Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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~059080
This invention relates to beverage dispensers and
more particularly comprises a new and improved refrigerated
beverage dispenser designed to handle perishable and potentially
hazardous beverages such as milk.
One of the major problems in handling potentially
hazardous beverages such as milk in dispensers is that a portion
of the beverage may remain in an unrefrigerated part of the
dispensing system and spoil, which creates a health hazard.
This problem is recognized by the National Sanitation Foundation
which has established standards for dispensers. Those standards
require that dispensers be capable of maintaining the beverage
and all dispenser surfaces in contact with it at 45F. or less,
in a 100F. environment.
The standards imposed by the National Sanitation
Foundation are particularly difficult to meet in the valve
assemblies of dispensers and more particularly in those portions
of the valve asse~blies which are actually exposed to room
temperature. The problem is even more acute in relatively
inexpensive counter top dispensers where highly sophisticated
and expensive valves are not suitable.
The principal object of this invention is to provide
a simple valve assembly for beverage dispensers, which can
maintain all the beverage in the dispenser including any
residue trapped in the valve as well as all of the dispenser
surfaces in contact with the beverage at 45F. or below.
In accordance with this invention, the valve assembly
includes an outlet tube which is disposed in the bowl and has a
discharge end registering with an opening in the bowl. The tube
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lOS~Q80
is made of a highly conductive material. Because the tube is
submerged in the refrigerated beverage which preferably is
being circulated in the bowl, it quickly assumes and maintains
the beverage temperature. The tube is provided with an inlet
port in the bowl, which permits beverage to enter the tube. A
valve is movable in the tube and cooperates with a seat in the
tube for opening and closing the outlet tube and a valve actu-
ator is connected to the valve.
These and other objects and features of this invention
will be better understood and appreciated from the following
detailed description of two embodiments thereof, read in connec-
tion with the accompanying drawing.
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a
beverage dispenser constructed in accordance
with one embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 2 is a view of the link detail of the dispenser
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a
beverage dispenser constructed in accordance
with the preferred embodiment of this inven-
tion' and
FIG. 4 is a view of the link detail of the dispenser
of FIG. 3.
The present invention typically has application in
beverage dispensers such as shown in the United States Patent
No. 3,920,163 dated November 18, 1975 entitled BEVERAGE DISPENSER
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B
~059~80
1 WITH IN-BOWL WHIPPER and No. 3,360,956 dated January 2, 1968
entitled CIRCULATION SYSTEMS FOR BEVERAGE DISPENSERS. The
dispenser shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is in fact the dispenser of
patent No. 3,920,163, modified to include the improvement of
this invention.
The dispenser illustrated includes a base 10, bowl 12
supported on the base and valve assembly 14. The portion of
the bowl shown includes front wall 16 and bottom wall 18. The
bottom wall 18 rests on base 10 and a condensate tray (not
shown) may be provided on the base and in direct contact with
the bowl.
A well 20 is formed in the front portion of the
bottom wall 18 of the bowl immediately adjacent bowl front
wall 16. The well 20 is generally cylindrical in shape and
includes a bottom 22 and cylindrical side wall 24. An opening
26 is provided in the bottom wall 22 of well 20, and an outlet
tube 28 is seated in the well. In this embodiment, the tube
includes a spout 30 that extends out of the bowl through
opening 26. The outlet tube 28 also includes an upper portion
that serves as a valve support sleeve 32, which is of somewhalt
greater diameter than spout 30 and which is positioned in
bowl 12 emersed in the beverage which fills the bowl. The
shoulder 34 of the outlet tube rests on the bottom wall 22
of the well, and an O-ring 36 provides a seal between the
upper portion of the outlet tube and the bowl to prevent
beverage from leaking through opening 26 and about tube 28. It
will be appreciated that the outlet tube 28 may be removed
from the bowl by first disconnecting the other elements
fastened to it and then lifting it upwardly out the top of the
bowl.
1059~t80
1 A discharge port 38 is provided in the side of the
upper portion 32 of the outlet tube and may include a nipple 40
to which flexible tubing 42 may be connected, which joins the
in-bowl whipper assembly 44. The in-bowl whipper assembly 44
may be identical to that shown in patent No. 3,920,163 supra,
and its details do not form part of the present invention.
In the drawing the flexible tubing 42 is shown join-
ing the discharge port 46 of the whipper housing 48 and the
nipple 40 about port 38 on the outlet tube 28.
Valve 50 having an upper enlarged portion 52 and a
lower portion 54 of reduced diameter is slidable in the upper
portion (valve support sleeve) 32 of the outlet tube. 0-ring
56 carried at the bottom of lower portion 54 of the valve cooper-
ates with a valve seat 58 at the top of spout 30 to control flow
; of beverage from the bowl out port 38 and down through the
outlet tube. In the position shown, 0-ring 56 forms a seal
with the seat to prevent flow through the tube.
