Abstract:
A system for delivering a selected one of two diluents to beverage dispensing valves is characterized by a manifold having a plurality of pairs of first and second diluent outlet orifices. One diluent is delivered to all of the first outlet orifices and the other diluent is delivered to all of the second outlet orifices. Hoses coupled at one end to diluent inlets to associated ones of the dispensing valves each have a connector at their opposite end which is adapted to be selectively and releasably connected with either the first or second orifice of an associated pair of orifices in accordance with whichever diluent is to be delivered by the hose to its associated dispensing valve. Stop plugs are releasably inserted into and close the non-selected orifices to prevent escape of diluent from those orifices. A retainer releasably retains the connectors and stop plugs in the orifices.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 60/368,281, filed Mar. 27, 2002. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to beverage dispensing equipment and more particularly to post-mix beverage dispensing equipment having the capacity to change between the dispensing of carbonated and non-carbonated drinks. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Post-mix beverage dispensing equipment is well known in the art and generally provides for the mixing of a diluent, consisting of carbonated or flat water, with flavoring syrup. Post-mix valves are secured to a dispenser body or frame to which a diluent water line and a syrup line are plumbed. In past dispensers, each valve was dedicated to either dispensing a carbonated or a non-carbonated drink. However, today there is great desire to have the flexibility to be able to change between dispensing carbonated drinks, such as soda pop, to noncarbonated drinks, such as juice and sports beverages with the same valve. Various attempts have been made to allow changeover between plain water and carbonated water lines so that each valve has the potential to dispense either carbonated or plain water based drinks. However, problems have arisen as to cost, mechanical complexity, lack of ability to be able to convert all the valves on a particular dispenser, and ease with which service personnel can effect the changeover. Accordingly, it would be very desirable to have a post-mix beverage dispenser that overcomes these drawbacks. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention concerns a post-mix beverage dispenser having a plurality of beverage dispensing valves that are easily changed over between dispensing carbonated or non-carbonated drinks. In the preferred embodiment, a dual diluent manifold is mounted within the dispenser at a front end thereof. A plurality of post-mix beverage dispensing valves are mounted thereabove on a front surface of the dispenser. The manifold consists of an elongate rectangular block machined or molded to include a plain water channel and a carbonated water channel extending along the length thereof and along a bottom portion thereof. Each channel is in fluid communication with a plurality of holes or orifices that extend downward from a top surface of the manifold and transversely to their respective channel. Thus, there exist orifice pairs extending along the manifold, one of which fluidly communicates with the plain water channel and one of which communicates with the carbonated water channel. The plain and carbonated water channels have inlet ends for receiving fittings for connection with tubing that extends to cooled sources of plain and carbonated water respectively. 
   Water outlet fittings provide for quick insertion fluid tight connection of flexible water supply tubes to one of the plain or carbonated water orifices. The water supply tubes also have an inlet fitting on the opposite end thereof for fluid tight securing with an inlet that communicates diluent to each post-mix valve. Stop plugs provide for blocking any flow of water from the plain or carbonated water orifices that are not supplying diluent to a valve. A removable retaining means is used to hold each of the water outlet fittings and stop plugs in place so that the fluid tight securing thereof with each manifold orifice is maintained. 
   In operation, those of skill will understand that the retaining means can be released to permit service personnel to, for example, remove a water outlet fitting connected with a carbonated water orifice and to remove the stop plug from the corresponding plain water orifice. Each can then be exchanged with the other whereby the water outlet is now inserted into and retained in the plain water orifice and the stop plug is inserted into and retained in the carbonated water orifice. After replacing of the retaining means the particular post-mix valve formerly receiving carbonated water is now receiving plain water. In this manner, every post-mix valve on the dispenser is then fully capable of dispensing either carbonated or noncarbonated drinks. Moreover, the front end location of the manifold along with the easily inserted and removed water outlet fittings and stop plugs, and the easily removable and replaceable retaining means permit this change over to be done quickly and efficiently in the field. Those of skill will also appreciate that the manifold and associated components are simple and inexpensive to manufacture. Also, it can be understood that existing dispensers can be retrofitted with changeover devices of the present invention. Additionally, the present invention can be used with electrically cooled as well as ice cooled beverage dispensers. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A better understanding of the structure, function and operation as well as the objects and advantages of the present invention can be had by reference to the following detailed description that refers to the following figures, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a dispenser utilizing the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  shows a front plan view of the dispenser of FIG.  1  and having various components thereof removed. 
