressor, motor and condenser ci a refrigeratingl unit tnot. shownl, to.- maintain the concentrate at. the proper temperature,A a desirable. temperature' for juice, concentrates being in the neighborhood. of 22 E., a1- thcugh the. concentrate may be maintained. at higher or lower temperatures. as long as; it. will flow relatively freely and is. sui'hciently cold to: prevent the breeding of bacteria.. itis, of. course, obviousthat where the. fluid in the tan-k ll is to be heated.` that a, heating coil may beA suhstitutedfor the. refrigerating coil.

yllfie. tank Il is. shown as being formed soy as to be. free from. all. shoulders or recesses wherel bacteria. may breed and may be made from a corrosion-resistant materia1,. such. as a non-magnetic stainless steel, which besides resisting corrosion of highly acid fruit juices, also acts as a conductor of cold, to aid` in. maintaining the juice cool, when the, refrigerating unit. may be, shutl orf. WhereI hotl beverages. may be dispensed, said tank may also. act as a conductor of heat. toI retain the, heat in the. concentrate.,

The dispensing valve l is herein shown as comprising a valve body 2l. oi a generally cylindrical form fLtti-ng Within the wall i1. of the. re.- ceptacle. i5, for said valve and having a rusto.- conicalv bottom wall 2.8 seated on the. wall i3. of. the. receptacle.Y Av conduit 2254 leads from the. bottom of the frusto-conical wall. 2.8. and is. herein shown as being formed integrally therewith. and. spaced inwardly from, the. inner periphery o thev wall H3. The. conduit. Z5 is. seated onanozzle. or spout te mounted'. in the. bottom oi the. reduced diameter cylindrical wall [Si of the. valve receptacle,y and suitably sealed with respect theretd. The valve body 2l is preferably transparent, and may beV molded or formed trom. one. ofv the. Well known thermoplastic, materialsr or from glass.. One such thermoplastic, material4 may be, Lui-- cite, which not only exposes the. passageways in the valve to view, but. also acts as an insulator and inhibits freezing, of the diluting water passing into and through the valve. It is. ob.- vious, however,` that the valve body need not. be transparent. and'y may be made from. metal. it de.- sired'.

The valve body 21' isv shown as. having an. annular passageway 3| extending therearound. and. opening to the periphery thereof and to the in.- side of the wall I1 and communicating with. the. conduit 2d, for conducting water or any other diluting or carbonating fluid under pressure. into and through the valve body. Sealing. rings 32, 32 may be provided on opposite sides of the annular passageway 3L. to. retain water in said passageway and prevent leakage of Water along the side wall of the valve body 21 and also to prevent the leakage of concentrate from the tank into said annular passageway. Said sealing rings may be of any well known form of flexible sealing ring, such as an 0 ring, made from rubber or an elastomer. The rings and recesses in the wall ot the valve bod-yr for said ring howener, should be so constructed that they may readily be cleaned and will not harbor the breeding of bacteria.

The valve body 2 is shown as having a top face 53', herein shown as being iiush with the bottom; teA ci the tank Il and as having a concentrate; chamber 35" recessed therein and opening ta the. top: thereof. The concentrate chamber 35 is shown as communicating with a generally cylindrical outlet 56, at the bottom thereot having a generally frusto-conical bottom terminating in a knife edge orifice 5l, communicating with a vacuum chamber 3d on. the downstream. side of a. throat @e oi a4 venturi al.

A passageway dit having an inverted truncatedv core-like inner end communicating with. thev throat feti at its. reduced. diameter end, leads from the annular passageway 5i. An inverted truncated cone-like passageway i5 is: shown as. leading, from the vacuumv chamber 5S and as. communicating with a downwardly extending inclined passageway LiL opening to a vertically extending passageway i9 extending downwardly along the conduit 2.9 into communication with the spout 3E.

The conduit Z 'ts. within and may be sli'dably removed from an upper annular recessed portion 50 of the nozzle Bil. Said conduitl has a plurality or" vertically extending notches. or grooves 5I',A 5l formedv therein and opening. to the bottom thereof. The grooves 5 t, 5,( are normally closed by engagement with the annular recessed portion 5f! of' the nozzle 3% but open to afford a passageway through the nozzlev when the valve IS' is mnved upwardly to disengage the bottom surface of the conduit 2S from the annular portion 50.. When itis desired t0 dump concentrate from the tank Z9, the valve is moved upwardly until the lower sealing ring, t2 is. raised above the top ofthe Valve receptacle i5.

