Proportional beverage dispensing apparatus

Claim 2

In a dispensing apparatus for delivering a liquid beverage selected from a plurality of available liquids, in combination, a container for each liquid and having a gas inlet and a liquid outlet, a liquid discharge spout above the level of said containers, a riser tube for each container separately and individually connecting the liquid outlet thereof to said spout, a selector valve means having a gas inlet and a plurality of gas outlets, a gas line for each container separately and individually connecting the gas inlet thereof to one of said gas outlets, electrically actuated means effective when energized to supply gas under pressure to the air inlet of said selector valve means for selective distribution to said containers, relay means for maintaining said gas supply means energized, time delay means effective when actuated to deenergize said gas supply means after a predetermined interval of time, and means responsive to the incidence of back-up pressure in said gas line and effective when such back-up pressure substantially equals the supported hydrostatic head of the liquid column in the riser tube of the selected container for actuating said time delay means.

Claim 3

In a dispensing apparatus, the combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for supplying gas under pressure to the selector valve comprises a pump having its discharge side connected to said gas line, and a normally deenergized electric motor operatively connected to the pump in driving relationship, said time delay means effective when actuated to energize said motor.

Claim 4

In a dispensing apparatus, the combination set forth in claim 2 including, additionally, a normally deenergized solenoid-actuated bleeder valve interposed in said gas line between the pump and selector valve, said time delay means being effective when actuated to energize the bleeder valve.

Claim 5

In a dispensing apparatus, the combination set forth in claim 3, wherein means are provided for regulating the interval of time during which said time delay means remains effective, said latter means being individual to each position of the selector valve.

Claim 6

In a dispensing apparatus, the combination set forth in claim 4, wherein additional and manually operable means, independent of said selector valve means, are provided for regulating the interval of time during which the time delay means remains effective.

Claim 7

In a dispensing apparatus, the combination set forth in claim 4, wherein shut-off valve means are provided for normally sealing the individual riser tube and the individual gas line which extends from at least one of said containers, and means are provided under the control of said selector valve means for rendering said shut-off valve means ineffective when the selector valve means is manipulated for distribution of gas to such container.

Claim 8

In a dispensing apparatus, the combination set forth in claim 4, wherein said riser tube and gas line are in the form of lengths of flexible tubing, and shut-off valve means are provided for formally sealing the individual riser tube and gas line which extend from at least one of said containers, said shut-off means comprising a reaction anvil, a solenoid-actuated plunger movable between a projected position wherein it engages said lengths of tubing and forces the same against the anvil, and a retracted position wherein it releases said lengths of tubing, spring means yieldingly biasing said plunger to its projected position, and a normally deenergized solenoid effective upon energization to retract said plunger, said selector valve means being effective to cause energization of said solenoid.

Claim 9

In a dispensing apparatus, the combination set forth in claim 4 including, additionally, manually operable means for energizing said motor at will in overriding relationship with respect to said time delay means.

Claim 10

A beverage dispensing apparatus for selectively and simultaneously withdrawing liquid alcoholic beverages from a firSt group of containers, and non-alcoholic liquid beverages from a second group of containers and delivering them to a dispensing spout which is disposed above the level of the containers, each container having an air inlet and a liquid outlet, said apparatus comprising: a riser tube for each container separately and individually connecting the liquid outlet thereof to said spout, a manually operable beverage selector valve means for each group of containers and having an air inlet and a plurality of gas outlets, an air line for each container separately and individually connecting the gas inlet thereof to one of the gas outlets of its associated selector valve means, a pump for each group of containers and having its discharge side connected to one of said air lines, a normally deenergized electric mtor for each pump, time delay means individual to each motor and effective when actuated to deenergize such motor after a predetermined interval of time, and means responsive to the incidence of back-up pressure in each of said gas lines and effective when such back-up pressure substantially equals the supported hydrostatic head of the liquid column in the riser tube of an associated and selected container for actuating the associated time delay means.

Claim 11

A beverage dispensing apparatus for selectively and simultaneously withdrawing liquid alcoholic beverages from a firSt group of containers, and non-alcoholic liquid beverages from a second group of containers and delivering them to a dispensing spout which is disposed above the level of the containers, each container having an air inlet and a liquid outlet, said apparatus comprising: a riser tube for each container separately and individually connecting the liquid outlet thereof to said spout, a manually operable beverage selector valve means for each group of containers and having an air inlet and a plurality of gas outlets, an air line for each container separately and individually connecting the gas inlet thereof to one of the gas outlets of its associated selector valve means, a pump for each group of containers and having its discharge side connected to one of said air lines, a normally deenergized electric mtor for each pump, time delay means individual to each motor and effective when actuated to deenergize such motor after a predetermined interval of time, and means responsive to the incidence of back-up pressure in each of said gas lines and effective when such back-up pressure substantially equals the supported hydrostatic head of the liquid column in the riser tube of an associated and selected container for actuating the associated time delay means.

Claim 12

A beverage dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein means are provided for regulating the interval of time during which each time delay means remains effective, said latter means being individual to each position of its associated selector valve means.

Claim 13

A liquid dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein additional and manually operable means, independent of the selector valve means, are provided for regulating the interval of time during which the time delay means which is associated with the first group of containers remains effective.

Claim 14

A liquid dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 11 including, additionally, manually operable means for energizing each of said motors at will in overriding relationship with respect to said time delay means.