CA1221667A - In-home drink dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract of the Disclosure A beverage dispenser particularly adapted for use in the home is disclosed which dispenser includes a source of pressurizing fluid, a diluent tank, dispensing valves and containers of concentrate which are inter-changeably insertable in the valves, the flow-of pressur-izing fluid and diluent conducted through a manifold which is integral with the dispensing valves and the diluent tank and source of pressurizing fluid both being provided with quick disconnect couplings to permit ease of removal and replacement, the elements of the dispenser disposed on a base with the diluent tank and source of pressurizing fluid surrounded by removable covers to provide an attractive, compact and low cost dispensing unit.

Description

12Z~667 IN-HOME DRINK DISPENSER

Background of the Invention This invention relates to carbonated beverages in general and more particularly to a dispensing device for making carbonated beverages in the home.
Consumers throughout the world consume large quantities of carbonated beverages. Typically, carbonated beverages which are consumed in the home are supplied to the consumer in either cans or bottles. Typically, cans are supplied in 12 ounce sizes and bottles in sizes up to two liters. A carbonated beverage is made up of carbonated water to which there is mixed a juice or syrup. A good tasting beverage requires good water, the proper level of carbonation and the proper proportions between the syrup and carbonated water. Thus, in the commercial production of bottles or cans of carbonated beverages the equipment used includes a carbonator for carbonating the water, a concentrate, i.e., a juice or syrup, dispenser for dispensing the concentrate in the proper quantities and mixing it with the carbonated water, and a filling device for filling the mixed beverage into the bottles. Also included is a chiller unit for chilling the water to be carbonated. Carbonation is carried out by bringing carbon dioxide and water into contact - -~' ~12Z~6fi'7 wlth each other ln such a manner that the carbon dloxldedissolves lnto the water. Iyplcally the water ls over carbonated slnce ln the step of dispensing into the bottles or cans, a certain amount ls lost. Systems can be operated 5 ln which the water and syrup are mixed prlor to or after carbonatlon.
In addltlon to bottled and canned carbonated beverages, carbonated beverages are also dlspensed ln restaurants, and at soda rountalns and the like. The de-vlces used ror such dlspenslng are known as post mix dlspensers and include She same baslc elements as one ~lnds ln a carbonatlon plant. In other words, they lnclude means ror chllllng the water, carbonatlng equlpment ror lntroduclng carbon dloxlde lnto the water, a Julce or ~yrup dlspenser l~ .for dlspenslng metered amounts Or concentrate lnto the water - and a tap ror dlspenslng the mixture Or concentrate and water lnto a glass or cup. Typlcally, mlxlng of the con-centrate and water ls carrled out at the tap.
Until recently, there has been very little at-tentlon glven to ln-home carbonated beverage dlspensers.
Typlcal ln-home beverage dlspensers known in the prior art were Or the type ln whlch the concentrate and carbonated water were separately dlspensed. Thus, someone maklng a drlnk would have to ~udge how much 6yrup to dlspense lnto a given contalner, dlspense that syrup and then add carbonated ~ater. Obvlou~ly, a con~i~tent beverage ~a~ not obtained.
Po~slbly, because o~ dlr~lcult~e~ ln thls type o~ devlce, Z~667 ln-home dispensers ror c rbonated beverages never became popular. H~wever, the need ror such di~pensers should be evldent. If, carbonated beverages are purchased ln cans, ~or example, when B can ls opened, lts contents should be used as oon as possible, slnce any beverage le~t over wlll lose lts carbonatlon. Large recloseable contalners to some extent overcome thls problem. ~owever, even though these contalners are recloseable~ arter a perlod Or time, thelr contents wlll also lose ~ome Or their carbonatlon. Thus, the abll$ty to ln efrect make car~onated beverages when and in the quantltles needed ln the home would be o~ great advantage. However, ror an ln-home dlspenser to be prac-tlcal, and econom~cally reasible, lt must be relatlvely lnexpenslve and easy to operate.
In addltlon to carbonated beverages, large amounts o~ ~ulces and other rrult drlnks and large amounts Or hot beverages are also consumed. In many lnstances, such bev-erages are also made by mlxlng a concentrate wlth a dlluent, ~ust as a syrup or other concentrate ls mlxed wlth a dlluent, e.g., carbonated water to make carbonated beverages. The need ror such a dlspenser, where ln many lnstances near sterlle condltions must be maintalned, should also be evident.
Wlth these needs ln mlnd, lt ls the obJect of the present lnventlon to provlde an economlcal, e~lclent ~lspenslng unlt ror beverages whlch are made by mi~ing a dilucnt wlth a concentrate ln partlcular rOr carbonated - ... , .. .~ , ,. .. ... ,, ,, , ,,~

~221667 beverages.
~ urtherm~re, such a dlspenser should be capable Or easlly dlspenslng any of a plurallty cf dlrrerent car-bonated beverages ~uch as cola, diet cola, qulnlne water, orange, rootbeer, beers, ~parkllng wines~ etc. In additlon, such a dispenser should also be adaptable to dl~penslng stlll beverages such as rrult drinks, Julces and wlnesj and hot ln add~tlon to cold beverages. In addltlon, such a unlt should be capable Or use ln the home.
Summary Or the Inventlon The present lnventlon provldes such a dtspenser, partlcularly userul as an ln-home dlspenser. The dlspenser Or the present invention ls particularly compact, made o~
low cost materlals, and dèslgned ln a manner such as to 1~ mlnimize the expense, malntenance and the pressures requlred wlthln the system. The dlspenser Or the present lnventlon is adapted to be either e selr-standlng unlt whlch must be perlodlcally rerllled with water, or to be a plumbed in unit to whlch water ls ~upplled rrom the water malns. In ad-d~tion, the dlspenser Or the present lnventlon can optlonallyinclude a chilling unit, or alternatively, may be chilled using lce or the type Or coolant known as "Blue Ice" commonly used ln cooler chests. Because Or the flexlbiltty Or the de~ign Or the dlspenser Or the present lnvention a range Or embodiments sulting the particular needs and the pocketbooks Or varlous consumers ~ thus pos~lble.
The dispenser Or the present ~nvention contalns . .

~:221667 all Or the elements necessary ln a carbonated drlnk dis-penser packaged ln a partlcularly compact unit whlch permlts ease Or dispenslng and ease Or lnterchange Or dlrferent con-centrates to perm1t dispenslng as many different types Or drinks deslred. The illustrated embodlment has the capa-blllty o~ containlng two separate concentrate c~ntalners at one tlme. However, as will be e~ident belowj the exchange Or contalners ls partlcularly slmple and stralght rorward, thus permlttlng the dlspenslng o~ many dl~rerent types o~
drinks wlthout a great deal Or er~ort. Thls ls accompllshed prlmarlly through the use Or a unlque container deslgn which ls the subJect Or application Serlal No.314J488 rlled on October 9, 1981. Baslcally, the contalner ls constructed wlth bullt ln valvlng means for dlspenslng the syrup. The contalner cooperates wlth a valve, a rotary valve ln the dlsclosed embodlment, whlch acts to carry out the runctlons Or ventlng the concentrate contalner, supplylng a pres-surizlng gas, e.g., carbon dloxlde under pressure, to the concentrate contalner ror dlspenslng, and Or controlllng the valve built lnto the contalner ror the dlspenslng Or con-centrate. ~he deslgn Or the contalner and valve ls such that mixlng occurs only outslde the dlspenser, whlch mlx~ng 18 Or an lntlmate nature produclng an excellent drlnk.
Furthermore, through thls deslgn dllute concentrate exlsts only ln the drlnklng vessel thereby preventlng the rormatlon Or mold on the unlt. Both ~he contalner and the rotary ~alve assembly are pre~erably made Or pla~tlc~ thereby . .

., ' ' -.

lZ2~67 ~acllltating molding Or the varlous parts.
As noted above, the dispenser of the present ln-ventlon can be free-standlng or connected to water llnes.
It ls thought that a free-standing unlt ls more attractlve to consumers at thls time and ror convenience, the car-bonator shoul~ be capable Or belng removed. A number of alternate carbonators are possible ror use wlth the present tnventlon. However, in a rree-standlng unlt which must be periodlcally refilled wlth water, the slmplest type Or carbonhtor, a sealed vessel to whlch pressurized carbon dloxlde ls ~upplled through a difruser wlthln a body of water contalned ln lt>can be used. Thus, the system ln-cludes a pressure vessel ror the water and lncludes means ror admltting carbon dloxlde under pressure to the dirruser rrom whlch lt bubbles through the water, a~y carbon dloxlde not absorbed remalnlng ln a head space above tbe water.
Slnce thls container ls normally pressurlzed, it ls necessary that sarety reatures be provided to prevent danger to the user at the time Or rerilllng the water contalner. Furthermore, it ls prererred that the water container be removeable ror such purposes. ln accordance wlth the present lnventlon the carbonator contalns a number Or ~eatures to facllltate lts removal and rerllllng ln a sare manner. Thl~ lncludes a design Or cover ror the carbonator ~hlch 18 ea~y to use and prevents removal o~ the co~er untll pressure wlthin the carbonator 18 re1eaBCd.
ThlB 18 accompll~hed by latchlng a reller ~al~e ln place as .

~ .

, ' ~zz~fi7 the cover is screwed on. The latch Or the relier valve constitutes a ~top preven~lng turnlng o~ the cover untll pressure ls released. Furthermore~ a unl~ue sealing ar-rangement Or the cover ls provlded ln whlch seallng occurs between the clrcumferential portlons Or the contalner and the cap 50 that lt ls not necessary that the cap be turned all the way ln to lnsure pressure tightness.
Slnce normally, durlng operatlon, *he carbonator ls connected to a supply Or carbon dloxlde, means must also be provlded to permlt such connectlon to be qulckly made and disconnected. Thus, the dispenser of the present lnventlon also lncludes a qulck release connectlon ~or the carbonator whlch contalns approprlate valvlng means to shut Orr the carbon dloxlde supply as the carbonator ls removed ~rom the 1~ dlspenser, and, at the same tlme~ the water supply from the carbonator ls disconnected. Slnce lt ls necessary that when the carbonator 18 ln place it be held ln contact wlth the ~ulck release connection supplylng the carbon dioxide, a speclal deslgn Or the handle lncludlng a pln ~or retalning the carbonator ln place is provlded. The handle on the carbonator ls a roldlng handle which when folded into place inserts a pln lnto a base member on whlch the carbonator sits, holdlng the carbonator ln place agalnst the connectlng block contalnlng carbon dloxlde and water supply ports.
When the handle is extended to remove the carbonator the p~n 1s removed rrom the base member permittlng the carbonator to be pullcd awsy. In accordance wlth an ~lternate embodiment . _ ... . -- " .. . . . . . . .

12Z~L667 o~ the present lnvention the carbonator ls vertlcally mounted on the qulck release connection thereby lnsuring proper contact by means Or lts we~ght.
As noted ab~ve, carb~n dioxlde ls absorbed ln water ~etter when the water ls chllled. Iwo posslbllltles ror chllllng Or the water are provided. In a~cordance wlth one embodlment, thermoelectrlc chllllng devlces are provlded wlth the carbonator restlng on an assembly made Or ~uch. As an alternatlve, the carbonator rests on a coollng contalner whlch may contaln a coolant commonly known as "Blue Icen.
The contalner may be placed ln the rreezer, rrozen and then lnse~ted under the carbonator. Addltlonal coollng may be obtalned by elther placlng the carbonator, wlth water thereln ln a rerrlgerator overnlght, and/or the placlng Or lce wlthln the carbonator.
The system also lncludes a carbon dloxlde bottle whlch ls provlded wlth a regulator. Wlthln the system, two separate pressures are requlred, a hlgher pressure ror carbonatlng the water and ~or drlvlng the carbonated water to the tap, and a lower pressure ~or pressurlzlng the con-centrate contalner. Thus, two stages o~ regulatlon are regulred. Furthermore, the gas at the varlous pressure and the carbonated water must be trans~erred throughout the ~ystem. Typlcally, ln exlstlng dlspensers, such 18 ac-compllshed by tubes and ho~es. However, ln sccordance wlththe present lnventlon a unlque manlrold dc~lgn 18 provldcd whlch permlts carrylng out esscntlally all or thc dlstr~butlon lZZ16ti~7 Or materials using a sin~le manifold block. Only a single tube connection between the manirold block and the carbon dloxide cyllnder is requiredc Carbon dloxlde rrom the cyllnder whlch ls regulated down to a pressure of 40 psi ls supplled to the manirold whlch distributes lt to the qulck dlsconnect coupllng to the carbonator. The qulck dlsconnect coupllng ls a unit built into the carbonator whlch plugs lnto the manlrold. Also, wlthin the manlfold ls a regulator whlch reduces the pressure Or 40 psl to 5 psl ror use ln pressurlzlng the concentrate contalner. The manlfold, through the qulck dlsconnect coupll~g, also conducts the carbonated water rrom the carb~nator to the dlspenslng tap.
Although the rotary valve used ror dispenslng can be made as a separate unlt to plug lnto the manlrold, ob-talnlng thererrom the carbonated water whlch it 1~ adaptedto dlspense, and the low pressure carbon dloxlde whlch lt ls adapted to supply to the concentrate contalner, ln accordance with the prererred embodlment, the manlfold and rotary valve are made lnto a slngle compact unlt, rurther slmpllrylng the constructlon o~ the dlspenser. Because the length Or the runs are short wlthln the manlrold, pressure drops are small and as the concentrate is not requlred to ~low wlthin tubes a low pressure o~ 5 psl is all that 16 requlred ~or pressurlzlng the concentrate contalner. In prlor art deYlces, pressures o~ 40 p81 have been typlcally used ror thls purpo~c.
The total unlt 18 dlsposcd on a base and 18 , lZZ~6fi~
enclosed by a plastic cover deslgned to allow easy heat evacu~tlon. It is partlcularly compact, attractive, ~ani-tary and lnexpens~ve.
Although the dispenser Or the present inventlon ls dlsclosed prlmarlly as a unlt ror dlspenslng carbonated beverages and also as an ln-home dl~penslng unlt~ lt ls not llmlted to ~uch functions. Obviously, as wlll be~ome evident, the dispenser, wlth appropriate modl~lcatlon, can also be u~ed ln restaurants, ~oda ~ountalns and the llke. Furthermore, ln addition to dlspenslng carbonated beverages ln whlch carbonated water ls mlxed wlth a concentrate ~uch as a rlavorlng ~yrup, qu$nlne concentrate or the llke, the ap-paratus Or the present inventlon may also be used ror dls-penslng ~tlll beverages and ror dlspensing hot beverages.
In other word~, lt 18 generally adaptable to dlspenslng any beverage ln whlch a concentrate 18 mlxed wlth a dlluent.
The dlluent need not ~e stlll water or carbonated water although ln most cases lt wlll. As alluded to above, by disposlng the meterlng valve ror the concentrate wlthln the package and dlsposlng the package above the dlspenslng valve, the concentrate need not touch any part Or the dlspensing apparatus. What thls means i8 that dllute concentrate whlch, partlcularly when it is somethlng llke a nutrlent contalning ~yrup, can encourage ln the growth o~
mold, never exlsts wlthln the machlne. Thls malntain~
~anitary condltlon~. Furthermore, the contalner 1~ par-tlcularly adapte~ to ~llllng ~n a near ~terlle condltlon ~2Zl~i67 whlch may be Or partlcular lmportance with respect to ~ome types Or hot and still drink~. In operation, when pres-surlzed by a pressurlzing gas, whlch could be an lnert gas such as n~trogen, where carbonation ls not desired, the gas may be used t~ malntaln near sterlle condltlons and to prevent oxldatlon and maintain ~lavor lntegrlty in the apparatus over perlods Or t$mé. In ~uch a case, this pressurlzed gas could, Or course, also pressurl~e the dlluent supply. In other words, the various reatures o~ the present lnventlon whlch glve lt lts ~lmpllclty and com-pactness will be o~ advantage ln dlspenslng other types of beverages, l.e., still cold and hot beverages~ ln addltlon to cold carbonated beverages. For exEmple, the qulck dls-connect connectlon Or the water supply, the manl~old design, the valve and contalner deslgn each wlll perform the same runctlons and glve the same advantages.
Brler Descrlptlon Or the Drawln~s Flg. 1 i8 a block dlagram o~ the dlspenslng ~ystem o~ the present lnventlon.
20Flg. 2a ls a rront perspectlve vlew Or a dispenser accordlng to the present lnventlon.
Flg. 2b ls a rear per~pectlve view o~ the dls-penser Or Flg. 2a.
Fig. 3 ls a plan ~lew Or the dlspenser according to Flgs. 2a and 2b.
Flg. 4 18 a plan Ylew Or the ~al~e O~ Flg. 15, partlally cut away ~howlng tbe valve lntegral ~ith a manl~old.