The vacuum chamber 39 on. the. downstream side of the throat t0 of venturi I is of a larger diameter than the throat of theventuri and is so proportioned that' a vacuum will be built up in said chamber by' the. increased velocity of the Water flowing therethrough as it leaves the throat. of the venturi. When the tank Il has concentrate therein, and water enters the valve body 21 through the annular passageway' 3l, at a. pre'- determined generally constant pressure governed by the water delivery valve (not shown), the velocity' of the water flowing through the throatI 40 of the venturi 4I will increase, with a resultant drop in pressure at the downstream side of' said throat. This will create a vacuum in the vacuum chamber 3.91. This vacuum will thus aspi'ratev the concentrate from the tank' H', mixing` it with thevvaterand. discharging it through the spout 3U, diluted to the. desired consistency.. The proportioning of the water and concentrate is thus governed by the vacuum in the vacuum chamber 39 as in my application Serial No. 229,121 and. the. opening intosaid vacuumchamber maybe varied without affecting the proportions..

The. concentratey chamber 35 is herein shown as. having a cage- 54- of. a check valve 55 recessed` therein. The. check valvev 55 is herein shown. as

being of the flexible wafer type, like that shown and described in my aforementioned application Serial No. 229,121 so not herein shown or described further. The purpose of said check valve is to prevent the leakage of concentrate into the vacuum chamber 39 when the aspirating liquid, such as water, is shut oil, but to allow the passage of concentrate into said vacuum chamber upon the reduction in pressure therein by the passage of Water through the reduced throat of the venturi 3 It should here be understood that while I herein refer to water as the diluting liquid, that any other diluting liquid may be used in place of water and that where it may be desired to carbonate the iiuid in the tank II that carbonated Water or a carbonating gas may be used to aspirate the fluid or liquid from said tank in place of water under pressure.

Referring now in particular to the means for creating a circulation of the concentrate or other fluid within the tank I I and attaining a uniformly mixed fluid or concentrate and also maintaining the temperature thereof uniform throughout said tank, a circulator in the form of a flat vibratory armature 51 is herein shown as being secured to the top face 33 of the valve body 21 of the mixing and dispensing valve IB as by

machine screws

58, 58. The armature 51 is shown as having a flat blade 59 extending in parallel relation with respect to the bottom Id of the tank I l and spaced thereabove. A field or electromagnet 60 beneath the bottom of the tank I2 and energized with a pulsating current is shown as being provided to set said armature into vibration.

The field 60 is herein shown as comprising a laminated core 6I secured to the inside of the bottom plate of the casing Il). Said core may be of a well known form and is shown as being in the form of a three tined fork having three upwardly extending

poles

63, 63. Said core may be secured to the bottom plate of the casing I0 by clips 64, 64 engaging the outer edges of the outer pole pieces 63 and by bolts 55 secured thereto. The bolts 65 may pass through insulating sleeves 66, 66 and may also form the terminals for the conductors for coils 61 and 68 of the magnet. Said coils are shown as being wound about the central pole piece 63 inside of the outer pole pieces.

As herein shown the coils 91 and 68 with the core 6I form a two stage electromagnet for setting the blade 59 into vibration with varying intensity. The purpose is that when the concentrate is warm, less power is required to thoroughly circulate the concentrate, but as said concentrate is refrigerated, the power required to circulate the concentrate, which may be viscous, increases and it is desirable to increase the intensity of vibration of the armature 51 in order to maintain the required circulation of the concentrate.

Thus, during operation of the dispenser, when dispensing a warm or hot liquid or concentrate, or when dispensing a concentrate when the refrigerating unit is not in operation, the coil 61 only will be energized. As, however, the temperature of the concentrate is reduced, as Where the refrigerating unit comes into operation, the coil 68 is cut into the circuit and both coils 61 and 68 will be effective to vibrate the armature 51 and thus increase the intensity of vibration of said armature and maintain the same relative circulation as when the concentrate is warm.

