IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
UP-0227791
(2005-09-15)
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등록번호 |
US-7641074
(2010-02-11)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Edwards, William A.
- Grewal, Randeep S.
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
10 인용 특허 :
2 |
초록
▼
A flow circuit connector provides the capability to change the flow paths of a product valve in a beverage dispenser. The flow circuit connector includes a first member that connects two unconnected flow paths, and a second member that stops the flow of fluid within the flow paths not being utilized
A flow circuit connector provides the capability to change the flow paths of a product valve in a beverage dispenser. The flow circuit connector includes a first member that connects two unconnected flow paths, and a second member that stops the flow of fluid within the flow paths not being utilized. In a first embodiment, the flow circuit connector allows an operator to select between two diluent flow paths representing either a chilled diluent or a chilled and carbonated diluent. Configuration may be accomplished on location, and is not a permanent rerouting. In a second embodiment, the beverage dispenser further includes an ambient flow circuit and additional flow circuit connector components as required to complete or cap any exposed flow circuits. In a third embodiment, the beverage dispenser includes at least two product flow circuits representing the delivery of ambient product or a conditioned product.
대표청구항
▼
We claim: 1. A beverage dispenser, comprising: a manifold accessible by an operator; a delivery tube disposed partially within the manifold, the delivery tube including an inlet located exterior to the manifold and an outlet located exterior to the manifold that communicates with a beverage dispens
We claim: 1. A beverage dispenser, comprising: a manifold accessible by an operator; a delivery tube disposed partially within the manifold, the delivery tube including an inlet located exterior to the manifold and an outlet located exterior to the manifold that communicates with a beverage dispensing valve; a first flow circuit disposed partially within the manifold, the first flow circuit including an outlet located exterior to the manifold a predetermined distance from the inlet of the delivery tube, whereby the first flow circuit flows a first diluent to the outlet; a second flow circuit disposed partially within the manifold, the second flow circuit including an outlet located exterior to the manifold a predetermined distance from the inlet of the delivery tube, whereby the second flow circuit flows a second diluent to the outlet; and a flow circuit connector, comprising: a first member including a first port and a second port and a passage therebetween, wherein the first port is connectable directly with and removable from the inlet of the delivery tube and the second port is connectable directly with and removable from one of the outlet of the first flow circuit and the outlet of second flow circuit, further wherein removing the second port from the outlet of the second flow circuit and directly connecting the second port with the outlet of the first flow circuit extends the first flow circuit through the delivery tube to the beverage dispensing valve for delivery of the first diluent, still further wherein removing the second port from the outlet of the first flow circuit and directly connecting the second port with the outlet of the second flow circuit extends the second flow circuit through the delivery tube to the beverage dispensing valve for delivery of the second diluent, and a second member directly connectable with and removable from one of the outlet of the first flow circuit and the outlet of the second flow circuit, wherein, when the second port is connected directly with the outlet of the first flow circuit, the second member is removed from the outlet of the first flow circuit and directly connected with the outlet of the second flow circuit to stop the flow of the second diluent from the second flow circuit, further wherein, when the second port is connected directly with the outlet of the second flow circuit, the second member is removed from the outlet of the second flow circuit and directly connected with the outlet of the first flow circuit to stop the flow of the first diluent from the first flow circuit. 2. The beverage dispenser according to claim 1, wherein: the first member of the flow circuit connector is rotatable about the inlet of the delivery tube for connecting the second port with one of the outlet of the first flow circuit and the outlet of the second flow circuit. 3. The beverage dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising: a product circuit containing a product in communication with the beverage dispensing valve, wherein the product is delivered to the beverage dispensing valve for mixing with the first diluent delivered to the beverage dispensing valve. 4. The beverage dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising: a product circuit containing a product in communication with the beverage dispensing valve, wherein the product is delivered to the beverage dispensing valve for mixing with the second diluent delivered to the beverage dispensing valve. 5. The beverage dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising: a third flow circuit flowing a third diluent to an outlet therefrom, wherein the outlet is located exterior to the manifold a predetermined distance from the inlet of the delivery tube; and an additional second member, wherein the first member of the flow circuit connector rotates about the inlet of the delivery tube and directly connects with the outlet of the third flow circuit to extend the third flow circuit to the beverage dispensing valve, further wherein, the second members of the flow connector directly connect with one of the outlets of the first and second flow circuits to stop the flows of the first and second diluents from the first and second flow circuits. 6. The beverage dispenser according to claim 5, further comprising: a product circuit containing a product in communication with the beverage dispensing valve, wherein the product is delivered to the beverage dispensing valve for mixing with the third diluent delivered to the beverage dispensing valve. 