~Z;~i~667 Fig. 4a is a drawing illustrating an alternate form of valving at the connection between the manifold and carbonator.
Fig. 4b is a side elevation view of a valve core used in the water valves of Fig. 4a.
Fig. 4c is a bottom view of the valve core of Fig. 4b.
Fig. 4d is a cross-sectional view of another alternative form of valving at the connection between the manifold and the carburator.
Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation view of the pressure reducing valve of Fig. 4 taken along line 5-5.
Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a practical embodiment of a package or container and a rotary valve according to the present invention.
Figs. 6a, 6b and 6c are diagrammatic presentations illustrating the three possible positions of the valve of Fig. 6.
Fig. 7 is a section along the lines 7-7 of Fig. 4.
Fig. 8 is a section along the lines 8-8 of Fig. 4.
Fig. 8 appears on a sheet with Fig. 5.
Fig. 9 is a section along the lines 9-9 of Fig. 4 illustrating the diluent flow channels. Fig. 9 appears on a sheet with Fig. 5.
Fig. lO is a section along the lines 10-10 of Fig. 4 showing the valve of Figs. 4 and 6 in the dispensing condition.
Fig. 11 is a section along the lines ll-ll of Fig. 4 illustrating the camming action within the container. Fig. ll appears on a sheet with Fig. 7.

, ~

~ 2~67 Fig. lla is an unfolded view of the camming slot of Fig. 11. Fig. lla apepars on a sheet with Fig. 7.
Fig. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the dispenser showing the carbonator section.
Fig. 14 is a sectional elevation view of the carbonator of Fig. 12.
Fig. 14 is a sectional elevation view of a thermo-electric cooling arrangement for the carbonator.
Fig. 15 is a schematic diagram of the cooling system of Fig. 14.
Fig. 16 is a sectional elevation view of the carbonator lid of Fig. 12. Fig. 16 appears on a sheet with Fig. 12.
Figs. 17a-d are views of an alternate embodiment of a closure for the carbonator lid.
Fig. 18 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the valve adapted as a sink dispenser. Fig. 18 appears on a sheet with Figs. 6a-6c.
Fig. 19 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of rotary valve for use in the present invention.
Fig. 20 is a cross-sectional view through a rotary valve according to Fig. 19 and through an improved form of container valve according to the present invention.
Fig. 21 is a bottom plan view of the arrangement of Fig. 20.
Fig. 22 is an exploded elevation view, partially in cross-section, of a form of diffusor.
Fig. 23 is a plan view of the diffusor of Fig. 22.

.
:' . . ' ' . ~ ' ' .
. , , . '.

13a Fig. 24 is a plan view, partially in cross-section, of a pneumatic actuator for operating a rotary valve according to the present invention, showing the valve in the open position.
Fig. 25 is a section along line 25-25 of Fig. 24.
Fig. 26 is a cross-sectional plan view of the actuator of Fig. 24 showing the valve in the closed position. Fig. 26 is on a sheet with Figs. 22 and 23.

~"
.

. ~ .

.
.

' ~2~;fi7 Detalled Descr~ptlon Or the Inventlon The present lnvention wlll be described ln detail ln connectlon with an l~-home dlspenslng unlt particularly adapted for carbonated be~erages. However~ ~he various aspects Or the present lnventlon are al~o useful ln other envlronments, ~uch as ln restaurants, ~da fountalns, etc.
Furthermore, ln additlon to belng use~ul ~or prepar~ng carbonated drlnks, the dlspenser Or the present lnventlon can also be used ~or making 8tlll drlnks, ~or example, for mlxing a rrult Julce concentrate with water to make a Julce, and alsc rOr mak~ng hot drlnks by mlxlng hot water with a suitable concentrate.
Thus, Fig. 1 15 a generallzed block dlagram o~ a system accordlng to the present lnvention. The system lncludes a water ~ource 11. In more general terms, thls is a source o~ dlluent whlch 18 later mlxed wlth a concentrate.
Although lt wlll, ln most csses, be water, other dlluents mlght be used. Shown ln connectlon wlth the water source 1 an lnlet 13. The lnlet 13 may be an lnlet whlch is plumbed lnto the plumblng Or the locatlon where the dlspenser 1~
used or may slmply be an openlng ln the water tank whlch __ __ __ .. .

~ .. ~ . . ... . .

`,7 permlts refilllng. The water rrom the water source is shown passlng through a heat exchanger 15. Sh~wn assoclated wlth the heat exchanger 15 i~ a cooling unlt 17 and a heatlng unit 18. Co311ng can be supplled to the heat exchanger 15 by openlng a valve l9 and heatlng by openlng a valve 21.
In many lnstances, the heatlng or coollng wlll be assoclated dlrectly wlth the water source or water tanX ll. In general terms, the heat exchanger 15 and assoclated coollng 17 and 18 slmply comprlse means ror ad~ustlng the temperature Or the dlluent.
~t the outlet Or the heat exchanger 15 ls a carbonator 23. Carbonator 23 is supplied wlth carbon dloxlde rrom a tank 25 through a reducing valve 26, a llne 27, and a manlrold 29. When in use carbonated water ls 6upplled over llne 33 to the manl~old 29. The manlfold 29 ~upplles thls water or other dlluent to dlspenslng valve 35 ln accordance wlth the present lnventlon. Stlll water 18 ~upplled over a line 34 to a mlxlng valve 31 at the manlrold.
Mlxlng valve 31 has a second lnlet supplied with carPonated water rrom llne 33 and permlts supplylng to a dlspenslng valve 36 any deslred proportlon or mlxture o~ stlll and/or carbonated watèr. Al~o located at the dlspenslng valves 35 and 36 are container~ 37 rilled wlth a concentrate whlch 1~
to be mlxed wlth the dlluent. As wlll be more rully de~crlbea, the metering valve ror concentrate 18 ln the contalner 37 and 1~ coupled to ana cooperates ~ith the ~lspenslng valves 35 and 36. That 1~, the contalner 37 ~lth the concentr~te .. . . . . . ... . . . .

lZ21~67 includes valving means to meter the amount Or concentrate ln response t~ a relative movement Or two part~ o~ a contalner broùght about by the dlspensing valves 35 and 36. The ~upply Or carb~n dioxlde over llne 27 is also used to pres-~urlze the concentrate ln the contalner 37 arter belngcoupled through a reducing valve 39. Also ~hown i8 a line 40 coupllng carbon dioxlde to water source ll to supply the dlluent at a constant pressure. As wlth the means ror changlng the temperature Or the dlluent the carbonator may 0 al80 be built lnto the water contalner as ls the case ln the embodlment to now be descrlbed. In that case, water ~ource ll 18 also the carbonator. Furthermore, although carbon dloxide ls shown as the pressurlzlng gas, ln embodlments where carbonation ls not deslred, lt may be replaced by any 5 lnert gas such as nitrogen.
m e Dlspensing System The emb'odiment Or the dispenser of the present lnventlon lllustrated ln perspectlve vlew ln Flgs. Za and 2b lncludes a supportlng structure 41 whlch 18 preferably Or molded plastlc. Structure 41 includes a base 43 and an upstandlng ~-shaped portlon 45. The T-shaped portlon 45 lncludes a top wall 47 rront and rear walls 49 and 51, respectlvely, and a central dlvlder 53. At the one end o~
the unit, as be~t seen ln Fig. 2b, mounted to the base 43 ls a ¢ooling unit 55. Shown in the coollng unit 55 are ven-tllatlon openSngs 57 ~hlch communlcatc wlth a~ditlonal ~ntilation openlng~ 59 rormed in the base 43. Dlsposed . .

.. . . .. ... . . ....... ....

~.;2Z~L6fi7 atop the co~l~ng unlt 55 ls a dlluent tan~, e.g., a water supply and carbonator tank 61 to be descrlbed in mDre deta~l below. Surroundlng thi~ portlon Or the un~t is an lnsulated cover 63 whlch has a depending rlange portlon 65 which enga~es correspondlng llp 67 on the central portlon 45. As wlll be descrlbed in more detail below, the carbona~or is adapted to be easily removed and refllled wlth water when necessary. As an alternatlve to a cooling unlt 55, a heating unit, or comblned heatlng and cool~ng unlt9 can be provlded to permlt the posslblllty Or dlspenslng elther cold or hot drlnks.
At the other end Or the dlspen~ing apparatus, supported on the base 43, 18 a tank of a pressurizlng gas, e.g., a carbon dioxide tank, 68 sh~wn ln the phantom. The carbon dioxlde tank 68 ls connected to a reducing valve 69 by means Or a qulck disconnect clamp 71 to permlt ease Or replacement Or the carbon dioxlde bottle 68. Extending through the divldlng wall 53 and 6ecured to a bracket 73 thereon by means Or screws or bolts 75 i8 a manirold 77 wh~ch will be described in detall below. The manlrold 77 distributes the pressurizlng gas and diluent, e.g., carbon dioxlde and carbonated water. The rront portion Or the man~rold 77 ls vlsible on ~lg. 2a. Integral wlth the manl-~old are thO dispensing valves 79A and 79B to be described ln detall below. Dlsposed above each o~ the dlspenslng valves 79A and 79B 1~ a contalner 81 contalnlng thereln a concentrate to be mlxed wlth the dlluent cupplled ~rom the .... , .. . ... ~ .. . ~ .. .....

~2~6~i7 dlluent tan~ 61. Below valves 79A and 79B is a removable tray B2 retalned magnetlcally, ror example, ror catching any sp~llage. Tray 82 may be removed and rlnsed perlodlcally.
A~ain, although dlsclosed herelnarter as supplylng car-bonated water, lt will be recognlzed that, by disconnecting the carbonator apparatus, 8tlll bever~ges can be dlspensed, and, by heatlng lnstead c~ coollng the dlluent, hot drlnks can also be dlspensed. As wlll become more evldent below, the contalners 81 are particularly adaptable to packaging and storlng all types Or concentrate ln a sanltary manner.
Coverlng the carbon dloxlde tank 68 ls a ~econd cover 83, whlch 61mllarly has a dependlng rlange B5 engaglng a llp on the T-shaped central structure 45.
Flg. 3 ls a plan view Or the dlspenser o~ Flgs. 2a and 2b with the covers 63 and 83 removed and the T-shaped center sectlon 45 also removed ror clarity Or presentatlon.
In thls vlew, the C02 bottle 68 ~9 vislble together wlth lts qulck dlsconnect clamp 71 an~ pressure regulator 69. The pressure regulator is ~emi-rldlgly mounted and coupled by tublng 87 to the manlrold 77. Portlons Or valves 79A an~
79B whlch are molded integrally wlth the manlrold are also shown. Also shown ln cross sectlon ls the carbonator tank 61. The carbonator tank contalns a coupllng 89 whlch permlts a qulck dlsconnect wlth the manirold 77.
Piessure regulator 69 reduces tbe carbon dloxlde pre~sure to ~0 p~S. C02 at thls pre~ure 1~ ~ed through a passage 91 ln the ~anlrold 77 to the dlsconnect coupllng 89.

. .

... ... . . . ... . - . .. . . . .. . . ..

.

From that polnt lt ~lows through tublng 90 to a restrictor 93, and thence to a dl~fuser 9~. Carbonated water is re-moved rrom the carbonator tank through a llne 97 extending to the bottom Or tank 61 and leadlng to the coupling 89 whence lt enters a pass~ge 99 ln the manlrold. Thls passage connects wlth two ~maller passages 101 and 103, whlch lead to outlet~ lD5 and 107, ln the portlon Or the valves whlch 18 lntegral wlth the manlrold. At each Or the outlets an 0-rlng ~eal 109 ls provlded. Carbon dloxlde 18 al~o red through a further pressure regulator 111 whlch ls bullt lnto the manlrold 77, where the pre~sure i~ reduced to 5 psl.
From regulator 111 the carbon dloxlde rlows ln a passage 113 to whlch are connected two passages 115 and 117, whlch lead to elongated openlngs 119 and 121 ln the portlon Or the manlrold whlch comprlses part Or the valve. Agaln, ln each case an 0-rlng seal 123 Or neoprene or the llke ls lnserted.
Although the manlrold can be màde Or varlous materlals, a plastlc 18 prererred. Wlth such plastlc the manlrold can be molded and any necessary machinlng carrled out to rorm the varlous passageways.
The Man1rold The manlrold 77 and the dlspenslng valves are ~hown ln more detall ln Fig. 4. At the lnlet ror carbon dio~lde, a threaded rlttlng 125 18 provlded ln the manl~old.
As lllu~trated, thl~ communlcate~ wlth a channel 127 whlch 18 connecte~ dlrectly to the pas~a~e 91. Thls ls ~een ln more det811 ln FlB. 5 whlch 18 a cro~ ~cctlon through the prcs~ure regulator. In~erted lnto approprlate bore~ 129 and . . .

. - ..... . ..

~2216G7 131 on the le~t ~ide Or the manifold 77, are tubular rlttlngs 133 and 135. ~hese are pre s ~itted into their respectlve b~res 129 and 131. Fach contalns, threaded therein, a chec~
- valve9 e.g., ~ Schrader ~ype valve 137a and 137b respectlvely.
The ~lttings 133 and 135 insert lnto the quick dlsconnect coupllng 89 ln the carbonator tank 61 and are ~ealed by 0-rings 136. Wlthin a b~re 130 in the coupling ~9, mating with the rlttlng 133, ls dlsposed an anvll 139 followed by a check valve 141 which 15 blown open by C02 pressure ~rom llne 91. In a bore 138 of the coupling B9 which mates with the rlttlng 135 1~ inserted another Schrader valve 143. The valve 143 abut~ against the valve 137b opening both valves when the qulck dlsconnect coupllng 89 ls attached to the ~anlrold. Stmllarly, the anvll 139 opens the valve 137a.
In thi manner, when the carbonator ls dlsconnected rrom the man~fold, there is a check valve ln both passages Or the manlrold and ln both passages into the carbonator to prevent release o~ pressure. The coupling 89 also contalns, at its lnslde, threaded bore~ 144 and 146 ~or connectlng llnes 90 and 97 of Pig. 3.
Piq. 4a shows an improved form of valving.
~lthough the valving of Fig. 4 is operable, the valving illustrated in Fig. 4a provides superior performance. Tests with the type of valvinq shown in Fig. 4 showed that it gave an undesirable flow restriction in the water outlet and the presence of sharp edges resulted in energy dissipation and de-gas~ing. With respect to the gas side, it was discovered that a pressure-activated check valve would give superior . .

.. .. , ~ , . .. . .. , . .. . . - . .. . - .- . . .