A separate thermostat (not shown) or the thermostat controlling operation of the refriger- CTI ating element and connected in the circuit to the coils 61 and B8, may be used to cut the coil 68 into the circuit when the refrigerating unit comes into operation, and to cut out said coil when the refrigerating unit is not in operation, in a manner well known to those skilled in the art so not herein shown or described. A rectifier 1B, which may be a half wave selenium rectifier is shown as being mounted on the bottom of the casing IU. Said rectifier' is connected to the coils 61 and 68 to energize said coils with a pulsating current and reduce the number of pulsations.

The armature 51 may be of a magnetic stainless steel, which will resist the corrosive action of the juices, one form of which steel found satisfactory is a Number 430 magnetic type of stainless steel. The armature ''i is shown as having an intermediate portion abutting the top of the valve body 21 and secured to the cage 54, and also secured to the top of said valve body. While said armature is shown as being secured to said valve body by the machine screws 53, it need not be so secured and may be molded to said valve body if desired. l vo oppositely extending wings i3, 'i3 extend upwardly from said intermediate portion and afford a means for lifting the valve IS from its receptacle. The armature 51 also has an upwardly inclined rear end portion 14, the outer margin of which conforms generally to the cylindrical wall of the tank I i, and affords a means for aligning the projecting blade 59 of said armature with the electrcinagnet d0 and making it impossible to insert the valve within its receptaole with the blade 5S out of alignment with the pulsating eld of said electromagnet. The blade is herein shown as extending outwardly from the valve body 21 in an upwardly inclined direction then extending in parallel relation with respect to the bottom I3 of the tank Ii. Said iade shown as terminating in a transversely extendinST circulating forward end portion 80, extending across said blade and beyond opposite sides thereof. The blade 59 is likewise shown as being open for a portion of the length thereof to afford a means for increasing the flexibility of said armature.

The circulation of iiuid within the tank I I upon vibration of the armature 51 is created by vibration of the circulatory portion Se forcing the concentrate through a plurality of apertures 83, B3 extending therethrough, with a pumping action. As herein shown, the apertures S3, 83 extend through collars 39., extending upwardly from the top of the transverse end portion 89 of the blade te. The apertures 83, lB3 may be of a generally frueto-conical form, with the reduced diameter portion thereof opening to the tops of said collars. While separate collars may be secured to the top of the transverse portion 3G of the blade 59, I have herein shown said collars as being extruded from said blade, to provide the frusto-conical apertures therein, the increased diameter' portions beimr at the bottom of blade and the reduced diameter portions being at the top thereof. This reduction in diameter of the apertures 83, es in the direction of pumping movement of the blade 5t, restricts the passage of fluid through said apertures with a resultant increase in velocity of iiuid passing therethrough and an increased circulating eiect of said blade.

it should here be noted that the electromagnet Sii is connected in the circuit to continuously vibrate the armature 51, as long as the dispenser is c-onnected in the electric circuit. This creates a continuous circulation of iiuid therein and as- I sures .a uniformV consistency of uid throughout the tank i l, and also assures a uniform temperature thereof.

it will be understood that modifications and .'ariations .may be eiected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a dispenser, a tank, a dispensing and mixing valve leading from the bottom of said tank, and means circulating the fluid within said tank comprising a vibrating blade extending along a wall of said tank and spaced closely adjacent to said wall and extending in parallel relation with respect thereto and having a laterally extending agitating free end portion, an electromagnet on the outside of the wall of said tank in alignment with the agitating free end portion of said blade, and means energizing said electromagnet with a pulsating current.

2. In a dispenser, a tank of non-magnetic material, a dispensing and mixing valve leading from the bottom of said tank, and means circulating fluid in said tank and maintaining a uniform consistency thereof comprising an electromagnet on the outside of a wall of said tank, means energizing said electromagnet with a pulsating current, and a blade of magnetic material extending along said wall in parallel spaced relation with respect thereto and secured thereto adjacent one of its ends having a widened agitating free end portion in direct alignment with said electromagnet and set into vibration upon energization of said electromagnet.

3. A dispenser comprising a tank, a dispensing and mixing valve leading from the bottom of said tank, and means circulating the fluid in said tank and maintaining the consistency thereof uniform, comprising an armature within said tank and secured to the bottom thereof adjacent one oi its ends and having an impelling end portion extending along said bottom in generally parallel spaced relation with respect thereto, an electromagnet beneath said bottom in alignment with the impelling end portion of said armature, and means energizing said electromagnet with a pulsating current to efect vibratory movement of said armature.

