Patent Publication Number: US-2020283281-A1

Title: Beverage dispensing system using compressed air

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present application and the resultant patent relate generally to beverage dispensing system and more particularly relate to a beverage dispensing system using compressed air to drive a beverage fluid therethrough in a controlled and efficient manner. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Generally described, modern beverage dispensing systems may be relatively complex electromechanical devices. A typical beverage dispensing system may mix multiple ingredients to produce a beverage via a combination of pumps, valves, and other components as operated by an electronic controller and the like. Such complex electromechanical beverage dispensers, however, may not be suitable for use in all locations. For example, the size or cost of the beverage dispenser may not be practical for a given location, the location may lack reliable electric power, the location may lack potable water supplies, or the location may lack the infrastructure required to provide or store the different beverage ingredients. Other factors also may have an impact on the reliability of the beverage dispensing system and/or the quality of the beverages dispensed therefrom. 
     There is thus a desire for an improved beverage dispensing system that does not require complex electromechanical components to operate. Preferably, such a beverage dispensing system may provide premixed or otherwise ready to drink beverages in a low cost and efficient manner that maintains the quality of the beverage in terms of carbonation and the like over an extended period of time. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present application and the resultant patent thus provide a dispensing system for a beverage. The dispensing system may include a pressure chamber and a dispenser unit with a refrigeration compartment. The beverage may be stored within the pressure chamber and may be dispensed through the refrigeration compartment under pressure. 
     The present application and the resultant patent further provide a method of dispensing a beverage. The method may include the steps of storing the beverage in a pressure chamber, flowing the beverage under pressure from the pressure chamber to an ice bath, and dispensing the beverage under pressure from the ice bath. 
     The present application and the resultant patent further provide a dispensing system for a number of beverages. The dispensing system may include a number of pressure chambers, a compressed air source in communication with the number of pressure chambers, and a dispenser unit with an ice bath. The beverages may be stored within the pressure chambers and may be dispensed through the ice bath under pressure. 
     These and other features and improvements of the present application and the resultant patent will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the several drawings and the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a beverage dispensing system as may be described herein. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a pressure chamber of the beverage dispensing system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a partial sectional view of a dispenser unit of the beverage dispensing system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of a cooling coil for use with the dispenser unit of the beverage dispensing system of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals refer to like elements throughout the several views,  FIG. 1  shows a beverage dispensing system  100  as may be described herein. The beverage dispensing system  100  may dispense a number of beverages  110  therein. The beverages  110  may include a number of premixed or otherwise ready to drink beverages. The beverages  110  may include waters, juices, carbonated soft drinks, sports drinks, coffees, teas, and the like. Any type of beverages  110  may be used herein. 
     The beverages  110  may be stored within a pouch  120 . The pouch  120  may have any suitable size, shape, or configuration. The pouch  120  may be made out of a conventional thermoplastic or any type of food grade and flexible material. The pouch  120  may be similar to a conventional bag-in-box pouch and the like. The pouch  120  may include a spout  130  at one end thereof. The pouch  120  also may be of a type suitable for storing a carbonated pressurized beverage. Such a pouch  120  may have a glass fiber reinforced outer wall so as to withstand high internal pressures of, for example, greater than about five (5) bar. Other types of dispensing containers and dispensing elements also may be used herein. 
     As is shown in  FIG. 2 , the beverage dispensing system  100  may include one or more pressure chambers  140 . Any number of the pressure chambers  140  may be used herein. The pressure chambers  140  may be sized to position and support one or more of the pouches  120  therein. The pressure chambers  140  may have any suitable size, shape, or configuration. Typically, the pressure chamber  140  may have at least some head space above the pouch  120 . The head space generally causes a stable pressure level during a single dispense cycle and may eliminate the need for frequent pumping. The pressure chambers  140  may include a support base  150  and an outer shell  160 . The support base  150  and the outer shell  160  may create a substantially airtight seal therebetween so as to allow the pressure chambers  140  to be pressurized to an elevated internal pressure. The support base  150  and the outer shell  160  may be made out of conventional thermoplastics or any substantially rigid material capable of withstanding an elevated pressure. 
