Abstract:
A mounting block for use with a beverage dispenser system having a pump and a pump accessory. The mounting block includes a frame and a manifold. The manifold includes a number of ports and a line connecting the ports, such that the pump and the pump accessory can plug into the ports for fluid flow therebetween via the line.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The following patent applications for related subject matter, 
     “Modular Beverage Dispenser Components” (Attorney Docket 03629-0420); 
     “Improved Cold Plate” (Attorney Docket 03628-0530); and 
     “Water Tank And Pump System” (Attorney Docket 03628-0540); 
     all of which are incorporated herein by reference, have been filed concurrently with the present application by the assignee of the present application. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to beverage dispenser systems and more particularly relates to a mounting block with a manifold for use with a syrup pump and a number of syrup pump accessories. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Beverage dispensers, such as those used for carbonated soft drinks and the like, are well known in the art. A beverage dispenser generally includes a series of syrup circuits and water circuits. The syrup circuits generally include a syrup source, an incoming syrup line, a syrup pump, a means of cooling the syrup, and a dispensing valve. The source of the syrup may be a bag-in-box, a figal, a syrup tank, or any other type of conventional syrup source. The syrup pump pumps the syrup from the syrup source on to the cooling means and the dispensing nozzle. The cooling means may be a series of conventional syrup cooling coils located in an ice water bath or the cooling means may include a cold plate located under an ice chest. The syrup of the syrup circuits and the soda water from the water circuits are joined in the dispensing valve so as to produce the beverage. The beverage is then dispensed through a nozzle to the consumer. 
     The combination of these various beverage dispenser components, however, makes the construction or the repair of a beverage dispenser somewhat of a time consuming task. A typical beverage dispenser may have several of these syrup and water circuit components therein. The repair of a single component within the beverage dispenser generally requires the entire beverage dispenser to be taken out of service. Further, repair or replacement of any one of the components within a beverage dispenser may require the removal of several other components so as to gain access to the desired component. 
     For example, the removal of a single syrup pump from the beverage dispenser generally requires the entire beverage dispenser generally to be taken out of service. Replacement requires the removal of the various fittings connecting the pump to the syrup source and the cooling means and the removal of several screws, bolts, or other conventional types of fastening means. Removal of the syrup pump also inevitably leads to some spillage of the syrup within the pump or the lines. Further, each syrup pump generally has a number of accessories connected thereto. These accessories may include an air vent and an automatic selector valve. The air vent may be used to bleed the syrup line. The automatic selector valve is generally connected to two or more syrup sources. As one syrup source is extinguished, the automatic selector valve switches to the next source such that the syrup pump always has a continuous source of syrup. These accessories likewise must be removed whenever the syrup pump needs to be repaired or replaced. 
     What is needed, therefore, is a simplified means for the installation of and access to beverage dispenser components. These means should permit the quick installation and replacement of beverage dispenser components, such as a syrup pump or syrup pump accessories, without requiring the entire beverage dispenser to be shut down. Further, these goals must be accomplished in a cost efficient and safe manner. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention thus provides a mounting block for use with a beverage dispenser system having a pump and a pump accessory. The mounting block includes a frame and a manifold. The manifold includes a number of ports and a line connecting the ports, such that the pump and the pump accessory can plug into the ports for fluid flow between that pump and the pump accessory via the line. 
     Specific embodiments of the present invention include the manifold having a number of lines, such that at least each pair of the ports is connected by one of the lines. The manifold may include a first pump accessory line and a second pump accessory line. The first pump accessory line includes a first pump accessory port and a first pump port. The pump accessory plugs into the first pump accessory port and the pump plugs into the first pump port. If the beverage dispenser system includes a second pump accessory, the second pump accessory line includes a second pump accessory port and a second pump port. The second pump accessory plugs into the second pump accessory port and the pump plugs into the second pump port. If the beverage dispenser system also includes one or more fluid lines, the manifold also may include an internal fluid line with a fluid line port and pump accessory port. The fluid line plugs into the fluid line port and the pump accessory plugs into the pump accessory port. The manifold also may include a gas line having a first gas port and a second gas port. 
