Abstract: An improved bottle cap and valve assembly are provided in a bottled water station, wherein the station includes an actuator probe for engaging a bottle cap on an inverted water bottle installed onto the bottled water station. The actuator probe includes a probe head for opening a bottle cap valve member, thereby permitting downward water flow from the bottle. Dual flow paths formed through the actuator probe permit smooth downward water flow through one flow path, substantially without glugging, to an underlying station reservoir simultaneously with upward air flow through the other flow path from the reservoir to the bottle interior. In the preferred form, the valve member is integrally molded as part of the bottle cap and configured to be severed therefrom upon engagement with the probe head. The preferred probe head captures and retains the severed valve member in a position for slide-fit sealing re-engagement with the bottle cap when the bottle is removed from the station.

Abstract: An improved actuator probe assembly is provided for a bottled water station of the type having an actuator probe for engaging and opening a valved bottle cap on an inverted water bottle. The probe assembly comprises an inner support funnel and an outer adapter sleeve retained by a probe fitting in assembled relation with a cover plate adapted for mounting onto a station housing in a position over an upwardly open water reservoir. The support funnel extends downwardly through a central opening in the cover plate and defines a cup-shaped receiver structure for receiving and supporting an inverted water bottle, with the probe fitting positioned at a lower end of the support funnel and including the actuator probe. The adapter sleeve is carried about the support funnel and includes an outwardly radiating diaphragm member for closing the top of the reservoir when the cover plate is installed onto the station housing.

Abstract: An improved actuator probe assembly is provided for a bottled water station of the type having an actuator probe for engaging and opening a valved bottle cap on an inverted water bottle. The probe assembly comprises an inner support funnel and an outer adapter sleeve retained by a probe fitting in assembled relation with a cover plate adapted for mounting onto a station housing in a position over an upwardly open water reservoir. The support funnel extends downwardly through a central opening in the cover plate and defines a cup-shaped receiver structure for receiving and supporting an inverted water bottle, with the probe fitting positioned at a lower end of the support funnel and including the actuator probe. The adapter sleeve is carried about the support funnel and includes an outwardly radiating diaphragm member for closing the top of the reservoir when the cover plate is installed onto the station housing.

Abstract: An improved bottled water station includes a removable reservoir for drop-in installation into and lift-out removal from a station housing. The reservoir is constructed from a lightweight molded plastic or the like to have an open upper end for receiving and supporting an inverted water bottle. A bottom wall on the reservoir includes an upwardly recessed portion defining an inverted receiver cup for slide-fit reception of a chiller probe provided as part of a refrigeration system on the station housing. One or more faucet valves are provided to extend through openings in a front wall of the station housing for dispensing water from the reservoir.

Abstract: An improved bottle cap and valve assembly are provided in a bottled water station, wherein the station includes an actuator probe for engaging a bottle cap on an inverted water bottle installed onto the bottled water station. The actuator probe includes a probe head for opening a bottle cap valve member, thereby permitting downward water flow from the bottle. Dual flow paths formed through the actuator probe permit smooth downward water flow through one flow path, substantially without glugging, to an underlying station reservoir simultaneously with upward air flow through the other flow path from the reservoir to the bottle interior. In the preferred form, the valve member is integrally molded as part of the bottle cap and configured to be severed therefrom upon engagement with the probe head. The preferred probe head captures and retains the severed valve member in a position for slide-fit sealing re-engagement with the bottle cap when the bottle is removed from the station.

Abstract: A bottled water station includes an improved dispenser faucet for use in dispensing chilled water from a station reservoir, wherein the improved faucet is designed to substantially eliminate formation of condensation on externally exposed surfaces of the faucet structure. The dispenser faucet comprises a delivery conduit having a rear end adapted for removable mounting onto the reservoir and a front end projecting forwardly therefrom to a spigot having a manually operable valve member. The front end of the delivery conduit is surrounded for a substantial portion of the length thereof by a substantially sealed annular air gap wherein this air gap provides an insulation chamber which is effective to reduce or eliminate condensation on exposed external surfaces of the faucet.

