Constant ratio post-mix beverage dispensing valve

- IMI Cornelius Inc.

The present invention is a post-mix beverage dispensing valve for accurately maintaining the proper ratio of two liquid beverage components. The present invention includes a valve main body having a gear pump secured thereto. The gear pump includes two sets of oval gears. One set of oval gears is in fluid communication with a source of pressurized carbonated water, and the second set is in fluid communication with a source of syrup. The valve body also includes solenoid operated pallet valves for each of the beverage components. Ratioing of the solenoid provides for simultaneous opening of both pallet valves whereby the pressurized carbonated water flows between the carbonated water gears and is swept thereby through the valve body to the dispensing nozzle. One gear of each gear pair is secured to a common rotating shaft. Pressurized carbonated water provides for the rotation of the syrup gears, thereby providing for the pumping of the syrup to the nozzle. The gear pairs are sized so that the desired ratio between the beverage components is maintained.

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Claims

3. The dispensing valve as defined in claim 2, and the flow control means comprising a flow control washer.

4. A constant ratio post-mix beverage dispensing valve, comprising:

a valve body, the valve body having a carbonated water channel first portion and a syrup channel first portion, both first channel portions extending partially through the valve body from first portion first ends initiating at a valve body connecting end for providing connection to sources of carbonated water and syrup respectively and terminating at first portion second ends, and the valve body having a carbonated water channel second portion and a syrup channel second portion therein, both second channel portions extending partially through the valve body from second portion first ends and terminating at second portion second ends for communicating with valve means, the valve means for regulating flow of carbonated water and syrup from the sources thereof to a dispensing nozzle,
the syrup second channel portion having a flow control means therein,
a plug releasably insertable into the valve body, said plug including sealing means for sealing with the valve body, providing access to the flow control means, and having a top surface forming an interior surface portion of the syrup second channel portion, and
a gear ratioing means, the ratioing means having a housing for retaining a carbonated water gear pair and a syrup gear pair therein, one gear of each gear pair secured to a common drive shaft, and the carbonated water gear pair rotating within a carbonated water cavity and the syrup gear pair rotating within a syrup cavity, and each cavity fluidly separate from the other and having an inlet and an outlet, and the ratioing means sealably securable to the valve body so that both the syrup cavity and the carbonated water cavity inlets are in sealed fluid communication with the carbonated water and syrup channel first portion second ends respectively, and so that the syrup cavity and the carbonated water cavity outlets are in sealed fluid communication with the carbonated water and syrup channel second portion first ends respectively so that the carbonated water and syrup can flow through the ratioing means wherein a desired volume ratio between the carbonated water and syrup is maintained as a function of the relative size of the gear pairs to each other.

5. The dispensing valve as defined in claim 4, and the plug retained within the valve body by a retaining plate secured to the valve body bottom side.

6. The dispensing valve as defined in claim 5, and the so flow control means comprising a flow control washer.

7. A constant ratio post-mix beverage dispensing valve, comprising:

a valve body, the valve body having a carbonated water channel first portion and a syrup channel first portion, both first channel portions extending partially through the valve body from first portion first ends initiating at a valve body connecting end for providing connection to sources of carbonated water and syrup respectively and terminating at first portion second ends, and the valve body having a carbonated water channel second portion and a syrup channel second portion therein, both second channel portions extending partially through the valve body from second portion first ends and terminating at second portion second ends for communicating with valve means, the valve means for regulating flow of carbonated water and syrup from the sources thereof to a dispensing nozzle,
the carbonated water second channel portion and the syrup second channel portion each having a flow control means therein,
first and second plugs releasably insertable into the valve body, said first and second plugs including sealing means for sealing with the valve body, providing access to the flow control means in the carbonated water channel portion and the syrup channel portion respectively, and having a top surface forming an interior surface portion of the carbonated water second channel portion and the syrup second portion respectively, and
a gear ratioing means, the ratioing means having a housing for retaining a carbonated water gear pair and a syrup gear pair therein, one gear of each gear pair secured to a common drive shaft, and the carbonated water gear pair rotating within a carbonated water cavity and the syrup gear pair rotating within a syrup cavity, and each cavity fluidly separate from the other and having an inlet and an outlet, and the ratioing means sealably securable to the valve body so that both the syrup cavity and the carbonated water cavity inlets are in sealed fluid communication with the carbonated water and syrup channel first portion second ends respectively, and so that the syrup cavity and the carbonated water cavity outlets are in sealed fluid communication with the carbonated water and syrup channel second portion first ends respectively so that the carbonated water and syrup can flow through the ratioing means wherein a desired volume ratio between the carbonated water and syrup is maintained as a function of the relative size of the gear pairs to each other.

8. The dispensing valve as defined in claim 7, and the plugs retained within the valve body by a retaining plate secured to the valve body bottom side.

9. The dispensing valve as defined in claim 8, and the flow control means comprising a flow control washer.

11. The dispensing valve as defined in claim 10, and the carbonated water second channel portion having a flow control means therein.