In this embodiment a vent passage 60 extends
axially through valve 50 and is open to the atmosphere through
the spout 30 of outlet tube 28. The valve in turn carries
a vent tube 62 that extends upwardly to a level above the
maximum liquid level in the bowl. As shown in the drawing,
the top 64 of vent tube 62 is diposed above the level 66 of
the beverage. Passage 60 and vent tube 62 thus provide con-
tinuous venting for the valve assembly 14.
The valve 50 is controlled by valve actuator 68 in
the form of a push handle which is pivotally supported on the
flange 70 forming part of bowl 12. As shown in the drawing, the
push handle 68 is connected to flange 70 by means of a pin 72
that forms the pivotal support for it. The lower end 74 of
~059Q~30
1 the push handle extends generally vertically downward in
front of base 10 of the dispenser and is positioned to engage
a switch 76 on front panel 77 of the base and which forms part
of the control circuit tnot shown) of the motor 78 that drives
the in-bowl whipper 44 as explain~d in detail in patent No.
3,920,163.
The horizontal arm 80 of push handle 68 is coupled
to the bottom end 82 of push rod 84 that in turn extends
upwardly through push rod tubular support 86, into bowl 12.
The push rod tubular support is anchored in an opening 88
provided in the bottom wall 18 of bowl 12, and the support ex-
tends upwardly in the bowl above the liquid level 66. The
top end 90 of push rod 84 is connected by link 92 to the top
end 64 of vent tube 62. The support 86 of course prevents
liquid in the bowl from leaking out opening 88.
Link 92 has a collar 94 that receives the top end of
push rod support 86 to prevent the beverage in the bowl from
entering the top of the support and leaking out the support
through opening 88. The collar is slotted at 96 as suggested
in FIG. 2 to receive the cross pin 98 carried on the top of
push rod 84. A slot 100 is also provided in the link 92
which provides a snap-type fit on the vent tube 62. Thus, the
link provides a dependable connection between the connecting
rod and vent tube while at the same time enabling them to be
conveniently disassembled for removal of the various parts
from the bowl for easy cleaning.
The outlet tube 28 is made of a highly thermally
conductive material such as brass, properly coated to render
it suitable for use in/food vending machine. Because the tube
is disposed in ~he cold beverage in the dispenser maintained at
~059{~80
1 perhaps 35F. by the refrigeration system, the tube serves as
a heat sink to keep the external portions of the valve, that
is, the outlet tube surfaces, below the prescribed temperature
of 45F. The circulation of the beverage in the bowl in
contact with the tube 28 of course enhances the heat exchange
relationship between the beverage and tube to maintain the
tube at the beverage temperature. The circulation is caused
by the evaporator-circulator 101 in the bowl which may be
identical to that shown in United States Patent No. 3,822,565
dated July 9, 1974. Its details are not part of the present
invention. The lower end of the outlet tube, that is spout 30,
may be surrounded by a sleeve 96 of insulating material which
would assist the tube in maintaining the low temperature.
The very bottom of valve 50 defines the closure
with valve seat 58, and no moving part of the valve assembly
is located below the seat. Consequently, no dried product will
form in the valve assembly that may cause the valve to stick
in the tube. There is no opportunity for dried products to
form in the valve assembly which would interfere with the valve
because the spout is open and unobstructed and fully vented.
The valve 50 itself typically is made of stainless steel.
Because the valve is fully vented through vent passage 60 and
vent tube 62, the beverage will flow rapidly from the bowl
through the outlet tube. There is no opportunity for a
partial vacuum to form in the valve assembly which would retard
flow.
In the beverage dispenser shown, the push handle is
positioned with respect to the switch 76 so as to cause the
switch to close after the valve in the outlet tube is open
when
1059080
1 the handle is pushed toward base 10, and conversely, when
the handle is released, the switch 76 is opened before the
valve closed. Of course the particular valve assembly of this
invention is not confined to use in a system wherein the in-
bowl whipper is employed. Rather, the valve assembly has
application in other beverage dispensers. When no in-bowl
whipper is used, the outlet port 38 can be in direct communi-
cation with the contents of th~ bowl and all flow may be
gravity induced.
In the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, the
dispenser is very similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
The bowl 150 rests on the base 152 and a whipper 154 disposed
in the bowl i,s driven by motor and magnet assembly 156. An
~vaporator dome 158 extends from the base 152 into the bowl
150 through an opening (not shown) provided in the bottom wall
of the bowl, and a paddle wheel circulator assembly 160 causes
the liqui~d in the bowl 150 to circulate about the evaporator
158 to efficiently reduce the temperature of the liquid in
the bowl. The evaporator 158 and circulator 160 may be
identical to that shown in U.S. Patent No. 3,360,956. The
rest of the refrigeration system of which the evaporator
forms but one part is contained in the base. The whipper
assemb1y 154 identical to that shown in the first described
embodiment is the same as the whipper shown in Patent No.
