US2910247A - Carbonated beverage dispenser - Google Patents

Description

OCU 27, 1959 H. E. ALLsHousE Erm. 2,910,247

CARBONATED BEVERAGE DISPENSER Filed Junel s. 1955 x im lIIL

' INVENTORS. 5'7 Har/ow E A//shouse lill? 35 i /Q "-I any- CARBONATED BEVERAGE DISPENSER Harlow E. Allshouse, Chicago, and Lewis E. Mendonca, Mount Prospect, lll., assignorsfto The Bastian-Blessing Company, Chicago, lll., a corporation of Illinois'.

Application .lune 3, 1955, Serial No. '513,104`

16 Claims. (Cl. 239-407) This invention relates to thedispensingof carbonated water with or without syrup in the making of beverages, and particularly to an improved nozzle to discharge the carbonated water or beverage into a glass under controlled tion.

It has long been the quest of carbonation engineers to attain higher and higher percentages ofv carbonation in order to provide the ultimate in carbonated beverages. Although percentages. attained yesterday are exceeded today, andtodays. percentages may be exceeded tomorrow, the present invention provides a retained carbonation in the beverage which exceeds anything heretofore be- 1rieved possible. The percentage is so high that with some syrups such as root bear, the foaming is so great that the carbonation has to be knocked out of the water as it is dispensed, so thatthe drink is not too rich in syrup.

By way of a better understanding ofthe invention, in soda fountains where carbonated beverages are dispensed, the carbonator andcarbonated water are refrigerated to approximately 36.. The water is pumped into the carbonator and CO2 injected therein with or without substantial agitation depending upon the type of carbonator used.

The carbonated water is educted along a path subjected to refrigeration which preferably includes a water cooler' and is dispensed at a draft arm where the flow of the water is spread out-alongra widening walled path to slow its movement with the least amount possible of any agitation which would cause loss of carbonation during the brief time that the effective pressure on the water is being reduced to atmospheric pressure.

We have discovered that over-carbonation in the water is an undesirable waste of CO2 gas because it Yalso generateslbubbling and'agitation while the water liows along its pressure-reducing path. The excess CO2`that escapes from the water with reduction in pressure accelerates flow movement rather than permitting the flow of water to b'e slowed down over a widening path. `On the other hand,` a certain amount of ebullition occurs due tol increasing water-temperatures derived from the nozzle parts as the water leaves the valveand flows at decreasing pressure into a glass.

-One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a water ilow retarding path or throat area of substantially uniform cross section immediately following a path of increasing volume whereby the path ofv uniform sectional throat'area counteracts the effect of CO2' which escaped from thewater while it was passing through the widening path.

A further object of the invention is to provide af thin sheet metal stamping member as one frictional w-all of the path followed by thewater so that very little heat is present at any time to be absorbed bythe waterV during the. dispensing operation.

In thoseV drinkswherethe syrup causes av great dealof ebullition, users of the draft arm, in order to reduce foaming yet save dispensing time, have. resorted withlittle conditions with either high or comparatively low carbonasuccess to a variety of devices ormannerismstorreduce excess foaming when drawing adrink.

Consequently, having attained. an unusuallyshigh percentage of carbonation, affurther object of theinventionf. is to provide, with everything else remaining the same, a v

nozzle which is adjustable to remove carbonation by` increased agitation of the waterbefore the carbonated kwater is mixed with certain Syrups so that a full drink can be rawn without any waste of time.

Furthermore, when syrup has been. dispensedL simultaneously with the carbonatedwater, some diiculty'has been experienced with the nozzle element not beingclean between uses.

A further object of the inventionis to provide a metering syrup port which is washedclean by the carbonated waterV passing or ebulliting through thel lower part of the syrup passage so that any syrup remainingthereis either washedaway frombehindvtheoutlet openingsor diluted suthciently so as not to thicken or hardenenough to re strict the portion.

The invention is also, characterized. by the breakingup of the syrup dispensedinto fine streams directed laterally into,downowingrcarbonated water as it drops by gravity outof the mouth of the nozzle so that the syrup is dispersed for intimate interrningling and. mixing with the carbonated water with little. loss of carbonation.l

The invention also contemplates. a construction andarrangement of parts whichis easy to assemble, use,.disas semble, clean and reassemble by digital manipulation without disturbing or changing its working characteristics.