     The manifold may be made out of thermoplastics, ceramics, or stainless steel. The ports may each include a cut-off valve positioned thereon. The frame may be a substantially rigid thermoplastic. The frame includes a number of recesses positioned therein. The recesses align with the ports of the manifold. The recesses also include a pump recess for mounting the pump therein. The frame may include a plurality of connection fittings such that a number of the mounting blocks may be interconnected. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention provides for a beverage dispenser system. The beverage dispenser system includes a mounting block, a pump mounted on the mounting block, and a pump accessory mounted on the mounting block. The mounting block includes a number of ports connected by connection lines. The pump and the pump accessory are in fluid communication with each other through the mounting block. 
     The pump accessory may be an automatic selection valve. The automatic selection valve may have a number of syrup source lines connected thereto. The syrup may flow through one of the syrup source lines, through the automatic selection valve, through the mounting block, and into the pump. The pump accessory also may be an air valve. The air valve may have a dispenser line, such that syrup flows from the pump, through the mounting block, through the air valve, and into the dispenser line. The beverage dispenser system also may have a number of pump accessories mounted on the mounting block such that the pump and the pump accessories are in fluid communication with each other through the mounting block. 
     The pump may be an air-driven pump. The pump may include an air fitting. The connection lines may include an air line such that the air line is in communication with the air fitting of the air-driven pump. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention provides for a mounting block for use with a beverage dispenser system. The beverage dispenser system includes a number of syrup sources, a number of syrup source lines, a number of pump accessories, a pump, and an outgoing line. The mounting block includes a frame and a manifold positioned within the frame. The manifold may have a number of passageways therein such that the syrup source lines, the pump accessories, the pump, and the outgoing line can plug into the passageways for fluid flow therethrough. Specifically, fluid may flow from the plurality of syrup sources, through the syrup source lines, through the pump accessories, through the pump, and through the outgoing line. The beverage dispenser system may further include a gas source, a gas source line, and a pump-gas line. The passageways may then include a gas passageway, such that the gas source line and the pump-gas line can plug into the gas passageway for gas flow from the gas source, through the gas source line, through the pump-gas line, and into the pump. 
     Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the drawings and the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the frame of the mounting block of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the manifold that fits within the frame of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the frame and the manifold of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a front cross-sectional view of the frame and the manifold of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the mounting block of the present invention with a syrup pump, an automatic selector valve, and an air valve connected thereto. 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the mounting block of the present invention with the syrup pump, the automatic selector valve, and the air valve connected thereto. 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an alternative embodiment of the frame and the manifold of the present invention with the syrup pump, the automatic selector valve, and the air valve connected thereto. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now in more detail to the drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, FIGS. 1-5 show a modular mounting block  100  of the present invention. The mounting block  100  includes a frame  102  with a plurality of top surfaces  104  and a plurality of side surfaces  106 . The frame  102  is preferably a unitary element. The frame  102  is preferably molded from a substantially rigid thermoplastic material such as Nylon, ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene), acetal, or similar materials. The frame  102 , however, can be made from any substantially rigid, noncorrosive material. 
     The frame  102  of the modular mounting block  100  itself may be essentially hollow in design. The top surfaces  104  of the frame  102  include a plurality of attachment surfaces  110 . Each attachment surface  110  has one or more bolt holes  120  positioned therein. Specifically, the frame  102  has an attachment surface  110  positioned on each corner. Each attachment surface  110  preferably has two bolt holes  120 . The mounting block  100  may be secured to a wall or other type of surface via bolts, screws, or other conventional types of fastening devices extending through the bolt holes  120  of the attachment surfaces  110 . 
     The top surface  104  of the frame  102  of the modular mounting block  100  also has a mounting surface  130 . The mounting surface  130  is raised above the attachment surfaces  110 . The mounting surface  130  has a number of recesses positioned therein. Specifically, these recess include a pump recess  140  sized to accommodate a conventional syrup pump, a first syrup-in recess  160 , a first syrup-out recess  170 , a second syrup-in recess  180 , and a second syrup-out recess  190 . Further, the mounting surface  130  also has a carbon dioxide port  200  positioned therein. The frame  102  also has a side carbon dioxide port  210  positioned along one of its sides  106 . 
     The frame  102  of the modular mounting block  100  also has a plurality of bosses  220  positioned on the mounting surface  130  so as to accommodate and support the various components, such as the syrup pump. Finally, the frame  102  has a number of connection fittings  230  positioned on each side such that a plurality of the modular mounting blocks  100  may be interconnected. Any number of the mounting blocks  100  may be used together. 
