Abstract:
A system for selectively supplying either a first or second diluent to a beverage dispensing valve is characterized by a manifold having first and second diluent outlet ports. Two different selection fittings plug, one at a time, into the manifold outlet ports. One, a first diluent selection fitting, when plugged into the manifold outlet ports delivers the first diluent from the manifold first diluent outlet port to the beverage valve while simultaneously closing the manifold second diluent outlet port. The other, a second diluent selection fitting, when plugged into the manifold outlet ports delivers the second diluent from the manifold second diluent outlet port to the beverage valve while simultaneously closing the manifold first diluent outlet port. The two selection fittings are keyed to connect with the manifold in one orientation only, so neither can be used to serve the purpose of the other.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 60/598,631, filed Aug. 4, 2004. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to beverage dispensers, and in particular to a beverage dispenser that permits convenient switching between supply of carbonated water and plain water to beverage dispensing valves.  
         [0003]     It is known in the beverage dispensing art to use combined ice and beverage dispensers that use cold plates to provide heat exchange cooling of various drinks. The ice/beverage dispenser is often contained in a single cabinet, in an upper portion of which is an ice retaining hopper and in a lower portion of which is a cold plate. The cold plate is cooled by a volume of ice that is gravity fed from a lower opening in the hopper into the lower portion of the cabinet and onto and in heat exchange contact with the cold plate. The cold plate, chilled by the ice, in turn provides for heat exchange cooling of beverage liquids flowed through tubing circuits embedded in the cold plate, which beverage liquids include mixing liquids or diluents such as carbonated water and noncarbonated or plain water, as well as beverage syrup concentrates. After passing through the cold plate circuits for being chilled, the beverage liquids are delivered through tubing to post-mix beverage dispensing valves. A carbonated or noncarbonated drink is produced when cooled carbonated or plain water and a beverage syrup concentrate are mixed together and dispensed from a post-mix valve.  
         [0004]     An ice/beverage dispenser customarily has four or more, usually eight or more and often ten post-mix beverage dispensing valves for dispensing various beverages. Each post-mix valve is for dispensing a selected drink and the use of several dispensing valves on a beverage dispenser enables a variety of different drinks to be offered. When a post-mix valve is activated to dispense a selected drink, a syrup concentrate for the drink is mixed with either carbonated water when a carbonated drink is to be dispensed or with plain water when a noncarbonated drink is to be dispensed.  
         [0005]     Because customers&#39; tastes change, owners of beverage dispensers are often required to change the supplies of beverage syrup concentrate and carbonated and plain water delivered to dispensing valve in odder to provide pew drink flavors or, perhaps, to enable the dispensing of the same drink flavor from more than one dispensing valve. Historically, each post-mix dispensing valve of a beverage dispenser was coupled to a pair of beverage liquid delivery lines, one for concentrate syrup flavoring and the other for either carbonated or noncarbonated water, with each line leading back to a source of the particular beverage liquid. Consequently, reconfiguring a valve to dispense a different beverage required the tedious and often expensive task of reconfiguring the beverage delivery lines through disconnection and appropriate reconnection of lines that were often relatively inaccessible and access to which required considerable disassembly of the beverage dispenser.  
         [0006]     To alleviate the problem of reconfiguring individual beverage liquid delivery lines to post-mix valves of a beverage dispenser, mounting assemblies for post-mix dispensing valves have been used. Such mounting assemblies provide two outlets for a valve, one for delivering concentrate beverage syrup to the valve and the other for delivering either carbonated or noncarbonated water. The mounting assemblies conventionally have two inlets, one for being connected to a supply of concentrate beverage syrup and the other for being connected to a supply of diluent consisting of either carbonated or plain water. Because only one inlet is provided for both carbonated and plain water, to change between dispensing carbonated and noncarbonated drinks by a valve still requires disassembly of the beverage dispenser to access the carbonated and noncarbonated water sources and a subsequent resetting of pressure and flow rates when the dispenser is reassembled.  
