NZ206711A

NZ206711A - Beverage dispensing using compressed gas powered expanding bladder pump

Info

Publication number: NZ206711A
Application number: NZ206711A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: J R Mcmillin
Original assignee: Cornelius Co
Priority date: 1982-12-27
Filing date: 1983-12-22
Publication date: 1987-02-20
Also published as: ES528395A0; ATE32208T1; AU2287183A; KR840006956A; ZA839630B; CA1232243A; JPS59174495A; EP0115166B1; DE3375472D1; EP0115166A1; BR8307140A; ES8501713A1

Abstract

Beverage storing and dispensing apparatus and a method of dispensing a potable beverage in which there is a non-pressurised sanitary storage tank (11) with a fill opening (12) in the top, and a normally non-pressurised pump (25) that is inside of the tank and which is removable through the tank opening while propellant and dispensing lines (68, 67) are connected to the pump; the pump has a tubular body (26), an end cap (40), a collar nut (49), holding the end cap to the body, and an expandable elastomeric bladder (52), mounted upon the end cap; a gas control has an actuator (70) for selective application of compressed propellant gas to the normally non-pressurised pump; the pump has an upward facing receiver for connection to a non-pressurised remote beverage source or to a single usage beverage package. Also a pump for such an apparatus and a method for using such a pump in such an apparatus.