       FIG. 3  shows a side plan view along lines  3 — 3  of FIG.  2 . 
       FIG. 4  shows an enlarged front plan view of a dual diluent manifold and associated mounting structure. 
       FIG. 5  shows an end a cross-sectional view of the manifold along lines  5 — 5  of FIG.  4 . 
       FIG. 6  shows an enlarged end plan view of the manifold. 
       FIG. 7  shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view along lines  7 — 7  of FIG.  6 . 
       FIG. 8  shows a top plan view of the manifold along lines  8 — 8  of FIG.  4 . 
       FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of the retaining plate. 
       FIG. 10  shows a plan view of a water outlet and associated flexible diluent hose and post-mix valve inlet. 
       FIG. 11  shows a schematic diagram of the fluid connections of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The change over device of the present invention is shown in the various figures in the context of an ice-cooled combination ice/beverage dispenser  1 . As seen by specifically referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  11 , and as is well understood in the art, dispenser  1  includes a cold plate  2  and an ice retaining bin  3  thereabove. A plurality of post-mix beverage dispensing valves  4  is secured to a front end thereof by valve disconnect blocks  4   a . A more detailed understanding of the structure and operation of a post-mix valve and its mounting to a beverage dispenser can be had by referring, for example, to U.S. Pat No. 5,285,815 which is incorporated herein by reference thereto. An ice dispensing chute  5  is positioned between valves  4  and all are positioned above a drip tray  6 . Dispenser  1  also includes a splash panel  7 , a merchandiser cover  8  and a top cover  9 . 
   As is well known, and as understood by referring to  FIG. 11 , cold plate  2  includes a plurality of serpentine syrup and diluent heat exchange coils. Syrup coils S have a plurality of inlets S 1  and outlet lines SO. Cold plate  2  also includes two water lines W 1  and W 2 . Water line W 1  receives potable water from a pump  15  connected to a mains water supply. Water flows along line W 1  and is pre-cooled by passage through cold plate  2  and is then delivered to a carbonator  16 . Pressurized carbon dioxide gas is supplied from a source thereof, not shown, to carbonator  16  through inlet  17  thereof. Carbonated water flows through a cold plate coil CW which then divides into two separate lines CW 1  and CW 2 . Water line W 2  is connected to the stated water mains directly and within cold plate  2  divides into two separate non-carbonated water lines NC 1  and NC 2 . Syrup outlet lines SO are each connected to one of the valves  4 . 
   Dispenser  1  includes a pair of dual diluent manifold systems generally designated by the numerals  20   a  and  20   b  and each having an exterior molded insulation cover  21   a  and  21   b  that can be opened in a clam-shell fashion. Systems  20   a  and  20   b  are identical right and left hand versions of the other. Thus, system  20   a  will be described in further detail with the understanding that the description thereof will apply equally to its mirror image counterpart  20   b . As better understood by also referring to  FIGS. 4-8 , after removing insulation  21   a , system  20   a  includes a rectangular dual diluent manifold block  22  having a plain water channel  24  and a carbonated water channel  26  extending therealong and therethrough. A plurality of plain water outlet retaining orifices  28  extend transversely from a top surface  29  of manifold block  22  and intersect with plain water channel  24 . Likewise, an equal plurality of carbonated water outlet retaining orifices  30  extend from surface  29  transversely to and intersects fluidly with carbonated water channel  26 . It can be seen that the plain and carbonated water outlet retaining orifices  24  and  26 , respectively, form orifice pairs along manifold block  22 . Plain water channel  24  includes an open inlet end  30  for fluid tightly receiving an inlet fitting  32 . Fitting  32  includes a pair of annular grooves  33  for retaining a pair of O-rings  34  and a top shoulder surface  35 . In the same manner, carbonated water channel  26  includes an inlet end  36  for receiving an inlet fitting  38  identical to fitting  32 . Both fittings  32  and  38  are in turn connected to flexible hoses  40  and  42 , respectively. Also, fittings  32  and  38  are retained in channel ends  30  and  36  by a self-threading screw  43  threaded into block  22  and including a screw head perimeter edge  43   a  for covering over a portion of each shoulder  35  of fittings  32  and  38  thereby retaining such in block  22 . Hose  40  is fluidly connected to non-carbonated water line NC 1  and hose  42  is fluidly connected to carbonated water line CW 1 . Those of skill will readily appreciate that hoses  40  and  42  could also be connected to plain water and carbonated water coils emanating from a cooled water bath of an electrically cooled beverage dispenser or to any sources of non-carbonated and carbonated water. Hoses  40  and  42  can also be insulated as by an insulating tape or wrap around the exterior thereof. 