         [0007]     There is a need for a beverage liquid supply arrangement for post-mix beverage dispensing valve that enables quick, convenient and inexpensive interchange of supply to a valve of either carbonated or noncarbonated water without need to disassemble the dispenser and reset pressures and flow rates.  
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     An object of the present invention is to provide a system for and method of selectively delivering one of two beverage diluents to each of a plurality of beverage dispensing valves.  
         [0009]     Another object is to provide such a system and method in which two different selection fitting are used to couple between carbonated and plain water outlet ports from a manifold and water inlets to beverage dispensing valves to provide, depending upon which selection fitting is used, either carbonated or plain water to individual ones of the beverage valves.  
         [0010]     A further object is to provide such a system and method in which a selection fitting for providing carbonated water to a beverage valve cannot be used to provide plain water to the valve, and in which a selection fitting for providing plain water to a beverage valve cannot be used to provide carbonated water to the valve.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     In accordance with the present invention, a system for selectively supplying first and second diluents to a beverage dispensing valve comprises a manifold having first and second inlets for fluid coupling to sources of the first and second diluents and respective first and second outlet ports for the diluents. Also included is a first diluent selection fitting for coupling to the manifold first and second diluent outlet ports and to the beverage dispensing valve for delivering the first diluent from the first outlet port to the valve while dosing the second outlet port; and a second diluent selection fitting for coupling to the manifold first and second diluent outlet ports and to the beverage dispensing valve for delivering the second diluent from the second outlet port to the valve while closing the first outlet port.  
         [0012]     The system advantageously includes means for constraining the first and second diluent selection fittings for coupling to the manifold in one orientation only. In addition, the first diluent selection fitting may be configured to have a passage and a plug such that, when the first fitting is coupled with the manifold first and second outlet ports, the plug doses the second outlet port and the passage extends between an inlet to the passage at the first outlet port and an outlet from the passage for being fluid coupled to the beverage dispensing valve. In turn, the second diluent selection fitting may be configured to have a passage and a plug such that, when the second fitting is coupled with the manifold first and second outlet ports, the plug doses the first outlet port and the passage extends between an inlet to the passage at the second outlet port and an outlet from the passage for being fluid coupled to the beverage dispensing valve.  
         [0013]     It is contemplated that the configuration of the first diluent selection fitting be such that it include a body, first and second dole fittings on one side of the body and a third dole fitting on an opposite side of the body, the second dole fitting comprising a plug and the passage extending between the first and third dole fittings, such that the first and second dole fittings are respectively received in the manifold first and second outlet ports when the first selection fitting is coupled to the manifold outlet ports, with the third dole fitting then providing means for coupling the passage outlet with the beverage valve. In turn, it is contemplated that the configuration of the second diluent selection fitting be such that it include a body, first and second dole fittings on one side of the body and a third dole fitting on an opposite side of the body, the first dole fitting comprising a plug and the passage extending between the second and third dole fittings, such that the first and second dole fittings are respectively received in the manifold first and second outlet ports when the second selection fitting is coupled to the manifold outlet ports, with the third dole fitting then providing means for coupling the passage outlet with the beverage valve.  
         [0014]     For convenience in mounting the beverage valve, the system may include a mounting block for mounting the beverage valve, the mounting block having a passage having an outlet for coupling with a diluent inlet to the beverage valve and an inlet for receiving the third dole fitting of one of the first and second diluent selection fittings. Where the beverage valve is part of a beverage dispenser having a beverage panel, the manifold is on a rearward side of the beverage panel, the mounting block is on a forward side of the beverage panel, and one of the first and second fittings extends through an opening in the beverage panel between the manifold and mounting block.  