12. The dispensing valve as defined in claim 9, and including a plug releasably insertable into a bottom side of the valve body opposite from the top surface, the plug including sealing means for sealing with the valve body and the plug providing access to the flow control means.

13. The dispensing valve as defined in claim 12, and the plug having a top surface the plug top surface including a rounded groove forming a smooth interior surface portion of the second channel.

14. The dispensing valve as defined in claim 13, and the plug retained within the valve body by a retaining plate secured to the valve body bottom side.

15. The dispensing valve as defined in claim 14, and the flow control means comprising a flow control washer.

16. The dispensing valve as defined in claim 10, and the syrup second channel portion having a flow control means therein.

17. The dispensing valve as defined in claim 16, and including a plug releasably insertable into a bottom side of the valve body opposite from the top surface, the plug including sealing means for sealing with the valve body and the plug providing access to the flow control means.

18. The dispensing valve as defined in claim 17, and the plug having a top surface the plug top surface including a rounded groove forming a smooth interior surface portion of the second channel.

19. The dispensing valve as defined in claim 18, and the plug retained within the valve body by a retaining plate secured to the valve body bottom side.

20. The dispensing valve as defined in claim 19, and the flow control means comprising a flow control washer..Iadd.

21. The dispensing valve as defined in claim 1 and further including a plug releasably insertable into the valve body, said plug including sealing means for sealing with the valve body and for providing access to the flow control means..Iaddend..Iadd.22. The dispensing valve as defined in claim 21, and the flow control means comprising a flow washer..Iaddend..Iadd.23. The dispensing valve as defined in claim 1 and the syrup channel second portion having a flow control means therein.

.Iaddend..Iadd.24. A constant ratio post-mix beverage dispensing valve comprising:

a valve body, the valve body having a carbonated water channel first portion and a syrup channel first portion, both first channel portions extending partially through the valve body from first portion first ends initiating at a valve body connecting end for providing connection to sources of carbonated water and syrup respectively and terminating at first portion second ends, and the valve body having a carbonated water channel second portion and a syrup channel second portion therein, both second channel portions extending partially through the valve body from second portion first ends and terminating at second portion second ends for communicating with valve means, the valve means for regulating flow of carbonated water and syrup from the sources thereof to a dispensing nozzle,
the syrup channel second portion having a flow control means therein, and a gear ratioing means, the ratioing means having a housing for retaining a carbonated water gear pair and a syrup gear pair therein, one gear of each gear pair secured to a common drive shaft, and the carbonated water gear pair rotating within a carbonated water cavity and the syrup gear pair rotating within a syrup cavity, and each cavity fluidly separate from the other and having an inlet and an outlet, and the ratioing means sealably securable to the valve body so that both the syrup cavity and the carbonated water cavity inlets are in sealed fluid communication with the carbonated water and syrup channel first portion second ends respectively, and so that the syrup cavity and the carbonated water cavity outlets are in sealed fluid communication with the carbonated water and syrup channel second portion first ends respectively so that the carbonated water and syrup can flow through the ratioing means wherein a desired volume ratio between the carbonated water and syrup is maintained as a function of the relative size of the gear pairs to each other..Iaddend..Iadd.25. The dispensing valve as defined in claim 24, and the flow control means comprising a flow washer..Iaddend..Iadd.26. The dispensing valve as defined in claim 24 and further including a plug releasably insertable into the valve body, said plug including sealing means for sealing with the valve body and for providing access to the flow control means..Iaddend..Iadd.27. The dispensing valve as defined in claim 26, and the flow control means comprising a flow washer..Iaddend.
Referenced Cited
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3348787 October 1967 Yingst et al.
3750908 August 1973 Bauerlein et al.
4109831 August 29, 1978 Culpepper et al.
4128190 December 5, 1978 Gruber
4163510 August 7, 1979 Strenger
4181242 January 1, 1980 Zygiel et al.
4684332 August 4, 1987 Hartley et al.
4767033 August 30, 1988 Gemperle
4795061 January 3, 1989 Peckjian
4854482 August 8, 1989 Bergner
4931249 June 5, 1990 Hune
4932564 June 12, 1990 Austin et al.
4940165 July 10, 1990 McMillin
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5000352 March 19, 1991 Cleland
5012837 May 7, 1991 Zepp
Foreign Patent Documents
0326510 August 1989 EPX
7929368 July 1980 FRX
3929508A1 March 1990 DEX
1074167 June 1976 ITX
WO8804984 July 1988 WOX
Patent History
Patent number: RE35780
Type: Grant
Filed: Oct 19, 1994
Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
Assignee: IMI Cornelius Inc. (Anoka, MN)
Inventors: David A. Hassell (Anoka, MN), David C. Anderson (Anoka, MN)
Primary Examiner: Kevin P. Shaver
Attorney: Sten Erik Hakanson
Application Number: 8/326,174
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: 222/1292; Rotary Motor (417/405); Interconnected Flow Displacement Elements (137/99)
International Classification: B67D 556;