   Outlet fittings  44  include an insertion end portion  44   a  having two annular grooves  44   b  for receiving O-rings  46  and includes an annular retainer groove  48 . Fittings  44  also include a ferruled or barbed tube connection end portion  44   c . As seen in  FIG. 10 , each outlet fitting  44  is secured by the connection end portion  44   c  to a flexible diluent hose  50  through the use of a suitable clamp or retaining band  52  Hose  50  is secured on its opposite end to a post-mix valve inlet fitting  54  also having a connection end portion  54   a  having annular grooves for retaining a pair of O-rings  55 . As can also be well understood by referring to U.S. Pat No. 5,285,815, fitting  54  provides for fluid connection with one of the valves  4 . A plurality of stop plugs  58  are solid structures having an end portion  58   a  that, like outlet fitting  44 , includes annular grooves  59  for retaining a pair of O-rings  60  and includes an annular retaining groove  62 . Hoses  50  can also be insulated. 
   Fittings  44  and stop plugs  58  are sized to be fluid tightly inserted into either of the equally sized plain water and carbonated water outlet orifices  28  and  30 . When fully inserted therein, it can be understood that a retainer plate  64 , see also seen in  FIG. 9 , is used to retain fittings  44  and plugs  58  in fluid tight securing position in their respective plain or carbonated water orifices  28  and  30 . In particular, plate  64  is L-shaped having a vertical flange portion  64   a  and includes a plurality of slots  66  defined by fingers  68  extending transversely to flange portion  64   a . Those of skill will understand that annular grooves  48  and  62  of outlet fittings  44  and stop plugs  58 , respectively, receive portions of the perimeter edges of fingers  68 . Thus, fingers  68  of retainer plate  64  can slide into grooves  48  and  62  once the slots  66  are registered with bodies of outlets  44  and stops  58 . Plate  64  is then secured by a self-threading screw  69  to manifold block  22 . With retaining plate  64  in place, as seen for example in  FIG. 8 , it will be appreciated that outlets  44  and plugs  58  can not be removed from manifold block  22 . A further secondary retaining plate  70  includes a top horizontal portion  70   a  and a major bracket portion  70   b  integral therewith and extending downwardly therefrom and transversely thereto. Bracket  70  is secured to manifold block  22  by two bolts  72  extending through block  22  and through bracket portion  70  and retained thereto by nuts  74 . When in position, top horizontal portion  70   a  of bracket  70  serves to cover and hold down tip ends of fingers  68  to provide for additional secure retaining thereof, and in turn, retaining of outlets  44  and stops  58 . Bracket  70  can also be secured to a further retaining bracket  76  as may be needed to provide for the securing and support of each manifold system to dispenser  10 . 
   In operation, those of skill will appreciate that by the removal of retaining bracket  64 , outlets  44  and stops  58  can be quickly removed from their respective outlet orifices  28  and  30  in which they are inserted. Thus, one outlet  44  can, for example, be removed from a carbonated water orifice  30  and a stop  58  can be removed from the correspondingly paired plain water outlet orifice  28 . After which, the relative positions thereof can exchanged whereby the outlet  44  is now in the plain water orifice  28  and the stop  58  is then placed in the corresponding carbonated water orifice  30 . The retaining bracket  64  is then reinserted and secured to block  22 . Those of skill will understand that all the valves  4  can be easily and quickly changed over between plain or carbonated water in this manner wherein the flexible tubing  50  provides for and facilitates the necessary movement. It can also be seen that the system of the present invention can be retrofitted to existing electrically and ice cooled beverage dispensers. In the illustrated embodiment, two manifold systems  20   a  and  20   b  are used wherein each manifold block  22  serves five of the ten valves. The number of manifolds and the number of valves served by each are a matter of design skill for those in the art. It can also be understood that the manifold system or systems of the present invention can be placed at various locations within a dispenser. The placement at the front of dispenser  1  is preferred due to the arrangement of the outlets from the cold plate  2  and access provided by the removable splash panel  8 . 
   The present invention can also be used in any of a variety of general applications where either of two fluids is needed to be selectively sent to a mixing valve or outlet. In fact, it can be understood that block  22  could have any of a plurality of fluid channels connecting with one or more outlet orifices so that any of a plurality of diluents or specifically selected liquids could be selectively direct to one or more outlets, valves or the like.