         [0015]     In the preferred embodiment, the system selectively supplies first and second diluents to individual ones of a plurality of beverage dispensing valves. In this case, the system comprises a manifold having first and second diluent inlets for fluid coupling to supplies of first and second diluents and a plurality of pairs of first and second diluent outlet ports respectively fluid coupled to the first and second diluent inlets. Included are a plurality of first diluent selection fittings, each for coupling to a selected individual one of the pairs of first and second diluent outlet ports and for fluid coupling to an associated beverage dispensing valve for delivering the first diluent from the first outlet port of the selected pair of outlet ports to the associated beverage valve while closing the second diluent outlet port of the selected pair of outlet ports; and a plurality of second diluent selection fittings each for coupling to a selected individual one of the first and second diluent outlet ports to which first diluent selection fittings are not coupled and for fluid coupling to an associated beverage dispensing valve for delivering the second diluent from the second outlet port of the selected pair of outlet ports to the associated beverage valve while closing the first diluent outlet port of the selected pair of outlet ports.  
         [0016]     The invention also contemplates a method of selectively supplying first and second diluents to a beverage dispensing valve. The method comprises the steps of connecting first and second diluent supplies to a manifold; flowing the first and second diluents through the manifold to respective first and second diluent outlet ports from the manifold; delivering a selected one of the first or second diluents to the beverage dispensing valve by either coupling a first diluent selection fitting to the manifold first and second outlet ports to dose the second outlet port and to establish at least a portion of a flow path for flow of the first diluent from the first outlet port to an inlet to the beverage dispensing valve; or by coupling a second diluent selection fitting to the manifold first and second outlet ports to dose the first outlet port and to establish at least a portion of a flow path for the second diluent from the second outlet port to the inlet to the beverage dispensing valve.  
         [0017]     It is contemplated that the step be included of constraining each of the first and second diluent selection fittings for coupling to the manifold in one orientation only.  
         [0018]     It also is contemplated that the first diluent selection fitting have a passage and a plug and that the step of coupling the first selection fitting to the manifold first and second outlet ports comprises coupling the plug with the second outlet port to dose the second outlet port and coupling an inlet to the passage to the first outlet port for flow of the first diluent from the first outlet port through the passage, with the passage providing at least the portion of the flow path for the first diluent from the first outlet port to the beverage dispensing valve. It also is contemplated that the second diluent selection fitting have a passage and a plug and that the step of coupling the second selection fitting to the manifold first and second outlet ports comprises coupling the plug with the first outlet port to close the first outlet port and coupling an inlet to the passage to the second outlet port for flow of the second diluent from the second outlet port through the passage, with the passage providing at least the portion of the flow path for the second diluent from the second outlet port to the beverage dispensing valve.  
         [0019]     To facilitate coupling with the beverage dispensing valve, the method further contemplates providing a mounting block; mounting the beverage dispensing valve on the mounting block, the mounting block having a passage having an inlet and an outlet; fluid coupling the mounting block passage outlet to a diluent inlet to the beverage dispensing valve, and fluid coupling an outlet from the passage of one of the first and second diluent selection fittings to the mounting block passage inlet for flow of one of the first and second diluents through the mounting block passage and to the diluent inlet to the beverage valve. Connecting each of a first and second diluent supply to the manifold may comprise connecting each of a carbonated and plain water supply to the manifold.  
         [0020]     In a preferred practice the method selectively supplies first and second diluents to each of a plurality of beverage dispensing valves. In this case, included are the steps of fluid coupling first and second diluent supplies to respective first and second diluent inlets to a manifold having a plurality of pairs of first and second diluent outlet ports respectively fluid coupled to the first and second diluent inlets; and selectively delivering either the first or second diluent to each of at least two beverage dispensing valves by, in connection with each of the at least two beverage dispensing valves, either coupling a first diluent selection fitting to an associated pair of manifold first and second outlet ports to dose the second outlet port and to establish at least a portion of a flow path for the first diluent from the first outlet port to an inlet to one of the at least two beverage dispensing valves; or coupling a second diluent selection fitting to the associated pair of manifold first and second outlet ports to close the first outlet port and to establish at least a portion of a flow path for the second diluent from the second outlet port to an inlet to the one of the at least two beverage dispensing valves.  
