Carbonated beverage dispenser having diffuser assembly

Claim 2

A carbonated beverage dispenser including a valve body defining a bore, a carbonated liquid inlet and a syrup inlet, a nozzle having an outlet and defining an axis, and a diffuser generally within said nozzle, said diffuser comprising: a. an inner member defining syrup passage means in open communication with said syrup inlet, said syrup passage means extending axially therethrough, a portion of the outer surface of said inner member and the bore of said valve body defining a first liquid passage in open communication with said carbonated liquid inlet; b. an outer member surrounding said inner member and including first and second axially disposed portions, said inner member and said first portion of said outer member defining a plurality of second liquid passages communicating with said first liquid passage, said second portion of said outer member defining a generally cylindrical inner surface in spaced relation to said inner member; c. an intermediate member surrounding said inner member and defining a generally cylindrical outer surface disposed in spaced relation within said inner surface of said outer member, said inner and outer surfaces cooperating to define a third liquid passage providing communication between said second liquid passages and the outlet of said nozzle, said third liquid passage having a gradually increasing cross sectional area in an axial direction toward the outlet of said nozzle; and d. said outer member and said intermediate member being relatively axially movable to permit relative adjustment of said inner and outer surfaces to change the cross sectional area of said third liquid passage on a given transverse plane.

Claim 3

A carbonated beverage dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein said diffuser and said valve body bore cooperate to define a bypass liquid flow path in communication between said carbonated liquid inlet and the outlet of said nozzle, said bypass flow path being fluidicly in parallel with the flow path defined by said first, second and third liquid passages.

Claim 4

A carbonated beverage dispenser as defined in claim 2 wherein the outer surface of said outer member defines a seal ring groove, a seal ring being disposed therein in sealing engagement with the bore of said valve body to prevent flow through said bypass flow path.

Claim 5

A carbonated beverage dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of said inner and outer generally cylindrical surfaces is tapered.

Claim 6

A carbonated beverage dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein said outer surface tapers outwardly at a first angle toward said nozzle and said inner surface tapers outwardly at a second angle toward said nozzle, said first angle being greater than said second angle.

Claim 7

A carbonated beverage dispenser including a valve body defining a carbonated liquid inlet, a syrup inlet, a bore and an elongated syrup stem disposed within the bore and terminating in a syrup outlet, a nozzle having an outlet and defining an axis, and a diffuser assembly disposed generally within said nozzle, said diffuser assembly comprising: a. a stem member disposed to have said syrup stem extend axially therethrough, said stem member including a generally cylindrical stem portion and an enlarged head portion, the outer surface of said head portion and the bore of said valve body defining a liquid chamber in open communication with said carbonated liquid inlet; b. a collar member surrounding said stem portion adjacent said head portion, said collar member including first and second axially disposed portions, said first portion being adjacent said head portion, said stem portion and said first portion of said collar member defining a plurality of liquid passages communicating with said liquid chamber and having a total combined flow volume less than that of said liquid chamber to prevent a drop in pressure of said liquid; c. said second portion of said collar member defining a generally cylindrical inner surface in spaced relation to said stem portion; d. a diffuser member surrounding said stem portion and defining a generally cylindrical outer surface disposed in spaced relation within said inner surface of said collar member, at least one of said inner and outer surfaces being tapered to cooperate with the other of said inner and outer surfaces and define a flow chamber of increasing cross sectional area in an axial direction toward the outlet of said nozzle, said flow chamber communicating between said plurality of liquid passages and the outlet of said nozzle; and e. said stem member and said diffuser member being in threaded engagement to provide relative axial movement between said collar member and said diffuser member, causing relative axial movement of said inner and outer surfaces and a change in the cross sectional area of said flow chamber on a particular transverse plane therethrough.

