U.S. patent number 3,592,367 [Application Number 04/802,956] was granted by the patent office on 1971-07-13 for carbonator nozzle assembly for beverage-merchandising machine.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Rowe International, Inc.. Invention is credited to Allan D. Barden, Bruce B. Landis.
United States Patent |
3,592,367 |
Landis , et al. |
July 13, 1971 |
CARBONATOR NOZZLE ASSEMBLY FOR BEVERAGE-MERCHANDISING MACHINE
Abstract
A nozzle assembly for delivering carbonated water from a supply
to a cup in a carbonated beverage dispensing machine in which
carbonated water from a supply flowing to the nozzle inlet through
a solonoid-operated valve during the dispensing operation moves a
valve in the nozzle away from its seat against the action of a
spring to provide restricted flow of the carbonated water around
the valve to the nozzle outlet. The position of the valve seat in
the nozzle is readily adjusted to regulate the resistance to flow
of carbonated water through the nozzle. The nozzle body and the
seat-forming inlet member do not require close tolerances and are
formed of synthetic resin having relatively good dimensional
stability. The parts are easily disassembled for cleaning.
Inventors: |
Landis; Bruce B. (Long Valley,
NJ), Barden; Allan D. (Lake Hiawatha, NJ) |
Assignee: |
Rowe International, Inc.
(Whippany, NJ)
|
Family
ID: |
25185177 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/802,956 |
Filed: |
February 27, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/244; 222/496;
264/DIG.64 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B67D
1/0051 (20130101); Y10S 264/64 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B67D
1/00 (20060101); B65d 083/14 () |
Field of
Search: |
;222/129.1,132,180,571,409,491,494,496,559,394 ;141/261
;137/536,540 ;239/588 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Reeves; Robert B.
Assistant Examiner: Scherbel; David A.
Claims
Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:
1. In a machine for dispensing a carbonated beverage to a cup at a
delivery location, a carbonated water supply system including in
combination, a supply of carbonated water, an elongated nozzle body
having a longitudinal passage extending from an inlet end to a
discharge end of said body, means forming a seat in said passage
intermediate said ends, a valve located in said passage, means
biasing said valve into engagement with said seat, means mounting
said body with the discharge end of said passage directed toward
said location, and means responsive to initiation of a dispensing
operation of said machine for coupling said source to the inlet of
said passage, said mounting means comprising spaced plates, said
plates being formed with respective offset openings through which
said body extends.
2. A system as in claim 1 in which said plates are vertically
spaced, said mounting means further comprising means for adjusting
the relative positions of the offset openings.
3. In a machine for dispensing a carbonated beverage to a cup at a
delivery location, a carbonated water supply system including in
combination, a supply of carbonated water, an elongated nozzle
body, said body having a longitudinal passage extending
therethrough from one end to a discharge end thereof, means
mounting said body with the discharge end of said passage adjacent
to said location, a valve-seat-forming member, means mounting said
member in said one end of said passage for adjustment of the
position of said seat along the length of said passageway, said
member having a passage leading from an inlet past said seat to
said body passage, a valve located in said body passage between
said seat and said discharge end, means biasing said valve into
engagement with said seat normally to close said body passage, and
means responsive to initiation of a dispensing operation of said
machine for coupling said inlet to said supply to cause carbonated
water to move said valve away from said seat and to flow around
said valve to said discharge end.
4. A system as in claim 3 in which said member-mounting means
comprise external threads on said member and internal threads in
said one end of said body passage.
5. A system as in claim 3 in which said seat is annular and in
which said body passage and said valve are cylindrical, and in
which said biasing means comprises a shoulder in said body passage
and a spring biased between said shoulder and said valve.
6. A system as in claim 3 in which said body-mounting means
comprises spaced upper and lower plates, respective laterally
offset openings in said plates, said upper plate opening having
lateral extensions, an external shoulder on said body having a
dimension greater than the size of said upper plate opening, and
means for adjusting the relative positions of the offset
openings.
7. In a carbonated-beverage-dispensing machine, a valve assembly
including in combination, an elongated nozzle body formed of
synthetic resin, said body having a longitudinal passage extending
therethrough from one end to a discharge end thereof, a
valve-seat-forming member made of synthetic resin, means mounting
said member in said one end of said passage for adjustment of the
position of said seat along the length of said passage, said member
having a passage leading from an inlet past said seat to said body
passage, a valve formed of metal located in said body passage
between said seat and said discharge end, and means biasing said
valve into engagement with said seat normally to close said body of
passage.
8. An assembly as in claim 7 in which said seat is annular and in
which said body passage and said valve are cylindrical, and in
which said biasing means comprises an internal shoulder in said
body passage and a spring biased between said shoulder and said
valve.
9. An assembly as in claim 7 in which said synthetic resin is a
polycarbonate resin.