         [0021]     Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent upon a consideration of the following description thereof, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a combination ice and beverage dispenser of a type with which the teachings of the present invention may advantageously be used;  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a partial cross-sectional side elevation view of the dispenser of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is a schematic of an ice/beverage dispenser and its fluid circuits in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 4  is a perspective assembly view of a manifold and manifold diluent selection fittings in accordance with the present invention, for selecting either carbonated or noncarbonated water for supply to individual ones of a plurality of post-mix beverage dispensing valve of the dispenser of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0026]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  are perspective views of a pair of manifold diluent selection fittings for connection with the manifold, one structured to provide carbonated water to an associated beverage valve and the other structured to provide noncarbonated water to an associated valve;  
         [0027]      FIG. 6  is a perspective assembly view showing the manner of mounting the manifold and diluent selection fittings on the beverage dispenser;  
         [0028]      FIG. 7  is a front elevation view of a beverage valve mounting block;  
         [0029]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional side elevation view showing the manner of connection of a diluent selection fitting to the manifold and valve mounting block and the mounting of the same on a beverage panel of the dispenser, and  
         [0030]      FIG. 9  is a perspective assembly view showing the invention in use to selectively deliver carbonated or noncarbonated water to ten post-mix beverage dispensing valves. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0031]     The present invention provides an improved system for connection of post-mix beverage dispensing valves of a beverage dispenser to supplies of carbonated and noncarbonated water, which enables either carbonated or noncarbonated water to easily and conveniently be selected and deselected for delivery to individual ones of the valves. The beverage dispenser may be a combination ice and beverage dispenser of the general type shown in  FIG. 1  and indicated generally at  10 , and as is conventional includes an outer housing  12 , a merchandising cover  14  and a removable ice bin cover  16 . A plurality of post-mix beverage dispensing valves  18 , eight as shown, are secured to a front surface of the ice/beverage dispenser above a drip tray  20  and adjacent to a beverage panel  21  above splash plate  22 . An ice dispensing chute  23  is secured to the front surface of the dispenser medially of the beverage dispensing valves and above the drip tray.  
         [0032]     With reference to  FIG. 2 , the ice/beverage dispenser  10  also includes an ice hopper or ice bin  24  defining within the housing  12  an ice retaining compartment  25 . A cold plate  26  is mounted in a cold plate compartment  27  beneath the bin  24  and the bin has a front wall  28  on a lower surface of which is mounted an agitator drive motor  29 . An upper surface  30  of the wall, opposite from the agitator drive motor, is configured to define an annular ice directing trough  31 . The drive motor  29  serves to rotate an ice dispense agitator or auger, indicated generally at  32 , in and through a mass of ice pieces retained in the bin  24 . The agitator mixes and agitates the mass of ice in the bin to prevent congealing and agglomeration of the ice pieces into a solid mass of ice and also serves to move ice pieces through the bin trough  31  to and through an outlet opening (not shown) from the bin and into the ice chute  23  for gravity dispensing of the ice out of a lower end of the chute and into a cup. Rotation of the agitator  32  also causes some of the ice pieces in the bin  24  to fall through a bottom bin opening  33  into the lower compartment  27  onto and in heat exchange relationship with a top surface  34  of the cold plate  26 . The agitator has a plurality of radially extending ice sweeping arms  36  at outer ends of which are ice paddles  40  that extend into the trough  31  to move ice pieces in the trough to and through the ice outlet from the bin. The agitator also has a plurality of ice agitating blades  42  extending generally perpendicular from the ice sweeping arms  36  for breaking up the mass of ice in the bin into discrete pieces of ice, as well as a drive bushing  44  that accommodates mounting of the agitator to an agitator motor output shaft  45  for rotation of the agitator in the bin.  
