Beverage dispenser for metering a plurality of liquids

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said chamber portions are in coaxial alignment, and wherein the pumping members comprises a pair of coaxially spaced pistons and a connecting rod joining the pistons to form a one-piece operating unit.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pressurized source of supply includes a water tank, and wherein the apparatus further includes a concentrate tank in separated relation to the water tank, the fluid circuit means further including separate inlet passages and outlet passages connected to each of the measuring chamber portions for simultaneously admitting concentrate and water thereto when the pumping member moves to loaded position and simultaneously conducting discharged concentrate and water away from the measuring chamber portions when the pumping member moves to discharged position.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 further including a serving nozzle having a mixing chamber and a discharge orifice downstream thereof, the outlet passages of the measuring chamber portions respectively opening into the mixing chamber for independent delivery of accurately measured quantities of concentrate and water to be mixed and discharged in a blended beverage of measured proportions.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the fluid circuit means further includes valve means between the pressurized source of supply and the operating chamber portion for controlling longitudinal movement of the pumping member, and an additional valve means for closing the inlet passages to each of the measuring chamber portions during movement of the pumping member from loaded to discharged position.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a metal extension sleeve of high thermal conductivity is secured to the body between the plurality of fluid measuring chamber portions so as to provide a high rate of heat exchange between said chamber portions.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said tanks include a water tank and a concentrate tank in isolated relation to the water tank, wherein heating means is provided for the water tank and heat absorbing means is provided for the concentrate tank, and wherein heated water and refrigerated concentrate are independently conducted to the measuring chamber portions of the pump, respectively, through the separate inlet connections thereto responsive to piston movement from discharged to loaded position.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein a part of the body surrounding at least a portion of the water-measuring chamber portion of the pump is received within the water tank in good heat-conducting relation to its heated contents, the concentrate-measuring chamber portion being positioned in its entirety outside the confines of the water tank.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the fluid valve in the supply and return passage means is normally closed to the fluid supply line and normally open to the water tank, and wherein a second fluid valve is provided in the inlet connection to the water measuring chamber portion of the pump, the second fluid valve normally being open to permit communication between the water tank and the water-measuring chamber portion for charging the same with a supply of heated water to be discharged, said fluid valves being simultaneously operable to effect reversal of their operative positions for supplying raw water to the operating chamber portion while closing the water tank to both the operating and water measuring chamber portions during piston movement from loaded to discharge position.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the supply and return passage means is connected for exhausting spent raw water into a bottom portion of the water tank, and wherein the inlet connection for the water measuring chamber portion of the pump is connected to open into an upper portion of the water tank.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 7 further including a return spring received in the chamber and seated against the body and one of the pistons for continuously urging them toward loaded position.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said one piston has an annular end wall, and wherein a rolling diaphragm is secured to the body and to one side of the end wall of said one piston opposite the spring for supporting said one piston for frictionless, self-centering movement relative to the longitudinal axis of the chamber.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein a ball bearing assembly is mounted on an opposite side of the enD wall of said one piston with a thrust plate interposed between the spring and the ball bearing assembly, whereby said one piston is free to rotate relative to the spring for ensuring minimal twisting of the diaphragm.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein a part of the body surrounding at least a portion of the water-measuring chamber portion is received within the water tank in good heat-conducting relation to its heated contents, the concentrate-measuring chamber portion being positioned in its entirety outside the confines of the water tank.

Claim 28

The apparatus of claim 20 wherein a fluid displacement member is fixed within the operating compartment for establishing the volume differential between the operating compartment and said one fluid compartment.

Claim 29

The apparatus of claim 20 further including a fluid supply passage connected to the tank, and a fluid level control including valve means in said passage and control means for opening and closing the valve means responsive to the height of the fluid level in the tank between predetermined minimum and maximum levels of fluid in the tank.

Claim 30

The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the fluid level control includes magnetically actuated switch means for controlling the valve means, and a float controlled magnet for actuating the switch means.

