Abstract: The ice maker herein works in the conventional manner wherein a refrigeration system provides for cooling of the evaporator. Water is first circulated over the evaporator as the evaporator is cooled. A temperature sensor is located in a water recirculating system and a microprocessor monitors the temperture of the circulating water. Once a predetermined non-freezing temperature is reached, for example 40 degrees Fahrenheit, water circulation is stopped. However, the compressor continues to run and cool the evaporator for a predetermined period of time to a desired lower temperature. The pump is then turned on and water again circulated over the evaporator initiating the ice making cycle. This process insures that ice adheres to the evaporator and does not prematurely slough off and/or result in the formation of slush.

Abstract: In one aspect the present invention provides a chilled beverage dispense system including a beverage recirculation loop and a glycol recirculation loop, a first chiller to cool the beverage and a second chiller to cool the glycol, a heat exchanger through which the cooled beverage and the cooled glycol are passed to further cool the beverage and a dispense valve located in the beverage recirculation loop downstream of the heat exchanger. The glycol recirculation loop including a bypass valve upstream of the heat exchanger, whereby in a standby, non-dispense mode the glycol bypasses the heat exchanger and when a beverage dispense is required, the glycol is diverted through the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A settable control valve (13, 50, 113) has a closure member moveable within a passage-way (17, 71, 81A, 101, 117), there being at least one groove for fluid flow (25, 26, 44, 56, 57, 97, 98, 107, 108, 125, 126) in the wall of the passageway. The groove is of varying transverse cross-sectional area along its length and the closure member may be set at different positions so as to expose varying lengths of the groove to fluid flow, hence enabling different fluid flow rates to be established.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a pneumatic ice transport system having a primary ice reservoir and a blower connected to a venturi. The ice reservoir includes an ice dispensing mechanism for dispensing of ice there from into an ice flow tube. The venturi suction intake is connected by a tube to the discharge end of the ice chute. The outlet of the venturi is connected to a tube for directing the ice to a remote location. In operation, the blower provides a large volume of relatively low pressure air to the venturi. A heat exchanger can be connected between the outlet of the blower and the air inlet of the venturi. In a preferred embodiment, the heat exchanger uses forced air and melt water from the primary storage bin to cool the air stream produced by the blower. The heat exchanger serves to lower the temperature of that air to at or below ambient.

Abstract: A mixing valve is shown for mixing a concentrate fluid with a diluent fluid in a desired ratio. A single actuator is used to open and close both the diluent and concentrate flows by operation of a shaft. A diaphragm extends around the shaft and defines fluidly separate upper and lower chambers within a valve body. Inlets to the upper and lower chambers are connected to sources of the concentrate and diluent, respectively. The upper and lower chambers each have outlets fluidly connected to a mixing and dispensing nozzle. The actuator moves the shaft from a fully extended closed position to an intermediate t retracted open position to open the lower chamber outlet to the mixing nozzle to initiate diluent flow. The actuator is then moved to a fully retracted position and then reciprocated between the fully retracted and intermediate retracted position whereby the diaphragm serves to pump the concentrate from the upper chamber to the mixing nozzle.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a sheet metal leg retaining anchor having an upturned perimeter flange edge. The perimeter edge includes a plurality of holes there through and a threaded nut is secured centrally thereof. In the illustrative embodiment the anchor is placed within a roto-molded mold for the particular leg supported structure/cabinet being produced therein. The upturned perimeter flange edges are oriented to extend into the mold, that is, in the opposite direction from what will be the bottom end of the structure/cabinet from which the legs will extend. The bin is then formed by the roto-molding process whereby the plastic material flows over and around the exposed surfaces of the anchor. Specifically, the plastic flows through the holes in the perimeter flange edges providing for a strong mechanical locking or securing of the anchor to and with the plastic structure/cabinet. The legs are threadably engaged with the anchor and firmly anchored thereby to the structure/cabinet.

Abstract: Cooler for a beverage, e.g. beer, which enables dispense at low temperature with good appearance of the dispensed beverage, comprises an inlet and an outlet, at least one heat exchanger (10, 30, 32) between the inlet and the outlet through which the beverage can be passed to cool it and at least one Peltier plate assembly (12, 14, 42) connected to a voltage supply whereby a cold side and a hot side may be generated at the assembly, characterised in that the assembly (12, 14) is positioned whereby the beverage can also be cooled by passage past the cold side of the assembly (12, 14) on its passage to the outlet or whereby the coolant after passage through the heat exchanger (32) is cooled by passage past the cold side of the assembly (42) before being recirculated to the heat exchanger (32).

Abstract: A post mix beverage dispense apparatus has a mixing head 10 arranged to receive different combinations of a concentrate and a diluent for dispensing any selected one of a range of beverages. The concentrates are delivered to the head 10 in dedicated flow lines 14, 16, 18, 20 under the control of respective valves 22, 24, 26, 28 actuated via a control board 52 in response to user selection of a desired beverage at a control panel 50. The diluent is delivered to the head 10 in a flow line 30 under the control of a changeover valve 32 for selectively correcting sources of different diluents to the flow line 30 via the control board 52 in response to user selection of the desired beverage at the control panel 50. The changeover valve 32 is positioned close to the mixing head 10 to minimise the volume of diluent remaining between the valve 32 and the head 10 after dispense.

