Patent Publication Number: US-6981615-B2

Title: Modular diluent changeover manifold for beverage dispensers

Description:
This application claims benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 60/469,516, filed May 9, 2003. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to beverage dispensing systems, and in particular to a modular diluent changeover system for beverage dispensers that allows for quick and convenient changeover between supply of carbonated water and plain water to beverage dispensing valves. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Ice/beverage dispensers are 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 delivered 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 provides for heat exchange cooling of beverage liquids flowed through tubing circuits embedded in the cold plate, which beverage liquids include mixing or diluent liquids such as carbonated water and noncarbonated or plain water. In situations where a cold plate is used in conjunction with a post-mix ice/beverage dispenser, sources of carbonated water, plain water and beverage syrup concentrate are connected to the cold plate to be cooled as they are passed through the cold plate circuits and are then delivered through tubing to post-mix beverage dispensing valves. A carbonated or noncarbonated drink is produced when the cooled carbonated or plain water and a syrup concentrate are subsequently mixed together and dispensed from a dispensing valve. 
   An ice/beverage dispenser customarily has four or more, usually eight or more, post-mix beverage dispensing valves for dispensing various beverages. In the past, each post-mix valve was plumbed for and dedicated to dispensing either carbonated or non-carbonated drinks and the use of several dispensing valves on a beverage dispenser enabled 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 carbonated water when a carbonated drink is to be dispensed or with plain water when a non-carbonated drink is to be dispensed. 
   Because customers&#39; tastes change, owners of beverage dispensers are often required to change the supplies of concentrate syrup and carbonated and plain water delivered to dispensing valves in order to provide new drink flavors or, perhaps, to enable the dispensing of the same drink flavor from more than one dispensing valve of the same beverage dispenser. While in the past each valve was dedicated to dispensing either a carbonated or a non-carbonated drink, today there is desire to have the flexibility to be able to change between dispensing carbonated drinks, such as soda pop, and noncarbonated drinks, such as juice and sports beverages with the same valve. Historically, each beverage dispensing valve was coupled to a pair of beverage liquid delivery lines, one a delivery line for concentrate syrup flavoring and the other a delivery line for either carbonated or noncarbonated water, with each line leading back to a source of the particular beverage liquid. As a result, 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 the lines, which lines were often relatively inaccessible and access to which required partial disassembly of the beverage dispenser. 
   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 beverage dispensing 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 either carbonated or plain water. Because only one inlet is provided for both carbonated and plain water, to change between carbonated and noncarbonated drinks dispensed 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. 
   Accordingly, there is a need for a beverage liquid supply arrangement for post-mix beverage dispensing valves of a beverage dispenser that enables quick, convenient and inexpensive interchange of supply of either carbonated or noncarbonated water to any particular beverage dispensing valve, without need to disassemble the beverage dispenser and reset pressures and flow rates. 
   There also is a need for such a beverage liquid supply arrangement that can conveniently and inexpensively be configured for use with a dispenser having any particular number of beverage dispensing valves. 
   OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of the present invention is to provide a modular dual diluent changeover system for a beverage dispenser having a plurality of post-mix beverage dispensing valves, which changeover system allows for convenient selection of one of two diluents, such as carbonated and noncarbonated water, for delivery to each dispensing valve. 
   Another object is to provide such a modular dual diluent changeover system that can readily be configured to any selected size for use with dispensers having any particular number of beverage dispensing valves. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention comprises a modular dual diluent changeover manifold and valve assembly that allows for quick and convenient changeover of post-mix beverage dispensing valves as between dispensing carbonated or non-carbonated drinks. In accordance with the invention, the modular changeover manifold and valve assembly permits selective direction of either of two liquid diluents to any of two or more beverage dispensing valves secured to a beverage dispensing machine. The manifold and valve assembly comprises a plurality of physically separate changeover valve assemblies, each for delivering a selected one of the two diluents to an associated one of the beverage dispensing valves of the beverage dispensing machine. Each changeover valve assembly has first and second tubes for being fluid coupled to respective supplies of the first and second liquid diluents, a first inlet fluid coupled to the first tube, a second inlet fluid coupled to the second tube, an outlet for being fluid coupled to the associated beverage dispensing valve, and manually manipulateable diluent changeover means for selectively establishing a fluid connection between one of the first and second inlets and the outlet while blocking fluid connection between the other inlet and the outlet. In addition, the manifold and valve assembly includes means for releasably connecting together the pluralists of physically separate changeover valve assemblies. 