3,920,163 supra.
The preferred embodiment differs from the first
described embodiment in the construction of the valve and
actuator assembly 170.
A shallow well 172 identical to the well 20 of the
first embodiment is formed in the bottom wall 174 of bowl 150
lOSg~80
1 adjacent front wall 176. An outlet tube 178 is seated in well
172 with its lower end 180 of reduced diameter extending
through the opening 182 provided in the bottom wall 184
of well 172. An 0-ring 186 surrounds the lower portion of
tube 178 and forms a seal with the inner surface of the cylind-
rical wall 188 that defines well 172.
The outlet tube 178 is made of a highly conductive
material such as brass. While other materials may be used,
it is important that the tube be a good thermal conductor so
that it may maintain a temperature substantially equal to
that of the liquid in bowl 150 within which it is submerged.
Circulator 160 which causes the beverage refrigerated by the
evaporator 158 to move about the bowl creates an effective
heat exchange relationship between the beverage and the outlet
tube. The beverage serves as a heat sink for the sleeve
so that any heat absorbed by the tube particularly at its
lower end may readily be dissipated into the circulating
beverage. Because of the importance of this characteristic
of the tube, a tube made of stainless steel for example, which
is a poorer heat conductor than brass would produce an inferior
result than the tube made of brass.
Valve 190 is slidably disposed in tube 178 and has
a lower portion 192 of reduced diameter which carries an
0-ring 194 that is designed to form a seal at the shoulder
196 formed at the top of the lower section 180 of tube 178.
Thus, when the valve 190 is in the position shown in FIG. 3,
the 0-ring 194 rests on the shoulder or seat 196 so as effect-
ively to close the valve. As in the first described embodiment,
tube 178 carries a nipple 200 to which is connected the duct
202 leading from the whipper assembly 154.
1059~80
1 The valve 190 is actuated by push handle 204 having
a horizontal arm 206 connected to the lower end 208 of push rod
210. The upper end 212 of push rod 210 is connected to link
214 which in turn is connected to the upper end 216 of valve
190.` Push rod 210 extends through sleeve 220 formed as a
cylindrical wall in the lower wall 174 of the bowl, and the
sleeve guides the motion of the push rod in an axial direction.
A bellows 222 is connected to the upper end of the sleeve 220,
and the upper end of the bellows in turn is sealed to the
upper portion 212 of the push rod. Thus, the bellows 222 serves
both to seal the opening 224 in the sleeve through wh;ch the
push rod extends and also serves as a spring to return the
push rod to the lower position as shown in the drawing. When
the push handle is pivoted in the direction of arrow A the push
ro~ 210 is elevated in sleeve 220 against the bias of the
bellows, and the link on the top of the rod moves the valve 190
up with it and thereby opens the valve by unseating 0-ring 194
from shoulder 196. When the push handle is released, it pivots
back to the position shown and the valve seats in the clos~d
position illustrated.
It will be apparent from the foregoing description
that assembly 170 can readily be disassembled for cleaning.
The link 214 whose slotted end 230 engages the upper end 216
of the valve may be disconnected readily from the valve by
the snap action of the arms 232 that define the slot. Moreover,
link 214 may be removed from the upper end of push rod 210 by
being lifted off the upper portion 212. The bellows may be
removed from sleeve 220, and valve 190 and sleeve 178 may
separately be removed from the bowl so that all of the elements
may be cleaned.
~OS9080
1 It is important to recognize that the tube 178 which
itself is made of a highly conductive material is kept at a
reduced temperature by the circulating beverage in the bowl in
which it is submerged. Thus, the tube 178 forms a refrigerated
outlet so that any liquid in the tube is maintained at the
reduced temperature to retard the buildup of bacteria, etc.
That the sleeve is made of a highly conductive material, that
it extends into the beverage, and that the beverage itself
circulates about the sleeve all contribute to the efficiency
of the system.
It will be appreciated that the valve assemblies of
this invention accomplish all the recited objects of this
invention. It serves to maintain all of the parts in contact
with the beverage at the low temperature required by the
National Sanitation Foundation standards. Moreover, the
valve assembly may be very quickly disassembled for cleaning.
Because modifications may be made of this invention
without departing from its spirit, it is not intended that
the breadth of the invention be limited to the specific
embodiment illustrated and described. For example, while in
the present invention the push handle 68 is shown to actuate
the valve through the push rod and link (and vent tube, in one
embodiment) it is to be understood that other systems may
be employed for the same purpose. While the embodiment of
FIGS. 3 and 4 is preferred, other techniques may be employed
as well. Therefore, the breadth of this invention is to be
determined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
10.