         [0033]      FIG. 3  shows the beverage liquid circuits of the ice/beverage dispenser  10 . Eight syrup concentrate flavoring lines  46 , one for each of the eight post-mix beverage dispensing valves  18 , connect to associated supplies of beverage syrup concentrate (not shown) and from the supplies extend through associated circuits embedded in the cold plate  26  to the dispensing valves. A water line  50 , which at its inlet connects to a source of potable water such as city water, also extends through an associated circuit in the cold plate  26  to a manifold  48 . The water line  50  also leads to a motor driven pump  52 , an outlet line  54  from which extends through a pair of associated circuits in the cold plate  26  to a water inlet to a carbonator  56 . The carbonator receives carbon dioxide gas through a line  58  and operates in a well known manner to provide carbonated water at an outlet line  60  that extends through an associated circuit in the cold plate  26  to the manifold  48 . At the manifold  48  the carbonated water line  60  connects to an inlet to and supplies carbonated water through a carbonated water distribution tube  62  extending through the manifold and the plain or non-carbonated water line  50  connects to an inlet to and supplies plain noncarbonated water through a noncarbonated water distribution tube  64  extending through the manifold. The post-mix beverage dispensing valves  18  are fluid coupled to associated individual ones of the beverage syrup lines  46  for receiving selected syrup concentrate flavorings. The dispensing valves  18  are also individually fluid coupled to the manifold  48  for receiving either carbonated or noncarbonated water. As will be described, diluent selection fittings used with the manifold enable individual ones of the beverage dispensing valves  18  to easily, quickly, economically and selectively have their water connection to the manifold changed from carbonated water to noncarbonated water, and vice versa.  
         [0034]     A contemplated configuration of the manifold is shown in  FIG. 4  and indicated generally at  48 A. The manifold  48 A is sized to service five postfix beverage dispensing valves  18 , although it could be sized to service a greater or lesser number of valves. The manifold  48 A advantageously is an injection molded assembly, such that a main body portion  66  of the manifold comprises a unitary structure and the carbonated water distribution tube  62  and the noncarbonated or plain water distribution tube  64  extend longitudinally along the length of the manifold in parallel and spaced relationship. The plain water delivery line  50  and the carbonated water delivery line  60  terminate in respective water supply fittings  70  and  68  that are received in a plate  72  that is attached by fasteners to a water inlet housing  76  of the manifold  48 A. The water inlet housing  76  has passages (not shown) that provide fluid connection between the carbonated water inlet fitting  68  and the manifold carbonated water distribution tube  62  and between the plain water inlet fitting  70  and the manifold plain water distribution tube  64 , whereby the tube  62  is fluid coupled to a supply of chilled carbonated water and the tube  64  is fluid coupled to a supply of chilled noncarbonated water. Opposite ends of the carbonated and plain water distribution tubes  62  and  64  are closed.  
         [0035]     The manifold  48 A is configured to serve five beverage dispensing valves  18  and, therefore, in accordance with the teachings of the invention includes five carbonated water outlet ports, tubes or passages  78   a - 78   e  and five plain water outlet ports, tubes or passages  80   a - 80   e  on a front side of the manifold. The outlet ports  78   a - 78   e  for delivering carbonated water are longitudinally spaced along and in fluid connection at inner ends with the carbonated water distribution tube  62 . The outlet ports  80   a - 80   e  for providing plain or noncarbonated water are, in turn, longitudinally spaced along and in fluid connection at inner ends with the plain or still water distribution tube  64 . Each carbonated water outlet port  78   a - 78   e  is vertically spaced above an associated plain water outlet port  80   a - 80   e , thereby to define five pairs of vertically aligned carbonated and noncarbonated water outlet ports, with one water outlet port  78   a - 78   e  of each pair providing carbonated water and the other outlet port  80   a - 80   e  providing plain water. The outlet ports are tubular and the axes of all of the ports are parallel.  