~''~'''''' '- " ' ~ ' . .
- . ' -:

iZZl~i7 performance t~ a Schrader valve of the type illustrated in Fig. 4-Referring to Fig. 4a, in the illustrated embodi-ment the valv~ block 89A which is mounted to the diluent tank 61 is, in this embodiment, a molded plastic part of Lucite or the like rather than the stainless steel part of Fig. 3 and 4. It is secured in place in an appropriate opening in the tank 61 at a flat area 701 thereof by means of a sealing gasket 703 on one side and a lock ring 705 on the other side. Block 8gA contains a threaded portion 144 for connection of a diffuser as previously. On the outlet side, it contains a slotted portion 707 with an internal O-ring seal 709 for insertion of a resin bed. A
resin bed of the type which can be used with the present invention is disclosed in co-pending application Serial No. 310,486 filed October 9, 1981 and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. As in the previous embodiment, fittings 129 and 135 are inserted into the manifold 77A in communication with lines 91 and 99, the gas and water lines respectively. For reasons which will be apparent below, fitting 135 is made of two parts, 719 and 717 which screw together. Part 717 is the one press-fitted into the manifold 77A. O-ring seals 711 and 713 are provided for sealing purpose~
Inserted into the resting on the base of the bore 725 is the flange of a duckbill valve 729. It $8 held in sealing contact by a member 731 made of ~tainless steel ~creled into the threads 727. ~ember 731 contains ,,, . ., ., ,, ., . , .. . ._. .

~Z~6~7

2~
a flange 733 pressing against an O-ring 735 placed at the base of the bore 720. Extending from the flange is a pin 737 having a cross-bore 739 therein. This com-municates with a central bore through the member 731 which communicates with the duckbill valve. The pin 737 acts against the schrader valve 133 which is as in the previous embodiment. Rather than utilizing a duck-bill valve, a ball and spring check valve could equally well be used. The key requirement is that the valve be one operated by the gass pressure to open and that it act as a check valve to be closed against pressure from inside the carbonator.
Another alternative to the duckbill valve is the sleeve valve illustrated by Fig. 4d. This arrange-ment takes the place of not only the duckbill valve butalso member 731 which holds the duckbill valve in place.
In effect, a member 780 of design similar to member 31 has a portion 781 extending below the threaded area.
Central bore 732 extends through this portion 781 with flow controlled, both in thiscase and the previous case, by the size of the opening 731 of the cross bore. Again, an O-ring 735 is rpovided for sealing. Valve action is accomplished by means of a radial port 783 extending to the circumference of the extension 781 and an elastic ~leeve of water resistant material, preferably silicone rubber, covering the extension 781.

.

~2Z16~i7 On the water side, in the manifold and in the o~ler 89A, a type of valve which gives adequate flow, has smooth surfaces and which does not contribute to energy dissipation or de-gassing is used. Fig. 4b is an elevation view and Fig. 4c an end view ~f the type of valve generally indicated as 731 used at these locations. The valve includes a stem 733 of cylindrical cross-section. The stem extends from a conical section 735. The conical section is shown in abutment with an O-ring 737 to demonstrate the nature of the seal made by the valve. In operation, lifting away from the O-ring 737 by movement of the stem 733 opens the valve. The conical shape 735 provides self-centering. From the view of Fig. 4c, the base of the conical section 735 is visible. The location of the O-ring seal 735 seated thereon is also visible. As illustrated, there are angled tWD semi-circular cuts made on ea~h side of the valve core. Thus, from the botton view, one can see the cuts 739. These terminate in a thin section 741.
In the upper portion on each side, a cut 743 is made extend-ing from the cut 739 to a position above the base of the conical section 735 so as to bridge that part. Thus, flow from the bottom at the base 741 flows along the smooth sur-faces past the conical section 735 and in an annular path between the O-ring ?35 and the stem 733.
Referring again to Fig. 4a, at the base of the recess 721 a spring 745 is disposed. Similarly, within a central bore 747 in the coupling member 135, another spring 745 is disposed. The spring ~eats against a threaded insert 717 which i8 screwed .

~2216fi7 into the end of part 135. At the in~er end of the bore 747 in part 135 an O-ring 737 is disposed. Similarly, an O-ring is contained in a recess in a member 747 screwed into the threads 723. As illustrated, the ~ 733 of the two 5 valve c~res are abutting ~gainst one another, thereby separating the conical parts from the O-r~gs 737. In the assembled position shown, the spr ~ s745 are essentially completely compressed. In this position, water flow from the passageway 751 which communicates with the resin bed in the carbonator tank flows past the two valves and eventually reaches the water line 99 in the manifold.
The pressure reducing valve 111 is shown in more detail in the cross section of Fig. 5 which is taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4. Carbon dioxide at a pressure of 40 p5i reaches the channel 91 through the inlet passage 127 shown on Fig. 4. After passing through the pressure reducing valve CO2 at 1 psi is fed to the channel 113 by means of an outlet passage comprising a bore 145 in the manifold.
The manlrold ln an area above the bore 145 contalns a large bore 147. Extendlng down rrom the bore 147 and in the center thereor i8 a smaller bore 149. Thls bore lntersects wlth the passage 91 contalnlng the 40 psl CO2. The upper portlon of bore 149 18 threaded and contalns a qulde and val~e seat 151. Gulde 151 gu~des a tube 153 attached to a dlaphragm 155 by means Or a supportlng plate 157. The diaphragm ls secured ln place between a body member 159 wh~ch may be lntegral wlth the manl~old, or lnserted lnto the bore 147 and a cover plece 161 whlch ls screwed onto the .. . - . ....... . -~ .

~2216~
body 159. The actual valvln~ whlch carrles out the pressure reduclng takes place between the gulde 151 whlch rorms a valve ~eat and a valve member 163 conta~nlng in lts central portlon a gasket 165. The valve member 163 abuts and ~eals to the end o~ the tube 153 and 1~ blased outward by a ~prlng 167. The spring 167 tends to brlng the valve member 163 with its gasket 165 into engagement wlth the eat on the gulde 151. Spaclng between the member 163 and the gulde 151 determines the amount Or gas whlch reaches a chamber 169 rrom whence lt rlows out the outlet bore 145. 0~ the coYer p~ece 161 18 mounted an ad~ustment knob 171, havlng thereon a threaded r~d 173 whlch acts on a nut 175 whlch 18 pre-vented ~rom rotatlng by being contalned ln a sultable recess ln the cover plece 161. Thus, rotatlon Or the knob 171 results ln llnear up and down motlon Or the rod 173. A
rlange 176 secured to the rod acts upon a blastng spring 177 whlch 18 dlsposed between rlange 176 and the dlsc 157 at the dlaphragm 155. Thls arrangement wlth the sprlng 177, the tenslon Or which 18 ad~ustable by the knob 171 and the diaphragm, coupled to the tube 153 whlch operates the valve member 163, results in the ~eating and unseatlng Or the valve member 163 on the seat Or gulde 151 such as to maintain the deslred pressure in chamber 169 ln accordance wlth the blaslng pressure set ln wlth the spring 177. In thls manner, by ad~ustlng the knob 171 the desired pressure Or 5 p81 1B
obtained at the outlet 1~5.

, , .

.. .. . . . . . . . .....

~2Z~667 ~6 The Dispensing Valves And Concentrate Contalners The constructlon ~f the dispensing valves 79A and 79B, ~hown ln Fig. 2a can bes~ be understood first wlth re~erence to F~gs. 6, 6a, 6b and 6c, ln additlon to Flg. 4.
In the illustrated embodlment, ~ach valve 18 made up o~ four baslc parts. These lnclude a base portlon lBl whlch 1~
molded as part o~ the man~fold 77. However, lt shQuld be recognized th~t such base portlons can be made 6eparately with appropriate conne~tlons ror a carbon dloxlde pressure llne 117 and a water lnlet llne 103.
Slnce both valves are ldentlcal, only the rlght hand valve 79B wlll be descrlbed in detall. me base 181 of the valve is a member contalning a large cyllndrlcal bore 182. At the bottom o~ this bore 18 located the lnlet opening 121 ror the carbon dloxlde wlth lts O-rlng seal 123 and the lnlet opening 107 ~or the dlluent, e.g., carbonated water, wlth lts OLrlng seal lO9. Also located ln the base portlon : 18 a vent hole 183, an openlng 185 through whlch the con-centrate, e.g., a syrup, wlll be dlspensed in a manner to be descrlbed below, and a draln passage 187 ror the resldue Or dlluent, e.g., carbonated water, arter lt has passed through the valve. Inserted into the bore 182 is a central rotating valve member 189. It is supported within the bore 182 ~or rotatlon thereln ln response to operatlon Or a handle l91 and seals against O-rlngs lO9 and 123. Overlying t~e central rotatable member ls an ad~ustment d1BC 193. The ad~ustment dlsc remalns essentlally ~lxed but 1~ a~Justable , . . ... ,., - .. - .. - . ~. -.- , . . .. .

. ~ ' .' - '''' .

~L2~;67 to take lnto account Blf~erent environmental condltlons ln meterlng o~ the c~ncentrate. ~hls ad~ustment ls accompli~hed by an adJusting screw 195. As can best be ~een ~rom refer-ence to Figs. 4 and 6, the adJusting screw includes a knob 196 on the end Or a shaft 198. The ~hart passes through and 1~ rotata~le wlthin a threaded plug 197~ The threaded plug 197 15 ~crewed lnto a cover portlon 201 o~ the valve whlch ~lts over and retalns ln place central member 189 and ad~ustlng dlsc 193. Near the end Or the sha~t 198 i~ a worm gear 199 which ls secured thereto. When lnserted lnto the cover portlon 201, the end 203 o~ the shart l9B i~ ~upported for rotatlon ln a bore 207, as best ~een on Fig. 4. The worm gear 199 ls exposed through an openlng 194 and engages appropriate threads 209 on the ad~ustment disc 193 per-mltting a limlted degree Or rotatlon thereor. Once adJustedby the adJustment screw 195, however, the dlsc 193 remalns ~ixed.
A6 shown ln Flg. 6, contalner 81 lncludes a body in the rorm Or a necked bottle 238 and a cap 230. Dlspenslng Or the concentrate ~rom the contalner 81 is ln response to a relatlve rotatlon Or lts cap 230 wlth respect to tabs 211 on the neck Or bottle 238. Thls opens a valve ln contalner 81 and carrles out a metering actlon ln a manner to be de-scrlbed more ~ully below. To accomplish thls rotatlon, the cap 230 also contalns a tab 213. me tab 213 engages ln a notch 215 in the central member 189. . me tabs 211 engage ln notches 217 ln the ad~ustment dlsc 193. The central ~alve membcr ~89 1~ arranged to rotate a glven amount to open the . .

- :.
.

' lZZ~;fi7 meterln~ valve wlthln the contalner by rotatlng cap 230 whlch ls engaglng the notch 215 ln the central valve member 189. Flne ad~ustment Or this meterlng ls possible by means Or the ad~ustlng screw 195 whlch lncreases or decreases the lnltlal 6ettlng Or the position of the cap 230 relatlve to the body 23~ so as to vary the rate of rlow Or concentrate ~rom the contsiner upon a preset and subsequent rotatlon of cap 230.
The dispensing valve perrorms three ~eparate ~unctlons. It perrorms a runctlon Or ventlng the container, a runctlon o~ pressurlzing the contalner wlth the low pressure carbon dioxlde and a ~unctlon o~ cau~lng the ~lmultaneous dlspen61ng Or concentrate and diluent. ~he central valve member 189 contalns a central bore 219 at the bottom Or lS whlch there 18 provlded a cyllndrlcal member 221, contalnlng a partlal bore 232 ln the upper portlon thereor, and sup-ported by three struts 223. One Or the struts 223 contains thereln a passage 225 which communlcates wlth the bore 232.
The other end o~ the passage 225 iB brought through to the bottom Or the central valve member 189 and at a locatlon permittlng allgnment wlth vent hole 183 and outlet 121 ln the base member 181 Or the valve. As best seen rrom Flgs. 7 and 8 inserted withln the bore 232 i8 tubular member 227.
Thls tubular member communicates wlth a tube 22~ extendlng to the bottom Or the contalner 81 (whlch wlll be the top wlth the contalner 81 ln the lnverted posltlon ~hown) rOr the purposes or ventlng and pressurizlng, ln a manner to be more ~ully descrlbcd below.

~221667 Wlth reference to Flg. 6a, the po~ltlon o~ the valve wlth the handle l91 rully to the lert ls shown. In this posltion, contalners are lnserted lnto and removed rrom the equlpment and the passage 225 is allgned wlth the vent hole 183 permltting ventlng Or the contalner 81 through tube 229, tubular member 227, passage 225 and vent hole 183.
Thls corresponds to the cross ~ectlonal vlew of Flg. 7.
In the posltion shown ln Flg. 6~, which is a qulescent posltlon Or a contalner ln the machlne, the lnterlor o~ the container ls pressurized, but there ls no rlow Or concentrate or dlluent ~rom the machlne, and the contalner cannot be removed rrom the machlne, handle l91 ls centered, the passage 225 ls overlylng the openlng 121 and ls sealed by the 0-rlng seal 123. Thls admlt~ the low pressure carbon dloxlde to the passage 225 rrom whence lt can rlow through the tubular member 227 lnto the contalner through tube 229, to pressurlze the contalner wlth a constant pressure. In thls posltlon, the dlluent outlet 107 with lts seal lO9, ls 6till covered by the bottom Or central valve member 189. Thls corresponds to the cross ~ectlon o~ Flg.
8.
- Flnally, ln the posltlon shown ln Flg. 6c, whlch 18 the dlspenslng posltion in which concentrate and diluent rlow rrom the machlne, and the container cannot be removed, the handle l91 1~ all the way to the rlght, and an lnlet opening 231 ln central valve member 189 18 allgned with the openlng 107 to permlt a rlow Or dlluent, e.g., carbonated ~ater, through and out Or ~.he valvc. At thi~ tlme, because .
.', ` ~2Z16~7 o~ the elongated openlng 121, the passage 225 18 stlll ln communlcation wlth the carbon d~oxide ~upply to malntain pressurizatlon of the container. Thls corresponds to the cross section o~ Figs. 9 and 10. Movement o~ the handle l91 to the right takes place agalnst the blaslng rorce Or a ~pring 233 whlch ls arranged tG return the handle l91 to lts mlddle posltlon.
Once pressuri~ed, lf it ls deslred to remove the contalner wlth the concentrate and replace lt with another, it i8 only necessary to move the handle l91 to the posltlon shown ln Fig. 6a, to vent the contalner 81 to permlt re-llevlng the pressure therein and allow removal.
The cross sectlon Or Flg. 10 ~hows the passage 225 stlll allgned with the opening 121 during dispensing. The passages ~or the carbonated water ln thls posltlon, l.e., the posltion also 8hown ln Flg. 6c 18 lllustrated by Flg. 9.

__ ~.
__ _ _ __ __ 25 __ _ . .

i~2~6~i7 Shown is the passage 103 whlch communicateR wlth the openlng 107 whlc~ ls ~urrounded by the 0-rlng ~eal 109, seallng agalnst $he rotary valve me~ber 189 and communicating wlth the passage 231 thereln. The dlluent thus flows into a pressure reduclng chamber 235, and thence out Or a ~pout 237~ whlch ~ 8 carrled by member 189. It will be appreclated that ~pout 237 thererore moves wlth member 189 and because lt pro~ects under the ba~e 181, the base ls prov~ded wlth a lobe cutout 237A (F~g. 6), to permlt the spout to 80 mQVe .
The spout 18 dlrected at an angle to cause mlxln~ Or ~he diluent and concentrate ~n a manner to be seen more clearly below ln connectlon with Flg. 10. Chamber 235 ls deslgned ror minlmum agitation o~ the diluent to prevent excesslve loss Or carbon dioxide. The dimenslons o~ chamber 235 and spout 237 are such that an adequate flow Or dlluent ls malntalned, and that, wlth a predetermlned dlluent pressure, the outlet rlow rate i6 ~u~ricient to obtaln the necessary mlxlng wlth the concentrate wlthout excesslve foamlng. When the handle 191 returns to the posit~on shown ln Flg. 6b, the passage 231 overlles the draln passage 187 whlch has a downward slope. Thu8, any diluent remsining ln chamber 235 can draln lnto a glass or cup placed below.
Rererrlng now to Fig~. 8 and 10, lt wlll be seen that the bottle 238 ha~ a plug 239 ln lts neck. The plue contalns a central bore 241 havlng a ~lopcd portlon, l.e., Or somewhat conlcal ~hape, 243 at ~t~ lnner en~. There i~
eentral pa~sagc 245 through the lnner end Or thc plug. The . .

