Patent ID: 7445133

Claim:
A beverage dispensing head for a beverage dispenser, comprising a main dispensing body having a plurality of liquid syrup introduction passages and at least one liquid diluent introduction passage for connection at inlets thereto to respective supplies of syrups and diluent; a nozzle having a diluent receiving surface that leads to a line juncture of said diluent receiving surface with an outlet from said nozzle; and a diluent distribution ring intermediate said main dispensing body and said nozzle for receiving diluent from said main dispensing body and for directing the diluent onto said nozzle diluent receiving surface for flow along said surface to and past said juncture and through said nozzle outlet, said diluent distribution ring including a plurality of syrup flow passages each for flow of syrup from an associated one of said main dispensing body syrup introduction passages to said nozzle, each said syrup flow passage having an outlet at said nozzle for emitting a plurality of discrete streams of liquid beverage syrup that are directed toward said line juncture for impact against and admixture with diluent substantially at said juncture, so that admixed diluent and syrup exit said nozzle through said nozzle outlet, wherein said diluent distribution ring has a chamber in communication with said at least one diluent introduction passage of said main dispensing body for receiving diluent from said at least one diluent introduction passage before the diluent is directed onto said nozzle diluent receiving surface, and wherein said diluent distribution ring chamber is an annular chamber and said diluent distribution ring includes a fluted lower end defining with said nozzle an array of passages in communication with said annular chamber for flow of diluent from said chamber and through said passages onto said nozzle diluent receiving surface.