Patent Document ID: 4377246
Application ID: 06262151
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. Apparatus for concurrently and uninterruptedly dispensing a plurality of discrete servings of carbonated beverage while automatically switching from a just emptied to a full supply vessel of the beverage, comprising: (a) a plurality of independently and concurrently openable dispensing valves; (b) a beverage conduit having (1) a plurality of downstream ends, each of said ends being in fluid communication with a respective said dispensing valve, (2) first and second upstream ends having thereon means for fluidly connecting the beverage conduit to respective first and second supply vessels having carbonated beverage therein, (3) a refrigerated reservoir between the downstream ends and the upstream ends for holding refrigerated carbonated beverage under gas pressure and in between the supply vessels and the dispensing valves, and (4) first and second normally closed beverage supply valves in the first and second upstream ends respectively, each supply valve normally precluding flow of beverage from a respective supply vessel into the reservoir; (c) a source of compressed gas; (d) a compressed gas conduit having (1) an upstream end connected to said source of compressed gas, and (2) first and second downstream ends, each having thereon means for fluidly connecting the gas conduit to a respective supply vessel; (e) a sensor responsive to the quantity of beverage within the reservoir, said sensor being structured for maintaining within the reservoir a predetermined quantity of beverage, said predetermined quantity being less than the volume of the reservoir; (f) a circuit operatively connecting the sensor to the first beverage supply valve, so that said sensor effects automatic opening and closing of the first beverage valve for providing intermittent flow of beverage from the first supply vessel as is required for maintaining the predetermined quantity within the reservoir; (g) means in the beverage conduit between the connecting means and the reservoir for sensing that the first supply vessel has been emptied of beverage; and (h) means for switching said circuit by disconnecting said sensor from the first beverage supply valve and connecting said sensor to the second beverage supply valve for providing intermittent flow of beverage from the second supply vessel as is further required for maintaining the predetermined quantity within the reservoir after the first supply vessel has been emptied, said switching means being operatively connected to said sensing means for automatic actuation of the switching means by the sensing means.