..... .. ..... . . . .

~22~67 plug ls Or ~enerally cyllndrlcal ~hape and 1B press ~itted lnto the neck 247 Or the bottle 238. Alternatlvely it can be m~lded a~ part Or the bottle ?38. At lts outer end, the plug contalns a clrcumferentlal ~lange 249 which extends beyond the neck 247 Or the bottle. Placed over the neck of the bottle 1~ the cap 230. The cap contalns, ln its central portlon, a cglindrlcally-shaped member 251 whlch termlnate~
ln a conlcal ~ectlon 252 at its inner end. Conical ~ection 252 abuts agalnst the tapered conlcal ~ectlon 243 Or the plug 239. Inwardly extendlng member 251 contalns at the lnner end thereor, a bore 253 lnto whlch ls lnserted the dlp tube 229. ~he dlp tube extends through the open~ng 245 in the plug wlth a spaclng. At the outer end Or the cap, ln the center thereor, ls a larger bore 255 extendlng lnto member 251 and communlcatlng wlth bore 253. At the inner end Or this bore a check valve 257 is disposed. In the ca~e Or the present embodlment, the check valve ls ln the rorm Or a spllt ~eal valve. However, any other type Or check valve can be used. The 8pl~ t seal check valve is held ln place by a cyllndrlcal lnsert 259. me rlttlng 227 whlch ~s sur-rounded by an O-rlng seal 260 to seal inside the cyllndrical lnsert 259 ln cap 230, i8 lnserted lnto the center Or thc lnsert 259 and acts agalnst the check valve 257 to open lt permlttlng carbon dloxlde to rlow lnto the container through the dlp tube 229. In the portlon Or the container abo~e the jlut 239, the concentrate ~111 be contaln~d. The cooperatlon between the plug 239 and the lnwar~ pro~ectlng member 251 on .

~Z'3L6~:;7 the cap per~orm the valvlng action needed to dl~pense a metered amount Or concentrate. The conical ~ur~ace 243 Or plug 239 ~orms a valve seat for the conical tip 25~ of member 251. It can be seen, that movement of the member 251 away rrom the plug 239 will permlt a ~low Or concentrate around the dip tube 229 and into the area between the ~ember 251 and the plug 239.
What happens when 6uch movement occurs ls 11-lu~trated by Fig. 10. As shQwn by the arrows 261, con-centrate ~lows around the dip tube 229 and Into a space 263 between the plug 239 and the member 251. At the ~ame tlme, the ~lange 249 has been llrted away rrom the cap 230 and an openlng 265 ~ormed in the cap ls exposed. In the closed condltlon, a double seal is provlded. First there ls the ~eal Oe~ween conlcal surraces 252 and 243, second i6 ~he seal between ~lange 249 over openlng 265. Wlth the cap 230 ~oved downward, concentrate can now ~low through opening 265 under the pressure whlch is maintalned ln the contalner because Or the CO2 and drop, through a gap between the struts 223 shown ~ig. 4, and Flg. 6c, lnto a cup 267, placed below the dispenslng valve. The ~lowlng concentrate 269 rlows essentially stralght down. The diluent, e.g., the carbonated water, flows from the spout 237 at an angle lnter~ectlng the rlow Or concentrate in ~ree ~pace and ~lxlng with lt prSor to reachlng the cup 267.
As noted above, the valve wlthln contalner Bl i8 opened ~n response to rotatlon of lt~ cap 230 ~ith respect . .

.. . . . ... . ..

~22~6fi7 to lts b~dy 238 brought about by rotatlon Or central valve member 189 with respect to ad~ustment dlsc 193 whlch, once ad~usted by ad~usting screw 195, remalns fixed durlng ~peratlon.
The manner ln which the rotary motlon Or ~he central valve member 189 brings about a ~eparatlon of the plug 239 and the member 251 ln the cap 230 ls best lllustrated by Figs. 11 and lla. In Flg. 11 the lnsertlon Or the tabs 211 into the slots 217 in the ad~ustment rlng 193 18 lllustrated. AB
descrlbed above, thls holds bottle 238 rlxed. Furthermore, the manner ln whlch the tab 213 on the cap 230 ls lnserted lnto the slot 215 to cause the cap 230 to rotate wlth central valve member 189 ls also evldent. The relatlonshlp between these parts ls also lllustrated ln Flg. 6 and Fig.
4.
As lllustrated ln Flg. 11, the neck 241 Or bottle 238 contalns a palr Or opposed proJectlng nibs 271. ~hese proJectlng nlbs rlt lnto cam 610ts or grooves 273 rormed on opposlte sldes o~ the lnside Or cap 230.
A vlew o~ a portion Or the cap 230 unrolded 16 shown ln Flg. lla. On thls flgure, the ~hape Or the ~lots 273 18 evldent. me slot contalns a horizontal portlon 275 rollowed by a sloplng or angled portion 277. It can be seen that, as the central valve member 189 i8 rotated, lt carrles with it the cap 230 becau~e o~ the lnsertion or the tab 213 ln the 810t 215. Rotatlon whlle in the horizontal arca 275 o~ the slot wlll re~ult ln no relatl~e llnear up or ~own motlon between the cap 230 ~nd the bottle 238, and thus the . . ... ~ . ... ~ . .. . ... . . . . . .

~.Z~ i7 ~5 valve ~ormed by the plug 239 and the member 251 remaln~
closed. Travel ln the horlzontal portlon 275 takes place between the posltlons of central valve member lB9 shown in Fig. 6a and 6b. However, with rurther rotatlon to the position shown ln 6c the nibs 271 wlll begin to move lnto the an~led portlon 277 causlng the pro~ectlon 251 to move away ~rom the lnsert 239, in order to reach the posltlon shown ln Flg. 10, to dlspen~e the concentrate at a preset metered rlow rate. It wlll be arranged that the nlbs 271 wlll be ln a positlon ln the strlaght portlon 275 intermedlate the ends thereof when the contalner ls ln the machlne and the rotary valve ls ln the posltlon shown ln Flg. 6a, to enable the ring 193 to be ad~usted ln both dlrections but that movement Or the rotary valve to the Flg. 6b portlon wlll not cause the nlbs 271 to rlde up the angled portlons 277. Also, the angled portlons 277 should be Or ~urriclent length that the nlb~ lle between the ends Or the angled portlon 277 when the machlne ls ln the Flg. 6c portlonJ
agaln, to permlt the ad~ustment Or rlng 193.
Also shown in cross sectlon ln Fig. 11 ls the worm gear 198 Or the ad~ustment screw 195 Or FlBs. 4 and 6. It ls evldentJ that the dlspenslng actlon, i.e., the opening Or the valve ln the contalner takes place because Or a relatlve movement between the cap 230 and the bottle 238. Durlng normal operatlon, the bottle 233 ~s held ri~ed because o~
the lnsert~on Or thc tab~ 211 ln the slot~ 217 ln the ad~ustment rlng 193. ThU8~ durlng normal dS~enslng the startlng .. . . . . .... . . . .. . .. .. ..

~ 67 ~ 6 positlon, l.e., when ln the posltlon Or Flg. 6b, o~ the nlbs 271 in ~l~ts 273 and the degree Or r~tatlon Or cap 230 by means o~ the tab 213 ln the slot 215 ln the central valve member 189 determlnes the degree o~ openlng Or the val~e, l.e., the amount or travel Or nlbs 271 in the ~lopln~ portion 277. ~hls total amount of rotat~on movement of cap 210 ls ~lxed, in that movement Or the lever l91 Df Fig; 6c 16 llmlted by the sprlng 233. Normally, ror a glven concen-trate, the tab 231 on cap 230 will be p~sltioned durlng manuracture to glve a comblned horlzontal and sloped move-ment whlch wlll result ln the desired amount Or valve based on the viscosity o~ the concentrate at a ~tandard amblent temperature, e.g., 20C. Alternatlvely, the posltion o~ tab 213 wlth respect to ~lots 273 may be rlxed and the angle Or angled portion 277 Or slots 273 vaned to accommodate ma-terlals wlth dirrerent vlscosltles. However, lr the drlnk dlspenser 18 operated under amblent condltlons where a hlgher or lower temperature exlsts, ~hls wlll erfect the rlow rate ror a glven openlng Or the valve. For example, although ln the temperate climates a temperature close to 20C. wlll normally be malntalned ln wlntertlme, ln the summertime temperatures conslderably hlgher may occur. The hlgher temperatures ln many cases wlll lower the vl~coslty Or the concentrate and too much concentrate may be dispensed.
; 25 The adJustment screw 195 t8 utili~ed to solve this problem.
- I~ the user ~inds that too much or too llttle concentrate 1 belng dlspensed, the adJustment ~crew can be turned. ~hls . .

.. .. ., .. .. , - , ~ , , - -rotates the ad~ustment rlng 193 and ln efrect causes 8 relatlve rotatlon between the cap 230 and bottle 238 to ~las the nlbs 271 in one dlrectlon or the other. In turn, thi~
means that f~r a glven rotation of the central val~e member 189 the nibs 271 wlll move up the angled or ~loped portlon 277 a greater or lesser extent. Thls in turn wlll control the degree to whlch the valve ls opened. To enable the ad~ustment to take place, the slots 277 must, as explalned hereln be Or surflclent length.
The Operatlon o~ the Valve and Container The operatlon o~ the dlspenslng valve wlll now be explained. With rererence to Flg. 3 a carbon dloxide bottle 67 will be ln place and the carbonator 61 will be rllled wlth water which ls carbonated by passlng carbon dioxlde through lt, the carbon d~oxlde being lntroduced through the dirruser 95. The carbonator wlll be at the pressure Or 40 psi to whlch the pressure regulator 69 i8 set, i.e., this pressure will be maintalned ln the head space above ~he water ln carbonator 61. me detalled operatlon Or the carbonator and the manner in which it i8 rer111ed will be descrlbed below. Furthermore, the water in the carbonator will have been cooled by the coollng means 55 shown on Fig.
2b. These, too, will be explained ln more detall below.
Low pressure, 5 psl carbon dloxide wlll be avallable in the passage 113, and, becaùse Or the pres8urizat~on ln the carbonator 61, carbonated ~ater under preB~ure will be available ln the pastage 99. Thu~, at eacb o~ tbe valve a .

~L2211i67 supply of carb~n dioxide wlll be avallable at the outlets 119 or 121 and a supply o~ carbonated water at the outlets 105 and 107. Containers o~ the desired concentrate are then lnserted lnto the dlspenser. For example, the concentrates may comprlse a syrup ~or ma~ing 80~t drinks ~uch as a cola, orange ~oda, root beer, etc., or can comprlse, for example, concentrate to ma~e quinlne water and 80 forth. In an alternate embodlment where water i8 not carbonated, the concentrate could be a rrult ~ulce concentrate~ or, where lt ls desired to make a hot drlnk, ror example, a ~orree, tea or hot chocolate concentrate.
Wlth the valve ln the Fig. 6a posltion, the contalner 81 wlth the concentrate is inserted ln~o the valve or valves (the illustrated embodlment includes two valve mechanisms; however, a slngle valve or more than two could be provlded). It iE inserted so that the tabs 211 are ln the slots 217 and the tab 213 inserted lnto the slot 215, as best seen rrom Figs. 6 and 11. As lt ls lnserted the member 227 wlll open the check valve 257 (Flg. B). At thls polnt, the handle 191 wlll be in the posltlon shown in Fig. 6a and the contalner vented. Thls wlll brlng the dip tube 229, whlch 18 in communication with the inslde Or the container, lnto commun~cation wlth the vent hole 183 through the passage 225 shown on Fig. 6a.
Next, the handlc 1~ moved to the posit~on ~hown ln 6b. Now the pas~age 225 1~ llned up wlth the outlet 123 ~nd carbon ~ioxide pa~sec to the ~lttlng 227 and through the . . . . . , ... .. .... .. . .. . - ~

.

~2Z~6~

check valve 257 and the dlp tube 229 into the bottle 238 to pressurlze lt. During this operation, i.e., t~e movement between the position of F~gs. 6a and 6b, the nlbs 271 move ln the strai6ht sectlon 275 o~ the slot 273 ln the cap 230.
When it 16 deslred to dlspense a drink, the handle 191 ls pushed to the rlght from the Fig. 6b posltion to that shown ln Flg. 6c agalnst the force of the return ~prlng 233. In thls posltlon, the channel 225 is stlll llned up with the opening 121 and the contalner remalns pressurized. The water outlet 231 llnes up wlth the opening 107 and carbonated water ls dl~pensed rrom the spout 237 shown on Flgs. 9 and 10. The nlbs 271 have now moved into the slanted ~ectlon 277 Or the slot 273 ln the cap 230.
Thls results ln tne cap being moved downward 80 that the member 251 moves away from the plug 239, opening the meterlng valve ror the concentrate whlch now rlows ln the dlrectlon Or the arrows 261 shown on Flg. 10 lnto the space 263 and thence out the hole 265 ln the cap and down toward a cup 267 ln a stream 269. The downward ~lowlng stream 269 lntersects the stream 270 Or carbonhted water ln rree space causlng the two to lntlmately mlx as they are dlspensed into the cup 267. When the deslred amount Or drink has been dlspensed, the handle 191 ls released and returns to the posltion shown on Flg. 6b. The bottle 238 remalns pressurlzed, but the rlow Or concen~rate 18 stopped because Or the closln~ o~ the ~al~e thereln and the rlow Or carbonated water ~topped because Or the movement Or the outlet 231 away ~rom the openlng 107. Any water lert ln chamber 235 or inlet 231 o~
.

, , -,, - ,; - . . . . . .

~2z~67 Flg. 9 can draln both through pout 237 and draln outlet 187 to completely drain all dlluent. From thls polnt on, additlonal drlnks can be dispensed slmply by moving the handle l91 t~ the positlon shown ln Flg. 6c.
Assume ror the moment that the two concentrate contalners 81 contain respectlvely cola and dlet cola.
Assume lt 18 now deslred to dispense quinlne water. One Or the contalners 81 must thus be removed and replaced wlth another containlng a quinlne water concen~rate. The con-talner 81 to be removed is, o~ course, pressurlzed. To relleve the pre~sure ln the contalner 81, the handle l91 i5 moved to the positlon shown ln Fig. 6a. In thls posltlon, the contalner ls now vented, ventlng taklng place through the passage 225 and the vent openlng 183. ~lth the pressure relleved on the concentrate contalner 81 lt may now be removed. As lt 18 removed, rererrlng to Flg. 8, lt 18 evldent that once lt ls llrted upward and the ~lttlng 227 18 no longer actlng agalnst the check valve 257, the check valve 257 will close. Thls prevents any posslblllty of the concentrate gettlng lnto and drlpplng out Or the dlp tube 229. The new contalner 18 then put lnto place arter whlch the steps descrlbed above are rollowed.
Typlcally, the cola concentrate wlll be a relatlvely thlck syrup whereas the qulnlne water concentrate wlll be relatlvely thin. Thl6 requlres dlrrerent degrees Or openlng o~ the valve made up by the member 251 and plug 239. The nece~ary meterlng whlch muat be carrled out 1~ accompllshed ., .. .

, .. ,, -.~ . , . , ~ . ~ . . . .... . .