Claim 31

The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the chamber extends longitudinally of the body and its fluid compartments are coaxially aligned, the pumping means being reciprocable in unison within the chamber between said loaded and discharged positions, and wherein a fluid displacement member is coaxially fixed within the body for providing the maximum volume differential between the operating compartment and said one fluid compartment.

Claim 32

The apparatus of claim 24 wherein throw adjustment means is releasably secured in a selected adjusted position on the fluid displacement member to provide a stop for the pumping means upon its return movements from discharged position to loaded position.

Claim 33

The apparatus of claim 20 further including throw adjustment means releasably fixed to the body in a selected adjusted position and providing a stop limiting movement of the pumping means between its loaded and discharged positions.

Claim 34

The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the stop provided by the throw adjustment means is positioned within the chamber for limiting return movements of the pumping means from its discharged position to its loaded position, permitting uninterrupted travel of the pumping means to a fully discharged position at an end of at least one of the fluid compartments for ensuring self-purging of said one fluid compartment irrespective of the adjusted position of the throw adjustment means.

Claim 35

The apparatus of claim 1 further including throw adjustment means providing a variable stop limiting movement of the pumping member between its loaded and discharged positions and adjusting the stroke of the pumping member therebetween for selectively adjusting the maximum volume of fluid discharged from the fluid compartments, the throw adjustment means permitting uninterrupted travel of the pumping means to a fully discharged position at an end of at least one of the fluid compartments for ensuring self-purging of said one fluid compartment irrespective of the adjusted stroke of the pumping means.

Claim 36

The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the throw adjustment means provides a stop for return movements of the pumping means from its discharged position to its loaded position.

Claim 39

The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the valve is operable independently of the pumping means.

Claim 40

The apparatus of claim 30 further including throw adjustment means providing a variable stop limiting movement of the pumping means between its loaded and discharged positions and adjusting the travel of the pumping means therebetween for selectively adjusting the maximum volume of fluid discharged from the fluid compartments.

Claim 41

The apparatus of claim 30 wherein electrically actuated solenoid means are provided for operating the valve.

Claim 42

The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the chamber extends longitudinally of the body, wherein the pumping means is reciprocable in the chamber and divides the chamber into three different fluid-measuring compartments and an operating compartment, the fluid-measuring compartments each having separate fluid inlet and outlet means, and the operating compartment having a common supply and return passage connected to the fluid tank.

Claim 43

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the elongated pumping member includes at least two piston portions joined by a rod of reduced diameter reciprocable within the chamber and dividing it into separate fluid-measuring chamber portions, wherein the fluids dispensed from the fluid-measuring chamber portions are at different temperatures, one of the fluid-measuring chamber portions having a maximum volume establishing a preselected measured quantity of fluid for discharge in a blended beverage, one of the piston portions corresponding to said one fluid-measuring chamber portion having a length greater than its stroke and minimizing thermal conduction between adjacent fluid-measuring chamber portions to promote discharge of the fluid from said one fluid-measuring chamber portion at a preselected generally uniform temperature.

Claim 44

The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the said one piston portion has a low-friction fluid seal extending about its periphery, the fluid seal being formed of a material of low thermal conductivity, wherein the said one piston portion is dimensioned to provide a preselected maximum clearance between the said one piston portion and the chamber wall, and wherein fluid from one of the fluid-measuring portion is received within said clearance to provide a thin lubricating fluid film for the said one piston portion.

Claim 45

The apparatus of claim 35 wherein a maximum clearance in the order of 0.005-inch thickness exists between the said one piston portion and the chamber wall.

Claim 46

A metering pump usable in a beverage dispenser for simultaneously dispensing two different fluids in a two stroke cycle and comprising a body having a longitudinally extending chamber, a pair of coaxially aligned pistons reciprocable in the chamber and connected in longitudinally spaced relation for simultaneous movement between loaded and discharged positions, a flexible rolling diaphragm secured to the body and supporting one of the pistons for radially self-centering frictionless movement in the chamber, the diaphragm and said one piston jointly forming a movable partition within the chamber, the movable partitIon and the other of the pistons dividing the chamber into a pair of fluid-measuring chamber portions and an operating chamber portion, a guide tube coaxially mounted in the chamber between the pistons, said one piston being of U-shaped half-section having an elongated hub portion slidably received in the guide tube, the measuring chamber portions each having inlet and outlet means formed in the body for simultaneously admitting two different fluids to and exhausting them from the measuring chamber portions respectively, and a return spring in the chamber continuously urging the pistons toward loaded position, the return spring being coiled about the guide tube and urging said one piston into loaded position, whereby the guide tube assists in maintaining the pistons in radially self-centering alignment in the chamber while additionally supporting the spring to prevent excessive radial movement thereof.