   The means for releasably connecting fluid couples together all the first tubes and also fluid couples together all the second tubes of the plurality of changeover valve assemblies. In the described embodiment, the means for releasably coupling includes a plurality of physically separate connectors, each connector being releasably connected to and between an associated pair of the changeover valve assemblies to connect the changeover valve assemblies in a chain. The connectors provide inline fluid connections between all of the first tubes and inline fluid connections between all of the second tubes of the pair of changeover valve assemblies. One of the connectors includes first inlet means that is fluid coupled to the first conduit and is for connection to a supply of one of the liquid diluents as well as second inlet means that is fluid coupled to the second conduit and is for connection to a supply of the other of the liquid diluents. Further included are end stop plugs for closing outer opposite ends of the first and second tubes of the outermost changeover valve assembling. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a post-mix beverage dispenser of a type with which the present invention may be used; 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of a valve quick disconnect mounting block secured to a valve mounting panel; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a changeover manifold and valve assembly mounted to a rear side of the valve mounting panel; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional side elevation view of the changeover manifold and valve assembly of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is an assembly view of a modular changeover manifold and valve assembly according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of the modular changeover manifold and valve assembly of  FIG. 5 , and 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the modular changeover manifold and valve assembly of  FIG. 6  mounted on a rear side of the valve mounting panel. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   A changeover manifold and valve assembly according to the present invention is adapted for use with beverage dispensers, such as a post-mix ice/beverage dispensers of a type shown in  FIG. 1  and indicated generally at  10 . The dispenser  10  can be of the electrically cooled or ice cooled variety and includes a plurality (eight as shown) of post-mix beverage dispensing valves  12 , a centrally located ice dispensing chute  14 , a removable splash panel  16 , a valve mounting panel  18  and a drip tray  20 . To accommodate mounting of the post-mix dispensing valves  12  on the valve mounting panel  18 , as seen in  FIG. 2   a  body  12   a  of each dispensing valve is removably secured to an associated quick-disconnect mounting block  22  that in turn is carried by the valve mounting panel. 
   Referring also to  FIG. 3 , a changeover manifold and valve assembly is indicated generally at  30  and is located within the dispenser  10  behind the valve mounting panel  18 . The changeover manifold and valve assembly  30  is structured to provide for convenient changeover between one of two diluents supplied to each of four of the eight post-mix beverage dispensing valves  12  that are secured to quick-disconnect mounting blocks  22  of the dispenser  10  on one side of the ice dispensing chute  14 . Accordingly, a further and identical changeover manifold and valve assembly  30  is provided for the other four beverage dispensing valves  12  on the opposite side of the ice dispensing chute  14 , such that there is a separate changeover manifold and valve assembly servicing the post-mix beverage dispensing valves  12  on each side of the ice dispensing chute. The two changeover manifolds and valve assemblies  30  are separated by a space  31  on a back side of the valve mounting panel  18  that corresponds to a gap that exists between each set of four valves  12  to accommodate the ice dispensing chute  14 . 
   Referring also to  FIG. 4 , each changeover manifold and valve assembly  30  includes two diluent delivery tubes  32  and  34  that are sealed closed at opposite ends  35 . Each manifold and valve assembly  30  also includes a plurality of diluent changeover valve assemblies, indicated generally at  36 , which plurality comprises four changeover valves for the embodiment shown where four post-mix beverage dispensing valves  12  to be serviced are on each side of the ice dispensing chute  14 . The changeover valves  36  are secured to, along and between the tubes  32  and  34  by webbing flanges  38  that also serve to support the tubes in parallel and spaced relationship. Each diluent delivery tube  32  and  34  includes an associated inlet  40  for fluid connection to a respective cooled source of diluent, such as plain or carbonated water. For the purpose of describing the invention, the diluent delivery tube  32  will be considered to be connected to a carbonated water source and the diluent delivery tube  34  to a plain or non-carbonated water source. 
   Each changeover valve  36  has a valve body, indicated generally at  39 , in which is carried a ball valve structure  42 . The ball valve structure  42  includes a ball valve end  44  and a manually rotatable valve operating tab  46 . The ball valve end  44  rotates within a flexible seal and seat  48  and includes a side fluid inlet orifice  50  and a top fluid outlet orifice  54  at opposite ends of a generally L-shaped channel  56  extending through the ball valve end. Each changeover valve  36  also includes a first inlet channel  58  for providing fluid connection to the tube  32  and carbonated water in the tube and a second inlet channel  60  for providing fluid connection to the tube  34  and non-carbonated or plain water in the tube. Each valve  36  carries an outlet tube  62  for fluid connection at an end thereof remote from the valve to a diluent fluid inlet  64  of an associated quick disconnect block  22 . To securely mount the outlet tubes  62 , each is provided with a support arm  65  that is carried by an associated flange  38 . As is conventional, the quick-disconnect valve mounting blocks  22  include syrup inlets  66  for fluid connection to sources of concentrate beverage syrups. 