~-~z~

by adJusting the positloning o~ the tab 213 wlth respect to ~lot 273 on cap 23~ durlng manuracture. In other word~, in the rest pos~tion, rererrlng to Flg. lla, ror a cola syrup the nlb 271 wlll be close to the angled ~ection 277, but not 80 cl~e as to cause flow Or concentrate ~rom the contalner when the rotary valve is in the Flg. 6b posltlon. On the other hand, ror ~omething llke qulnine water lt-wlll be placed rurther to the lert 80 that, with movement Or the valve to the Flg. 6c posltlon, the nibs 271 wlll only ride up on the angled portion a small amount. Alternatively, thls control can be obtalned by uslng di~erent angles on the angled portlon 277.
An alternate embodiment ~or the dispenslng valve 18 lllustrated in Flg. lB. In Rome cases lt may be deslred to have the ~lspenslng unlt at a slnk. In 6uch a case, the remalnder Or the above descrlbed apparatus would be dlsposed below the slnk. In such a case, the valve would, Or course, not be part Or the manlfold 77. Rather, rererrlng, ror example, to Fig. 4, the llnes 113 and 99 wlll be brought out rrom the manirold through suitable rittings 104 and 118 slmilar to rlttlngs 129 and 131, descrlbed above, containing check valves. A qulck disconnect coupling such as the eoupllng 89 may mate to these ~lttlngs with tublng extending rom the coupllng to lnlets at the rotary valve 76C. ~alve 76C 18 ~lsposed on the end Or an angled arm 502 wlth a ¢ontainer 81 place~ thereon. me arm 1~ ~upported ror rotatlon o~or a ~lnk 504. For e~ample, tSe openlne ln the . ~, . .. ~ . . . .. . . . ....
.

i%2~

~lnk normally used ror a fipray attachment can be used. When not in use, the arm 502 may be rotated counterclockwlse to move the dlspenser out of the way lnto a locked posltlon.
When lt is deslred to dlspense, the arm 502 is moved to the posltlon shown and dlspensln~ can be carrled out over the slnk 80 that any splllage or dripp~ngs wlll be caught ln the ~lnk. Pre~erably, the arm 502 and at least the vlslble parts Or the valve 76C ln thls case wlll be made Or a material to match the slnk rlttlngs. Operatlon Or the valve 76C ~n con~unctlon wlth the conta~ner Bl ln all other respects wlll be the same as descrlbed above. In thls embodlment, and ln the prevlously descrlbed embodlments, the rate o~
~low Or the diluent can be controlled either by dlmensl~ning Or the ~lze Or the d~luent tublng or passagesJ e.g., passage 103, or by the insertlon Or a llmltlng orlflce, for example, at the lnner end Or the stub 131.
me varlous ad~antages both wlth respect to construction and operatlon Or the dlspenslng arrangement lncludlng the valve and contalner 6hould be evldent. It can be made essentlally Or all plastlc parts whlch are easlly molded. Other materlals can, Or course, be used. For example, the bottle 238 may be made o~ glass or me*al. 8y rorming the dispenslng valve in one plece wlth the manlrold and throu&h the deslgn o~ a manlrold whlch essentlally carrles the supply Or matcrlals to the valve, the need ror numerous tubes and the dl~advantage~ assoclatcd therewlth are a~olded. me deslgn Or the val~lng ln the contalner ~;2Z1~i~7 ~ ~3 permits presettlng at the factory. wlth the adJustment ~crew on the manlfold glving the ~lne adJustment neces~ary to take care Or temperature varlatlons or personal taste. Further-more, lt ls lmportant to note, wben rererrlng to Fig. 10, that the concentrate passes dlrectly rrom the container into the cup. It has been well establlshed~ that mold growth 1 llkely to occur with dilute syrup. With the dl6closed dlspenslng arrangement the syrup i~ dlluted only after leaving the dlspenser. Thi~ orrer~ great advantage over most prior art dlspensers ln whlch mlxlng took place withln the machine and which could lead to unsanitary condltlons.
The Carbonator and Coollng Sy~tems The remainder Or the ~ystem ls also designed wlth a vlew toward ease Or operatlon snd low co~t. The ract that a quick dlsconnect coupllng 71 i8 provlded ror the carbon dloxlde bottle 68 has already been noted. In addltion the qulck dlsconnect nature Or the carbonator has also been noted. The carbonator wlll now be explalned ln more detall ln connection wlth Flg. 12 whlch ls an exploded perspectlve vlew Or the dlspenser showlng the manner Or $nsertion and removal Or the carbonator. In the dlsclosed embodlment Or the drlnk dlspenser Or the present lnventlon, the unit is rree-standing, i.e., lt i8 not connected to the plumblng.
It wlll be recognized that with respect to what has been prevlously di6closed, l.e., with re6pect to the dispen~lng arrangemcnt and the manlrold, sucb can bc ~qually well u~ea ln a plumbed-ln or an automatlcally recharglng unlt ir .. . .. . I . ~

lZ~16fi'7 provlded wlth the neces~ary controls, e.g., temperature, level, etc. In the unit of Flg. 12r the carbonator 61 comprlses a metal tank 300 preferably Or stalnless steel or alumlnum, havlng a lid 3~1 whlch ls removable in order to re~ill the carbonator 61 wlth water. As prevlously ex-plalned, the carbonator 61 lncludes a quick dlsconnect coupllng 89 rrom which one line 90 lead~ through a restrlc-tlon or ori~lce 93 to a dlsperslon block 950 Carbonated water i8 rorced out Or the unlt through a llne 97. Also lD ohown ln Flg. 12 ls the end Or the manlfold 73 wlth the two connectlng rittings 133 and 135 proJecting thererrom. As explalned in detail ln connectlon wlth Fig. 4, these lnsert lnto approprlate bores ln the rittlnæ 89. As al~o explalned ln connection wlth Flg. 4, there are valves both ln the rlttlng 89 and the connectlng stubs 133 and 135 or.the mani~old. Hence, when the tank 61 ls pulled away and dls-connected ~rom the manlrold, the pressure wlthln the dls-penslng unit, i.e., that pressurlzlng the contalners 81 and the carbonated water ln the varlous passages, whlch ls under pressure, and the gas under pressure belng red rrom the C02 tank are not released. W~thout such valvlng, carbonated water would be released rrom the connectlng rittlng 135 and the 40 psl carbon dioxlde would rlow rrom the fltting ~33.
~ At the same tlme, the valve~ wlthln the coupling 89 prevent the carbonated water under ~resbure rrom belng discharged rrom ¢arbonator 61 and also pre~ent ~ny ~iocharge through the carbon dloxidc lnlet. In order to ald ~n the ~ , . . .

.. . .. . ., .. , . . ; . . . .. , ~ .. . .
. . . .

~ 67 qul~k dlsconnect o~ the carbonator tank 61 and also ald in handling lt when dlsconnected~ l.e., to permit rerllllng, a foldlng handle 3~3 ls provlded. A ~lew o~ the handle 303 i6 also provided ln the cross sectlon o~ the carbonator ~hown on Flg. 13. The handle lncludes a ~racket 305 which 18 attached vertically to the carbonator tank 300. Thls 1 essentlally a U-shaped bracket whlch contains a cutout portlon 3~7 ln ~ts central portion, l.e., at thls portlon only the base o~ the U ls present. The handle lttel~ com-prlses two arm sectlons, an upper arm sectlon 309 and a lower arm ~ectlon 311. me two arm sectlons are hlnged together by ~eans Or a pln or rlvet 313. The upper arm ~ectlon 309 ls also hlnged to the upper part Or the bracket 305 by means of a pln or rlvet 315. The other end of the lower arm 311 contalns a pin or rivet 317 whlch passes through a slot 320 ~ormed ln the U-shaped bracket 305 near lts bottom and ls retalned ln place by washer~ 319. Also hinged to the pln 317 ls a downwardly extendlng retainlng pln 321. In the position shown ln solld llnes on Flg. 13, wlth the handle rolded agalnst the tank 300, the pln 321 extends through an appropriate hole 323 ln a ~upport plate 330 ln the top o~ the coollng untt 55. Thls, alon~ wlth the lnsertion Or the connectlng ~tubs 133 and 135, lnto the ~lttlng 89, retalns the tank 61 ln the correct place agalnst the tenslon Or the sprlngs ln the check ~alue~. Alter-natl~ely, coupllng 89 could be on the bottom or ~ertlcallg dl~posed on the slde Or carbonator 61 and the ~elght Or .

.

carbonator 61 used to help to malntaln the connectlon.
When lt is desired to remove the tank, arter removal of cover 63, the handle 303 ls moved to the position shown ln dotted lines. The pin 317 slldes upward ln the ~lot 320 at the same tlme carrylng with lt the retainlng pln 321. It ls now posslble to remove the carbonator to rerill lt wlth water.
Slnce the carbonator a~ter belng removed ror rerllllng wlll stlll be under a pre~sure Or 40 p~i lt 16 essentlal that the pres~ure be released berore the cover 1 removed. Otherwlse~ the co~er could blow o~f posslbly causing serlous ln~ury to the user. Furthermorej lt ls lmportant that a good 6eal be malntalned between the cover 301 and the contalner 300. The present lnventlon provldes a novel deslgn Or the mating Or the cover wlth the contalner whlch both lnsures that the cover cannot be removed untll the pressure 18 released, and at the same tlme lnsures that the cover wlll always be adequately sealed, a~ter the car-bonator ls refllled. The manner ln whlch the cover rlts lnto the contalner 300 ls best lllustrated by Flgs. 12 and 13.
- The contalner 300 at lts top 351 tthe contalner 18 Or solid welded constructlon) has a stepped prorlle. It has an upper recess 353 o~ rlrst lnternal dlameSer ln whlch ~ top ~langed sectlon 355 Or the coYer 301 re~t~. Followlng thls 1~ a portlon 357 o~ ~omewhat ~maller lnternal dlamete~
contalnlng lnternal threadB 358. me ¢over 301 contaln~
~atchlng esternal threa~s 359 ~hlch cr~w lnto the threadc .

. .. . ... .. .. .. . . . ..

.

.~ 667 35B but whlch extend to a greater depth on the lld than on the portlon 357. This 6ection is followed by a ~ectlon 360 ~
still ~maller internal dlameter whlch contalns on lts vertlcal ~urface 361 an 0-ring seal 363. O-ring seal 363 seals agalnst a cylindrical clrcumferentlal portion 365 of the cover. Because cf the l~cation Or the seal 363, a radlal rather than the conventlonal axlal type seal takes place.
What thl~ means ls that the carbonator will be sealed even ~r the cover ls not screwed on completely tlghtly, ln c~n-trast, wlth an axlal seal, where good seallng depends on the cover belng screwed on tlghtly. This essentlally eases operatlon ror the user, typlcally a housewlfeJ and does not requlre crltlcal allgnment or the appllcation o~ a certaln a~.ount of pressure ln order to get good ~eallng.
In order to ensure that pressure ls released berore the cover i8 removed, a rotatable handle 371, shown on Flgs. 12 and 16, i8 provlded. Thls handle rotates to operate a rellef valve 372, the lower portlon 373 Or whlch ls vlslble in Flg. 13.
As shown ln Fig. 16, handle 37i 18 hlnged to a plunger 377 by means o~ a pln 379. Plunger 377 has, ln a recess 351 at its end, a rubber sealing disc 383. Thl~
seals agalnst a plastlc valve ~eat member 385 contalnlng a central bore 380 ~hich is screwed lnto a threaded bore 387 ln the lld 301 and sealed agalnst the bottom Or lid 301 ~lth ~n 0-ring ~eal 390. A ~pring 375 bia~es the plunger 377 ~galnst ~eat member 385. Rotatlon Or handle 371 upward ., .

~2;~

lifts plunger 377 orf seat member 385, by means o~ a larger radius 388 at the handle end, to release the pressure ln the car~onator 61 through a vent bore connectlng the biaslng sprlng chamber to atmosphere. ~hls val~e also acts a~ a afety valve ln that if the pres~ure exceeds an am~unt determlned by biaslng spring 375, the plunger 377 will ll~t Orr seat member 385 the pre~sure belng released through *he vent bore as dlscussed above.
Thus, rotatlon o~ the handle 371 upward when lt 18 l~ deslred to rerlll the contalner, automatically opens the valve to release the pressure. Unscrewlng o~ the cover 301 wlthout operatlng the handle 371 18 prevented by ha~ing the handle 371 extend beyond the circumference o~ the uppermost portlon 355 Or the cover. A cutout 378 ls ~ormed in the top 351 of the contalner 300 as best seen ln Flg. 12. When cover 301 18 screwed lnto place, the han~le 371 snaps into thls cutout 378. When one attempts to unscrew the cover without lirtlng the handle 371 lt w~ll come lnto contact with the edge 380 Or cutout 378 preventing rurther turning until the handle i8 llrted and the pressure released.
Furthermore, because Or the pressure, turnlng wlll be Yery dirricult, by hand, without ~irst releaslng the pressure.
Thls too ls a remlnder to operate handle 371. Finally, should handle ~7 be broken ofr, or the ~ent valve ~all to operate and someone use~ a wrench or the llke to generatc enough torque to turn the cover ~hen the ve~sel 61 18 under pres~ure, leakage past the threads, ~hlcb ~ tlll be .. - . . . .

.~ 216~7 engaged when the ~eal at 0-rlng 363 ls broken, wlll bleed the pressure of~ before the cover 301 ls free Or tank 300.
~lgs. 17a-d lllustrate an alternate embodlment Or a closure ~or the carbonator l~d. Shown 18 a carbonator lld 301a wlth a cyllndrlcal openlng ~01 thereln. Inserted withln the openlng ~01 ls an lnsert 503 havlng a ~rst cyllndrlcal sectlon 505 press r~ tted lnto the openlng 501 followed by an outwardly flared ~ectlon 507 and a terminating cylindr~cal sectlon 509.
The closure, or stopper mechanlsm, which ls utllized to clo~e the openlng ln the cover 301a ls o~ a nature slmllar to devlces used as stoppers for vacuum bottles and also as boat plugs. However, as wlth the prevlously descrlbed cover for the carbonator, lt 1~ necessary that such a closure lncorporate means to lnsure that pres-sure ls relleved berore the cover or stopper 18 removed, and lt ls also deslrable that the closure be capable Or per-rormlng as a pressure reller valve. The arrangement lllus-trated on Figs. 17a-d accompllshes all of these runctlons.
The member whlch actually closes the openlng comprlses a compresslble stopper Or rubber, ror example. The stopper, whlch 18 Or cylindrical shape wlth a central bore 512, ln the uncompressed state (See Flg. 17d), ls ritted over a tube 513. At lts lnner end tube 513 ~8 threade~. At the lnner end o~ the stopper ls a washer 515 whlch 1~ hcld ln place by a nut 517 screwed on to the threade~ cnd Or tube 513. ~he ~topper 511 18 compresscd between ~asher~515 and a ~ssher ~-2~66~
519 at the outer end Or the stopper, also ~lld oYer ~he *ube 513. T~e tube 513 contains a bore 521 in lts outer end which terminates ln a conlcal valve sea~ 523. A smaller bore 525 extends fr~m the val~e seat through to the inner end cr the tube 513. At the end Or the tube pro~ecting through the washer 519, the tube ls slotted to pro~lde two d$ametrlcally opposed members or ears 527 and 529. Each of the ears 527 and 529 contalns a hole 531 through the center thereof. A bolt 533 on the end Or whlch 18 a nut 535 passes 1~ through these holes and through corrésponding holes 537 in camn.ln~ means 539. Cammlng means ~39 comprlse a member o~
essential U-shaped cross-sectlon wlth two ldentlcal cam ~ur~aces 541 on the legs thereo~ on the end o~ which ls a U-shaped lever arm 543. ~he cam surraces 541 act agalnst the washer 519. In the position shown ln Fig. 17a, the distance between the bolt 533 and the clrcumrerence Or the cam sur-~ace 541 i8 a maximum. This ln turn causes the bolt and wlth it the tube 513 to move outward compresslng the com-pressible stopper 511. In the position shown ln Fig. 17c, the radlus Or the cam surrace 541 remains essentlally the same, stlll maintalning compression. Finally, ln Flg. 17d, the dlstance between the bolt 533 and the rlattened portion 541a Or the cam sur~ace ls now reduced to permit the com-presslble stopper to take the cyllndrlcal rorm shown ln Fl~.
17d and allow it~ removal.
What hss thl~ rar been descrlbed ~ a conventional compresslble stopper ~rrangement typlca~ly u~ed ln ~acuum bottles an~ a8 ~ boat plug. The primary ~lrrerence 1~ t~t ... .. . . . . . . .. . .. , ~ .. ~ . . . .. . . .. . .

