Beverage dispensing system

An improved beverage dispensing system utilizing a unique mixing valve design is disclosed. The mixing valve comprises an inner rotatable member an outer casing, and a flow restriction which produces a jet of spray, yielding a reconstituted beverage of uniform consistency.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
The present invention relates to a beverage dispensing system with an 
improved level of convenience for operators. Moreover, the invention 
pertains to a novel valve design which operates in conjunction with the 
beverage dispensing system to provide a reconstituted beverage of a 
uniform consistency. The invention also serves to improve the sanitation 
of beverage dispensers. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Various beverage dispensing systems are known in the art. Typical beverage 
dispensers are designed so as to combine a beverage concentrate with water 
at a predetermined ratio so as to produce a beverage which is then 
acceptable for consumption. 
Two beverage dispensing systems which are presently marketed are 
illustrative of the beverage dispensing art. The Cornelius Company, Anoka, 
Minn., markets a juice dispenser Model No. 415050 which delivers juice 
concentrate from a concentrate tank to a "mounting block" where it mixes 
with water, then exiting through a spout as a ready-to-drink juice 
beverage. The Cornelius dispenser requires daily cleaning, which includes 
a water flush of the concentrate line, and a weekly sanitization of the 
system which is much more involved. 
A second commercially available dispenser is the Golden Gem Model 260 Juice 
Dispenser marketed by Alco Dispensing Systems, Carol Stream, Ill. The 
Golden Gem dispenser delivers juice concentrate from a concentrate tank by 
way of a peristaltic pump to a mixing chamber where water and concentrate 
are combined. The mixing chamber is contained in a dispensing nozzle which 
delivers the ready-to-drink beverage. The Golden Gem dispenser also 
requires daily flushes and weekly sanitation operations. 
In UK patent application GB No. 2,142,315A to Geiss, an apparatus for 
dispensing a mixture of fruit juice concentrate and water is disclosed. 
According to Geiss, a shut-off valve in the water conduit and a 
motor-driven peristaltic pump are jointly actuable, and when activated, 
cause fruit juice concentrate and water to be introduced to a drinking 
vessel. However, the system disclosed by Geiss fails to deliver a fruit 
juice beverage of uniform consistency. 
It is desired to produce a beverage dispensing system which is more 
convenient for operator use. 
It is a second object that a beverage dispensing system be sanitary. 
Another object is that the beverage dispensing system yield a reconstituted 
beverage of uniform consistency. 
These and other objects will become apparent in the discussions that 
follow. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It has now been found that the objects of the invention are achieved by a 
unique mixing valve design which may serve to (1) seal a concentrate 
container prior to concentrate use and (2) deliver a ready-to-drink 
beverage of uniform consistency. The mixing valve comprises an inlet for 
water, an inlet for concentrate, and an outlet for the ready-to-drink 
beverage formed by mixing of water and concentrate within the mixing 
valve. The mixing valve provides a means for forming a water jet which, in 
conjunction with the overall valve design, results in a reconstituted 
beverage of uniform consistency. According to a preferred embodiment of 
the invention, said mixing valve has substantially two positions, a 
"closed" position wherein the concentrate inlet is sealed, and an "open" 
position wherein the concentrate inlet communicates with the interior of 
the mixing valve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The preparation of ready-to-drink beverages from beverage concentrates is 
commonplace in food service operations. Typically, a beverage concentrate 
is mixed with water at a ratio of about 3:1 to 6:1 by volume water to 
concentrate in order to produce a beverage for consumption. Typical 
beverage concentrates include juice concentrates such as orange, 
lemon-lime, cherry, etc. and other beverages such as tea and coffee. It is 
possible to prepare hot ready-to-drink beverages by reconstituting 
beverage concentrates such as coffee with hot water. The concentrates are 
typically contained in a vessel, as for example a bag-in-box or high 
density polyethylene container. 
According to the invention, a beverage concentrate is fed to an inlet in a 
unique mixing valve. Typically, the beverage concentrate is fed to the 
valve body through a flexible tubing, as for example a polyethylene, 
silicone or surgical-type rubber tubing, which may optionally be 
transparent. Beverage concentrate is typically pumped to the mixing valve. 
A particularly well-suited means for pumping the beverage concentrate is a 
peristaltic pump which has flexible tubing fed through the pump's 
operational chamber. In this way, rotation of the pump's geared member 
results in pulses of concentrate passing through the tubing and into the 
valve inlet. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the beverage 
concentrate is fed from a vessel located above the mixing valve and the 
valve inlet is located substantially at the top of the valve. 