10. In a machine for dispensing a carbonated beverage to a cup at a
delivery location, a carbonated water supply system including in
combination, a supply of carbonated water, an elongated nozzle body
having a passage therein extending from an inlet end to a discharge
end of said body, means forming a seat in said passage intermediate
said ends, said passage comprising a cylindrical portion extending
from said seat toward said discharge end, an elongated cylindrical
valve having a diameter slightly less than that of said cylindrical
passage portion, said valve located in said passage portion, a
spring for urging said valve into engagement with said seat, means
mounting said body with the discharge end of said passage adjacent
to said location, and means comprising a normally closed on-off
valve between said source and said inlet end and responsive to
initiation of a dispensing operation of said machine for coupling
said source to said inlet end to cause said cylindrical valve to
move away from said seat thus to provide a restricted passage for
the flow of carbonated water between the valve and the cylindrical
passage portion wall.
11. A system as in claim 10 including means accessible externally
of said passage for adjusting the position of said seat along the
passage.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In most carbonated-beverage-merchandising machines of the type
known in the prior art, in response to actuation of the machine to
dispense a carbonated beverage, first a cup is positioned at a
location at which it can directly receive both a charge of
flavoring syrup and a charge of carbonated water. The syrup is
delivered to the cup and concomitantly a solenoid valve is operated
to permit the flow of carbonated water from a carbonator to a
nozzle which is constructed to restrict flow of carbonated water
therethrough. In a particular nozzle arrangement known in the prior
art, the nozzle includes a metal cylindrical shell which receives a
metal core. A central bore extending part way into the core admits
carbonated water into the nozzle. Lateral openings located beyond a
first seal between the core and the bore wall leading from the bore
to the wall of the shell cause water entering the bore to flow
outwardly and then through the restricted space between the core
and the shell wall toward the discharge end of the nozzle. At a
location adjacent the discharge end, and ahead of a second seal
between the core and the bore wall, radial openings cause the
carbonated water to flow inwardly toward a short bore in the other
end of the core to be discharged from the nozzle through a filter.
In order to permit the restricted flow required for optimum
carbonation of the water, the shell and core must be machined to
within relatively close tolerances. This arrangement not only is
apt to become clogged by dirt and the like, but also it is
difficult to disassemble for cleaning. In addition to that fact, no
provision is made for adjusting the carbonation of the water. The
nozzle is relatively expensive to construct.
We have invented a carbonator nozzle assembly for a
carbonated-beverage-dispensing machine which overcomes the defects
of nozzles of the prior art. Our assembly does not require such
close tolerances as are required in nozzle assemblies of the prior
art. Our assembly is readily disassembled for cleaning. Our nozzle
assembly is simple in construction and is inexpensive to
manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One object of our invention is to provide a carbonator nozzle
assembly for a carbonated-beverage-merchandising machine which
overcomes the defects of nozzle assemblies of the prior art.
Another object of our invention is to provide a nozzle assembly
which is readily disassembled for cleaning.
A further object of our invention is to provide a nozzle assembly
which does not require the close tolerances which must be held in
making nozzles of the prior art.
A still further object of our invention is to provide a carbonator
nozzle which is simple in construction and which is inexpensive to
manufacture.
Other and further objects of our invention will appear from the
following description:
In general our invention contemplates the provision of a carbonator
nozzle assembly for a carbonated-beverage-merchandising machine in
which carbonated water fed through a solenoid-operated valve during
a dispensing operation passes through a nozzle inlet member to move
a valve housed by the nozzle away from a seat on the inlet member
against the action of a spring to provide a restricted flow of
carbonated water between the valve and the nozzle wall to the
discharge end of the nozzle. We form the nozzle and the inlet
member from a synthetic resin so as to avoid much of the need for
close tolerances inherent in structures of the prior art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings which form part of the instant
specification and which are to be read in conjunction therewith and
in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in
the various views:
FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating the carbonated water supply
system of a carbonated-beverage-merchandising machine provided with
our nozzle assembly.
FIG. 2 is a front elevation of our nozzle assembly for
carbonated-beverage-merchandising machines.
FIG. 3 is a side elevation of our carbonator nozzle assembly with a
part broken away taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a top plan view of our carbonator nozzle assembly taken
along the line 4-4 of FIG. @.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of our carbonator nozzle assembly taken
along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the FIG. 1, in a merchandising machine for
dispensing carbonated beverages, a cup 10 is delivered to a
platform or tray 12 at a location at which it may receive charges
of flavoring and carbonated water from a delivery system indicated
generally by the reference character 14. The system 14 includes our
improved carbonator nozzle indicated generally by the reference
character 16 as well as a plurality of flavoring dispensing tubes
18 of a type known in the art.
The carbonated water system of a carbonated-beverage-merchandising
machine includes a carbonator 20 of any suitable type known to the
art. A pump 22 driven by a motor 24 supplies fresh water to the
carbonator 20 through a line 26. Carbon dioxide from a bottle 28 is
fed through a regulated valve 30 to the carbonator 20. In response
to the water and carbon dioxide fed to the carbonator 20, it
produces carbonated water in an outlet line 32. A normally closed
valve 34 is adapted to be opened by a solenoid 36 in the course of
a dispensing operation to deliver carbonated water to the nozzle
16. Since the arrangement thus far described, except for our new
carbonator nozzle assembly 16, is known in the art, the machine
will not be described in greater detail.