Description

<div class="application article clearfix" id="description"> 2 067 I | Priority Date(s): ... Complete Specification Filed: Q Class: $ Publication Date: 7-., P.O. Journal, No: . .../SM NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT, J 953 No.: Date: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Beverage Dispensing Apparatus [•#c22D£C19$3 * "X?We, THE CORNELIUS COMPANY, a U.S. company organised under the laws of the State of Minnesota, of One Cornelius Place, Highway 10 West, Anoka, Minnesota 55303, U.S.A. hereby declare the invention for which JC / we pray that a patent may be granted to hw/us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: - - 1 - (followed by Page la) iA BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention pertains to a fluid powerable beverage pump, to a beverage storing and pumping apparatus and to a beverage dispensing apparatus which is powerable by compressed gas. THE PRIOR ART There are examples of a beverage tank feeding an external pump located below the tank. Typically the tank is above the pump. The tank has an aperture in its bottom and the pump has an aperture in its top. The apertures are connected by some type of fluid coupling and a check valve is in the coupling to allow beverage to flow from the tank to the pump, but not from the pump to the tank. There is another aperture in the pump and a beverage delivery line is connected to the aperture. There is a check valve in the delivery connector and the delivery line runs to a dispensing nozzle. A propellant connector is in a third aperture in the pump and a propellant line is connected to the third aperture. Within the pump is a piston and seal, or some type of diaphragm. There are several problems. Firstly, to clean these devices one has to disassemble them. They are not self-draining. There are too many parts and the parts can become separated. There are too many seals that form unsanitary traps for mold growth or for contaminants to remain after cleaning. There are two structures to be located; firstly the tank and secondly the pump. Pumps are usually unattractive and are aesthetically unwanted. Worst of all is leakage. Sometimes these devices leak and sometimes it's almost impossible to fix the leaks. These devices leak around fittings from seal failure, bad parts, improper assembly, stress cracks and many other reasons. Pump failure is another cause of leakage. In a typical pump failure the beverage is blown all over. The pump must "AJP&S flflK then be removed and rebuilt. In Che period between pump failure and discovery of the failure, the beverage in the tank may run into and out of the broken pump. When the pusg> is energized, the inlet or outlet S(AV rt>U*>d I ue lines may also be blown off and the beverage squirted onto <iurrtmdipQ » structures. Regardless, these failures are an unsightly mess, they are absolutely unacceptable in a household, they cause considerable aggravation, they are expensive, they cause loss of flooring and they are unsanitary. The pumps have been excessively complicated and prone to failure from stress cracking, fitting breakage or leakage, and the use of metallic parts has given metallic off-taste to the beverage. Beverage dispensing apparatus using the previous known pumps has too frequently been subject to failure, leakage, contamination and has been left In an unsanitary condition and has proven unsatisfactory for widespread use. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide a beverage storing and pumping apparatus having a fluid powerable beverage pump inside of a non-pressurized sanitary beverage storage tank. It is an object of the present invention to provide an in^roved fluid powerable beverage pump having an expandable bladder Inside of the pump. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved beverage dispensing apparatus having a sanitary normally non-pressurized beverage pump fed by a non-pressurized tanlc and with a bladder and a ga3 control to selectively supply compressed gas for expelling beverage from the pump to a dispensing nozzle. These and other objects of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon examination of the detailed description given herein. Be it understood that the description and specific examples herein, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are given by way of illustration, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art. - 2 - SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the principles of the present Invention, a sanitary beverage storage tank has a fill opening, a caver on the fill opening, a pressurlzable fluid powerable beverage pump within the tank, and a fluid propellant line and a beverage dispensing line enter into the tank through a wall of the tank and both lines are connected to the 1 pi imp r A fluid powerable beverage pump has a tubular body, an end cap on the body, a seal between the end cap and the body, a coupling nut retaining the end cap to the body, and an expandable elastomeric bladder mounted on the end cap. A beverage dispensing apparatus has a normally non-pressurized beverage pump, a non-pressurized supply tank, an inlet valve between the pump and the tank, a flexible bladder in the pump and a gas control to selectively expand the bladder and expel beverage to a dispensing nozzle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional elevational view of a beverage apparatus having a tank and a beverage pump therein; FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional elevational end view taken through lines II-II of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a top view of the structure of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a downward looking sectional view taken through lines IV-IV of FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is an elevational cross-sectional view taken through Che pump shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the structure of FIG. 1 in a beverage dispenser; 4 FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the pump of the present invention; and FIG 8 is a top plan view of the structure of FIG. 7. AS SHfflffl ON TH2 DPATOfcS Beverage storing and dispensing apparatus according to the present invention is shcvn in FIG. 1 and is generally indicated by the numeral 10. The apparatus 10 includes a non-pressurized sanitary - 3 - beverage storage tank 11 and a normally non-pressurized sanitary beverage pump 25. The tank 11 has a fill opening 12 sized to receive an adult human hand and the pump 25, the opening 12 is closed by a filling cover 13 mounted upon the opening 12. The tank 11 has a top wall 14 having a first end 15 which the fill opening 12 and cover 13 are adjacent to, and a second end 16 having apertures 17, 18 through which a beverage dispensing line 60 and a fluid propellant line 64 respectively extend. A breather 24 gives fluid communication between ambient and the inside of the tank 11 and keeps the tank 11 non-pressurized and at atmospheric pressure. The breather 24 is in a lip 19 of the fill opening 12 and is under a rim of the filling cover 13. A pump nest 20 is in the bottom of the tank XI, and a bottom 21 of the nest 20 is the lowest level of the inside of the tank 11. The tank 11 has a pair of support pads 22 at a level above the nest bottom 21 for support of the tank 11 by a complemental dispensing machine structure (not shewn). The tank 11 has pump retainers 23 in the form of inwardly extending dimples, which frictionally retain the pump 25 on the tank bottom 21. The pump 25 has a tubular body 26 having a closed end 27, an open end 28, a beverage outlet 29, a beverage inlet 30 and a support 31 for elevating the inlet 30 above a flat surface upon which tue pump 25 rests and above a lowest level of the pump 25. The body open end 28 has a thickened round throat 32 which Has a male thread 33 and an internal seal pocket 34. The body 26 is of generally circular cross-section and the beverage inlet 30 includes a flatted section 35 adjacent the body closed end 27. The flatted section 35 is recessed within the circular cross-section of the body 26, and an elastomeric check valve 56 is sealingly engageable with the inside of the flatted inlet section 35. A handle 36 is on the body 26 for removal and insertion of the punqj 25. An end cap 40 closes the body open end 28 and has a bladder holder 41 and a propellant port 42 which extends through the holder 41 and a no3e 43 and a lateral conneccor 45. The end cap nose 43 has an outer end 44 beyond the lateral connector 45. An elastomeric seal 47 is carried by the end cap 40 and Is received in the seal pocket 34, and fluid tightly seals the end cap 40 to the body 26. K collar nut 49 secures tie end cap 40 to the body 26. The collar nut 49 is threaded onto the throat threads 33 and has an inward facing thrust flange 50 which has an diameter which is less than an inside dianeter of the seal 47. Ifee thrust flange 50 engages the end cap 40 and retains the end «-»p 40 to the body 26. Inside the pump 25 is an elastomeric bladder 52 *Airh ts secured by an 0-ring 54 to the bladder holder 41. The bladder 52 is shorter than the body 26 and has a length in the form of an elongate cylindrical tube 53. The bladder 52 divides the inside of the pump 25 Into a pmnping chamber 58 and a propellant ch?_jber 59. The beverage dispensing liae 60 is fluidly connected to the oatlft 29. The dispensing line 60 extends directly upward and through the top wall aperture 17 and then to an open disconnect fitting 61. The open disconnect fitting 61 is directly cormectible to a normally dosed combination disconnect and check valve 62 in a further dispensing Hn»» 63 which is connected to a remotely located dispensing nozzle 69. She fluid propellant line 64 is fluidly connected to the propellant port 42. The propellant line 64 extends through the top wall aperture 18 to an open disconnect 65 normally connected to a further propellant line 66. The further propellant line 66 is connected to a gas control 70 which la at 3-way valve having a vent 71 to atmosphere, a manual actuator 72 and a connection to a gas source 73 which Is selected from either coo-pressed air or carbon diojd.de. The gas control 70 normally connects the pimp propellant chamber 59 to atmosphere via the vent 71 and normally closes the gas source 73. Inside of Ihe tank 11 is a length 67 of Che beverage line 60 and a length 68 of .the propellant line 64. Each line length 67, 68 is longer than a distance between the fill opening 12 and the loci of tiie entrance of Che line3 60, 64 into the tank 11, Che loci being the apertures 17, 18, through which the lines 60, 64 enter the tank 11. Tiie punp 25 is removable from the inside of the tank 11 by removal through the fill opening 12 with the lines 60 , 64 both connected to the pump 25. The pump body 26, end cap 40 and collar nut 49 are all of a transparent food grade plaufele enabling visual inspection of the interior of the pump 25, the beverage in the pumping chamber 58, the propellant chamber 59 and the bladder 52 which Is opaque. The pump 25 at it3 largest cross-section is smaller than the fill opening 12, so the pump 25 be installed or removed from the tank. 11 by use of the handle 36. In operation of the dispensing apparatus 10, the gas source 73 is either compressed air or carbon dioxide gas and is set at a predetermined propellant pressure of about 25 PSIG. The gas control 70 normally closes the gas source 73 and vents the propellant chamber 59 to atmosphere which causes the pump 25 to be normally non-pressurized. The cover 13 is removed and the tank 11 has beverage or beverage concentrate as it may be, poured In. The cover 13 Is then replaced. The tank 11 is never pressurized and is vented to atmosphere through the breather 24 which is under and