These being among theobjects of the invention, other and further objects and advantages will'become apparent from the drawings, the description relating thereto` and the appended claims.

In the drawings: Y

Fig. 1 is an elevation partially in section showing. the construction of a typical draft arm providedwith` anozzle embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section showing the internal arrangement of the nozzle. v

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken upon line 3 3 in Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a side view partially in section of the preferred embodiment adjusted to provide lowcarbonation, and

Fig. 5 is a comparison of carbonation performanceexpressed in curves.

In the preferred embodiment ofthe invention the.- carbonated water is conducted through aconically diverging passageway between already spaced walls, one. of which is heat conductivity. The passageway terminatesin a down? wardly extending cylindrical passageway which leadsV to an outwardly turned lip on the sheet metal member. This lip partially redirects the flow to the inwardly converging conical wall of a low heat conductive plastic nozzle member which carriesthe water over the laterally-opening discharge ports of a syrup conduit where the water. can wash the syrup ports to keep them clean.

The position of the sheet metal member can be-lowered to increase the cross-sectional area of the conical portion of the passageway to knock out carbonationwhen desired.

Reference is hereby made to the Mendonca No. 2,657,952, Steczynski No. 2,056,986 and McMahon No. 2,521,472 patents for ancillary details and arrangement of parts in a soda fountainwhich are of interest with respect to the present invention.

In the` drawings, a draft arm is illustrated having a curved goose-neck 11 having ank enlarged body portion 1.2 at its upperv end whichhouses the various valve elements. AV conduit (not shown) within the goose neck conducts carbonated water tov a carbonated water passage 18 in the head portion. A passageway 19 is ralso provided Patented Oct. 27,. 1.9591.l

in the head portion for syrup. When the handle is in its upright or off position, both passages are closed. When the handle 16 is moved either forwardly or backwardly from the ot position carbonated water is supplied through conduit 18 to the recess 22 in the bottom of the body 12. When the handle is moved forwardly syrup is supplied through passage 19 to the axial passage 21 in the bottom of the body. In only the forward position of the handle is the syrup passageway opened for flow of syrup therethrough. Thus a movement of the handle rearwardly dispenses only carbonated water whereas movement of the handle forwardly dispenses carbonated water and syrup, both the syrup and carbonated water being supplied under pressure by means not shown.

The nozzle 25 which handles the syrup beyond the valve comprises a stem 26 threaded at its upper end 27 and` having a passageway 26a therethrough to be received in sealed relationship with the passage 21 by the joint made between the bottom of the recess 22 and the upper shoulder of the radial flange 28 on the stem. Below the tlange, the stem is cylindrical and smooth for a short distance as at 30. The stem below the cylindrical surface is externally threaded as at 31 and internally threaded at ,the lower end at 32. Flats 33 upon the sides of the stem providlng wrenching surfaces and a distributor plug 34 is received in the lower end where it is located for vertical adjustment by means of an Allen wrench socket 35 at its lower end. The surface of the plug co-operating with the opening at the lower end of the stem is conical so that between the margins of the opening and the conical surface a circular ow area or port 36 may be varied at will to control the ow of syrup from the syrup tank at the nozzle without disturbing the syrup tanks and other connections.

The stern has an opening through the `center thereof and communication with the port 36 is had through radial openings 37 in the wall portion of the plug where it overlaps the stem.

Once the stem is threaded into place upon the gooseneck body 12 a collar 40 is slipped upwardly into place having a iiange seal 41 marginally on its upper surface engaging the body 12 in sealed relationship. The center opening 42 of the collar is breached to accommodate guide lands 43 engaging the walls of the stem in guided relation and grooves 44 for the passage of the carbonated water. Below the opening 42, the collar umbrellas outwardly horizontally around the center opening 24 and downwardly to provide a surface first upon a horizontal plane at 45, then along a frusto conical surface at 46 which terminates in a downwardly extending cylindrical Vwall 47 delined by a circumferential ange 48.