Abstract: An improved bottled water station is provided of the type including a removable reservoir for drop-in installation into a station housing, wherein the reservoir is adapted for slide-fit engagement with a manifolded support platform for coupling the reservoir to at least one temperature control device and to at least one faucet valve for dispensing. The reservoir is constructed, in the preferred form, from a molded plastic or the like to have an open upper end for receiving and supporting an inverted water supply bottle. The reservoir, upon drop-in installation into the station housing, is supported upon the manifolded support platform, wherein the reservoir and platform include mating slide-fit connectors for coupling the reservoir to temperature control devices such as a chiller probe for chilling water within the reservoir, and/or a hot water tank for heating a portion of the water coupling from the reservoir.

Abstract: An improved bottled water station includes a removable reservoir for drop-in installation into and lift-out removal from a station housing. The reservoir is constructed from a lightweight molded plastic or the like to have an open upper end for receiving and supporting an inverted water bottle. A bottom wall on the reservoir includes an upwardly recessed portion defining an inverted receiver cup for slide-fit reception of a chiller probe provided as part of a refrigeration system on the station housing. One or more faucet valves are provided to extend through openings in a front wall of the station housing for dispensing water from the reservoir.

Abstract: An improved valve actuator is provided to operate a liquid dispenser valve of the type used in a soft drink dispenser station or the like. The dispenser station includes a pressurized supply of carbonated water for regulated delivery through a water dispense conduit to a drinking cup or the like for mixture with a selected flavor syrup delivered to the cup from a syrup-containing bottle having the dispenser valve at the bottle neck for controlling syrup outflow. The valve actuator is mechanically connected to the dispenser valve and responds to pressure along the water dispense conduit at a position upstream of a flow restrictor to open the dispenser valve each time carbonated water is delivered through the conduit to the drinking cup. At the conclusion of water delivery, the valve actuator responds to decreased pressure along the water dispense conduit to return the dispenser valve to a closed position.

Abstract: A bottled water station is provided for selective dispensing of uncarbonated and carbonated water. The station includes an upper water reservoir adapted to receive water from an inverted supply bottle. The upper reservoir is mounted in stacked relation on a lower carbonator reservoir, and uncarbonated water is dispensed from the upper reservoir via a first dispense conduit extending through the carbonator reservoir and a multiported fitting thereon to a first faucet valve. A portion of the uncarbonated water is diverted from the first dispense conduit and is supplied with a carbonating gas through the multiported fitting to the carbonator reservoir to form carbonated water. The carbonated water is dispensed in turn through a second dispense conduit connected between the multiported fitting and a second faucet valve. A chiller, coil of a suitable refrigeration system is wrapped about the upper and lower reservoir for simultaneous chilling of the water contained therein.

Abstract: An improved bottled water station includes a removable reservoir for drop-in installation into and lift-out removal from a station housing. The reservoir is constructed from a lightweight molded plastic or the like to have an open upper end for receiving and supporting an inverted water bottle, and an internal baffle plate which subdivides the interior of the reservoir into upper and lower chambers. A ratchet nut is carried at the underside of the reservoir for slide-fit engagement with a mating ratchet member when the reservoir is drop-in installed into the station housing, wherein the ratchet member releasibly retains the reservoir in intimate seated contact with a chiller plate unit for chilling water within the lower reservoir chamber. Separate faucet valves are assembled with the reservoir, to extend through openings in a front wall of the station housing, for individual dispensing of chilled water from the lower reservoir chamber and room temperature water from the upper reservoir chamber.

Abstract: An improved bottled water station is provided of the type having a removable reservoir for drop-in installation into and lift-out removal from a station housing. The reservoir is constructed from a lightweight molded plastic or the like to have an open upper end for receiving and supporting an inverted water bottle. A bottom wall on the reservoir includes an upwardly recessed portion defining an inverted receiver cup for slide-fit reception of an upstanding chiller probe provided as part of a refrigeration system on the station housing. A vent path is provided to vent the space between the chiller probe and the receiver cup during drop-in installation or lift-out removal of the reservoir. However, when the reservoir is seated in a fully installed position, the vent path is closed and a vapor seal prevents air circulation into the space between the chiller probe and the receiver cup, to correspondingly prevent undesired formation of condensation and/or frost.

Abstract: An improved bottled water station includes a removable reservoir for drop-in installation into and lift-out removal from a station housing. The reservoir is constructed from a lightweight molded plastic or the like to have an open upper end for receiving and supporting an inverted water bottle. A bottom wall on the reservoir includes an upwardly recessed portion defining an inverted receiver cup for slide-fit reception of a chiller probe provided as part of a refrigeration system on the station housing. A vapor seal prevents air circulation into the space between the chiller probe and the receiver cup, to correspondingly prevent undesired formation of condensation and/or frost. One or more faucet valves are provided to extend through openings in a front wall of the station housing for dispensing water from the reservoir.