Claim 47

A metering pump usable in a beverage dispenser for simultaneously dispensing two different fluids in a two stroke cycle and comprising a body having a longitudinally extending chamber, a pair of coaxially aligned pistons reciprocable in the chamber and connected in longitudinally spaced relation for simultaneous movement between loaded and discharged positions, a flexible rolling diaphragm secured to the body and supporting one of the pistons for radially self-centering frictionless movement in the chamber, the diaphragm and said one piston jointly forming a movable partition within the chamber, the movable partitIon and the other of the pistons dividing the chamber into a pair of fluid-measuring chamber portions and an operating chamber portion, a guide tube coaxially mounted in the chamber between the pistons, said one piston being of U-shaped half-section having an elongated hub portion slidably received in the guide tube, the measuring chamber portions each having inlet and outlet means formed in the body for simultaneously admitting two different fluids to and exhausting them from the measuring chamber portions respectively, and a return spring in the chamber continuously urging the pistons toward loaded position, the return spring being coiled about the guide tube and urging said one piston into loaded position, whereby the guide tube assists in maintaining the pistons in radially self-centering alignment in the chamber while additionally supporting the spring to prevent excessive radial movement thereof.

Claim 48

A metering pump usable in a beverage dispenser for simultaneously dispensing two different fluids in a two-stroke cycle and comprising a body having a longitudinally extending chamber, a pair of pistons reciprocable in the chamber and connected in longitudinally spaced relation for simultaneous movement between loaded and discharged positions, a flexible rolling diaphragm secured to the body and supporting one of the pistons for radially self-centering frictionless movement in the chamber, the diaphragm and said one piston jointly forming a movable partition within the chamber, the movable partition and the other of the pistons dividing the chamber into a pair of fluid-measuring chamber portions and an operating chamber portion, the measuring chamber portions each having inlet and outlet means formed in the body for simultaneously admitting two different fluids to and exhausting them from the measuring chamber portions respectively, and a return spring in the chamber continuously urging the pistons toward loaded position, said one piston being of U-shaped half-section opening toward the spring and having an annular end wall, the rolling diaphragm being secured to a side of said end wall opposite the spring, and a ball bearing assembly being mounted on an opposite side of said end wall with a thrust plate interposed between the spring and the ball bearing assembly, whereby said one piston is free to rotate relative to the spring for ensuring minimal twisting of the rolling diaphragm.

Claim 49

A metering pump usable in a beverage dispenser for simultaneously dispensing two different fluids in a two-stroke cycle and comprising a body having a longitudinally extending chamber, a pair of pistons reciprocable in the chamber and connected in longitudinally spaced relation for simultaneous movement between loaded and discharged positions, a flexible rolling diaphragm secured to the body and supporting one of the pistons for radially self-centering frictionless movement in the chamber, the diaphragm and said one piston jointly forming a movable partition within the chamber, the movable partition and the other of the pistons dividing the chamber into a pair of fluid-measuring chamber portions and an operating chamber portion, the measuring chamber portions each having inlet and outlet means formed in the body for simultaneously admitting two different fluids to and exhausting them from the measuring chamber portions respectively, and a return spring in the chamber continuously urging the pistons toward loaded position, said one piston being of U-shaped half-section opening toward the spring and having an annular end wall, the rolling diaphragm being secured to a side of said end wall opposite the spring, and a ball bearing assembly being mounted on an opposite side of said end wall with a thrust plate interposed between the spring and the ball bearing assembly, whereby said one piston is free to rotate relative to the spring for ensuring minimal twisting of the rolling diaphragm.