Below the collar is provided an umbrella guide S telescoping on the stem and nesting within the collar with a clearance of .003" between the upper face thereofr and the flow surface face of the collar to define an annular passage. Preferably this guide 50 is a sheet metal stamping of stainless steel dimpled upwardly at 51 at three places around the guide to provide the .003 clearance within in very close tolerances. The apron 52 of the guide, however, extends below the flange 48 and curves outwardly below the flange as at 53.

In this connection, it is of interest to note that the collector 54 which preferably is formed of plastic is threaded at its upper end for attachment at the bottom ofthe draft arm body 12 and its inner collecting surface 55 passes close to the lip of the outward curve 53 to receive the carbonated water therefrom in gravity flow relationship. It 1s preferred to make the collector 54 of plastic material for it has been found that it conducts less heat to the chilled carbonated water from the room and is less likely to cause breakage if struck by a glass. The inside wall S of the collector is preferably frusto-conical in shape, to define roughly an included apex angle of 25 so that the lower end passes close to the lower end of the stem 26 when the .carbonated water washes past the outlet 36.

The guide 50 is preferably held in place by a QOmPIG-S- sion spring 57 and locknut assembly 5S. The loclrnut is received upon the threaded portion 31 of the stem, and when tightened, it positively holds the guide rigidly in place. However, the compression spring is received in a cavity 60 to urge the guide into place whenever a looseness of the locknut places such burden upon the spring. Thus, whenever the locknut is loosened as knurled at 62 for that purpose, the guide 50 is free to drop down to the extent permitted by the spring and the looseness.

The effort of the spring is not heavy and its effect is relaxed completely upon a couple of back-off turns of the locknut.

The drawing is to scale and the outside diameter of the cylindrical portion 52 of the guide is 1%6". The remaining dimensions are in proportion.

=In operation, as already mentioned either carbonated Water or carbonated water and syrup can be dispensed selectively from the draft arm depending upon the position of the handle on either side of its middle upright position. Y

Whenever carbonated water is flowing, it iiows freely through the breached opening and grooves to the horizontal portion 45 where the flow area begins to expand. Thus a rapid reduction of pressure begins, followed by a less gradually increasing flow area over the conical portion 46 which is inclined to the vertical at approximately 57. The flow of the carbonated water is frictionally slowed down quite measurably and with 10() pounds applied pressure of CO2 in the carbonator of a non-agitating type, little if any surplus CO2 gas is released in the flow reducing passageway, there being enough clearance to accommodate some ebullition.

lIn order, however, to assure gravity flow of the carbonated water, the cylindrical portion 47a of the passageway applies further friction on the carbonated water so that it will ilow by gravity over the lower portion of the cylindrical portion of the guide, and then ow outwardly gently against the collector wall and downwardly to recollect at the bottom thereof where it passes into a glass held below the nozzle.

When syrup is being dispensed, adjustment of the plug 34 will restrict the port opening enough that syrup will be spread evenly around the plug with some ejective force to drive the syrup into the path of flowing water. Both are intimately mixed without any syrup sugar concenvtration in portions of the carbonated water that would cause localized extensive ebullition.

In those instances where syrups such as root beer cause great amounts of ebullition, the carbonation of the draft arms described is much too high and the locknut 58 can be backed down by hand so that the flow retarding characteristic is diminished and carbonation is knocked out of the water by suicient flow agitation above the lower lip of the spray guide that substantial amounts of CO2 gas will be liberated and downward flow of the carbonated water along the collector wall will be initially accelerated.

Once the water passes the lip of the guide in either instance it is frictionally retarded by the wall even though gravity has a tendency to accelerate its downward movement. However, the length of this wall is not critical within limits of good appearance since the carbonated water is slowed to gravity speed at the lip of the guide. The slowing of the water to mere gravity flow at the lip of the guides accomplishes the carbonation-saving characteristic of the draft arm nozzle. Moreover, the distance between the lip edge and the collector is not critical so long as the area for high carbonation Water is enough to permit free tlow of the carbonated water and not too much to cause the water leaving the lip to drop any substantial distance before it cornes in contact with the collector surface.

