GB1376089A - Atmospheric closed hot water tank system with separate expansion control - Google Patents

Abstract

1376089 Liquid dispensers JET SPRAY COOLER Inc 18 Dec 1972 58300/72 Heading A4T [Also in Division F4] A hot water system for a beverage dispenser comprises a hot water tank 18 having a heater 22, a water inlet line 28 for the tank 18, means 44 for creating a low pressure region in the line 28 when water flows into the tank 18, an expansion reservoir 46 connected by a duct 48 to the low pressure region of the line 28, and a discharge line 42 from the tank 18. On heating the water in the tank, flow through the line 28 into the reservoir 46, thermally isolated from the tank 18, takes up the expansion of the water, preventing spillover through the line 42. To dispense a drink, an actuating button (56), Fig. 1 (not shown), is pressed, causing a solenoid valve 40 to open for a pre-set time. Water flows through the line 28 to the tank 18 to displace hot water from the tank 18 through the line 42 to a mixing chamber 14 for mixing with a flavouring medium, a proportioning assembly PA being provided for controlling the concentration of the medium. The pressure drop across the means 44, e.g. an aspirator, causes water from the reservoir 46, held at atmospheric pressure, to be drawn into the line 28 and thus into the tank 18. At the end of the dispensing cycle, the valve 40 is closed and either the water level in the reservoir 46 returns to equilibrium with the water in the tank 18, or, in the case of repetitive use of the dispenser, quantities of water continue to be drawn from the reservoir 46 at each actuation until the reduced pressure head in the reservoir 46 progressively reduces the quantity withdrawn on each occasion effectively to zero.