~22~i6fi7 the conventlonal devlce does not have a hollow rod such as the tube 513 but a s~lld rod.
In accordance with the present lnventlon, seate~
against the valve seat 523 ls a valve member 545 on the end Or a rod 547. The rod extends, wlth a spaclng, through a threaded plug 549, whlch i~ ~crewed into lnternal threads ln the end Or the tube 513 and provldes a gulde ror rod 547.
Blaslng sprlng 551 18 dlsposed between the gulde 549 and the valve member 545 blaslng the valve member against the seat 523. The end Or the rod 547 ls attached to an oval rlng 553. Between the two ears 527 and 529, a cam 555 is mounted to bolt 533. Bolt 533, at least ln the central part thereorD
has a square cross-sectlon so that the cam 55~ turns wlth the bolt and the cammlng means 539. Ears 527 and 529 are, ~- 15 Or course, mounted 80 that the bolt 533 turns wlthln them e.g., the bolts is round where lt passes through ears 527 and 529.
In the posltion shown ln Fig. 17a, there 18 a ~light spaclng between the oval ring 553 and the cam 555.
Thls allows the biaslng sprlng 551 to blas the valve member 545 agalnst the seat 523 to prevent the passage o~ fluid.
The spring rorce ls selected to provlde a blaslng pressure whlch will counteract the deslgn pressure within the vessel wlth whlch the Glosure 18 usea. For example, when used ~n the carbonator o~ the pre~ent lnventlon the 8prln6 would be ~et ror ~ pre6sure ~llghtly greater than 40 p~ r e~ce~lve pre~sure bulld~ up withln the carbonator tank the val~e act~

~Zz~ 6`7 as a pressure rellef valve. The ~laslng force Or ~prlng 551 is o~ercome and the pressure wlthin the tank wlll ll~t the valve member 545 Or~ the ~eat allowlng excess pressure to be relie~ed. The fluid, e.g., carbon dloxide, under pressure would rlow through the bore 52~ past the valve member 545 through the bore 521 e~caplng between the rod 547`and the opening ln the guide member 549. In order to permit pres-sure relle~, the rod ls dlsposed wlthin the guide member 549 wlth a small spacing. The nature or cam 555 18 such that ln 1~ the posltlon shown ~n Flg. 17a, the dlstance between the axls of the bolt 533 and the cam surrace ls a minlmum. As noted above, ln this posltlon there 1B a 611ght spacing between the cam surface and the rlng 553. At the posltlon shown ln Flg. 17c ln whlch the handle 543 has been rotated through 90, a second, larger dlstance, results. Because of this, the cam surrace comes lnto contact with ring 553 raislng the rlng and wlth lt, the rod 547. Thl8 llrtS the valve member 545 rrom the ~eat 523 and allows a pressure reductlon through the val~e whlch will take place at a controlled rate based on the valve ori~ice and the cross-~ectional area between ~he rod 547 and the hole in the guide member 549. As noted aboveJ in thls posltlon, the cam ~urrace of cam 541 is stlll maintainlng the compressible stopper ln the compressed state. F~nally, as shown ln Fl~.
17d, ~urther rotatlon Or the handle 543 relea8e8 the stopper ~hlle at the same tlme malntalnl~g the val~e member 545 ralsed rrOm the ~eat 523. ml8 results because the cam . .

-- ....... .

~L~2Z~6fi7 ~urrace of cam 555 is ~uch that betweer. the posltion shown in Fl~. 17c and 17d ~t malntalns the ring at the ~ame dlstance ~rom the axls of the bolt 533 holding the valve open.
Carbonator Cooling System As lllustrated ln Fl~ 12, ~ince the carbonator ls cooled, the cover 63 will contain~ on lts lnsl~e, a layer of lnsulatlon 325. Coollng ls accompll6hed one Or two way6.
In the embodlment shown on Fi6s. 12 and 13, coollng 18 done utllizing a pan 327 o~ essentlally cyllndrical shape and having a llp 329 at lts top. The pan 18 ~illed wlth what is commonly known as "Blue Ice~, a type of material typlcally used ror coollng ln plcnic coolers. The pan contalnlng the Blue Ice sealed thereln ls placed ln a home freezer and ~5 rrozen prior to use. It ls then lnserted lnto the dispenser.
For th~s purpose, a support plate 330 havlng a clrcular openlng 332 thereln to recelve the pan 327 ls provlded. The plate 330 18 supported ln conventlonal ~ashlon on a rec-tangular rrame 331 whlch rorms part Or the coollns unlt. In . addltlon, the ln~lde or the rectangular rrame 331, thls rrame restlng on the base 43 Or the d~spensing unit, con-talns lnsulatlon 333 to prevent rapld meltlng Or the Blue Ice.
Shown on Flg. 12 are ventllatlon holes 57 ln the rectangular ~rame 331, and ~entllation holes 59 ln the base ~3. ~heso are not requlred ~lth thls type o~ coollng unlt but rc u~e~ ~lth the coollng unlt to be~de~crlbc~ ~n ¢on-nectlon ~lth Plg. 14 below. me plate 330 ln ~hlch the pan !

~.z2~6~

327 15 lnserted 15 prererably 0~ a materlal wlth poor heat conductiv~ty, such as p~lypropylene.
In the alternate embodiment shown in Flg. 14, the dlspenser is provided with an electr~cal coollng unlt. Once agaln, thls unlt ls lnserted in, or provided in con~unctlon wlth, a plate 330, o~ poor heat conductl~lty. Agaln, the plate contains an opening 323 ror the insertion of the pin 321 on the handle 303 Or the carbonator 61. The electrlcal coollng unit lncludes, below a plate 335 Or good heat con-ducti~ity, a plurallty Or thermoelectrlc coollng units 337.
The nature Or these unlts ~8 that there 18 a temperature gradlent establlshed between the opposlng slde when elec-trical current ls passed through them. The thermoelectrlc unlts, whlch are essentlally Or a plate-like material, ha~e their cold slde abuttlng agalnst the plate 335. Attached to thelr warm slde are heat sinks 339. Below the heat sinks, a ran 341 ls mounted ror establlshlng a rlow Or cooling alr to remove heat rrom the heat sinks. Power ls supplied to the ran and to the thermoelectrlc coollng unlts 337 by means Or the power line 343. The clrcult o~ this unlt ls descrlbed below ln connectlon wlth Flg. 15. When operatlng wlth such a unlt cool alr ls drawn through openlngs 345 (Flg. 14) below the ran, warm alr ls exhausted through the openlngs 57 and 59 shown on Figs. 12 and 2b.
Flg. 15 1~ a 8chematlc dlagram o~ the clrcult ror the thermoelectrlc coollng elemento 337 Or Flg. 14. Thc power ~upply cable 343 ha~ on lt~ end a ~lug ~01 to be . .

.. .. .... , .. . , ~ . . . ......... .

.

~LZ~i67 plugged lnto a conven'clonal outlet to supply power at the llne voltage to the coollng system. Fan 341 ls ccupled across the two sides Or the AC p~wer llne 343. Also coupled across the line ls the prlmary 403 o~ a transformer 405.
The secondary 407 of transformer 405 is coupled to two diagonal~ 409 and 411 Or a ~ull wave rectlfier bridge 413 comprlsing diodes 414-417. At the other two dlagonal~ 419 and 421 Or the bridge, rectiried DC, at approx~mately 18 ~olts 18 taken Orr. A capacltor 423 16 placed ln parallel across the diagonals 419 and 421 to rllter the DC voltage.
The plurality Or thermoelectrlc coollng elements 337 are arranged ln serles ln two groups. The first group 425 comprlses the elements 337 a-d ln serles, and the second group 426 elements, 337 e-i, ln serles. The rree end of the 1~ thermoelectrlc element 337 a in group 425 i8 connected to the bridge terminal 419. The ~ree end o~ the element 337d ls coupled through a normally open relay contact 427 to the opposite diagonal 421 Or bridge 413. The other group 426 has lts one end, the rree end Or element 3371, coupled to the termlnal 421 Or the bridge 413, and ~ts other end, the ~ree end Or element 337e coupled through a se~ond 6et Or normally open contacts 429 to the term~nal 419 Or thc brldge. 5he end Or the element 337e coupled to the co~tacts 429 1~ also coupled through a set Or normally closed relay 2~ contacts 431 to the end Or the element 337d coupled to tbe contact~ q27. Contact~ 427, 429 and 431 are oper~ted by relay coil 433 ~hich 1B connected acro~B the eoondary 407 ... . . . ., .. , . .. . . . . v . ...

o~ transrormer 405 ln serle~ wlth a switch 435.
In operatlon, once t~e plug 401 ls plugged into an approprlate wall outlet and power ls being supplled over the power line 343, the ran 341 will immedlately begin operatlng.
The llne voltage applied across the prlmary 403 of transformer 405 wlll be ~tepped down to approximately 12 volts whlch will then be rectlried ln the brldge 413 to provlde a DC
voltage o~ approxlmately 18 volts at the output terminals 419 and 421 of the brldge. Thl8 DC ~ol~age wlll be ~moothed and riltered by the capacltor 423. The polarlty o~ the DC
voltage 18 posltlve at the termlnal 419 and negatlve at the termlnal 421. The thermoelectrlc elements 337a-3371 are approprlately poled in accordance with these polarltles. In the condltlon shown, wlth the swltch 435 open, the relay 433 wlll not be energlzed. Thus, contact 431 wlll be closed and the contacts 427 and 429 opened as shown. The DC voltage wlll rlow rrom the termlnal 421 through the serles clrcuit 425, through the closed relay contact 431, and the serles clrcuit 426 back to the termlnal 419. In other words, ln thls condltlon, all Or the thermoelectrlc elements 337a-3371 are ln series across the output Or brldge 413. The nature Or the thermoelectrlc elements 18 such that thelr degree Or coollng is proportlonal to the current. Furthermore, the element~ are resl6tl~e in nature. Thus, ~ith all elements ~n serlcs, the current whlch 18 determlned by the ~um Or the reslstanccs ~111 rlow. Typlcallg, thls current ~ approxlmately 8 amp~. Thls e6tabllshc~ a rlr~t, lo~cr lc~el Or coollng.

..

... . ... .

t~ ~) l~Z~6~

When the swltch 435 1~ closed, the relay 433 is energlzed openin~ conta~t 431 and closing contact~ 427 and 429. A~ a result, the two ~erles clrcult~ 425 and 426 are now connected in parallel across the output termlnals 419 and 421 Or the brldge 413. The current flowlng through each o~ the two parallel branches c~mprislng the serles clrcuit~
425 and 426 wlll now be determined by the number Or element6 ln each Or the serles clrcults. Slnce thls ~s a smaller number ln each case than when all elements were connected ln ~eries, greater currents wlll rlow ln each Or the two par-allel ~ranches. Th~s wlll then result in a greater coollng er~ect. me thermoelectric coollng elements can be o~ the type manu~act~red and 601d by Cambion Electrlc, Cambrld~e, Mass .
Fig. 19 shows an im;~oved form of valve and manifold according to the present invention. The arranBement is essentially the ~ame as that shown in Fig. 6. The embodiment of Fig. 19, however, is adapted ror easier molding and is also adapted to be used with an impro~ed ~orm o~ valving mechanism ~n the container. Manifold 77a contains appropriate bores 182a to receive the rotating valve members 189a. As in the previou~ embodiment, an inlet opening 105 ~or the diluent surrounded by an 0 ring seal 109 and an inlet opening 119 ~or tbe carbon dioxide surrounded by an 0 ring ~eal 123 are providcd. The passages leading to the outlet~ 105 and ll9a, port~on o~ithe pa~sage 115 a being vi~ible in Fig. 19 are oolded into the manirold 77 ~uch that they are o~ U ~haped cross ~e,c,t,lon. Thcy are then enolo~ed by an appropr~atc cover piece ~hich i~ bonded intQ plaoe. The ~ame ~cheme i~

, .. .. ~ . . . . . . .

:lZ216fi7 is utilized in forming passages 225a and 235a in the central rotating valve member 189a as will be seen beloqw. A central opening 185a through which the spout 237a extends for dispens-inB diluent and also from which the concentrate can be dispensed is provided as in the previous embodiments. Also included is a drainage slot 187a performing the same function as the drainage slot 187 of FiB. 6. As can be seen from Fig.lg and Figs. 2C and 21, the rotating valve mémber is molded to be cup-like with an outer cylindrical wall 190 which rotates within the opening 182a. Concentric therewith is an innerwall 192 which forms the opening in which the cap of the container is inserted, as best seen in Fig. 20. Inner wall 192 contains a slot 215a therein in which the tab 213a on a cap 230a is inserted. As previously explained, as the central rotatable member is rotated by means Or a handle 191a, the cap will rotate therewith. Diposed over the base 181a and the rotat-able central valve members 189a, and retaining them in place is a cover 201a having slots 218 to permit the handles 191a to extend therethrough. The cover contains a central opening in whlch diametrically opposed slots 217a are formed to engage tabs on the neck of the container. These take the place of the similar slots 217 in the ad~ustment disc of Fig. 6. In the present embodiment, ad~ustment by means of an ad~ustment di~c i~ not carried out. Rather, all ad~ustment to take care o~ temperature variations or the like oan be done by controll-ing pres~ure or by u~ing temperaturo ~en~itive mean~ in the outlet passage. Within the central val~e member 189a bet~een the ~all~ 190 and 192, the expan~ion cbamber 235a, ror the . .
.

.~ .

*;~

diluent is formed by two curved walls 236 and 238 respectively.
This chamber communicates with the spout 237a. The inlet to khe chamber is thr~u~h an inlet op~ning 235b best seen on the bottom plan view of FiB. 21. ~hen in the proper position, this over-lies the diluent outlet 105. The wall 236, along with a wall 240 form the carbon dioxide chamber or passage 225a. Carbon dioxide from the outlet 119 enters through an iniet opening 225c and flows from the chamber 225a into a chamber 225b which is formed in a strut 223a which extends from the wall 192. This terminates in a central cyclindrical member 227a which is adapted to be inserted into the central opening in the cap. An additional solid strut 223b helps support the member 227a.
Member 227a is surrounded by an 0 rinB seal 260a. In order to fully enclose the chambers 225a and 235a, a cover 194 is provided which is welded in place onto the rotatable valve member 189a so as to seal against walls 190 and 192 along with partition~ 236, 238, and 240.
Biasing of rotatable valve member 189a is by means of a spring 233a and a suitable post 232 on the base 181a. This biases the handle to the left as seen in Fig. l9 so that neither opening 225c nor 235b are overlying their respective outlets 119 and 105. In this embodiment, there is no vent position. Rota-tion Or the handle 191a to the right results in the opening 225c first coming to overlie the slotted opening 119, whereafter, with continued rotation, the opening 235b w~ll overlie the outlet 105. In the pre~ent embodiment the container, ~hen removed rrom the machine, remaln~ pres~urized. ~hus, venting is not required.

