Sugar blending system

Claim 3

Apparatus for providing a flow of syrup at a constant percentage of sugar concentration comprising: at least one principal syrup tank from which said syrup at a constant percentage of sugar concentration is withdrawn, means having an outlet into said principal tank for supplying water, and concentrated syrup having a greater and known concentration, to said principal tank and for mixing said water and concentrated syrup, means connected to the last-named means for regulating the flow of concentrated syrup and water to said principal tank including adjustable microvalve means through which said concentrated syrup flows and means connected to said last-named means for providing a predetermined pressure head for said concentrated syrup and water, and means associated with said last-named means for heating said concentrated syrup so that said concentrated syrup substantially at the location of said means for providing a predetermined pressure head for said concentrated syrup attains a predetermined temperature for producing a predetermined flow rate thereof as determined by the setting of said microvalve means, the flow rate of said concentrated syrup normally being at least high enough to establish substantially negligible temperature drop thereof prior to mixing.

Claim 4

Apparatus for providing a flow of syrup at a constant percentage of sugar concentration comprising: at least one principal syrup tank from which said syrup at a constant percentage of sugar concentration is withdrawn, means having an outlet into said principal tank for supplying water, and concentrated syrup having a greater and known concentration, to said principal tank and for mixing said water and concentrated syrup, means connected to the last-named means for regulating the flow of concentrated syrup and water to said principal tank including adjustable microvalve means through which said concentrated syrup flows and means connected to said last-named means for providing a predetermined pressure head for said concentrated syrup and water, and means associated with said last-named means for heating said concentrated syrup so that said concentrated syrup substantially at the location of said means for providing a predetermined pressure head for said concentrated syrup attains a predetermined temperature for producing a predetermined flow rate thereof as determined by the setting of said microvalve means, the flow rate of said concentrated syrup normally being at least high enough to establish substantially negligible temperature drop thereof prior to mixing.

Claim 5

The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said means for supplying concentrated syrup includes a concentrated syrup reservoir tank and pump means connected to said reservoir tank for pumping said concentrated syrup from said reservoir tank to said means for providing a predetermined pressure head for said concentrated syrup, said means for providing a predetermined pressure head for said concentrated syrup comprising a gravity tank substantially continuously receiving concentrated syrup from said reservoir tank as a consequence of action of said pump means, said gravity tank having a constant outflow level for establishing said predetermined pressure head, and said means for heating comprising a heat exchanger for heating said concentrated syrup pumped by said pump means to said gravity tank, wherein said concentrated syrup is pumped by said pump means at a rate for establishing substantially negligible temperature drop between said heat exchanger and said gravity tank whereby the temperature of said concentrated syrup in said gravity tank is constant and predetermined.

Claim 6

The apparatus according to claim 2 further including shutoff valve means between means for supplying water and said principal tank, and shutoff valve means between means for supplying concentrated syrup and said principal tank, and level control means on said principal tank for operating said shut-off valve means for discontinuing the flow of water and concentrated syrup into said tank when the mixture in said principal tank reaches a predetermined level.

Claim 7

The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said microvalve means comprises a calibrated needle valve in connection between said means for supplying concentrated syrup and said principal tank.

Claim 8

The apparatus according to claim 2 including mixer means having an outlet into said principal tank and being separate from said principal tank into which said water and concentrated syrup is delivered for miXing prior to delivery to said principal tank.

Claim 9

The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said means for supplying water comprises a water supply tank having level control means for providing water at a predetermined head, said means for regulating the flow of water comprising adjustable valve means between said water supply tank and said principal tank.

Claim 10

The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein: said heat exchanger comprises a multiple tube heat exchanger through which said concentrated syrup flows, said heat exchanger including passages in heat conducting relation to the flow of concentrated syrup in said heat exchanger for receiving water heated to a predetermined temperature, a second heat exchanger connected to the first-mentioned heat exchanger for providing said heated water, said second heat exchanger receiving steam in heat exchanging relation to said water in said second heat exchanger, temperature measuring means for measuring the temperature of said concentrated syrup, and steam valve means connected to said second heat exchanger for interrupting the flow of steam to said second heat exchanger under the control of said temperature measuring means, for supplying steam to said second heat exchanger as required for raising the temperature of said concentrated syrup via the first mentioned heat exchanger to a predetermined temperature.

Claim 11

Apparatus for providing sugar solutions at predetermined sugar concentrations comprising: a pair of principal tanks from which sugar syrup at predetermined concentrations may be withdrawn, means having an outlet into each of said tanks for supplying water at a predetermined head to said principal tanks and valve means for separately adjusting the flow of water into said tanks, a concentrated syrup reservoir tank, a gravity tank interconnected between said reservoir tank and said principal tanks substantially continuously receiving concentrated syrup from said reservoir tank, said gravity tank having a constant outflow level for providing a predetermined pressure head, heat exchanger means having an outlet into said gravity tank for heating the concentrated syrup provided to said gravity tank to a predetermined temperature, means for supplying concentrated syrup from said gravity tank to said principal tanks and valve means connected to the last-named means for separately adjusting the flow of syrup into said tanks, means associated with said principal tanks for mixing the concentrated syrup and water for each of said principal tanks, and means connected to said last-named means for shutting off the flow of concentrated syrup and water to each of said principal tanks according to the level of mixture in the respective principal tanks.

Claim 12

Apparatus for providing sugar solutions at predetermined sugar concentrations comprising: a pair of principal tanks from which sugar syrup at predetermined concentrations may be withdrawn, means having an outlet into each of said tanks for supplying water at a predetermined head to said principal tanks and valve means for separately adjusting the flow of water into said tanks, a concentrated syrup reservoir tank, a gravity tank interconnected between said reservoir tank and said principal tanks substantially continuously receiving concentrated syrup from said reservoir tank, said gravity tank having a constant outflow level for providing a predetermined pressure head, heat exchanger means having an outlet into said gravity tank for heating the concentrated syrup provided to said gravity tank to a predetermined temperature, means for supplying concentrated syrup from said gravity tank to said principal tanks and valve means connected to the last-named means for separately adjusting the flow of syrup into said tanks, means associated with said principal tanks for mixing the concentrated syrup and water for each of said principal tanks, and means connected to said last-named means for shutting off the flow of concentrated syrup and water to each of said principal tanks according to the level of mixture in the respective principal tanks.