protected by the cover 13, and/or through the apertures 17, 18 If the apertures are larger than the lines 60, 64 and are not sealed. The aormal level of beverage in the tank 11 is substantially above the level of the pimp 25 and the beverage Inlet 30. The pump 25 requires priming for expulsion of air in the pumping chamber 58 and the dispensing lines 60, 63. The actuator 72 is repeatedly depressed and released until beverage is delivered to the nozzle 69. When the actuator 72 is depressed the gas control 70 closes the vent and fluidly connects the gas source 73 to the propellant chamber 59 via the propellant line3 64, 66 and the propellant port 42. The tube 53 section of the bladder 52 is expanded by the propellant and the air In the pumping chamber 58 is expelled, when the actuator 72 is released, the gas source 73 Is shut off and the propellant chamber 59 Is connected to the vent 71 and to atmosphere. The bladder 52 contracts as the used propellant gas is vented to atmosphere and as the bladder 52 collapses beverage fills the pumping chamber 58 through the inlet 30. A first depression of the actuator 72 will usually expel nest of the air from the punning chamber 58 and a second depression of the actuator 72 will expel the remaining air as well as the air in the dispensing lines 60,63. The apparatus 10 is then ready to dispense beverage. After priming the bladder 52 is collapsed and the pumping chamber 58 and lines 60, 63 are filled with beverage. Neither the pump 25 nor the tank 11 are pressurized. In a typical dispensing of a serving of beverage, the actuator 72 is depressed and the gas control 70 closes the vent 71 and fluidly connects the gas source 73 to the pumping chamber. The pressure of the gas is applied upon the bladder 52 and the tube 53 expands and expels 6e> beverage out of the pump 25 and to the nozzle ,59V The cylindrical tube 53 fully expands and then resiliently conforms to the inside contour of puwup efiawwib^r the UAlI 30 mill tin iwln-fc clin.1t Mfllve 56, after filling with propellant gas and after displacing beverage from the rest of the inside of the pump body 26. When the actuator J", is released, the gas source 73 is shut off and the propellant chamber 59 is connected to the vent 71. The propellant gas in the propellant chamber 5> is vented to atmosphere and the bladder 52 collapses and the pumping chamber 58 refills under gravity and without pressurizacion or suction. The check valve 62 in the further dispensing line 63 prevents backflow of beverage from the rr nozzle 69 to the pump chamber and the inlet check valve 56 allows free flow of beverage into the pump 25 from the tank 11 but prevents flow from the pump 25 back to the tank 11 during dispensing. During dispensing of beverage, if there is a failure, the immediate consequences are minimal. If the pump 25 leaks, the leakage goes back into the tank 11. If the bladder 52 leaks, tears or bursts, there is no leakage outside of the tank 11 and the propellant line can be disconnected from the further propellant line 66 and beverage will not escape from a defective bladder 52. The collar nut 49 stays moist and is easily removable from the pump body 26. There are absolutely no apertures in the tank 11 other than in the top wall 14. The beverage line 60 is straight and does not have any kinks or twists and will stay on the pump outlet 29 without clamps. The breather 24 is protected by the cover 13 so dust cannot enter the tank 11. ttxe pump 25 is nested and retained In the lowest and smallest part of the tank 11 and the pump inlet 30 cannot be plugged or come to rest against a surface of the tank 11. The inlet check valve 56 merely rests upon the flatted section by gravity and there are no springs or crevices in the inlet 30. Cleaning, sanitation and flavor change are functions that must be done and this apparatus 10 offers great advantages for these necessary functions. To clean or sanitize or change flavors, the tank 11 is disconnected by pulling the further propellant line 66 off the propellant disconnect 65 and disconnecting the beverage disconnect fittings 61, 62. The upper fitting 62 has a normally closed check valve that prevents backflow from the nozzle 69 and the lower disconnect fitting 61 is always open. The apparatus 10 is then removed and the cover 13 taken off. The tank 11 is then inverted and it completely self-drains. The tank 11 per se just drains out of the fill opening 12, and the pump 25 drains out of the open dispensing line 60 and disconnect fitting 61. The inlet check valve 56 opens by gravity when the tank 11 and pump 25 are inverted. The retainers 23 hold the pump 25 in the bottom of the tank 11 during inversion. The tank 11 can then be turned upright and filled with rinse water. The pump 25 fills as the water level rises as. the inlet valve 56 opens and air escapes out the open dispensing line 60. After rinsing, a sanitation solution can be likewise filled in the tank 11 and pump 25 and then sloshed around and likewise drained and rinsed. Normally, the tank 11 and pump 25 should be drained and rinsed once each year. To change beverages, water is left in the tank 11 and pump 25 and the lines 60, 64 are reconnected to the further lines 63, 66 and the pump 25 is pressurized and water is pumped into the further dispensing line 63 until the existing beverage is emptied, New beverage may then be placed in the tank 11. Examination of the pump 25 is very easy. A person reaches through the fill opening and grasps the pump handle 36 and pulls the pump 25 past the frictional retainers 23 and up and out of the tank 11 with the lines 60, 64 connected. The pump 25 may be pressurized and cycled while out of the tank 11 and if the bladder 52 is defective it —-^1., &MO \ rVtNCN"86 feUirSTO?' :^*-T M °:&s. AJ£&S tm-il M AJP&S £(•(( -fb /ML parK can be seen through the transparent pump pggtj 26, 40, 49. Leakage can al3o be easily seen. If repair