Abstract:
Applicants provide a post-mix hot tea dispenser which foregoes the use of electrical elements in the flow control circuits. Applicants provide a dispenser with a manually operated T-valve mounted to the front of a housing. The housing contains mechanical (non-electrical) flow control elements to provide a measured flow of a concentrate and a diluent in the proper proportion to the post-mix valve.

Description:
[0001]    This is a utility patent application that claims benefit of, priority to, and incorporates by reference U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/511,300, filed Jul. 25, 2011. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Beverage dispensers and, more specifically, a dispenser providing for the controlled ratio post-mixing of a concentrate with hot water in a manually operated mixing and dispensing valve. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    This application incorporates by reference U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/944,457, filed Nov. 11, 2010, entitled A Post-Mix Dispenser Assembly. 
         [0004]    Present post-mix dispensing devices prepare a beverage from the mixing of a concentrate, such as syrup and a diluent, such as water, for dispensing into a container. The diluent may be water and the concentrate may be a tea beverage concentrate, such as found in a “bag and a box.” 
         [0005]    Some prior art post-mix hot tea devices provide for mixing upstream of the nozzle and for the electronic control of the concentrate and diluent fluid flow circuits, such as through the use of solenoids and the like. There are certain advantages and disadvantages to such mixing, including the need for periodically cleansing the mixing chamber and elements downstream thereof. Electronic control of the product flow is typical in prior hot beverage dispensers. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONS 
       [0006]    Applicants provide a post-mix hot tea beverage dispenser which forgoes the use of electrical elements in the flow control circuits therein. Specifically, Applicants provide for hot tea dispensing in a dispenser that forgoes the use of a transformer, solenoid control, and other electronic elements. More specifically, Applicants provide flow control through the use of a mechanical (non-electrical) concentrate flow control circuit and a diluent or water flow control circuit. The flow control circuits are controlled by elements, such as flow control valves, including the flow control valve disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/465,283, filed May 13, 2009, entitled “Flow Control and Manifold Assembly,” which is incorporated herein by reference, and available from Schroeder America, San Antonio, Tex., as “Flow control assembly and manifold” (in various forms). 
         [0007]    Applicants also provide for a hot beverage dispensing device that is post-mix with a manually operated T-valve, which provides for post-mixing the beverage in a nozzle thereon. That is to say, the beverage, comprising the concentrate and diluent (typically hot water and tea concentrate) will mix effectively in the nozzle of the T-valve, thus simplifying cleanup. Cleanup will typically only comprise the toolless removal of elements, such as the housing of the nozzle of the T-valve assembly without the need for disassembly. A T-valve is seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3  having a longitudinal axis, handle on top, nozzle on the bottom, with fluid lines coming from the horizontal member between the handle and nozzle. 
         [0008]    Applicants also provide a hot beverage dispenser comprising a pressurized diluent source, a heating tank for receipt and heating of a pressurized diluent from the diluent source, a heating control circuit for controlled heating of the diluent in the heating tank, a pressurized concentrate source, a manually operated dispensing nozzle having a housing, the housing for receipt of a pressurized heated diluent thereon and a pressurized concentrate thereon and adapted to mix the diluent and concentrate on the walls thereon and for dispensing the mixture into a container, a first adjustable mechanical flow control valve between the pressurized diluent source and the heating tank, and a second adjustable flow control valve between the pressurized concentrate source and the nozzle. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of Applicants&#39; Hot Tea Dispenser. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 2 and 3  are adapted from  FIGS. 12B and 12C  of &#39;457 patent application. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0011]    The hot tea dispenser  10  comprises an urn housing  11  that contains within it some of the elements thereof and others are typically located outside the urn. Urn housing may be opaque as, for example, made from a suitable metal, and include an interior volume of between about 0.5 and 1.5 cubic meters. Applicants&#39; hot tea dispenser  10  can be seen to be comprised of a concentrate flow circuit  12  and a water flow control circuit  14 . The concentrate flow circuit  12  will typically carry a highly concentrated beverage, such as tea concentrate. The water flow circuit  14  carries a diluent, such as water, therethrough. The diluent (water) and concentrate typically meet in the nozzle  21  of a post-mixing and dispensing valve  16 , such as that disclosed in pending U.S. patent applications Ser. Nos. 12/944,457 and 12/286,441, both of which are incorporated herein by reference, and as seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
         [0012]    The concentrate flow control circuit  12  may include a bag in box source of concentrate  13  (within or without housing  11 ), which is typically pressurized by pump  19  (which may be electrical or powered by compressed gas) and typically includes a non-electrical concentrate flow control valve or flow control mechanism  15  for receiving pressurized fluid concentrate from pump  19  and the “bag in box” or other source. Downstream of the concentrate flow control  15 , under controlled output pressure the concentrate is supplied to the mixing and dispensing valve  16 , typically on the inner wall of the housing of the nozzle thereof. Typically, no electrical components comprise concentrate flow control circuit  12 , as pump  19  may be driven by compressed gas, although optionally an electric pump may be provided. 