~ZZ~66`-Other than the lack of venting, and the lack Or an adJustment disc, the emb~diment Or Fig. l9 is runctionally identical to that of Fig. 6J The changes are made simply to facilitate molding of the parts and to avoid the need to carry out machining. The channel 225b is closed off by a cover member 225d shown in Fig. ~0 but not in place in ~ig. 21 In this way, the ma~or portion Or the central ~alve number 189a can be molded whereafter the cover 194 can be put in place along with the cover or insert 225d, both sealed in place so as to provide the necessary chambers. Similar techniques are used in molding the manifold 77a so as to rorm various needed passages such as the passage 105a.
Figs. 20 and 21 also show a preferred valving arrange-ment for the container. In the embodiment previously disclosed, the rate Or concentrate dispensing was controlled by the amount Or rotation. In the embodiment Or Figs. 20 and 21, the basic control Or the amount Or concentrate beinB dispensed is by means of the size o~ the opening 265a through the cap. This will be sized according to the type of concentrate being dispensed. For example, diet soda concentrate is much le~s viscous than syrups containing sugar. Thus for diet concentrates the diameter Or the bore opening 265a will be much smaller. Furthermore, Yariou~ types Or check valves, which were previously tried, failed to adequately seal against leakage Or a diet concentrate.
For this reason, the embodiment Or Fig. 20 u~e~ a po~itive ~huto~ Yalve rather than a check val~e. ~ berore, the cap i~
~ormed ~ith a central bore lnto which the gas outlet 227a ~s in~erted and sealed by meana o~ the O ring seal 260a. Shls . . . ~ .. ... . ... :. , . ... . ~ . .. . .
.

.
.

' ~L2~ifi7 6l opening c~mmuntcates with a tu~e 229a. In the previous embodi-ment, this was a dip tube which contained in it a check valve.
In the ~resent e~bodiment, this tube, which has a flat end, seals against a cylindrically shaped seal member 242 preferably made of food grade silicone rubber. The cap can be made of polypr~pylene or l~w density polyethylene as may the plug 239a which is inserted into the neck of the container 238a. The cylindrical plug 242 is retained in a pro~ecting portion of the plug made Or four equally spaced ribs 229A. The ribs extend from an annular surface 244. Annular ~urface 244 seats against an 0 ring 252a retained in a slot in the capO This prevents any Or the concentrate, which will be surrounding the ribs 229a, rrom Betting past this sealing point. In addition, a further 0 rinB seal 246 prevents leakage from the ~oint between the insert 239a and the bottle 238a.
In operation, as previously, rotation of the cap 230a, which contains slots 273a in which tabs 21la on the bottle 238 are inserted, the slots 273a being slanted as shown in Fig. ~lA, resu;ts in the movement Or the cap 230a with respect to the insert 239a. This simultaneously causes the tube 229a to separate ~rom the cylindrical seal 242 to permit pressurizing gas to reach the interior Or the container, and moves the annular part 244 away ~rom the O ring seal 252a. As a result, rlow Or the concentrate can reach the outlet 265a. To prevent concentrate from escaping from below that point an additional O
ring ~eal 259a is provlded between surracea o~ the insert 239a and the lnner portion Or the oap 230a. ~ these two surraces move with respect to each other, the 0 ring seal maintains a fi~
, seal therebetween. In this embodiment, when the container is first used, there will not be an elevated pressure in the container until the cap is first rotated to open the valve formed between the tube 229a and the member 242. However at the same time as pressurizing takes place dispensing will com~nce since a passage to the outlet 265a will be opened. This of course only occurs on the first drink. It was thought that there might be some deterioration in quality in this first drink. However, tests have shown that t~ere is no noticeabie difference even on the first drink of, fore example, 200m;.
This due to the fact that the pressurizing gas enters more quickiy than the concentrate leaves. The sealing arrangement shown ir. Fig. 20 has been found to be particularly effective with all types of ~yrups. Although in the present embodiment~
the seal at the tube 229A is against a member made of silicon rubber, by using plastic materials of different hardness for tube 229A and the insert, it is possible for the seal to be molded right into the ~nsert. The central rotatable valve member can be made of Delrin, an Acetal homopolymer with the lid 201a and base 181a made of ABS plastic. With the low viscosity of diet syrups, it has been found that a reduced pressure of one PSI is preferred in the container. By proper sizing of the outlet 265a along with this pressure, both diet and regular - drinks can be dispensed. Furthermore, the tolerances estab-lished in the industry for drinks of this nature are maintained o~er an adequate range Or temperatures without rurther ad~ustment.

.. .. ..
.

~2Z~667 - Figs. 22 and 23 show a new form of diffuser.
The diffuser includes a base 801 containing an inlet fitting 803 in which the line 90 from coupling 89 or 89A
(see Fig. 12) is fitted and sealed in conventional fashion with a nut 807. The fitting opens into a chamber 809 communicating through apassageway 811 with a cavity 813 which, in turn, communicates through another passageway 815 with another cavity 817. As seen from the plan view of Fig. 23, there is, in the center of each of the cavities, which are of cylindrical cross-section, a raised area 819 containing a threaded hole 821. Also, there is recess 823 formed in each of the cylindrical spaces 813 and 817. The recess 823 receives an O-ring 825. A Qealing washer 827 overlies the raised area 819. Shown in exploded view above this area is a sintered plate or sintered disc having thickness of approximately l/16th of an inch and a 2-inch diameter. One is provided over each of the two cavities 813 and 817. A stainless steel machine screw 833 is provided for securing the disc onto the body and 20 covering the cavities 813 and 819. The disc is made of sintered stainless steel having a maximum 5-micron passage size. This diffuser has been found to be particularly efficacious in carrying out carbonation. The removable disc permits disassembly of the difusser for purposes of 25 cleaning and hygiene. Preferably cavities 817 and 813 are shallow to permit gas entering therein to entrain water which collects in the cavities thereby wetting the pores of the diffuser and improving gas aiffusion character-~stics.

' .:

.

6~i7 Figs. 24-26 illustrate a pneumatic actuator for the valve 79 of Fig. 4 or Fig~19. For this purpose, a portion of a linkage 901 is connected by means of a scr~w 903 to a portion corresponding to the actuating lever 191 of Fig. 4. P~rtion 901 of the linkage is coupled through a joint 905 to another linkage arm 907 connected through joint 908 to a movable block 909. Block 909 is contained within a suitable bore 911 and is coupled by a rod 913 to a piston 915 disposed in a cylinder 917. The end of the cylinder 917 adjacent to block 909 is sealed by a plug 919 which has a projection 921 at its end inserted into the cylinder and sealing thereagainst with an O-ring 923 between the cylinder wall and the plug. Another O-ring 925 seals against the rod 913 attached to the piston. The piston, itself, seals against the cylinder 917 by means of another o-ring 927. Cylinder 917 has an inlet at each end, thus, there is an inlet 931 and an inlet 933. To insure that with the piston 915 at its end positions there is a space for gas to be admitted to the cylinder, raised areas 935 are formed at each of the piston. In the position shown in Fig.
24, gas is admitted through the passage 933, driving the piston 915 to one end and operating valve 7g to dispense.
This is accomplished by pressing a button 937 extending through an opening in the manifold. Button 937 iB an extension of a rectangular member 939 containing a .

,, . .. .. , . . ~

~.~2~67 cylindrical chamber 941. Member 939 slides in a suitable recess formed in the manifold. There are two outlet passages from chamber 941--an outlet 943 and and outlet 945 and in the position shown the outlet 943 is aligned with passage 933, the junction between sealed with an O-ring 947.
5imilarly, there is an O-ring 349 surrounding the passage 945. Passage 931 is venting to the atmosphere because of small gap between the member 939 and the opening in the manifold. Carbon dioxide at the same pressure as is used in the carbonator, is supplied through a fitting 951 screwed into a suitable threaded bore in the manifold through a passage 953 to a connecting piece 955 which is press-fitted into the manifold. Connecting piece 955 contains a central bore 957 which is in communication with the cavity 941 in the member 939. As illustrated by Fig. 25, the cavity 941 is of cylindrical cross-section and seals against the connecting tube 955 by means of an O-ring seal 959. Also visible in this view are the seals 925 and 923 sealing the cylinder 915. When the button is release, because of the carbon dioxide pressure in the cavity 941, the button will move outwardly to the position shown in Fig. 26. Now, the passage 945 is aliyned with the passage 931 and carbon dioxide is admitted to the other end of the cylinder 915 acting on the other side of piston 921 to immediately drive the pi~ton ~nd with it the block 909, thereby moving linkages .. .. ., , ., .. ~ , ., . . , . ..... .. . .. , . . . ~ .

~2Z~j6t7 907 and 901 to the position shown to close the dispensing valve 79. The cylinder 915 on th~ other side of the piston 921 vents through the passage 933 and the gap formed between member 939 and the recess in the manifold as indicated by arrow 961 of Fig. 25. To prevent the ~utton 937 and more importantly the block 909 and its associated linkage from remaining in an operating position due to the lost of carbon dioxide pressure, spring biasing is also provided. Thus, there is a spring 963 biasing the member 937 outwardly into the closed position. Similarly, a spring 965 biases the lock 909 outwardly to move the valve to the closed position.
The diameter of cylindrical chamber 941 should be kept small to minimize the force needed to push button 937.
The diameter of cylinder 915 should be as large as practical taking into consideration the loss of gas on each operation.
The pneumatic arrangement provides a snap action on and off control preventing the valve being partially on or off so as to maintain a high quality drink.

. . . - ,. - - -

Claims (74)

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A manifold for use with a beverage dispenser comprising:
a) a manifold body comprising:
1) a first passage having an inlet, for connec-tion to a source of pressurizing gas and an outlet adapted to be coupled to a diluent supply, to provide pressuriza-tion thereof, formed in said body;
2) a second passage, having an inlet adapted to be coupled to the diluent supply and an outlet adapted to be coupled to a dispensing valve formed in said body;
b) fittings extending from the outlet of said first passage and inlet of said second passage in parallel spaced relationship adapted to mate with mating fittings of a diluent supply; and c) first and second check valves in said fittings, whereby pressurization within said manifold will be maintained when the diluent supply is disconnected from said manifold.

2. A manifold according to claim 1, and further including:
a) a first pressure reducing valve disposed in said body;
b) a third passage in communication with said first passage for supplying said source to the inlet of said pressure reducing valve; and c) a fourth passage for coupling the outlet of said first pressure reducing valve to pressurize a concentrate source.

3. A manifold according to claim 1 and further including bores formed in said body at the outlet of said first passage and the inlet of said second passage, said fittings comprising tubular fittings disposed in said bores.

4. A manifold according to claim 1, wherein said body is of a plastic material.

5. A manifold according to claim 4, wherein said body is a block of plastic material.

6. A manifold according to claim 2 and further including a dispensing valve having inlet coupled to said second and said fourth passages.

7. A manifold according to claim 6 wherein said dispensing valve is integrally attached to said manifold.

8. A manifold according to claim 6 and further including bores formed in said body at the outlets of said second and said fourth passages and tubular fittings disposed in said bores for coupling said dispensing valve to said manifold .

9. A manifold according to claim 7 wherein said dispensing valve is remotely disposed and further including tubing coupling said remote dispensing valve to said tubular fittings.

10. A manifold according to claim 6 wherein said dispensing valve comprises:
a) a first member containing therein a cylin-drical bore extending partially through said member, said fourth passage in said manifold coupled to an elongated outlet in said cylindrical bore, said second passage coupled to a further outlet in said cylindrical bore, the bottom of said bore containing an open area through which concentrate can be dispensed;
b) O-ring seals surrounding said elongated and said further outlet;
c) a rotatable valve member of generally annular shape disposed for rotation within said cylindrical bore with said valve member having a periferal portion sealing against said O-ring seals, said rotatable valve member having thereon a diluent dispensing outlet;
d) means for bringing about a relative rotation between said first member and said rotatable valve member;
e) means in said rotatable valve member for engaging a first concentrate container part;
f) a diluent passage within said rotatable valve member for coupling the dispensing outlet in said rotatable valve member with said further outlet when said rotatable valve member is rotated to a pre-determined position;
g) a cover member sealed to said first member forming therewith a casing for retaining said rotatable valve member in place;

h) means in said casing for engaging a second container part; and i) means in said rotatable valve member for coupling said elongated outlet to one of the container parts to pressurize the container.

11. A manifold and valve according to claim 10 wherein said means in said casing are disposed for rotation with respect to said casing and further including means for rotating said means in said casing over a limited angular range, said means, when not operating to rotate, holding said means in said casing fixed with respect to said casing.

12. A manifold and valve according to claim 11 wherein said means in said casing comprise an annular adjusting disc, said disc having at least one slot on the inside thereof.

13. A manifold according to claim 12 wherein said means for rotating comprise: means supported in said cover including an extending knob which may be grasped by the hand;
a shaft extending from said knob having thereon a worm gear;
and mating gears on said adjusting disc engaging said worm gear, whereby rotation of said shaft by said knob will result in rotation of said adjusting disc.

14. A manifold according to claim 10 for use with a supply of concentrate which comprises, a container having a bottle portion with a neck and a cap portion rotatable thereon, a concentrate dispensing valve within said container, cooperating surfaces on said cap and bottle neck for converting a rotary motion of said cap into a linear motion to open and close said valve and a dispensing outlet opening in the top of said cap, said cap being said first container part and said bottle, said second container part, said container inserted into said valve such that said cap engages in said means for retaining in said rotatable valve member, and said bottle engages said means in said casing and said outlet opening is over an open area with said container in an inverted position.

15. A manifold according to claim 14 wherein said diluent dispensing outlet is a spout directed at an angle to the vertical such as to intersect with a downward flow of concentrate from the concentrate outlet in said cap, whereby said diluent and concentrate will mix while being dispensed.

16. A manifold according to claim 10 wherein first and second valves are provided each integrally supported on said manifold, said second and said fourth passages having outlets at each of said first and said second valves.

17. A beverage dispenser comprising:
a) a manifold comprising: a manifold body;
said manifold body comprising; a first passage having an inlet adapted for connection to a source of pressurization and an outlet for supplying said source of pressurization to a supply of diluent and a second passage having an inlet adapted to be coupled to the diluent supply and an outlet adapted to be coupled to a dispensing valve;

b) a source of pressurizing fluid coupled to the inlet of said first passage;
c) means for containing a supply of concentrate;
d) a diluent tank for containing diluent having disposed thereon a quick disconnect coupling with fittings for coupling to a pressurization inlet line and diluent outlet line, each of said fittings containing a check valve;
e) mating fittings at the outlet of said first passage and the inlet of said second passage mated with said fittings in said tank to permit quick connect and disconnect between said diluent tank and said first and said second passages, said mating fittings operable to open said check valves when said fittings are connected; and f) a dispensing valve which when operated causes said concentrate and said diluent to be dispensed at controlled flow rates into a container to provide a beverage, coupled to simultaneously dispense concentrate from said means for containing and said diluent from said second passage.

18. A dispenser according to claim 17 and further comprising:
a) a first pressure reducing valve disposed in said body;
b) a third passage in communication with said first passage for supplying said source to the inlet of said pressure reducing valve; and c) a fourth passage for coupling the outlet of said first pressure reducing valve to pressurize a concentrate source.

19. A dispenser according to claim 1, and further including check valves in said mating fittings in said manifold said check valves adapted to be opened only in response to connection of said manifold and tank whereby pressurization within said tank and within said manifold will be monitored when said tank is disconnected from said manifold.

20. Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the check valve in said gas line on the manifold side comprises a Schrader valve.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said check valve in said coupling in said carbonator tank for the gas passage comprises a duckbill valve.

22. Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the check valves in water lines on both the manifold and carbonator side, each comprise a valve core including a cylindrical stem portion of a first, smaller diameter; a conical section at the base of said stem section; and a partially cylindrical section, said cylindrical section having formed therein on each side thereof a pair of cuts of cylindrical cross-section, one of said pairs of cuts being directed inwardly and toward the bottom of said partially cylindrical portion, and the other pair being directed toward the top thereof and inter-secting the base of said conical section to provide smooth flow passages; an O-ring for sealing against said conical section; a spring for biasing the conical section of said valve core against the O-ring; and means for retaining said O-ring, core and spring together with said spring biasing said core against said O-ring.

