GB2145395A - Drink dispensing units - Google Patents

Abstract

A two-flavour drink dispensing apparatus 1 comprises a pair of identical drink dispensing units 2. A tank 3 (common to both units) contains a body of liquid coolant, (water), refrigeration means 5 for extracting heat from the body 4 of water, and each unit 2 has a proportional mixing device 6 for delivering proportional volumes of water (from 8) and a liquid additive, (fruit juice concentrate), from 7 to a water/additive mixture outlet 9. Water flowing from source 15 to inlet 8 is cooled in coil 10 by indirect heat exchange with the body 4 of coolant in the tank 3. Non-return flow valves 16 connect additive inlet 7 of the mixing device 6 with a tank 17 of the liquid additive 18a, or 18b. The tanks 17 comprise a common tank structure, divided by a division plate 17a, and are partially disposed in the tank 3 so that the additives 18a, 18b are cooled by the body of water 4. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to drink dispensing units Background of the invention This invention relates to drink dispensing units and is concerned with drink dispensing units which deliver proportional volumes of water and a liquid additive such as fruit juice concentrate.

Summary of the invention According to the invention, a drink dispensing unit comprises: a) receptacle means for containing a body of liquid coolant, b) means for extracting heat from the body of coolant, c) a proportional mixing device for delivering proportional volumes of water and a liquid additive, the mixing device having d) a liquid additive inlet, e) a water inlet, f) and a water/additive mixture outlet, g) means disposed within the coolant receptacle means for connecting the water inlet of the mixing device with a source of pressurised water, whereby water flowing to the mixing device is cooled by heat exchange with the body of coolant in the receptacle means, and h) non-return flow means for connecting the additive inlet of the mixing device with a source of liquid additive.

The means for extracting heat from the body of coolant in the tank preferably comprise refrigeration means, said refrigeration means including an evaporator disposed in the receptacle means.

Ice control means are preferably provided whereby any ice build-up on the heat exchange surfaces of the evaporator is maintained substantially uniform.

The invention also consists of drink dispensing apparatus comprising two or more of said dispensing units.

In this arrangement the units may share a common coolant receptacle means.

Brief description of the drawings An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying semi-diagrammatic drawing which is a front view in section.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiment With reference to the drawing, two-flavour drink dispensing apparatus 1 comprises a pair of identical drink dispensing units 2.

Each dispensing unit 2 comprises: a) receptacle means in the form of a tank 3 (common to both units) containing a body 4 of liquid coolant, (water), b) refrigeration means 5 for extracting heat from the body 4 of water, c) a proportional mixing device 6 for delivering proportional volumes of water and a liquid additive, (fruit juice concentrate), the mixing device having d) a liquid additive inlet 7, e) a water inlet 8, f) and a water/additive mixture outlet 9, g) a coil 10 disposed within the coolant tank 3 for connecting the water inlet 8 of the mixing device 6 with a source 15 of pressurised water which may be the mains supply, whereby water flowing to the mixing device 6 is cooled by heat exchange with the body 4 of coolant in the tank 3, and h) non-return flow valve means 16 for connecting the additive inlet 7 of the mixing device 6 with a tank 17 of the liquid additive 18a or 18b.

Tanks 17 comprise a common tank structure, divided internally by a division plate 17a. The tanks 17 are partially disposed in the tank 3 so that the additives 18a, 18b are cooled by the body of water 4 within the tank 3.

In this example, liquid additives 18a and 18b are, respectively, grapefruit and orange concentrate.

Each mixing device 6 is substantially of the form of proportional mixing device described and claimed in U.K. Patent No.2,010,105 (Robert K. Cleland),to which reference should be made. The only significant different between a mixing unit 6 of the present disclosure and the proportional mixture device of U.K. Patent No. 2,010,105 is that the former is provided with the non-return valve means 16. The unit 6 makes use of a venturi water/concentrate mixer (not shown) and a solenoid valve 20 for controlling the flow of water to the venturi.The non-return valve means 16 prevent vacuum being broken in the venturi of the unit 6, by any tendency for concentrate back-flow through the inlet 7, when the solenoid valve 20 operates to terminate the supply of water to the venturi. (Flow of water through the venturi induces an upward flow of concentrate through the inlet 7 to the mixing device 6).