Referring now to FIGS. 2 to 5, the flavoring and carbonated water
delivering assembly 14 includes an arm 38 supported on the frame
(not shown) of the merchandising machine. Any suitable means such
as metal screws 40 secure an ice-chute-mounting bracket 42 to the
arm 38. Screws 44 or the like attach a nozzle- and
flavoring-tube-supporting bracket 46 to the bracket 42. We form the
bottom of bracket 46 as a generally horizontally extending plate 48
having a plurality of holes 50 for receiving the lower ends of the
flavoring supply tubes 18 in a manner to be described. A screw 98
located in a slot 99 in a bracket 97 adjustably positions the
bracket on plate 48. We form the bracket 97 with an opening 52 for
receiving the lower end of nozzle assembly 16 to adjust for best
mixture of the carbonated water with the flavoring syrup. Plate 48
is so shaped as to permit this adjustment. Screws 54 secure an
upper guide plate 56 to a flange 58 on the upper edge of bracket
46. We provide the upper guide plate 56 with a plurality of holes
60 through which the flavoring supply tubes 18 extend. Plate 56
further includes an opening 62 through which the nozzle assembly 16
extends. In assembling the unit 14 the feed tubes 18 are inserted
in openings 50 with annular flanges 64 thereon resting on plate 48
before the upper plate 56 is attached to the flange 58. When this
latter operation is performed, the upper ends of the tubes 18 are
guided through openings 60. It can readily be seen that the
openings 60 are oriented with reference to the openings 50 so that
the tubes 18 are directed toward a cup 10 positioned on the tray
12. In this manner, we insure that syrup delivered by the tubes
will enter the cup.
The nozzle assembly 16 includes a tubular housing 66 provided with
an internal bore 68 having an enlarged portion 70 forming a first
internal shoulder 72. A second enlarged bore portion 74 is provided
with internal threads for a reason to be described hereinafter. We
form the housing 66 from any suitable dimensionally stable
synthetic resin such for example as Lexan which is the registered
trademark of the General Electric Company of Schenectady, New York
for a thermoplastic polycarbonate resin.
The enlarged bore portion 70 of housing 66 receives a cylindrical
valve 76 formed of any suitable material such for example as
stainless steel. Valve 76 is hollow to receive the upper end of a
spring 78 which bears between the shoulder 72 and the valve
normally to urge the valve upwardly as viewed in FIG. 5.
The assembly 16 includes an inlet member 80 having a central bore
82 for receiving carbonated water from the line 32. An annular
recess 84 adjacent the lower end of an inlet member 80 receives an
O-ring 86 which prevents the escape of carbonated water upwardly
out of the housing 66. The lower end 88 of the member 80 forms a
seat for the valve 76. We provide member 80 with an externally
threaded portion 90 adapted to be screwed into the bore portion 74
until the valve 76 engages seat 88 with the desired force.
Housing 66 includes an exterior shoulder 92 and a pair of radially
outwardly extending lugs 94 spaced a short distance below the
shoulder 92. In order to mount the assembly 16 on the bracket 46
the lower end is inserted first through opening 62 and thence
downwardly through opening 52. Extensions 96 on opening 62 permit
lugs 94 to pass through plate 56. Ultimately, shoulder 92 comes to
rest on the upper surface of plate 56. The orientation of the
assembly may be adjusted by moving bracket 72.
In operation of our carbonator nozzle, in connection with a machine
such as that schematically illustrated in FIG. 1, carbonated water
is supplied to the inlet of the normally closed valve 34. Upon the
initiation of a dispensing operation, after a cup 10 has been
delivered to a tray 12, solenoid 36 is energized in a manner known
to the art to permit carbonated water to flow to the nozzle
assembly 16.
The carbonated water thus fed to the nozzle inlet exerts sufficient
pressure against valve 76 to move it away from seat 88. The
carbonated water then flows past the seat and through the
restricted space between the wall of the nozzle bore and the valve
to be discharged into the cup.
For carbonated drinks the optimum temperature is about 40.degree.
to 42.degree. F. At this temperature the volume of gas in the drink
is about 3.5 percent.
When it becomes necessary to clean our nozzle assembly the clip 98
is removed to release the assembly. With hose 32 disconnected the
inlet member 80 can be screwed out of the bore 74 and plug 76 and
the spring easily removed. The parts may readily be reassembled in
the same manner. The simplicity of our arrangement will readily be
apparent. It includes only five parts: the nozzle, the inlet
member, the valve, the spring and an O-ring.
It will be seen that we have accomplished the objects of our
invention. We have provided a carbonator nozzle assembly which
overcomes the defects of nozzles of the prior art used in
carbonated-beverage-merchandising machines. Our assembly is easily
cleaned. It permits adjustment of the degree of carbonation of the
carbonated water. It is simple in construction and is relatively
inexpensive to manufacture.
It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are
of utility and may be employed without reference to other features
and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the
scope of our claims. It is further obvious that various changes may
be made in details within the scope of our claims without departing
from the spirit of our invention. It is, therefore, to be
understood that our invention is not to be limited to the specific
details shown and described.
* * * * *