The valve of the invention has a second inlet for receipt of an aqueous 
flow, typically a water flow. The spatial relationship of the aqueous flow 
to the aforementioned beverage concentrate flow through their respective 
mixing valve inlets is essentially perpendicular. Thus, in a preferred 
embodiment of the invention water flow through the water inlet is 
essentially horizontal whereas concentrate flow is essentially vertically 
downward. As will be seen, the directional relationship of these flows is 
critical to achieving a reconstituted beverage of uniform consistency. 
A second critical feature of the novel mixing valve consists of a flow 
restriction in the aqueous flow path. Said flow restriction, in 
conjunction with a back pressure in the aqueous flow line, results in an 
aqueous jet being formed within the mixing valve. The flow restriction is 
located at a point prior to the point at which the aqueous stream will 
meet and combine with the beverage concentrate. Said flow restriction is 
sized such that the internal cross-sectional area for aqueous flow within 
the valve is reduced by at least about 50%, typically about 65% and 
preferably about 75%. The axial length of the flow restriction is not 
critical. The flow restriction may be instantaneous or there may be a 
tapering of the cross-sectional area before and/or after the flow 
restriction. Typically, a back pressure of at least 5 psig is maintained 
on the aqueous fluid, and preferably a back pressure between about 5 psig 
and 40 psig. 
Beyond the flow restriction moving axially away from the aqueous inlet, the 
mixing valve of the invention contains an intersection of the two flow 
paths, that is the flow path for the beverage concentrate and the flow 
path for the aqueous stream. Thus, a tee is formed at the point of 
combination. That is to say that a perpendicular intersection is formed by 
the flow line for beverage concentrate which preferably is vertical, and 
the flow line for the aqueous flow within the valve which preferably is 
horizontal. The relationship between the cross-sectional areas of these 
two flow lines is not critical, though extreme differences are not 
preferred. 
After the two flows are combined, the combination flows axially in the 
direction of flow of the aqueous stream, within the mixing valve. Thus, in 
typical operation, a jet of aqueous fluid intersects a beverage 
concentrate and the two fluids are thereby combined, moving axially in the 
direction of the aqueous fluid flow, preferably horizontally. Though it 
has been found that a degree of mixing occurs when the concentrate and 
aqueous fluid are combined, it has been found to be critical in achieving 
a reconstituted beverage of uniform consistency that a change in flow 
direction be effected thereafter. That is to say, a change in flow 
direction, typically in the form of an elbow, has been found to be 
critical to achieving a homogeneously reconstituted beverage according to 
the invention. Typically, the change in flow direction is about 90 degrees 
and preferably said change is from horizontal to vertical flow. The 
distance from the point of flow intersection to the point of flow 
direction change is not altogether critical. However, such distance should 
not be so great that the turbulence created by the flow restriction has 
dissipated prior to the change in flow direction. 
In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the mixing valve 
has essentially two positions, a "closed" position wherein the concentrate 
inlet is sealed and an "open" position wherein said inlet is unobstructed. 
In this preferred embodiment, said mixing valve is preferably integrally 
attached to a beverage concentrate source, as for example, an aseptically 
packaged beverage concentrate-containing vessel. In such an embodiment, 
the mixing valve of the present invention serves as the seal for the 
beverage concentrate vessel when in the closed position. When in the open 
position, the beverage concentrate vessel communicates with the mixing 
valve through the concentrate inlet. The mixing valve may preferably be 
discarded with the concentrate vessel when its contents are depleted. Such 
an operation is extremely sanitary and convenient for operators. 
The invention is now further described with reference to the attached 
figures. This description is intended merely to be illustrative and the 
scope of the invention is not to be limited beyond what is claimed below. 
In FIG. 1, mixing valve 10 is integrally attached to a beverage concentrate 
vessel by way of tube 12. Mixing valve 10 is comprised of rotatable member 
20 which is rotatable within outer casing 22. Rotation of said rotatable 
member such that discharge outlet 24 faces downward results in opening 26 
aligning with tube 12. Orifice 30 is a flow restriction in flow path 32. 
Mixing valve 10 is attached to male fitting 36 which extends from a water 
source and is locked thereon when rotatable member 20 is rotated as 
described above, thereby locking pin 38 in channel 18. 
FIG. 2 shows an alternative mixing valve 40 which is attached to a 
concentrate vessel by tube 42 which is blocked by sliding member 46. Valve 
plug 48 protects male receiver 52. 
In FIG. 3, sliding member 46 has been moved forward by inserting male 
fitting 50 into male receiver 52 until locking members 54 rotate into a 
locked position. 
In FIG. 4, turnkey 62 is rotatable within mixing valve 60. Sliding door 64 
moves within a guiding channel 68 and secures said mixing nozzle to male 
fitting 66.