Where CO2 volumes of 4.1 to 4.3 have been attained in the Mendonca construction under predetermined conditions, volumes of 5 or more have been attained with yille prsent invention under the same conditions. By way esige-47" of comparison in actual working conditions with the same plastic nozzle member and some agitation occurring after the water left the nozzle, Fig. 5 shows the comparative curves of CO2 content, the difference in the slope of the curves being an index to the relative eciency ofthe respective nozzles.

The temperature is shown in the vertical axis and the relative CO2 along the horizontal axis. The curve A indicates the CO2 content with the locknut *tightly in place. Curve B shows the results with the lock-nut backed off two turns ofv a 24N.F. two-thread at 3'1. Curve C indicates the .results attained with the Mendonca nozzle with like` inputl of water subjected to 100 lbs. of CO2. The relative increased content with higher temperatures indicate the non-agitative content with mere gravity ow established at the lip of the guide. At 125 lbs. of CO2, Mendonca can reach 4.3 volumes, but the curve A also ishigher, being 5. which is above the 4.7 volume which g heretofore has been considered the maximum possible at 40 F.

Although the ilare of the lip 53 may be reduced somewhat, the cylindrical wall 47 and the lower extending apron ofthe guide are shown in their optimum relationship for quieting the iiow of the carbonated water for maximum carbonation.

The initial reduction of pressure being at the entrance of the horizontal portion 45, appreciably greater or lesser flow pressure inthe carbonated water is not critical since the opening is unyielding. Thus, for highest carbonation there-is ample liow slowing area present to handley CO2 pressures above thepressures indicated.

Consequently, havingy described the preferred embodiment of the inventionv and the relative relation of the parts it'will be'apparent to those skilled in the art how the ob- 1 jects are attainedv and'how various changes canv be made therein without departingfrom the spirit of the invention, the. scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A draft arm nozzle comprising a body having a central syrup passageway and a carbonated water passageway, a stem having a passageway in communication with said syrup passageway, an adjustable plug in the lower end of the stem for metering the flow of ysyrup from said stem, an element in said body having a lower wall defining `a downwardly facing cavity having a central horizontal section, an outwardly and downwardly frustoconical intermediate section and a depending outer section, a guide mating with said lower wall in nested spaced relationship to deiine an annular passage and terminating downwardly beyond said depending section in a downwardly and outwardly flaring lower edge and a collector member covering and spaced from said lower edge and stem.

2. A draft arm nozzle comprising a body having a central passageway for syrup `and another passageway for carbonated water, `a stern having a p-assageway in communication with Said syrup passageway and an 4adjustable plug in the lower end thereof for metering the.

flow of syrup from said stem, a collar received upon said stem to engage said body in sealed relationship and having a passage therethrough in communication with the passageway for carbonated water, saidV collar having a lower wall defining a central horizontal section, a downwardly and outwardly frusto-conical intermediate section and a cylindrical outer section, a guide received on said stem mating with said lower wall in nested spaced relationship to define a downwardly opening passage therebetween and terminating below/i7 said cylindrical wall in an outwardly flaring lip, and a collector covering said lip in close proximity therewith and said stem and supporting said collar against said body in sealed relationship.

3. A draft arm comprising a body having a central passageway for syrup and another passageway for carbonat'ed" water, av stem. having a passagewayV in communicationwith said' syrupj passageway, meansin the lowerY tion and a dependingv cylindrical outer section, a guide.

slidably received' on said stem. and mating ,with said lower wall in nested 'closely spacedrelationship therewithV to. dene an annular passage and' terminating below said cylindricalA wall, anda collector nozzle havingV a. tapering4 surface ih close proximity to said cylinderwall' and extendingin close proximity to the lower end' ofv saidv stem.

4. A draft arm nozzle comprising a b'ody having a. passageway for carbonated water therethrough, an element' in said body whose lower wall deii'nes a cavity having a central horizontal section, an outwardly and downwardly frusto-conical intermediate section and a cylindrical outer section; a guide member mating with said lower wall in nested. spaced relationship therewith to detine an annular passage andftermina'ting'. downwardly beyond said cylindrical wall inan' outwardly liaring lip; and a tapering collector member covering saidk lip in close priximity and extendingT downwardly therefrom.V