Claim 8

A carbonated beverage dispenser including a valve body defining a carbonated liquid inlet, a syrup inlet, a bore and an elongated syrup stem disposed within the bore and terminating in a syrup outlet, a nozzle having an outlet and defining an axis, and a diffuser assembly disposed generally within said nozzle, said diffuser assembly comprising: a. a stem member disposed to have said syrup stem extend axially therethrough, said stem member including a generally cylindrical stem portion and an enlarged head portion, the outer surface of said head portion and the bore of said valve body defining a liquid chamber in open communication with said carbonated liquid inlet; b. a collar member surrounding said stem portion adjacent said head portion, said collar member including first and second axially disposed portions, said first portion being adjacent said head portion, said stem portion and said first portion of said collar member defining a plurality of liquid passages communicating with said liquid chamber and having a total combined flow volume less than that of said liquid chamber to prevent a drop in pressure of said liquid; c. said second portion of said collar member defining a generally cylindrical inner surface in spaced relation to said stem portion; d. a diffuser member surrounding said stem portion and defining a generally cylindrical outer surface disposed in spaced relation within said inner surface of said collar member, at least one of said inner and outer surfaces being tapered to cooperate with the other of said inner and outer surfaces and define a flow chamber of increasing cross sectional area in an axial direction toward the outlet of said nozzle, said flow chamber communicating between said plurality of liquid passages and the outlet of said nozzle; and e. said stem member and said diffuser member being in threaded engagement to provide relative axial movement between said collar member and said diffuser member, causing relative axial movement of said inner and outer surfaces and a change in the cross sectional area of said flow chamber on a particular transverse plane therethrough.

Claim 9

A carbonated beverage dispenser as defined in claim 6 wherein said diffuser assembly and said valve body bore cooperate to define a bypass liquid flow path in communication between said liquid chamber and the outlet of said nozzle, said bypass flow path being fluidicly in parallel with the flow path defined by said plurality of liquid passages and said flow chamber.

Claim 10

A carbonated beverage dispenser as defined in claim 7 wherein the outer surface of said collar member defines a seal ring groove, a seal ring being disposed therein in sealing engagement with said valve body bore to prevent flow through said bypass flow path.

Claim 11

A carbonated beverage dispenser comprising: a. a valve body defining a bore, a carbonated liquid inlet, a syrup inlet, a carbonated liquid outlet, a syrup outlet, a carbonated liquid passage communicating between said carbonated liquid inlet and outlet, a syrup passage communicating between said syrup inlet and outlet, valve means disposed in each of said carbonated liquid passage and said syrup passage, and flow control means disposed in said carbonated liquid passage; b. a nozzle having an outlet and defining an axis; c. a diffuser assembly disposed within said valve body bore and including an elongated stem member, a collar member and a diffuser member; d. said stem member disposed to permit communicating between said syrup outlet and said nozzle outlet and including a stem portion and an enlarged head portion, the outer surface of said head portion and said valve body bore defining a liquid chamber in communication with said carbonated liquid outlet; e. said collar member surrounding said stem portion adjacent said head portion and including first and second axially disposed portions, said first portion being adjacent said head portion, said stem portion and said first portion of said collar member defining a plurality of liquid passages communicating with said liquid chamber; f. said second portion of said collar member defining a generally cylindrical inner surface in spaced relation to said stem portion; and g. a diffuser member surrounding said stem portion and defining a generally cylindrical outer surface disposed in spaced relation within said inner surface of said collar member, at least one of said inner and outer surfaces being tapered to cooperate with the other of said inner and outer surfaces and define a flow chamber of increasing cross sectional area in an axial direction toward said nozzle outlet, said flow chamber communicating between said plurality of liquid passages and the outlet of said nozzle.

Claim 12

A carbonated beverage dispenser comprising: a. a valve body defining a bore, a carbonated liquid inlet, a syrup inlet, a carbonated liquid outlet, a syrup outlet, a carbonated liquid passage communicating between said carbonated liquid inlet and outlet, a syrup passage communicating between said syrup inlet and outlet, valve means disposed in each of said carbonated liquid passage and said syrup passage, and flow control means disposed in said carbonated liquid passage; b. a nozzle having an outlet and defining an axis; c. a diffuser assembly disposed within said valve body bore and including an elongated stem member, a collar member and a diffuser member; d. said stem member disposed to permit communicating between said syrup outlet and said nozzle outlet and including a stem portion and an enlarged head portion, the outer surface of said head portion and said valve body bore defining a liquid chamber in communication with said carbonated liquid outlet; e. said collar member surrounding said stem portion adjacent said head portion and including first and second axially disposed portions, said first portion being adjacent said head portion, said stem portion and said first portion of said collar member defining a plurality of liquid passages communicating with said liquid chamber; f. said second portion of said collar member defining a generally cylindrical inner surface in spaced relation to said stem portion; and g. a diffuser member surrounding said stem portion and defining a generally cylindrical outer surface disposed in spaced relation within said inner surface of said collar member, at least one of said inner and outer surfaces being tapered to cooperate with the other of said inner and outer surfaces and define a flow chamber of increasing cross sectional area in an axial direction toward said nozzle outlet, said flow chamber communicating between said plurality of liquid passages and the outlet of said nozzle.