     FIGS. 3 and 4 show a manifold  240  of the present invention. The manifold  240  is positioned within the frame  102  of the modular mounting block  100 . The manifold  240  has a first syrup-in port  250  and a first syrup-out port  260  connected by a first syrup line  270  on a first end  275  thereof and a second syrup-in port  280  and a second syrup-out port  290  connected by a second syrup line  300  on a second end  305  thereof. Positioned between the two syrup lines  270 ,  300  is a carbon dioxide-in port  310  and a carbon dioxide-out port  320  connected by a carbon dioxide line  330 . The first syrup-in port  250  of the manifold  240  aligns with the first syrup-in recess  160  of the frame  102  while the first syrup-out port  260  of the manifold  240  aligns with the first syrup-out recess  170  of the frame  102 . The second syrup in-port  280  of the manifold  240  aligns with the second syrup-in recess  180  of the frame  102  while the second syrup-out port  290  of the manifold  240  aligns with the second syrup-out recess  190  of the frame  102 . The carbon dioxide-in port  310  aligns with the carbon dioxide side recess  210  while the carbon dioxide-out port  320  aligns with the carbon dioxide recess  200  of the frame  102 . The manifold  240  also has a number of support arms  340 . Each support arm  340  has a bolt hole  350  positioned therein such that the manifold  240  may be fixedly attached to the frame  102  by screws, bolts, or other conventional fastening means. 
     The manifold  240  may be a unitary structure. The manifold  240  may be formed by molding a substantially rigid thermoplastic. Alternatively, the syrup lines  270 ,  300  and the carbon dioxide line  330  may be made from a thermoplastic, as well as ceramics or stainless steel. In fact, ceramics or stainless steel may be preferred because certain types of soft drink syrup may penetrate into thermoplastic lines. This penetration may leave an odor or a taste remaining in the line such that the line can only be used with that particular type or flavor of syrup. Ceramic or stainless steel lines, however, can simply be flushed out and used with a different type of syrup. It is understood that although the frame  102  and the manifold  240  are described herein as being two distinct elements, the mounting block  100  may be an integral element. 
     Each of the manifold ports, the first syrup-in port  250 , the first syrup-out port  260 , the second syrup-in port  280 , the second syrup-out port  290 , the carbon dioxide-in port  310 , and the carbon dioxide-out port  320 , may have a valve  360  connected thereto. The valve  360  may open or shut the port  250 ,  260 ,  280 ,  290 ,  310 ,  320  as needed. 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 show the modular mounting block  100  with a syrup pump  400 , an automatic selector valve  410 , and an air valve  420  connected thereto. The syrup pump  400  may be of conventional design. The pump  400  may be an air-driven pump. Specifically, the pump  400  may be driven by a source of carbon dioxide gas as is known to those skilled in the art. The syrup pump  400  has a syrup-in port  430 , a syrup-out port  440 , and a carbon dioxide-in port  450 . The syrup pump  400  fits within the pump recess  140  of the modular mounting block  100  and is held in place by the bosses  220 . The syrup pump  400  may be held within the pump recess  140  by a snap fit or by screws, bolts, or other conventional fastening means. The syrup-in port  430  of the syrup pump  400  is connected to the first syrup-out port  260  of the manifold  240 . Likewise, the syrup out-port  440  of the syrup pump  400  is attached to the second syrup-in port  280  of the manifold  240 . Finally, the carbon dioxide-in port  450  of the syrup pump  400  is connected to the carbon dioxide-out port  320  of the manifold  240  by a gas fitting  460 . 
     The automatic selector valve  410  may be of conventional design. As described above, the automatic selector valve  410  switches the in-coming syrup source when the source in use is extinguished. The automatic selector valve  410  generally has a first syrup source-in port  470 , a second syrup source-in port  480 , and a syrup-out port  490 . The syrup source-in ports  470 ,  480  are connected to the syrup sources via syrup source lines  495 . The automatic selector valve  410  is attached to the modular mounting block  100  via the syrup-out port  490  mating with the first syrup-in port  250  of the manifold  240 . Further, the automatic selector valve  410  also may be connected to the mounting block  100  by screws, bolts, or other conventional fastening means. 