23. A dispenser according to claim 17 wherein said dispensing valve is adapted to separately dispense said concentrate and said diluent in such a manner that mixing of said concentrate and said diluent occurs only after leaving said dispensing valve.

24. A dispenser according to claim 18 wherein said coupling in said tank includes two essentially parallel bores and wherein said mating fittings in said manifold comprise two parallel tubular stubs inserted into said bores and sealingly engaging with said bores.

25. The improvement according to claim 24 wherein said diluent comprises carbonated water and wherein said pressure fluid comprises carbon dioxide gas and further including means in said diluent tank for carbonating water therein, said means coupled to the bore in said coupling associated with said first passage.

26. A dispenser according to claim 25 wherein said means for carbonating comprise: a diffuser disposed near the bottom of said tank; a conduit extending between said diffuser block and said coupling to supply carbon dioxide thereto; and a restricter control to flow of carbon dioxide therethrough.

27. A dispenser according to claim 26 wherein said diffuser comprises:
a) a base member having therein a cavity open on the top;
b) means coupling said cavity to said conduit;
c) a sintered metal disc having a maximum pore size of about 5 microns disposed over said cavity; and d) means holding said disk tightly against said cavity, in a sealing manner.

28. A dispenser according to claim 27 wherein said base member includes:
a threaded bore for coupling to said conduit;
a passage in said base between said bore and said cavity;
a recess at the top of said cavity for an O-ring seal;
a projection in the center of said cavity with a tapped hole;
a hole in the center of said disk; and a machine screw passing through said hole and threaded into said tapped hole holding said disk tightly against said O-ring.

29. A dispenser according to claim 28 and further including a further identical cavity and-further disk, and a passage in said body between said cavity and further cavity.

30. A dispenser according to claim 24 wherein said diluent tank includes a body for containing said diluent having an opening in the top thereof and a cover for closing said opening and further including means for relieving the pressure in said tank to permit removal of said cover to refill said tank.

31. A dispenser according to claim 30 wherein said means for relieving the pressure comprise a valve disposed in said cover and means on said cover for operating said valve.

32. A dispenser according to claim 31 wherein said valve in said cover comprises: a valve seat disposed in said cover; a valve member adapted to contact said seat, said valve member disposed at the end of a plunger extending through said cover; means biasing said valve member against said seat; and a handle on top of said cover coupled to said plunger said handle supported for rotation so as to move said plunger to lift said valve member from said seat to permit pressure relief within said tank.

33. A dispenser according to claim 32 wherein:
said tank body contains in a recess in the top thereof, means formed at the bottom of said recess and in said cover for bringing and retaining said cover and recess into sealing engagement; and said handle extends beyond the circumference of said cover; and further including: a cutout in the top of said tank body for accepting the portion of said handle which extends beyond said circumference when said cover is in place, whereby said cover cannot be disengaged until said handle is lifted to relieve the pressure on said tank.

34. A dispenser according to claim 31 and further including a sealing gasket disposed between said cover and the top of said tank.

35. A dispenser according to claim 34 wherein said sealing gasket is disposed between matching circumferential surfaces of said cover and the said tank top.

36. A dispenser according to claim 24 wherein said coupling is mounted on one side of said tank said bores thereby extending essentially in a radial direction and further including means on the other side of said tank for preventing movement of said tank after said quick disconnect connection is made.

37. A dispenser according to claim 36 wherein said dispenser further includes: a base portion to which said manifold is mounted; means on said base having a horizontal supporting surface for supporting said diluent tank such that said coupling mates with the fittings on said manifold; a hole in said supporting surface on the side opposite said coupling; and wherein said means for retaining comprises: a pin mounted to the opposite side of said tank from said coupling; and means for selectively inserting and removing said pin from a said hole in said supporting surface.

38. A dispenser according to claim 37 wherein said means for inserting and removing comprise a collapsible handle mounted to said tank, said handle comprising a U-shaped bracket vertically disposed on said tank on the side opposite said coupling having elongated slots in its legs near the bottom thereof, a first handle portion hinged to the top of said bracket, a second handle portion having one end hinged to said first handle portion and another end pinned to said elongated slots at the bottom of said U-shaped bracket, said pin hinged to said other end of said second handle part, whereby movement of said to handle a collapsed position will result in a downward movement of said pin into the hole in said supporting means and extension of said handle will result in an upward movement of the other end of said second handle part in said slot to cause removal of said pin and the avail-ability of a handle which can be grasped by a user to remove said tank from said dispensing device.

39. A dispenser according to claim 37 wherein said means for supporting said tank include means for effecting a heat transfer with respect to said tank.

40. A dispenser according to claim 39 wherein said means for effecting a heat transfer comprise cooling means.

41. A dispenser according to claim 40 wherein said means for supporting comprise: a rectangular frame; an insulating plate of a conducting material with low thermal conductivity having a central opening therein supported at the top of said rectangular frame; and a plate of material of good heat conductivity covering said central opening in said insulating plate, said tank disposed on conducting plate, and wherein said means for cooling comprise cooling means in contact with the other side of said conducting plate.

42. A dispenser according to claim 41 wherein said means for cooling comprise a sealed pan containing therein a liquid material with a high latent heat of fusion, the top of said pan being said conducting plate, the remainder of said pan being enclosed within said rectangular housing below said insulating plate and further including insulation surrounding said pan in the space between the periphery of said frame and said pan, said pan adapted to remove from said rectangular frame whereby it may be placed in a freezer to freeze the material therein, whereby said material can then absorb heat from said tank.

43. A dispenser according to claim 42 wherein said pan is of a shape to fit in said hole, said pan having a lip at the top thereof at the location of said conductive plate whereby said lip will be supported by said insulating plate.

44. A dispenser according to claim 41 wherein said cooling means comprise: thermoelectric cooling means disposed on the side of said conducting plate opposite the side support-ing said tank and further including: heat sink means in contact with the side of said thermoelectric elements opposite the side in contact with said conducting plate; a fan for cooling said heat sink; and ventilation openings in said rectangular frame to permit warm air to be exhausted therefrom.

45. A dispenser according to claim 41 and further including a cover surrounding said tank, said cover supported on said base.

46. A dispenser according to claim 45 wherein said base includes a base plate and a central upstanding portion having formed thereon a lip and wherein said cover is adapted to engage said lip and rest on said base.

47. A dispenser according to claim 46 and further including insulation disposed on the inside of said cover.

48. A dispenser according to claim 47 wherein said carbon dioxide tank is disposed on the side of said upstanding portion opposite said diluent tank and further including a second cover surrounding said carbon dioxide tank.

49. A dispenser according to claim 17 wherein said dispensing valve is integrally attached to said manifold.

50. A dispenser according to claim 49 wherein said dispensing valve comprises:
a) a bottom member integral with said manifold extending outwardly therefrom and containing therein a cylindri-cal bore extending partially through said bottom member, said second passage in said manifold terminating at an elongated outlet in the bottom of said bore, said third passage terminat-ing in a further outlet in the bottom of said bore, the bottom of said bore also containing an open area through which concentrate can be dispensed;
b) O-ring seals surrounding said elongated outlet and said further outlet;
c) a central, rotatable valve member of generally annular shape so as to have a central opening disposed for rotation within said cylindrical bore with the bottom of said member resting against the bottom of said bore and sealing against said O-ring seals, said central valve member containing a central bore and having a first vertical slot therein, said member also having a diluent outlet;
d) a member in said central bore with a partial bore formed in said member;
e) at least one strut supporting said member in the center of said central bore;
f) a fifth passage extending between the bottom of said central valve member and the bore in said member in said strut, the inlet of said fifth passage adapted to be brought into alignment with said elongated slot over a range of rotation of said central valve member;
g) a sixth passage within said central valve member for coupling said further outlet in said bottom member with said diluent outlet when said central valve member is rotated to a pre-determined position within said range of rotation;
h) means having at least one second vertical slot on the inside thereof, said first slot capable of being aligned with said second slot;
i) a cover member for covering and retaining said central valve member in place; and j) means for rotating said central valve member.

51. The dispenser according to claim 50 wherein said means having at least one second vertical slot comprise:
a) an annular adjusting disc disposed over said central valve member having said second slot on the inside thereof; and b) means for rotating said adjusting disc over a limited angular range, said means, when not operating to rotate said annular adjusting disc holding said adjusting disc fixed .

52. A dispenser according to claim 51 wherein said means for adjusting comprise means supported in said cover including an extending knob which may be grasped by the hand, a shaft extending from said knob having thereon a worm gear, and mating gears on said adjusting disc engaging said worm gear, whereby rotation of said shaft by said knob will result in rotation of said adjusting disc.

53. A dispenser according to claim 50 wherein said supply Or concentrate comprises:
a) a container having a bottle portion with a neck and a cap portion rotatable thereon, a valve seat disposed in said neck and a valve member disposed in said cap said cap having a central opening therein;
b) a dip tube attached to said central opening and extending through said valve seat with a spacing to the bottom of said bottle;

c) cooperating camming surfaces on said cap and bottle neck for converting a rotary motion of said cap into a linear motion which will separate said valve member from said valve seat;
d) an outlet opening in the top of said cap aligned with the concentrate opening in said bottom member;
e) at least one tab on the neck of said bottle and a tab on said cap, said container inserted into said valve such that the tab on said cap engages in said first slot in said central valve member and the tab on said neck in said second slot n said adjusting ring with said container in an inverted position;
f) a fitting inserted in the central bore in said cylindrical member in said central valve member; and g) sealing means surrounding said fitting at its base, said fitting extending into said opening in said cap, said cap sealing against said sealing means, whereby, when the inlet to said fifth passage is aligned with said elongated slot pressurizing medium will be conducted through said fifth passage, said fitting and said dip tube into said container to maintain concentrate therein under a constant pressure and whereby when said central valve member is rotated in one direction the simultaneous alignment of said sixth passage with said further outlet from said fourth passage and said fifth passage with said elongated slot will occur along with a rotation of said tab on said cap with respect to the tab on said bottle to result in the opening of the valve in said container, thereby causing concentrate and diluent to be simultaneously dispensed.

54. A dispenser according to claim 53 wherein said diluent outlet includes a spout directed at an angle to the vertical such as to intersect with a downward flow of concentrate from the outlet in said cap, whereby said diluent and concentrate will mix while being dispensed into a cup.

55. A dispenser according to claim 53 and further including a diluent drain in said bottom member aligned with said sixth passage when said central valve member is not in a dispensing position.

56. A dispenser according to claim 53 and further including a check valve in said central opening in said cap and wherein said fitting is operable to open said check valve when said container is inserted in said valve.

57. A dispenser according to claim 56 wherein said check valve comprises a split seal valve which is opened by said fitting.

58. A dispenser according to claim 53 and further including a vent hole through the bottom of said bottom member, said vent hole adapted to align with the inlet to said fifth passage when said central valve member is rotated to a predetermined position, whereby said container may be vented to permit removal of said container from said valve in an unpressurized condition.

59. A dispenser according to claim 53 wherein at least first and second valves are provided each integrally supported on said manifold.

60. A dispenser according to claim 18 and further including:
a) a second pressure reducing valve;
b) a quick disconnect coupling for connecting said source of pressurized gas to the inlet of said second pressure reducing valve; and c) a connecting line coupling the outlet of said pressure reducing valve to said manifold.

61. A beverage dispenser comprising:
a) a supporting base;
b) a source of pressurizing fluid disposed on said base;
c) a tank for containing diluent supported on said base;
d) a dispensing valve supported on said base;
e) at least one pressure reducing valve for said pressurizing fluid;
f) a means having one inlet coupled to said pressure reducing valve for distributing at least said pressuriz-ing fluid and said diluent within said dispenser, said means for distribution having at least a diluent outlet coupled to said dispensing valve;

g) first quick disconnect means for connecting said source of pressurizng fluid to said pressure reducing valve;
h) second quick disconnect means for connecting said diluent tank to said means for distribution to obtain therefrom pressurization and to supply thereto diluent under pressure;
i) means containing a supply of concentrate operatively coupled to said dispensing valve, said dispensing valve adapted to cauqe simultaneous dispensing the concentrate and the diluent;
j) a rectangular frame on said base;
k) an insulating p}ate of material with low thermal conductivity having a central opening therein supported at the top of said rectangular frame;
l) a conducting plate of material of good heat conductivity covering said central opening in said plate, said tank disposed on said conducting plate; and m) cooling means ln contact with the other side Or said conducting plate to thereby efrect heat transfer from said tank.

62. A dispenser according to claim 61 wherein said means for cooling comprise a sealed pan containing therein a liquid material with a high latent heat of fusion, the top of said pan being said conducting plate, the remainder of said pan being enclosed within said rectangular housing below said conducting plate and further including insulation surrounding said pan in the space between the periphery of said frame and said pan, said pan adapted to be removed from said rectangular frame whereby it may be placed in a freezer to freezer the material therein whereby said material can then absorb heat from said tank.

63. A dispenser according to claim 62 wherein said pan is of a shape to fit in said hole, said pan having a lip at the top thereof at the location of said conducting plate, whereby said lip will be supported by said insulating plate.

64. A dispenser according to claim 61 wherein said cooling means comprise: thermoelectric cooling means disposed on the side of said conducting plate opposite the side support-ing said tank; heat sink means in contact with the side of said thermoelectric elements opposite the side in contact with said conducting plate; a fan for cooling said heat sink; and ventilation openings in said rectangular frame to permit warm air to be exhausted therefrom.

65. A dispenser according to claim 61 and further including at least one removable cover attached to said base surrounding said source of pressurizing fluid and said tank.

66. A dispenser according to claim 65 wherein said base includes a base plate and a central upstanding portion having formed thereon a lip, said tank disposed on one side of said upstanding portion, and wherein said at least one cover includes a first cover adapted to engage said lip and rest on said base plate.

67. A dispenser according to claim 66 and further including insulation disposed on the inside of said first cover.

68. A dispenser according to claim 67 wherein said source of pressurizing fluid is disposed on the side of said upstanding portion opposite said diluent tank and further including a second cover surrounding said source of pressurizing fluid.

69. A dispenser according to claim 61, wherein said dispensing valve is adapted to separately dispense said concentrate and said diluent in such a manner that mixing of said concentrate and said diluent occurs only after leaving said dispensing valve.

70. A beverage dispenser according to claim 61 and further including check valves in said second quick disconnect means for maintaining the pressure in said diluent tank and in said means for distributing when said diluent tank and means for distribution are disconnected.

71. Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said check valve in said coupling in said carbonator tank for the gas tank comprises an elastic sleeve.

72. A manifold according to claim 10 wherein said means for bringing about a relative rotation comprise a pneumatic actuator.

73. Apparatus according to claim 72 wherein said pneumatic actuator comprises:
a) a cylinder formed in said manifold;
b) a piston disposed in said cylinder and having extending out therefrom a piston rod;
c) valving means for selectively admitting gas pressure to opposite ends of said cylinder to act on opposite sides of said piston; and d) means coupling said piston rod to said rotatable valve member.

74. A manifold according to claim 73 wherein said valving means comprise:
a) a member having at least one flat face containing therein a cavity;
b) a recess in said manifold for receiving said member and permitting sliding movement of said member therein adjacent said cylinder;
c) at least a first passage through said flat surface to said cavity;
d) second and third passages from said cylinder to said recess entering said cylinder at opposite ends thereof;
e) a seal surrounding said first passage;

f) means spacing said flat face from said recess;
g) means for admitting gas pressure to said cavity; and h) first and second stops formed such that when engaging said first stop without any external pressure applied to said member said second passage will be in alignment to admit gas to move said piston to a position to close said rotatable valve and a second stop wherein said third passage will be in alignment to open said valve, the one of said second and third passages not admitting gas being vented to the atmosphere along said flat face.