         [0036]     Prior to considering the manner of selecting and deselecting carbonated or plain water for delivery to individual ones of the post-mix beverage dispensing valves by means of fluid coupling diluent selection fittings to the manifold  48 A, mounting of the manifold on the ice/beverage dispenser  10  will first be considered. A front side of the manifold  48 A includes a plurality of parallel and vertically and longitudinally spaced pairs of standoffs  84  that extend forward from the carbonated and plain water distribution tubes  62  and  64  for mounting and supporting the manifold on a rear or inner side of the dispenser beverage panel  21 . Four standoffs  84  are associated with and around each vertically aligned pair of water outlet ports  78   a - e  and  80   a - e , such that an associated pair of standoffs is on each side of each pair of water outlet ports, and forward ends of the standoffs have threaded passages  86 . A plurality of back blocks or valve mounting blocks  88  are provided and each accommodates convenient mounting and dismounting of an associated post-mix beverage dispensing valve  18  to and from the dispenser  10  in a known manner. With the manifold positioned on the rear side of the beverage panel  21  such that outer ends of its standoffs  84  are against the beverage panel, five valve mounting blocks  88  are positioned on a front side of the beverage panel over associated pairs of water outlets  78   a - 78   e  and  80   a - 80   e , such that fastener receiving passages in the valve mounting blocks and in the beverage panel are aligned with the threaded passages  86  in the manifold standoffs  84 . Fasteners  90  are then extended through the aligned passages in the valve mounting blocks  88  and beverage panel  21  into the threaded passages  86  in the manifold standoffs  84  to attach the valve mounting blocks and manifold to the beverage panel with the beverage panel captured therebetween.  
         [0037]     In accordance with the invention, a diluent inlet to each valve mounting block  88  is selectively fluid coupled by either a carbonated water selection fitting  92  to the carbonated water outlet port  78   a - 78   e  of an associated pair of water outlet ports, or by a plain or noncarbonated water selection fitting  94  to the plain or noncarbonated water outlet port  80   a - 80   e  of the associated pair of water outlet ports, to thereby receive and deliver either carbonated or plain water to the post-mix beverage dispensing valve  18  carried by the mounting block. As best seen in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the carbonated and noncarbonated water selection fittings  92  and  94  have substantially identical external geometries. Each has a respective generally cylindrical body portion  92   a  and  94   a , an extension on one side of the cylindrical body terminating in respective dole fittings  92   b  and  94   b , a pair of extensions on an opposite side of the cylindrical body terminating in respective pairs of dole fittings  92   c ,  92   d  and  94   c ,  94   d , and respective keying tabs  92   e  and  94   e  on top of the cylindrical extensions and extending over associated upper dole fittings  92   c  and  94   c . The keying tabs  92   e  and  94   e  serve to key the water selection fittings  92  and  94  to the manifold  48 A, so that they can be plugged into the manifold in one orientation only. O-ring seals (not shown) are received in annular grooves provided in each of the dole fittings.  
         [0038]     While externally geometrically similar, a difference between the carbonated and plain water fittings  92  and  94  resides in their internal geometries, and in particular in the path taken by a water conveying passage extending through each fitting. In the carbonated water selection fitting  92 , a water conveying passage  92   f  extends through the fitting from an inlet to the passage at the outer end of the upper dole fitting  92   c  to an outlet from the passage at an outer end of the dole fitting  92   b , while the outer end of the lower dole fitting  92   d  is dosed. On the other hand, in the plain water fitting  94 , a water conveying passage  94   f  extends through the fitting from an inlet to the passage at an outer end of the lower dole fitting  94   d  to an outlet from the passage at an outer end of the dole fitting  94   b , while the outer end of the upper dole fitting  94   c  is dosed. As a result of this difference in geometries, when the carbonated water selection fitting  92  is plugged into an associated pair of manifold water outlet ports  78   a - 78   e  and  80   a - 80   e , its passage  92   f  is fluid coupled with and open to the carbonated