   For the orientation of the ball valve end  44  as shown in  FIG. 4 , plain water from the tube  34  is blocked from entering the changeover valve  36  while carbonated water from the tube  32  flows into the side inlet orifice  50  of the ball valve end  44  and into and through the L-shaped channel  56  to and out of the top outlet orifice  54  and then into and through the outlet tube  62  and ultimately t) a particular post-mix beverage dispensing valve  12  via an inlet  64  to an associated quick disconnect block  22  that mounts the dispensing valve. Should it be desired to supply plain non-carbonated water from the tube  34  to the dispensing valve  12 , rotation of the ball valve structure  42  through  180  by manual rotation of the tab  46  will place the inlet  50  to the L-shaped channel  56  in the ball valve end  44  into fluid connection with plain water in the tube  34  while the ball valve end then blocks fluid communication between the L-shaped channel and carbonated water in the tube  32 , so that plain water from the tube  34  will then be delivered to the beverage dispensing valve  12 . 
   In this manner, changing the diluent (carbonated or plain water) delivered to any particular post-mix beverages dispensing valve  12  is easily and quickly accomplished by removal of the splash panel  16  at the front of the dispenser  10  for access to the changeover valves  36  carried on the rear of the valve mounting panel  18 . The operating tabs  46  of the changeover valves  36  are positioned to extend below the valve mounting panel  18 , so removal of the splash panel  16  provides direct and easy access to the operating tabs of the changeover valves, whereby the diluent delivered to any particular one or more of the post-mix beverage dispensing valves  12  may quickly and conveniently be manually changed from carbonated to non-carbonated water, or vice versa, simply by manually rotating a selected one or more of the operating tabs. For added convenience, the changeover valve operating tabs  46  advantageously include indicia to indicate whether the valve is set to deliver carbonated or plain water to its associated post-mix beverage dispensing valve  12 . 
   The changeover manifold and valve assembly  30 , while highly useful in enabling quick and convenient changeover of diluent delivered to individual beverage dispensing valves  12  of a beverage dispenser  10 , has a one-piece manifold and must therefore initially be manufactured to be of a size, and to carry a number of changeover valves, in accordance with the number of beverage dispensing valves provided on a dispenser  10  which are to be served by the changeover manifold and valve assembly. Consequently, since all beverage dispensers do not have the same number of beverage dispensing valves, a number of different sizes of changeover manifolds and valve assemblies  30  must be manufactured and maintained in inventory for installation in beverage dispensers. 
   To advantageously avoid the need to manufacture and maintain an inventory of a number of different sizes of changeover manifolds and valve assemblies  30 , the present invention provides a modular embodiment of changeover manifold and valve assembly, as seen in  FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  7  and indicated generally at  70 . The modular manifold and valve assembly  70  is comprised of a limited number of parts and can readily be assembled to be of any particular size, i.e., to have any desired number of changeover valves, depending upon the number of beverage dispensing valves of a beverage dispenser with which the changeover manifold and valve assembly is to be used. The manifold and valve assembly  70 , when its individual components are interconnected and assembled together, is somewhat similar to the changeover manifold and valve assembly  30 , but differs from the assembly  30  in that it comprises physically separate and distinct changeover valve assemblies, indicated generally at  71 . Each changeover valve assembly  71  includes a changeover valve, indicated generally at  72 , two inlets to which are fluid coupled to respective manifold diluent supply tubes  80  and  82  of the valve assembly  71  and an outlet from which is connected to a diluent outlet tube  62 . The changeover valve assemblies  71  are interconnected or chained together by physically separate and distinct fluid manifold connectors  74  and  76  of the manifold and valve assembly  70 , each having a pair of fluid conduits  78  and  79  that are placed inline and in fluid coupled relationship with respective ones of the diluent supply tubes  82  and  80  of the changeover valve assemblies  71 . The manifold and valve assembly  70  further includes a pair of separate and distinct end stop plugs  77  that closes outer opposite ends of the diluent supply tubes  80  and  82  of outer opposite valve assemblies  71 . 
