초록 ▼

Method and apparatus for preparing and dispensing a cool beverage and for transporting ice. The apparatus utilizes a heat exchanger for directly contacting water and ice to produce cooled heat exchanger water in the heat exchanger from the water and ice and an outflow of the cooled heat exchanger wa

Method and apparatus for preparing and dispensing a cool beverage and for transporting ice. The apparatus utilizes a heat exchanger for directly contacting water and ice to produce cooled heat exchanger water in the heat exchanger from the water and ice and an outflow of the cooled heat exchanger water. A beverage concentrate flows through a beverage concentrate conduit that is in thermal contact with ice. The beverage concentrate is thus cooled by indirectly contacting the ice to produce an outflow of cooled beverage concentrate. A proportioner and mixer receive the outflow of cooled heat exchanger water and the outflow of cooled beverage concentrate, and proportion and mix the outflows to produce a cool, proportioned, mixed beverage, which is dispensed from a dispensing valve. Ice for cooling a beverage is supplied to an upstream portion of a conduit, transported from the upstream portion of the conduit to a downstream portion of the conduit with a moving fluid, separated from the fluid at a downstream portion of the conduit, and the fluid is recirculated to the upstream portion of the conduit.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] A method for preparing and dispensing a cool beverage comprising:contacting water and ice directly together in a heat exchanger, cooling the water and melting the ice, to produce cooled heat exchanger water in the heat exchanger from the water and ice and an outflow of the cooled he

[ I claim:] [1.] A method for preparing and dispensing a cool beverage comprising:contacting water and ice directly together in a heat exchanger, cooling the water and melting the ice, to produce cooled heat exchanger water in the heat exchanger from the water and ice and an outflow of the cooled heat exchanger water;flowing beverage concentrate through a conduit in thermal contact with ice, indirectly contacting the beverage concentrate with the ice, melting the ice and cooling the beverage concentrate, to produce an outflow of the cooled beverage concentrate;proportioning and mixing the outflow of cooled beverage concentrate with the outflow of cooled heat exchanger water to produce a cool, proportioned, mixed beverage; anddispensing the cool, proportioned, mixed beverage.