Abstract: An improved bottle cap and valve assembly are provided in a bottled water station, wherein the station (10) includes an actuator probe for engaging a bottle cap on an inverted water bottle installed onto the bottled water station. The actuator probe includes a probe head for opening a bottle cap valve member, thereby permitting downward water flow from the bottle. Dual flow paths formed through the actuator probe permit smooth downward water flow through one flow path, substantially without glugging, to an underlying station reservoir simultaneously with upward air flow through the other flow path from the reservoir to the bottle interior. The preferred probe head captures and retains the severed valve member in a position for slide-fit sealing re-engagement with the bottle cap when the bottle is removed from the station.

Abstract: An improved bottled water station includes a removable reservoir module for simple drop-in installation into a station housing and to cooperate with station components to provide a selected plurality of water supplies at different temperatures for individual dispensing. The preferred reservoir module comprises a lightweight reservoir of molded plastic or the like having an open upper end for receiving and supporting an inverted water bottle, and an internal baffle plate which divides the interior of the reservoir into upper and lower chambers. A fitting on a lower end of the reservoir permits sealed reception of a chiller probe into the lower chamber, wherein the chiller probe is provided as part of a refrigeration system on the station housing. In addition, a fitting on the lower end of the reservoir interconnects water from the upper reservoir chamber with a heated water tank on the station housing.

Abstract: An improved syrup dispenser and valve assembly are provided for dispensing a liquid, such as a flavor syrup in a soft drink dispenser station or the like. The valve assembly comprises a compact base member adapted to mount directly into the neck of a flavor syrup bottle, in combination with a movable valve member mounted thereon and cooperating therewith to define a syrup dispense port and an air vent port. The bottle is designed for inverted installation into the dispenser station with the bottle neck seated within a station support socket, and with the valve member operatively engaged by a station actuator. The station actuator displaces the valve member between a first position closing the syrup dispense and air vent ports, and a second position opening both of said ports to permit gravity syrup outflow with the dispensed syrup volume being replaced by air inflow into the bottle.

Abstract: An improved bottled water station includes a removable reservoir module for simple drop-in installation into a station housing and to cooperate with station components to provide a selected plurality of water supplies at different temperatures for individual dispensing. The preferred reservoir module comprises a lightweight reservoir of molded plastic or the like having an open upper end for receiving and supporting an inverted water bottle, and an internal baffle plate which divides the interior of the reservoir into upper and lower chambers. A fitting on a lower end of the reservoir permits sealed reception of a chiller probe into the lower chamber, wherein the chiller probe is provided as part of a refrigeration system on the station housing. In addition, a fitting on the lower end of the reservoir interconnects water from the upper reservoir chamber with a heated water tank on the station housing.

Abstract: An improved valve actuator is provided to operate a liquid dispenser valve of the type used in a soft drink dispenser station or the like. The dispenser station includes a pressurized supply of carbonated water for regulated delivery through a water dispense conduit to a drinking cup or the like for mixture with a selected flavor syrup delivered to the cup from a syrup-containing bottle having the dispenser valve at the bottle neck for controlling syrup outflow. The valve actuator is mechanically connected to the dispenser valve and responds to pressure along the water dispense conduit at a position upstream of a flow restrictor to open the dispenser valve each time carbonated water is delivered through the conduit to the drinking cup. At the conclusion of water delivery, the valve actuator responds to decreased pressure along the water dispense conduit to return the dispenser valve to a closed position.

Abstract: An improved system is provided for thoroughly chilling a beverage such as water flowing into a refrigerated reservoir. The system includes an injector nozzle disposed generally at an upper end of the reservoir, together with a dispense valve for drawing the beverage in chilled form from a lower end of the reservoir. A vertically elongated and rotatably driven impeller shaft is mounted within the reservoir and carries a spaced plurality of vaneless impeller disks for causing the beverage flowing downwardly through the reservoir to undergo a plurality of directional changes in a radially outward direction for improved heat transfer with a chiller coil wrapped about the reservoir. This improved heat transfer provides for efficient beverage chilling prior to dispensing. The system is particularly useful in dispensing chilled water, juices, and soft drink beverages.