   The changeover valves  72  have manually rotatable operating tabs  46  and otherwise correspond in form and function to the changeover valves  36  in delivering diluent from a selected inlet to the changeover valve to the outlet from the valve and into and through the outlet tube  62 . For the purpose of forming secure fluid connections, opposite ends of the pairs of fluid conduits  78  and  79  of the connectors  74  and  76 , which are received in ends of the tubes  80  and  82  of the changeover valve assemblies  71  that are on opposite sides of each connector, have annular recesses for receiving suitable sealing devices such as O-rings (not shown). Assembly of the changeover manifold and valve assembly  70  is accomplished by extending opposite ends of the pairs of fluid conduits  78  and  79  of the connectors  74  and  76  into sealed relationship with adjacent opposing ends of a pair of diluent tubes or channels  80  and  82  of a pair of changeover valve assemblies  71  that are to opposite sides of the connectors  74  and  76 , and by then attaching a pair of end stop plugs  77  over opposite outer openings from the tubes  80  and  82  of opposite outer changeover valve assemblies  71 . Only one connector  76  is used in each changeover manifold and valve assembly  70 , and although the connector  76  is shown positioned generally intermediate the changeover valve assemblies  71 , it can be positioned between any other two changeover valves in the chain. In addition to an outlet tube  62  that is connected at an inlet end to a diluent outlet from each changeover valve  72 , each changeover valve assembly also carries a somewhat similar tube  83  having an inlet for connection to an associated supply of syrup and an outlet for connection to a syrup inlet  66  an associated quick-disconnect block  22  for delivery of flavored syrup to a beverage valve. 
   In the assembled state of the modular changeover manifold and valve assembly  70  as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the fluid conduits  78  and  79  of the connectors  74  and  76  provide for inline fluid connectivity and continuity of the diluent tubes or channels  80  and  82  of the changeover valve assemblies  71 , which tubes  80  and  82  correspond in form and function to the tubes  32  and  34  of the changeover valves  36 . The end stop plugs  77  serve to seal off and close otherwise open opposite outer ends of the channels  80  and  82 , and the connector  76  has two diluent inlets  84  and  85 , one for connection to a source of carbonated water (not shown) and the other for connection to a source of plain non-carbonated water (also not shown) to be delivered into respective ones of the tubes  82  and  80 . The diluent inlets  84  and  85  correspond in form and function to the pair of inlets  40  of the changeover manifold and valve assembly  30 . 
   In its assembled state, the modular changeover manifold and valve assembly  70  functions in the same manner as described in respect of the changeover manifold and valve assembly  30 , with outlets from the diluent delivery tubes  62  being fluid coupled to diluent inlets  64  to the quick-connect blocks  22  and outlets from the syrup flavoring delivery tubes  83  being fluid coupled to syrup inlets  66  to the quick-connect blocks, for delivery of diluent and syrup to beverage dispensing valves  12  mounted by the quick-disconnect blocks. However, as compared with the changeover manifold and valve assembly  30 , the modular manifold and valve assembly  70  has the added advantageous ability to gang together any number of individual changeover valve assemblies  71  to readily accommodate delivery of beverage liquids to any particular number of beverage dispensing valves  12  of a dispenser  10 . Thus, the assembly  70  can easily be fabricated out of a small number of identical parts to produce a changeover manifold and valve assembly of any desired size and having any desired number of changeover valve assemblies  71 , depending upon the number of post-mix beverage dispensing valves of a beverage dispenser that are required to be served with beverage liquids. Such a modular approach desirably reduces manufacturing costs by eliminating a need to otherwise manufacture and maintain in inventory a variety of differently sized changeover manifold and valve assemblies, such as assemblies of the type represented by the assembly  30 , each of which is useable only with a beverage dispenser having a particular number of valves. 
   Although a particular structure of the modular changeover manifold and valve assembly  70  has been described, other embodiments are contemplated. For example, the changeover valve assemblies  71  need not necessarily employ ball valve type changeover valves  72 , but instead any suitable valve means may be used for switching the particular diluent delivered to a beverage dispensing valve  12 , such as a plurality of gate valves or other suitable types of valves, or for that matter valve means comprising tubular or similar types of connectors that may be selectively manually connected between diluent supply outlets and diluent delivery inlets to deliver a selected diluent to a dispensing valve while blocking delivery of a non-selected diluent. In addition, while O-rings are described for use as seals between the connectors  74  and  76  and the changeover valve assemblies  71 , other suitable means for effecting seals may be employed. Further, while separate connectors  74  and  76  have been described as interconnecting the changeover valve assemblies  71  and their carbonated and plain water diluent tubes so and  82 , it is contemplated that the changeover valve assemblies may themselves be provided with suitable fluid coupling means, so that physically separate changeover valve assemblies might be directly coupled together to fluidly interconnect their carbonated and plain water diluent tubes without using the separate fluid coupling connectors  74  and  76 . 
   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