Abstract: A beverage dispense device is designed to dispense a chilled carbonated beverage at a temperature close to the freezing point of the beverage without freezing and without excess break out of carbon dioxide. The beverage dispense device comprises a nozzle (19), a valve comprising a valve seat (13) and a closure member (16, 17), the valve being opened and closed by movement of the closure member (16, 17) out of and into contact with the valve seat (13) to allow or prevent flow of the beverage through the nozzle (19), and a flow regulator (18) between the valve seat (13) and the nozzle (19), the flow regulator (18) being adjustable to control flow rate through the nozzle (19) and being in the form of a core member (18) moveable in a flow passageway (15) downstream of the valve seat (13) and spaced from the valve seat, the core member (18) and the flow passageway (15) having matching tapering surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention is a flow rate control valve through which a liquid flows and from which the liquid is dispensed. The flow rate of the liquid is sensed and that information is sent to a microprocessor based control. The control operates a drive of the control valve so as to vary the resultant rate at which the liquid is dispensed therefrom. The drive operates a piston closure member that extends closely within a cylindrical passageway. The passageway has an inlet end and an outlet end and the drive operates the closure member in the passageway to a plurality of positions from a first position at the inlet end and a second position at the outlet end.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser to provide desired ratios of mixed concentrate and diluent more accurately comprises a valve housing (10) having an inlet (12) and an outlet (44) for a concentrate and an inlet (14) and an outlet (30) for a diluent, a reciprocating piston (24) in a central passageway (22) between the inlets and outlets, the piston (24) being movable reciprocably between a first position in which flow to both outlets is blocked and a second position in which both outlets are open to flow, a flow rate sensor (20) for the concentrate and a flow rate sensor (40) for the diluent, the sensors being connected to a controller (50) whereby the diluent flow rate is adjusted by movement of the piston (24) according to the concentrate flow rate to achieve a predetermined ratio of concentrate to diluent for the dispensed beverage.

Abstract: An electronic control for the operation of a beverage dispenser of the refrigerated ice bank type is shown. The control provides for reliable determinations of when ice production is needed and when it is not needed. A microprocessor receives information from an ice bank probe and from a temperature probe located within the ice bank. Data collected by the microprocessor from both the ice bank probe and the temperature probe is used to determine if the ice bank is either insufficient in size and should be increased or is of sufficient size such that the compressor can be turned off. A carbonator level probe is also shown and connected to the microprocessor.

Abstract: A juice dispenser is shown that includes a water bath tank, a mechanical refrigeration system and a beverage containing cabinet. These three primary components are designed to be separable modular units that are easily assembled together and disassembled. A sheet metal refrigeration deck having an evaporator secured thereto and suspended there below is dropped into and secured to a top end of a water bath tank. Various mechanical refrigeration components including primarily a compressor and condenser, are supported above the deck at a rear portion thereof. The beverage cabinet is positioned and retained above a forward portion of the water bath tank and includes an internal space for retaining a beverage container for holding typically a volume of beverage or juice concentrate/syrup. Fluid disconnects provide for releasable connection with the water bath for providing fluid connection to a heat exchange coil located in the cabinet to provide cooling therein, and hence, cooling of the concentrate.

Abstract: In one aspect the present invention provides a chilled beverage dispense system including a beverage recirculation loop and a glycol recirculation loop, a first chiller to cool the beverage and a second chiller to cool the glycol, a heat exchanger through which the cooled beverage and the cooled glycol are passed to further cool the beverage and a dispense valve located in the beverage recirculation loop downstream of the heat exchanger. The glycol recirculation loop including a bypass valve upstream of the heat exchanger, whereby in a standby, non-dispense mode the glycol bypasses the heat exchanger and when a beverage dispense is required, the glycol is diverted through the heat exchanger.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method that regulates the size of an ice bank (50) and that prevents short cycling of the compressor (30) therefor and operation thereof at undesired voltages. A microprocessor based control circuit (10) includes a circuit for sensing line voltage (14) combined with an ice bank sensing circuit (18, 20). The ice bank sensing circuit is of the conductivity sensing type wherein the electrical conductivity between two probes (P1, P2) is sensed. The microprocessor (16) continually monitors the probes (P1, P2) to determine if refrigeration is needed or not, and continually senses the line voltage to determine if that voltage is within the design limits of the refrigeration compressor (30). The voltage sensing circuit (14) can also sense if power has been interrupted where the voltage drops to zero.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for providing effective ozonation of water used in ice making equipment for the production of ice cubes and for the ozonation of ice retaining bins located within an ice/beverage dispenser for sanitizing and retarding the growth of microorganisms therein and in the drains associated therewith.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for providing effective chlorination of water used in ice making equipment for the production of ice cubes for sanitizing and retarding the growth of micro-organisms therein. A chlorine generator is used to produce chlorine gas from chloride ions present in the water.

Abstract: A beverage dispense system is designed to dispense a beverage, e.g. from a bulk supply, by chilling the beverage to a temperature close to its freezing point. The beverage dispense system includes a beverage recirculation loop and a water recirculation loop, two chillers (10, 24), both loops passing through both chillers, and a dispense valve (26) located in the beverage recirculation loop, a first of the chillers (10) cooling both the beverage and the water and a second of the chillers (24) comprising a thermo-electric device and being located between the first chiller (10) and the dispense valve (26) for further cooling of the beverage to be dispensed whilst removing heat from the device (24) using the water in the water recirculation loop.