7. The beverage dispenser according to claim 5, wherein the outlet of the third flow circuit may be located at virtually any angle about the inlet of the delivery tube. 8. The beverage dispenser according to claim 6, further comprising: a second bank of flow circuit outlets located exterior to the manifold and disposed at a second predetermined distance from the inlet of the delivery tube; an elongated first member including a first port and a second port and a passage therebetween, wherein the first port is connected directly with the inlet of the delivery tube and the second port is connected directly with an outlet disposed on the second bank, thereby extending the selected flow circuit through the delivery tube to the beverage dispensing valve for the delivery of a diluent; and a second member directly connected to each unselected outlet on the second bank to stop the flow of diluents from the unselected outlets. 9. The beverage dispenser according to claim 8, wherein the outlets of the second bank may be located at virtually any angle about the inlet of the delivery tube. 10. The beverage dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising: a second delivery tube disposed partially within the manifold, the delivery tube including an inlet located exterior to the manifold and an outlet located exterior to the manifold that communicates with a beverage dispensing valve; a first product circuit providing a flow of a first product from an outlet; a second product circuit providing a flow of a second product from an outlet; and a second flow circuit connector, wherein a first port of a first member directly connects with the inlet of the second delivery tube and a second port directly connects with the outlet of the first product circuit, thereby extending the first product circuit through the second delivery tube to the beverage dispensing valve, further wherein, a second member of the second flow circuit connector directly connects with the outlet of the second product circuit to stop the flow of the second product from the second product circuit. 11. The beverage dispenser according to claim 10, wherein the first member of the first flow circuit connector rotates about the inlet of the first delivery tube and directly connects with the outlet of the second flow circuit, thereby extending the second flow circuit to the beverage dispensing valve, further wherein, the second member of the first flow circuit connector directly connects with outlet from the first flow circuit to stop the flow of the first diluent, thereby delivering the first product and the second diluent to the beverage dispensing valve. 12. The beverage dispenser according to claim 10, wherein the first member of the second flow circuit connector rotates about the inlet of the second delivery tube and directly connects with the outlet of the second product circuit, thereby extending the second product circuit to the beverage dispensing valve, further wherein, the second member of the second flow circuit connector directly connects with the outlet of the first product circuit to stop the flow of the first product from the first product circuit. 13. The beverage dispenser according to claim 12, wherein the first member of the first flow circuit connector rotates about the inlet of the first delivery tube and directly connects with the outlet of the second flow circuit, thereby extending the second flow circuit to the beverage dispensing valve, further wherein, the second members of the first flow circuit connector directly connects with the outlet from the first flow circuit to stop the flow of the first diluent, thereby delivering the second product and the second diluent to the beverage dispensing valve. 14. The beverage dispenser according to claim 12, further comprising: a third flow circuit flowing a third diluent to an outlet therefrom, wherein the outlet is located exterior to the manifold a predetermined distance from the inlet of the delivery tube; and an additional second member, wherein the first member of the first flow circuit connector rotates about the inlet of the first delivery tube and directly connects with the outlet of the third flow circuit, thereby extending the third flow circuit to the beverage dispensing valve, further wherein, the second members of the first flow circuit connector directly connect with outlets from the first flow circuit and the second flow circuits to stop the flow of the first diluent and the second diluent, thereby delivering the second product and the third diluent to the beverage dispensing valve. 15. The beverage dispenser according to claim 14, wherein the outlets of the product circuits may be disposed at any angle of rotation about the inlet of the delivery tube. 16. The beverage dispenser according to claim 14, further comprising: a second bank of flow circuit outlets disposed located exterior to the manifold and at a second predetermined distance from the inlet of the delivery tube; an elongated first member including a first port and a second port and a passage therebetween, wherein the first port is connected directly with the inlet of the delivery tube and the second port is connected directly with an outlet disposed on the second bank, thereby extending the selected flow circuit through the delivery tube to the beverage dispensing valve for the delivery of a product; and a second member directly connected to each unselected outlet on the second bank to stop the flow of products from the unselected outlets. 17. The beverage dispenser according to claim 16, wherein the outlets of the second bank may be located at virtually any angle about the inlet of the delivery tube such that the elongated first member may align with any outlet by rotating about the inlet of the delivery tube. 18. The beverage dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the first diluent flow path is conditioned to deliver a chilled diluent. 19. The beverage dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the second diluent flow path is conditioned to deliver a chilled and carbonated diluent. 20. The beverage dispenser according to claim 5, wherein the third diluent flow path is not conditioned, thereby delivering an ambient diluent. 21. The beverage dispenser according to claim 10, wherein the first product circuit delivers a conditioned product. 22. The beverage dispenser according to claim 21, wherein the conditioned product is chilled. 23. The beverage dispenser according to claim 10, wherein the second product circuit delivers an ambient product. 24. The beverage dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the first and second members of the flow circuit connector are joined to create a single unit that may be rotated about the inlet of the delivery tube.
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