Abstract: A fluid dispensing method and apparatus particularly adapted for post-mix dispensing of a soft drink, with accurate relative proportions of carbonated water and soft drink syrup. Separate syrup and water valves are controllably turned on and off, independently, at prescribed duty cycles, to provide a prescribed mix ratio, and syrup and water flow meters monitor the instantaneous flow rates of the water and syrup to minimize the effects of any pressure variations in the initial syrup and water supplies. The apparatus is conveniently modified for use with different soft drink syrups using a separate removable personality module for each syrup, characterizing its prescribed mix ratio and its viscosity.

Abstract: A post mix dispensing system for mixing together and dispensing carbonated water and a flavored soft drink syrup, while generating substantially reduced amounts of foam. Carbonated water is injected into a special staging chamber, where it circulates turbulently at about atmospheric pressure. The water is ported from the chamber through a plurality of elongated ports, substantially under gravitational forces alone, and the ports are configured to straighten the flow of water and remove most of its kinetic energy. A nozzle deflects the water to converge upon a stream of syrup and to mix with the syrup in an unconfined region, after a substantial proportion of the gases released from the water has escaped, thereby substantially reducing the generation of foam.

Abstract: A fluid flow meter having a paddle wheel rotatably mounted in a cylindrical cavity and an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit tangentially aligned with the periphery of the cavity for directing a fluid to flow through it. The paddle wheel's axis of rotation is displaced from the cavity's centerline, in the direction of the inlet conduit and substantially perpendicular to the flow of fluid entering the cavity, such that the flow meter operates effectively over an extended range of Reynolds numbers, spanning both turbulent and laminar flows.