         [0013]    The diluent or water flow control circuit  14  may include a pressurized water supply  18 , such as municipal water, engaged to a non-electrical water flow control mechanism or valve  20 , typically similar to concentrate flow control valve or mechanism  15 . Downstream of flow control mechanism or valve  20  is a tank  22  to receive the pressurized water, typically, for example, at pressures of about 80 to 100, about max 125 psi. Typically, flow controls  15 / 20  are adjustable to set the flow rate of the fluids therethrough to provide proportion of mix between concentrate and water. Typically, a 5:1 ratio (diluent/concentrate) may be used. Preferably, the flow controls  15 / 20  are self-adjusting to compensate for changes in pressure upstream thereof. Downstream of tank  22  is mixing and dispensing post-mix valve  26  where hot water is supplied, typically to the inner wall of the housing  2164  of the nozzle (see  FIG. 2 ) upstream of where the concentrate is applied to the inner wall of the housing. 
         [0014]    Tank  22  may have an elongated vertical dimension and typically is located within the walls of urn housing  11 . Urn housing  11  typically has an elongated vertical dimension also. Tank  22  may have tank side walls  22   a,  tank top wall  22   b,  and tank bottom wall  22   c.  Tank  22  may be in any number of configurations, including cylindrical or rectangular and may have a volume of about 24 ounces or other suitable volume (range about 12-36). Tank  22  is seen to have tank inlet  24  for receiving pressurized water at ambient temperature from flow control  20 . Tank inlet  24  is seen to be at or near the top wall  22   b.  Further, in a preferred embodiment, tank inlet  24  is at or near the top wall  22   b.  When so located, a fluid tube  25  may be provided for delivering water at ambient temperature down to a point where it will mix with the contents of the tank at tube removed end  25   a.  Tank  22  is further seen to have a tank outlet  26 , which may be in or near top wall  22   b.  A pressure relief valve  28 , set to a pressure above about city water pressure plus thermal expansion (typically about 10-20% more), but lower than handle popoff pressure may be provided typically on top wall  22   b  and will provide relief for an over temperature condition or an over pressure condition. An arrester may be used upstream of tank inlet  24  to help control pressure increase upstream of the tank from thermal expansion. 
         [0015]    Water, heated and under pressure from upstream source, such as pressurized water supply  18 , and under a set flow control rate, as set forth in more detail below, exits from or near the top of tank  22  out the tank outlet  26 , and is delivered to mix and dispensing valve  16 . Handle  17 , manually operated by the user, will allow for the delivery of the controlled flow of hot water and the controlled flow of concentrate to the nozzle  21  of manual valve  17 . The flow control of the water is seen to have no electronic elements. 
         [0016]    A power control circuit  30  as known in the art may be provided whose function is to provide heat energy to the contents of pressurized tank  22  in a controlled manner, such that the water temperature is sufficient, when mixed with the concentrate at ambient temperature and dispensed from nozzle  21 , to provide a drink with a temperature between about 120-160° F. 
         [0017]    Power control circuit  30  may include heating element  32 , such as a 1450 watt heating element, provided with energy from an output on a power control board  31 . Heating element is located within tank  22 . The power control board (PCB)  31  may be energized from a power cord  40  receiving external AC power and optionally, connected through an ICE connector  41  to the power control board  31 . An adjustable thermostat  33  on PCB  31  may provide the user with the ability to control the upper temperature of the mix at nozzle  21 , through the control of the temperature of the water in tank  22 . 
         [0018]    Temperature sensor  38  may be provided on the outer surface of or inside of tank  22  for engagement with the power control board and for controlling the energization of heater element  32 . That is to say, electrical energy to heater element  32  can be controlled through PCB  31 , in part, by the receipt of temperature readings at temperature sensor  38 . A circuit for controlling high temperature overload may be provided and overload circuit  34 , which may include the high load fuse  36 . 
         [0019]    LEDs  42  (red) and  44  (green) may provide visual indicia on the front wall of the urn, typically adjacent or just above mixing/dispensing valve  16 . LEDs  42 / 44  operate off the PCB  31  and responsive to temperature sensor  38  typically indicate a ready (green) condition when the temperature of the tank is sufficient to ensure a hot beverage dispenser (for example, range of 120-160° F.). Red typically indicates a temperature below or above a preselected valve set. 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  illustrates flow controls  15 / 20  inside the urn housing. In another embodiment, they may be outside the urn housing. A second concentrate flow control circuit  47  may be provided, for a second manually operated post mix valve  50 . This second circuit typically includes a second bag in box or other concentrate  46  and a second concentrate flow control device  48 . A junction, such as a T-junction  54 , may be provided in the outlet line  52  between tank  22  and manual post mix valve  17 . Optionally, a second T-valve valve  50  is provided adjacent valve  17 , for receiving concentrate and hot water as illustrated from branch line  55 . 
         [0021]      FIGS. 2 and 3  comprise  FIGS. 12B and 12C , respectively, of the &#39;457 patent application and are included here, without the recitation of the description. However, they are included here with the C and W letter notations thereon showing concentrate C and water W entering the valve through connections  2122   a / 2120   a  (see  FIG. 2 ). In  FIG. 3 , and as explained in more detail in the &#39;457 reference incorporated herein, the arrows in the cross-sectional view of the nozzle show the concentrate C and the water W mixing on the inside of the nozzle. Moreover, this is the only point in Applicants&#39; nozzle where the water and concentrate mix. Further, the nozzle is easily removed without tools for cleaning. 
         [0022]    Although the invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the invention&#39;s particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alterations, modifications, and equivalences that may be included in the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.