is needed, the pump body 26 «nd its handle 36 are grasped and the collar nut 49 is turned off. The aid cap 40 and bladder 52 are then polled from the body 26. The bladder 52 is then easily replaced by rolling the 0-ring 54 off the old bladder 52 and then on to the new bladder >3. The end cap 40 and new bladder £3 are thee refitted to the body 26 and the collar nut 49 retightened. All of this is done with the lines 60, 64 connected to the pump 25. The pasp 25 is ti>en icamially pushed through the fill opening 12 and back into the 11 and past the retainers 23 into the nest 20. The end rm aase 43 protects the lateral propellant connector 45 and the propellant line &4 is spaced Ilia contact with either of the collar nut OA plM+VM 219 'or am end of the tank 11. The pump plantts parts 26, 40, 49 are very resistant to stress cracking and are virtually failure-proof, as a consequence of flip thickened throat 32, the end cap nose 43 and the milzt oat tirost flange 50. The pump 25-7 of FIGS. 7 and 8 has a slightly different body and embodies the identical generic closed end 27, open end 28, beverage outlet 29, throat 32, threads 33, seal pocket 34, seal 47, end cap 40, «-<VMaT not 49, bladder 52, 0-ring 54 and inlet check valve 56. The bev- Jo .raw 5Sf»+ includes an upward facing cylindrical connector receiver 75 for receiving a beverage probe-type connector 76 which can be on a croe-way package of beverage or on a pipe leading from a remote source. 30 The Inlet 30"?*has a bottom 77 which supports the check valve 55 and cm annular wiping seal 78 which seallngly engages the connector 76 during Insertion, reaoval and resting in place. Within the receiver 75 is a piercing element 79 for opening a tamper-proof seal on the connector 76. The cheeking fill valve 56 Is within the piercing element 79 and below the level of the piercing element 79. The bottom 77 Is a flatted section in the body 26-7 from which the check valve 56 hangs In a normally open position, and against which the check valve 56 seats for closing the inlet So ■30—An opaqoe spillage tray 80 Is above the pump 25-7 and Is held in lei compression against the body 26-7 by a fastener^&T on the receiver 75. the fwop 25-7 is supported by the tray 80, and the tray Is compressed - S - 2 between the body 26-7 and the fastener Hie tray 80 has a recess 82 about the collar nut 49 which enables removal of the collar nut 49, end cap 40 find bladder 52 from the body 26-7 by manipulation of the nut 49 while the body 26-7 remains secured to the tray 80. The body 26-7 and end cap 40 remain transparent, enabling easy inspection of the pump 26-7 and the bladder 52. Several pumps 25-7 are secured side by side to the tray 80 and the tray 80 is supported by a dispensing machine frame (not shown). The tray 80 and pumps 25-7 may be removed together and washed, inspected and replaced as a unit. The tray 80 collects all spillage. Improved reliability of the bladder 52 has been obtained with an Improved mounting. The end cap 40 has the bladder holder 41 which in turn includes a constant diameter neck 83 extending inward from an end cap plate 84. At the inner end of the neck 83 and spaced from the end plate 84 Is a head 85 of larger diameter than the neck 83. The bladder 52 has a thickened collar 86 butted against the end cap plate 84 and the bladder tube 53 is of constant diameter and is stretched over the holder head 85 and on to the neck 83. The elastomeric ring 54 Is In between the holder head 85 and the collar 86. The ring 54 has a major diameter which is greater than the diameter of the holder head 85 and the collar 86 has an outer diameter greater than the head 85 outer diameter. The head 85 diameter is at least equal to the mean diameter of the ring 54 and the outer diameter of the collar 86 i3 generally equal to or greater than the major diameter of the ring 54. The bladder 52 Is now easily replaced without need for tools. The bladder 52 la cecurely mounted and doe3 not come off jrTthe holder 41. The pump 25 will not explode because the bladder 52 will merely blow out and fracture at the beverage outlet 30 If over pressurized due to regulator failure. The advantages of the apparatus 10 are many. There are no holes In the bottom 21 or sides o£ the tank 11. There are no metallic parts in contact with beverage and beverage flavor Is excellent and devoid of any and all traces of metallic off-taste. The exterior finish of the tank 11 Is no longer critical as there Is no longer a need to seal against the outer surfaces of the tank 11. It is easy to disconnect the tank 11 and pump 25. It la easy to clean and flush the tank 11 and - 10 - change beverages, and these functions can easily be done by untrained, or unskilled people In their homes. If the bladder 52 ruptures, there is no possibility of beverage leakage. The pump 25 is easily primed and there's no loss of beverage during priming. The tank 11 and pump 25 are very easy to sanitize. When the pump 25 and tank 11 are disconnected, the nozzle 69 does not drain either forward or backward. The pump 25 and tank 11 are very resistant to mold growth. The tank 11 and pump 25 axe extremely clean and sanitary and they do not make or contribute to a mess from beverage spillage or leakage, and all parts of the tank 11 and pump 25 are easily run through a dishwasher. Most Importantly, the apparatus is usable in a domestic household because it is simple, it is sanitary and not messy, It is foolproof and extremely reliable, it is leakproof, it's easily cleaned, it cannot explode, and It's easily diagnosed and repaired if not working as intended. Although other advantages may be found and realized and various and minor modifications may be suggested by those versed In the art, be it understood that 1 wish to embody within the scope of the patent warrented hereon, all such improvements as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art. - 11 - </div>

