Abstract: A double acting positive displacement pump has first and second opposed cylinders, an elongate piston rod connected to cylinder pistons, a plurality of tie rods fastening the cylinders together, spacers on the tie rods and between the cylinders, a control cradle mounted on the tie rods and fixed in position by slots in the spacers, a propellant gas control valve on the cradle, and a valve actuator on the cradle and operatively connected to the piston rod.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser having a beverage ingredient cooling tank for containing a liquid heat exchange medium such as ice water has an improved level control and drain for the tank having a first medium conduit with an inverted U-shape with an upper apex of the U-shape conduit being substantially at the desired level of medium in the tank, an open anti-syphon port to ambient from the conduit at a level above the apex, an outlet above and emptying into a drip tray under a dispensing nozzle, and a second medium conduit comprising a flexible tube fluidly connected to the bottom of the tank and to an inlet of the first conduit; excess liquid in the tank escapes out of the first conduit into the drip tray, and the second conduit is disconnectible from the first conduit for draining the tank into the drip tray.

Abstract: A pneumatically powerable single action fluid pump has a housing, an improved diaphragm assembly dividing the housing into fluidly discrete propellant and pumping chambers, a fluid inlet and outlet in the pumping chamber, a fluid port to the propellant chamber and a spring motor biasing the diaphragm assembly in a direction away from the pumping chamber side of the housing; the diaphragm assembly includes a perforate rigid diaphragm plate, an elongate motor stem connected to the plate, a contiguous elastomeric diaphragm having an imperforate front layer covering a front side of the plate and stem, a rear layer on a rear side of the plate, pins in the plate perforations and between and adjoining the diaphragm layers, and a bellows section to the outside of the plate. The spring motor biases the diaphragm to a position in close proximity to the fluid port of the propellant chamber in the absence of propellant therein against a plurality of spacer ribs.

Abstract: A post-mix carbonated beverage dispenser has an exterior cabinet, a base dividing the interior of the cabinet into first and second discrete compartments with all of the refrigeration system being in the first compartment, a drawer trackway and pull-out slide drawer in the second compartment, a fluid pressure powerable water pump and fluid pressure powerable syrup pumps fixedly mounted onto the slide drawer, flexible tubing connecting the pumps to a source of propellant gas, and further flexible tubing fluidly connecting the pumps to the refrigeration system and to a dispensing nozzle; the slide drawer with its pumps and tubing are normally visually concealed within the cabinet and are withdrawable out of the cabinet without disconnection of the tubing and while operative, to an alternative position providing substantially unobstructed access to all of the pumps and accessories upon the slide drawer.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for making and dispensing carbonated water; the method has the steps of using carbon dioxide propellant gas at a predetermined propellant pressure for propelling flat water through cooling coils and into a carbonator, pressurizing the carbonator at a predetermined storage pressure which is less than the propellant pressure, exhausting used propellant gas into cooled propellant water, commonly admitting water and exhausted gas into the carbonator while restricting and backing up the flowing propelled water and gas and mixing them together under a pressure above the storage pressure, and storing and dispensing under the storage pressure; flat water may also be selectively diverted and dispensed after cooling and before contact with exhausted propellant gas, and the propellant pressure may be boosted with municipal water pressure; the apparatus has a pneumatically powerable water pump, a carbonator, a propelled water conduit connecting a pump outlet to a carbonator inlet, a fill valve i

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a post-mix or pre-mix dispenser for soft drinks including a cooling tank which can either be filled with particles of ice for cooling the beverage to be dispensed or operated with a mechanical refrigeration system including a compressor and a cooling fluid which is circulated through cooling coils extending into the tank. The mechanical refrigeration system, when in use, is inserted through an upper opening in the cooling tank and forms the closure of the tank when in place. When particles of ice are used as a cooling medium, they are also inserted through the upper opening in the cooling tank and a conventional closure would then be placed over the opening of the tank.