Solenoid valve 20, inlet 7, inlet 8, and outlet 9 correspond to solenoid valve 54, inlet 36, inlet 56 and outlet D of the mixing device disclosed by the said U.K. Patent No.2,010,105.

The units 2 are disposed in a casing 25. Conventional features such as push controls for selecting either a grapefruit or orange drink, a tray for supporting glasses or paper cups beneath dispensing nozzles connected to the mixture outlets 9, and an isolating switch for security and maintenance purposes, are all provided, although not shown.

Each refrigeration means 5 comprises an evaporator coil 30 disposed in the tank, as well as the conventional condenser, compressor and expansion valve, not shown.

Ice build-up on the evaporator coil 30 is controlled by an ice thermostat unit 35 connected, via an electrical signal line 36, to the refrigeration means 5.

Ice control means comprising a paddle-type agitator unit 37 is provided for maintaining any ice build-up on the heat exchange surfaces of the evaporator coil 30 at a substantially uniform thickness, by movement within the body 4 of liquid coolant.

In operation, operation of the drink-selector push control closes an electrical circuit whereby the solenoid valve 20 opens. Water entering the venturi of the mixing device 6 creates a vacuum whereby concentrate is drawn up the inlet 7 to mix with the water. A metered quantity of water/concentrate mixture is then discharged to the dispenser nozzle via the outlet 8.

Stainless steel is used where possible in the dispensing apparatus 1.

The invention provides a unit for dispensing cool drinks at low cost. It is easy to service and to clean.

Alternative methods of cooling comprise use of direct refrigeration or a flash refrigeration system.

As the water (4) forming the coolant is kept separate from the water used for the drink mix, water stagnation problems are avoided. Obviously, the waterthe tank 3 will be replaced from time to time.

Modifications of the apparatus 1 comprises use of single refrigeration means 5, agitator unit 37 and thermostat unit 35.

Also, the tank 17 may be replaced by two separate tanks, disposed in a plastics material liner, which fits into the open end of tank 3 and is supported thereby.

Interalia, this arrangement avoids accidental spillage of additive into tank 3 when additive is being replenished.

The apparatus 1 is suitable for additives other than grapefruit and orange. For example, colas and lemonade concentrates.

Claims (11)

1. Adrinkdispensing unitcomprising: a) receptacle means for containing a body of liquid coolant, b) means for extracting heat from the body of coolant, c) a proportional mixing device for delivering proportional volumes of water and a liquid additive, the mixing device having d) a liquid additive inlet, e) a water inlet, f) and a waterladditive mixture outlet, g) means disposed with the coolant receptacle means for connecting the water inlet of the mixing device with a source of pressurised water, whereby water flowing to the mixing device is cooled by heat exchange with the body of coolant in the receptacle means, and h) non-return flow means for connecting the additive inlet of the mixing device with a source of liquid additive.

2. A drink dispensing unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for extracting heat from the body of coolant in the tank comprise refrigeration means, said refrigeration means including an evaporator disposed in the receptacle means.

3. A drink dispensing unit as claimed in claim 1 or 2, provided with ice control means whereby any ice build-up on the heat exchange surface of the evaporator is maintained substantially uniform.

4. A drink dispensing unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the ice control means comprise means for agitating the body of liquid coolant.

5. A drink dispensing unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the source of liquid additive comprises a tank structure disposed in the receptacle means so as to be cooled by the body of coolant therein.

6. Drink dispensing apparatus comprising a pair of units, each as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. Drink dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the pair of units share a common coolant receptacle means.

8. Drink dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the source of liquid additive for each unit comprises a common tank structure divided internally.

9. Drink dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the source of liquid additive for each unit comprises separate tanks, disposed in a liner which fits into the open end of the receptacle means.

10. Adrinkdispensing unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

11. Drink dispensing apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.