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An apparatus for producing a chilled or partially frozen beverage often referred to as a slush beverage. A variety of apparatus have been designed to produce chilled beverages as well as to produce beverages which are in a "slush" form. Some of these apparatus are referred to as "granita" machines.

An apparatus for producing a chilled or partially frozen beverage often referred to as a slush beverage. A variety of apparatus have been designed to produce chilled beverages as well as to produce beverages which are in a "slush" form. Some of these apparatus are referred to as "granita" machines. Such apparatus can be used to produce slush beverages from a variety of products including fruit juices, coffee-based beverages, tea-based beverages, as well as beverages containing alcohol. Such apparatus includes a chilling structure, and some form of blade or auger which moves relative to the chilling portion to strip the frozen product off and circulate the beverage along the chilling portion. Circulation of the beverage along the chilling portion helps to reduce the temperature of the beverage mixture thereby approaching a slush consistency.

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[ We claim:] [1.] A cold drink system for chilling a liquid to form a partially frozen beverage, said cold drink system comprising:at least one beverage hopper for retaining a quantity of liquid for chilling and dispensing therefrom;a cooling assembly communicating with said hopper for cooling said

[ We claim:] [1.] A cold drink system for chilling a liquid to form a partially frozen beverage, said cold drink system comprising:at least one beverage hopper for retaining a quantity of liquid for chilling and dispensing therefrom;a cooling assembly communicating with said hopper for cooling said liquid;a compressor coupled to said cooling assembly for providing a cooling effect in said cooling assembly;an auger and drive, said auger positioned in close proximity to said cooling assembly for removing chilled liquid therefrom and mixing said partially frozen beverage in said hopper, said drive motor moving said auger relative to said cooling assembly;a drive shaft connecting said auger to said drive, said drive shaft including a torsion spring portion, a pair of protruding pins, one pin being attached to said shaft, a second pin being movably attached to said torsion spring;a sensor assembly positioned proximate to said protruding pins for sensing angular deflection of said pins; anda controller, said sensor and said compressor coupled to said controller, said controller operating said compressor in response to angular deflection of said torsion spring as manifested in a change in the relative positions of said pins as sensed by said sensor.