Claims

<div class="application article clearfix printTableText" id="claims"> ij WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. Beverage dispensing apparatus for use in dispensing a potable beverage concentrate or beverage and powerable by compressed gas, including a beverage supply tank and a beverage pump characterised in that the beverage pump is a normally non-pressurised beverage pump having a beverage pumping chamber, a pump inlet to said beverage pumping chamber, a beverage outlet from said beverage pumping chamber, and a propellant chamber for receiving propellant gas; there being a non-pressurised beverage supply tank having a breather to atmosphere and a normal liquid level which is substantially above the pump beverage chamber, said pump inlet being in fluid communication with the tank so that beverage can flow from the reservoir into the beverage pumping chamber under the influence of gravity and without pressurisation or suction; there being an inlet valve in the pump inlet to prevent flow of beverage from the beverage pumping chamber to the tank; there being a flexible bladder in the pump, said bladder forming one wall of the pumping chamber and dividing the beverage pumping chamber from the propellant chamber, said bladder being expandable under compressed gas propellant pressure for expelling beverage from the beverage pumping chamber to a dispensing nozzle; and gas control means to selectively and intermittently supply compressed gas to the pump propellant chamber for expanding the bladder to thereby expel beverage to said dispensing nozzle. NEW ZEALAND 2 1 NOV J986 *3

2. The apparatus of Claim 1 further character!sed in that the compressed gas is selected from carbon dioxide and compressed air.

3. The apparatus of Claim 1 or Claim 2 further characterised in that the pump and the inlet valve are located inside said beverage supply tank.

4. The apparatus of any one of Claims 1 to 3 further characterised in that the propellant gas is exhausted to air after expanding the bladder, permitting the bladder to contract to refill the beverage pumping chamber.

5. The apparatus of any one of Claims 1 to 4 further characterised in that the pump is on the bottom of the beverage supply tank and lines extend into the tank from adjacent the top of the tank, there being a length of each line inside the tank, each length of line being longer than a distance between the fill opening and the entrance into the tank of the lines, said pump being removable from the tank through the fill opening with both lines intact and connected to the pump, said pump having a i diaphragm in the form of said bladder and means for separating I the bladder from a body of the pump while leaving the lines con-: nected, for cleaning of the pump and replacement of the bladder without disconnection of lines. j

6. Beverage dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 when constructed arranged and operable substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings. Yik-. By Hts/Their authorised Agent A. J. PARK & SON Per; </div>