A dispenser comprising a tank constructed of non-magnetic material, a dispensing and mixing valve recessed in the bottom of said tank and removably mounted therein and having a iiuid passage therethrough, and means circulating nuid in said tank and maintaining the fluid therein ci a uniform consistency comprising an electromagnet beneath the bottom thereof, means energizing said electromagnet with a pulsating current, and an agitating blade secured to said valve and having a hat projecting portion extending therefrom in generally parallel relation with respect to the bottom of said tank and having a circulating end portion in direct alignment with said electromagnet.

5. A dispenser comprising a tank constructed of a non-magnetic material, and means circulating the fluid within said tank comprising an electromagnet on the outside of said tank adjacent the bottom thereof, an armature on the inside of said tank in the form of a relatively wide blade and secured to the bottom of said tank adjacent one of its ends and having a projecting blade extending along said tank in parallel spaced relation with respect thereto, and having a widened circulating free end portion in alignment with said electromagnet and having a plurality of pumping apertures Vextendingvertically therethrough.

6. A dispenser comprising a tank, means establishing a circulation of iluid within said tank comprising an electromagnet on the outside of said tank beneath the bottom thereof, a blade within said tank and secured to the bottom thereof adjacent one of its ends and having a projecting portion extending along the bottom of said tank in generally parallel spaced relation with respect thereto, said blade having an apertured circulating free end portion disposed over and in alignment with said electromagnet, the portions of said blade forming the apertures in said free end portion extending above the top surface of said blade and having inner walls of a frusto-conical form, with the portions of larger diameter opening toward the bottom of said tank and the portions of reduced diameter opening toward the top of said tank.

7. n a dispenser, a dispensing and mixing valve recessed in the bottom of said tank and removably mounted therein, and means circulating nuid in said tank upwardly along the center thereof and down the sides thereoic and maintaining the circulation of .fluid therein comprising an electromagnet beneath the bottom of said tank, means energizing said electrcmagnet with a pulsating current, an agitating blade secured to the top of said valve and having a projecting portion extending therefrom in vertically spaced parallel relation with respect to the bottom or said tank into alignment with said electromagnet, said blade having an apertured circulating portion adjacent the end thereof, the portions forming the apertures of which extend vertically above the top of said blade and form elongated passageways and impart a pumping action to the fluid and are of a reducing diameter from the bottom to the top thereof, to increase the velocity of the uid passing therethrough and the circulation of the duid within said tank.

8. In a dispenser, a tank having a receptacle in the bottom thereof, a dispensing mixing valve removably mounted in said receptacle and having a fluid passage therethrough, and means circulating fluid upwardly along the center o' said tank and downwardly along the sides thereof and maintaining the fluid therein or" a uniform consistency comprising an electromagnet disposed beneath the bottom of said tank, means energizing said electromagnet with a pulsating current, an agitating blade secured to said valve and having a fiat projecting portion extending therefrom in parallel spaced relation with respect to the bottom of said tank with a circulating end portion in alignment with said electromagnet, and also having a tail conforming generally to the form of the wall of said tank and locating said blade in aligned relation with respect to said electromagnet upon the insertion of said valve within said receptacle.

9. A dispenser particularly adapted to mix and dispense concentrates comprising a tank, mixing and dispensing valve in the bottom of said tank, a flat armature carried by said valve and extending along the bottom of said tank and spaced therefrom, and an electrcmagnet disposed beneath the bottom of said tank and energized with a pulsating current to set said armature into vibration.

1G. A dispenser comprising a tank, and means creating a circulation of fluid within said tank comprising a blade of magnetic material secured to the bottom of said tank and extending there- References Cited in the le or" this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number blade to extend above the top thereof and of a 19 2505423 uniformly decreasing diameter from the bottom to the top thereof.

CARL C. BAUERLEIN.

Name Date Tygard Apr. 6, 1907 Midorkawa Feb. 13, 1923 Wahl Mar. 12, 1929 Boldman Jan. 21, 1941 Morgan Apr. 25, 1950 Snrernulli Oct. 21. 1951