water distribution tube  62  and dosed to the plain water distribution tube  64 , and when the plain water selection fitting  94  is plugged into an associated pair of manifold water outlet ports  78   a - 78   e  and  80   a - 80   e , its passage  94   f  is fluid coupled with and open to the plain water distribution tube  64  and closed to the carbonated water distribution tube  62 . Therefore, depending upon which water selection fitting  92  or  94  is used to fluid connect a valve block  88  to the manifold  48 A, the postfix beverage dispensing valve  18  carried by the valve block will be selectively supplied with a diluent consisting of either carbonated water or plain water. It is to be appreciated that because of the keying tabs  92   e  and  94   e  carried by the carbonated and plain water selection fittings  92  and  94 , which are received in keying tab receiving channels  98  provided on upper ends of the carbonated water outlet ports  78   a - 78   e  from the tube  62 , the selection fittings  92  and  94  may each be plugged into the manifold  48 A in one orientation only, i.e., with the keying tabs up. Because of the keying tabs, it is not possible to vertically invert or horizontally rotate one of the fittings  92  and  94  to serve the purpose of the other, e.g., a carbonated water selection fitting  92  cannot be oriented so that its water inlet dole fitting  92   c  is toward the bottom, thereby to serve the purpose of the plain water fitting  94 , since in that orientation of the fitting  92  its keying tab  92   e  is downward and the fitting  92  cannot be successfully plugged into the manifold  48 A because of an interference that would then exist between the keying tab and a lower plain water outlet port  80   a - 80   e  from the tube  64 .  
         [0039]     From  FIGS. 7 and 8 , it is seen that each valve mounting block  88  has a pair of longitudinally spaced passages  88   a  and  88   b  that extend through the block and terminate at outlets from the passages in respective dole fittings  88   c  and  88   d  on a beverage dispensing valve mounting side of the block. As is known, a post-mix beverage dispensing valve  18  that is carried by a valve mounting block  88  has a pair of fluid inlet passages that receive and fluid couple with the mounting block dole fittings  88   c  and  88   d , so that the beverage valve is provided with chilled water through the mounting block passage  88   a  and chilled flavored beverage syrup through the mounting block passage  88   b , the flavored syrup arriving at the passage  88   b  through an associated syrup line  46 . To determine whether the chilled water connected to the beverage dispensing valve  18  is carbonated or plain water, a choice is made between use of a carbonated water selection fitting  92  and a plain water selection fitting  94  to fluid connect the valve mounting block passage  88   a  to the manifold  48 A. If carbonated water is to be delivered to the beverage dispensing valve, then as seen in  FIG. 8 , a carbonated water selection fitting  92  is used to fluid couple the manifold carbonated water distribution tube  62  to the valve mounting block fluid passage  88   a . In this case, with the valve block  88  removed from the beverage panel  21 , a carbonated water selection fitting  92  is extended through an opening  97  in the panel to insert the dole fittings  92   c  and  92   d  of the selection fitting  92  into an associated pair of manifold carbonated and plain water outlet ports  78   a - 78   e  and  80   a - 80   e , with the keying tab  92   e  ensuring proper orientation of the selection fitting by being extended into and received in the associated channel  98 . The mounting block is then reattached to the beverage panel with the dole fitting  92   b  of the selection fitting being received in an inlet to the valve block passage  88   a . The carbonated water selection fitting  92  then fluid couples the carbonated water distribution line  62  to the valve mounting block passage  88   a  through the selection fitting passage  92   f , while at the same time the closed dole fitting  92   d  of the selection fitting closes the outlet from the manifold water distribution tube  64 . If plain water is to be supplied to the beverage valve, then a plain water selection fitting  94  is plugged into an associated pair of manifold water outlet ports  78   a - e  and  80   a - e , in which case the selection fitting passage  94   f  then fluid couples the manifold plain water distribution tube  64  to the valve block passage  88   a  while at the same time the dosed dole fitting  94   c  of the selection fitting closes the outlet port from the carbonated water line  62 .  