     The beverage dispensing system  100  may include a product line  170  in communication the pouch  120  within the pressure chamber  140 . Multiple product lines  170  may be used. The beverage dispensing system  100  also may include a pressure line  180 . The pressure line  180  may be in communication with the outer shell  160  of the pressure chamber and a compressed air source  190 . Multiple pressure lines  180  may be used. The compressed air source  190  may be of conventional design and may be either electrically or manually operated. The compressed air source  190  may be positioned within the beverage dispensing system  100  or remote therefrom. The compressed air source  190  may pressurize the outer shell  160  of the pressure chamber  140  with compressed air. Varying pressures may be used herein. Other components and other configurations may be used herein. 
     As is shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the beverage dispensing system  100  may include a dispenser unit  200 . The dispenser unit  200  may include an insulated shell  210 . The insulated shell  210  may have any suitable size, shape, or configuration. The insulated shell  210  may be made out of any type of substantially rigid material with good insulating characteristics. One or more cooling coils  220  may be positioned within the insulated shell  210 . The cooling coils  220  may be of conventional design and may be made from any type of substantially rigid materials with good heat exchange characteristics. The cooling coils  220  may extend from the product lines  170  to a number of taps  230 . The taps  230  may be of conventional design and may be any type of open or shut dispensing device. 
     The insulated shell  210  and the cooling coils  220  may define a refrigeration compartment. In this example, the refrigeration compartment may be an ice bath  240 . The ice bath  240  may have any suitable size, shape, or configuration. An amount of ice/water  250  may be positioned within the ice bath  240  so as to chill the beverage  110  within the coiling coils  220 . The taps  230  may be positioned about the top of the ice bath  240  such that the outgoing beverage  110  may be at about zero degrees Celsius (0° C.) while the incoming beverage may be at about 4 degrees Celsius (4° C.) (as a result of the density of water in function of its temperature). This passage also may instigate water currents within the ice bath  240  without the use of an agitator. Other types of refrigeration may be used herein. For example, a conventional electric powered refrigeration device may be used given a stable power supply. Other components and other configurations may be used herein. 
     In use, one or more of the pouches  120  may be positioned within one of the pressure chambers  140 . The pouch  120  may be attached to the product line  170 . The outer shell  150  may be securely attached to the support base  150 . The pressure chamber  140  may be pressurized by the compressed air source  190  via the pressure line  180 . The compressed air creates a uniform pressure on the pouch  120  and the beverage  110  therein so as to cause the beverage  110  to flow to the dispenser unit  200 . Specifically, the beverage  110  may flow from the product lines  180 , through the cooling coils  220 , to the taps  230 . An amount of the ice/water  250  may be placed in the ice bath  240 . The ice bath  240  cools the beverage  110  in the cooling coils  220 . 
     Opening one of the taps  230  causes the pressurized beverage  110  to flow therethrough. Specifically, the compressed air in the pressure chamber  140  causes the beverage  110  to flow through the dispenser unit  200 . The ice/water  250  may be replaced on a predetermined schedule to keep the beverage  110  therein at a sufficiently chilled temperature. The pouches  120  and the compressed air source  190  may be replaced as needed. The beverage dispensing system  100  may be cleaned and sanitized in a conventional manner. Although the pressure chambers  140  and the dispenser unit  200  are shown as separate components, all or some of the components of the beverage dispensing system  100  may be positioned within a common housing and the like. 
     The beverage dispensing system  100  described herein thus provides efficient dispensing of beverages  110  without the use of electro-mechanical parts or even the use of electricity. The beverage dispensing system  100  allows the use of conventional pouches  120  with a ready to drink beverage  110  therein instead of relying on the multiple ingredients usually required in conventional dispensers. The beverage dispensing system  100  thus may be used in almost any location without regard to local conditions. Moreover, the beverage dispensing system  100  may avoid the initial capital expenditures usually associated with premixed beverages, i.e., typically requiring numerous five gallon containers and the like. As such, the beverages  110  may be offered at a lower price point given the reduced cost of packaging. 
     It should be apparent that the foregoing relates only to certain embodiments of the present application and the resultant patent. Numerous changes and modifications may be made herein by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the general spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims and the equivalents thereof