     The air valve  420  also may be of conventional design. As described above, the air valve  420  allows the user to bleed air from the flow of syrup downstream of the pump  400  if needed. The air valve  420  generally has a syrup-in port  500  and a syrup-out port  510 . The syrup-out port  510  is connected to the cooling means of the beverage dispenser via a dispenser line  515 . The air valve  420  is attached to the modular mounting block  100  via the syrup-in port  500  mating with the second syrup-out port  290  of the manifold  240 . Further, the air valve  420  also may be attached to the modular mounting block  100  by screws, bolts, or other conventional fastening means. 
     In use, the automatic selector valve  410  is connected to one or more syrup sources via the first syrup source-in port  470  and the second syrup source-in port  480 . One of the syrup sources is used at a time by the automatic selector valve  410 . The syrup travels through the automatic selector valve  410  and out through the syrup-out port  490 . The syrup then travels through the first syrup line  270  of the manifold  240  via the first syrup-in port  250 . The syrup then exits through the first syrup-out port  260  and into the syrup-in port  430  of the syrup pump  400 . The syrup is then forced through the syrup pump  400  in a conventional manner with the help of the carbon dioxide gas flowing from a carbon dioxide source. The carbon dioxide gas flows through the manifold  240  from the carbon dioxide-in port  310 , into the carbon dioxide line  330 , and out via the carbon dioxide-out port  320 . The carbon dioxide gas then flows into the carbon dioxide-in port  450  of the syrup pump  400  where it is used within the pump  400  in a conventional fashion. The syrup is then forced out of the syrup pump  400  via the syrup-out port  440  and back into the manifold  240  via the second syrup-in port  280 . The syrup travels through the second syrup line  300  and exits via the second syrup-out port  290 . The syrup then travels through the air valve  420  via the syrup-in port  500  and out towards the beverage dispenser components via the syrup-out port  510 . The syrup then travels to the cooling means of the beverage dispenser as is known to those skilled in the art. 
     The valves  360  on the manifold ports (the first syrup-in port  250 , the first syrup-out port  260 , the second syrup-in port  280 , the second syrup-out port  290 , the carbon dioxide-in port  310 , and the carbon dioxide-out port  320 ) may be opened or shut as the components (the pump  400 , the automatic selector valve  410 , and the air valve  420 ) are added and removed from the mounting block  100 . The use of the valves  360  largely prevents the spillage of syrup and also allows for the components to be quickly replaced as needed. 
     FIG. 7 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 shows a mounting block  600 . The mounting block  600  is identical to the mounting block  100  with the exception that the syrup sources and the beverage dispenser cooling means are tied directly to the mounting block  100 . Specifically, the mounting block  100  has two syrup source-in ports, a first syrup source-in port  610  and a second syrup source-in port  620 . The mounting block  600  also has a first syrup source-out port  630  in communication with the first syrup source-in port  610  and a second syrup source-out port  640  in communication with the second syrup source-in port  620 . Likewise, the mounting block  600  also has an air valve-in port  650  connected to the air valve  420  and a syrup-out port  660  connected between the mounting block  600  and the cooling means of the beverage dispenser. 
     In this embodiment, there is no need to connect the syrup source lines directly to the automatic selector valve  480  and no need to connect the air valve  420  directly to the cooling means lines. Rather, these lines are connected directly to the mounting block  600 . This direct connection also reduces the time required to install or replace a component on the mounting block  100 . 
     The modular mounting blocks  100 ,  600  of the present invention thus allow the user to install the syrup pump  400 , the automatic selector valve  410 , or the air valve  420  in a fast and efficient manner. Likewise, replacement of these components is also quick and easy to accomplish. Significantly, the user can replace one syrup pump  400  while the other syrup circuits of the beverage dispenser are still in operation. Thus, down time of the beverage dispenser as a whole is greatly reduced. Likewise, the time required to install or repair a beverage dispenser is also greatly reduced. Further, because the modular mounting block  100 ,  600  can be placed a distance away from the remaining beverage dispenser components, the components on the modular mounting block  100 ,  600  can be repaired or replaced without disrupting the user&#39;s operations. 
     It should be apparent that the foregoing description relates only to the preferred embodiments of the present invention and that numerous changes can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.