         [0040]     It is to again be noted that while the selection fittings  92  and  94  are superficially similar, by virtue of the keying tabs  92   e  and  94   e  on the selection fittings and the keying tab receiving channels  98  on the manifold  48 A, a carbonated water selection fitting  92  cannot be used to deliver plain water to a beverage valve and a plain water selection fitting  94  cannot be used to deliver carbonated water to a valve. Thus, a selection fitting  92  cannot be substituted for a selection fitting  94  simply by rotating the fitting  92  through 180° and then plugging it into the manifold, and vice versa. Instead, the selection fittings can be plugged into the manifold in one orientation only, i.e., with the keying tab up. To deliver carbonated water to a beverage dispensing valve, a fitting  92  must be used, while to deliver plain water to a valve, a fitting  94  must be used. It simply is not possible to accidentally use a carbonated water selection fitting  92  to deliver plain water to a beverage valve or to accidentally use a plain water selection fitting  94  to deliver carbonated water to a beverage valve, so accidental delivery of the wrong diluent to a beverage dispensing valve is avoided. For convenience in identifying between the two visually similar selection fittings  92  and  94 , it is contemplated that each be distinctly color coded.  
         [0041]     It is to be appreciated that the selection fittings  92  and  94  accommodate quick and convenient selective supply and change of supply of carbonated and plain water diluent to any particular post-mix beverage dispensing valve(s)  18 . This is accomplished simply by shutting off the water supply and the syrup flavoring(s) to the particular beverage valve(s), relieving internal system fluid pressures, removing the affected beverage dispensing valve(s) and then removing the associated valve mounting block(s)  88  to access the associated selection fitting(s)  92  and/or  94  through the opening(s)  97  in the beverage panel  21 . The selected fitting(s)  92  and/or  94  can then easily be removed from the manifold simply by being physically pulled from the associated pair(s) of manifold water outlet port(s)  78   a - 78   e  and  80   a - 80   e , whereupon the desired selection fitting(s) may be plugged into the manifold water outlet ports. For example, if a beverage valve were receiving carbonated water via a fitting  92  and it is desired to deliver plain water to the valve, upon removal of the fitting  92 , a fitting  94  would be inserted in its place. After changing the selection fitting(s), the valve mounting block(s) and beverage valve(s) are reassembled on the dispenser  10 .  
         [0042]     While not shown for clarity, the manifold assembly is insulated on all sides to limit “casual” ambient thermal effects on the temperature of the beverages dispensed. A minimum of ½″ of insulation, either foam or Styrofoam, can be used to insulate all sides of the manifold assembly.  
         [0043]     As is appreciated, the invention provides a system that enables quick, convenient and inexpensive selection, supply and changeover of carbonated and plain water to any or all beverage dispensing valves of a beverage dispenser, without requiring disconnection, rerouting and reconnection of fluid supply hoses to the dispensing valve or significant disassembly and reassembly of the beverage dispenser. A particular advantage is that only two lines, one for carbonated and another for plain water, need be run from a cold plate to a manifold for delivery of carbonated or plain water to individual ones of the beverage dispensing valves connected to the manifold. Should a beverage dispenser have ten beverage dispensing valves and two manifolds mounting five valves each, it is necessary to run ten beverage syrup flavoring lines to the valves, but only two water lines to each manifold, one for carbonated and another plain water, for a total of fourteen lines running from the cold plate to the beverage panel. This compares favorably with conventional practice in which a total of twenty lines would be required, ten for syrup plus ten for water. The reduced number of hose connections represents considerable cost savings.  
         [0044]     Use of the valve mounting blocks  88  is advantageous in that if affords an ability to use one part, the valve mounting block, to both hold the selection fittings  92  and  94  in place and mount the beverage valves, which reduces costs. Further, the valve mounting blocks are precisely located and serve to keep the selection fittings centered, so that seals carried by the dole fittings do not leak. Machine screws can be used to hold the valve mounting blocks to the manifold while sandwiching a sheet metal beverage panel and selection fittings in between which type of retention minimizes external forces on the beverage panel.  
         [0045]     While embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, various modifications and other embodiments thereof may be devised by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.