5. A draft arm nozzle comprising a body having a passageway fork carbonated` water therethrough;v a stem member secured to th'e body; acollar received on said stern whose lower Wall defines a cavity havinga central horizontal section, an `outwardly and downwardly frustoconical'intermediate section and' a. cylindrical outer section; a guide of low heat conductive material mating with said lower wall in nested closely spaced relationship therewith to deline an annular passage and terminating downwardly beyond saidicylindrical wall' in an'outwardly flaringrlip; adjustable means "received on` said5 stemy engaging-said guide-rigidly supported relationship; resilient means intermediate said adjustable means and guide, and a tapering collector member supporting said collar in sealed relationship with said body and covering said lip in close proximity and extending downwardly therefrom.-

6. A draft arm nozzle comprising a body having a recess in the bottom face thereof and a passageway for carbonated water therethroughterminating in said recess, a collar member received in said recess and having a bottom wall defining a cavity having an outwardly and downwardly frusto-conical section and a depending outer section, a guide member mating with said lower wall in nested relationship therewith to define an annular passage and terminating below said depending wall in a downwardly extending lip, means carried by one of said members releasably for supporting the two members in closely spaced relationship, and a tapering collector element covering said lip in close proximity and said guide member and extending downwardly therefrom.

7. The combination called for in claim 6 in which the guide member and collector element are made of a material having low heat conductivity.

8. The combination called for in claim 6 including an adjustable element for supporting said members rigidly t with respect to each other.

9. The combination called for in claim 6 in which the collector member engages the body to support the collar in place `for ready removal and cleaning and to locate.

the lip a predetermined distance within said tapered collector element.

10. A draft 4arm nozzle comprising a body having a passageway for carbonated water therethrough, a collar V7 means received on said stem for supporting said guide, a tapering collector means covering the guide and extending downwardly therefrom for supporting the collar in releasable relationship.

1l. A draft arm nozzle comprising a body having a central passageway for syrup and another passageway for carbonated water, a stem having a passageway in communication with said syrup passageway, an adjustable plug in the lower end of the stem for controlling the 'ow of syrup from said stem, an element in said body having a lower wall defining a cavity having a central horizontal section, an outwardly and downwardly truste-conical intermediate section and a cylindrical outer section, and a guide mating with said lower wall in nested spaced relationship and a collector member covering said stem.

l2. A draft arm nozzle comprising a body having a central passageway for syrup and another passageway for carbonated water, a stem having a passageway in communication with said syrup passageway, an element in said body having a lower wall defining a central horizontal section, an outwardly and downwardly frustoconical intermediate section and an inwardly cylindrical outer section, and a guide mating with said lower wall in nested spaced relationship.

13. A draft arm nozzle comprising a body having a central passageway for syrup and another passageway for carbonated water, a stem having 4a passageway in communication with said syrup passageway, an element in said body having a lower Wall deiining a central horizontal section, an outwardly and downwardly frusto-conical intermediate section and an inwardly cylindrical outer section, a guide mating with said lower wall in nested relationship and having an outwardly ilared lip below said cylindrical section, and a collector member covering said lip and stem.

14. A draf-t arm nozzle comprising a body having a passageway for carbonated water therethrough, a collar having a cavity terminating marginally in an inner cylindrical wall, a depending stem secured to said body, a guide received on said stem mating with said cavity in nested relationship therewith and terminating below said cylindrical wall, and a Itapering collector means covering the guide and extending downwardly therefrom for supporting the collar.

15. A draft arm nozzle comprising a body having a passageway for carbonated water therethrough, a collar having a cavity terminating marginally in an inner cylindrical wall, a depending stem secured to said body, a guide received on said stem mating with said cavity in nested relationship therewith and terminating below said cylindrical wall, releasable means received on said stem for supporting said guide, and a tapering collector means covering the guide and extending downwardly therefrom for supporting the collar in releasable relationship.

16. A draft arm nozzle comprising a vbody having a passageway for carbonated water therethrough, a collar having a cavity terminating marginally in an inner cylindrical wall, a depending stem secured to said body, a v

guide received on said stem mating with said cavity in nested relationship therewith and terminating below said cylindrical wall, spring means received on said stem for supporting `said guide, and a tapering collector means covering the guide and extending downwardly therefrom for supporting the collar Ain releasable relationship.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Sept. El,4 1952,

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