CA1323338C - Premix dispensing system - Google Patents

Premix dispensing system

Info

Publication number
CA1323338C
CA1323338C CA 570272 CA570272A CA1323338C CA 1323338 C CA1323338 C CA 1323338C CA 570272 CA570272 CA 570272 CA 570272 A CA570272 A CA 570272A CA 1323338 C CA1323338 C CA 1323338C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
beverage
adapter
container
adapters
valve
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
CA 570272
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
William S. Credle, Jr.
Jonathan Kirschner
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Coca Cola Co
Original Assignee
Coca Cola Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Coca Cola Co filed Critical Coca Cola Co
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1323338C publication Critical patent/CA1323338C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67DDISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D3/00Apparatus or devices for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes
    • B67D3/02Liquid-dispensing valves having operating members arranged to be pressed upwards, e.g. by the rims of receptacles held below the delivery orifice
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67DDISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D1/00Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
    • B67D1/04Apparatus utilising compressed air or other gas acting directly or indirectly on beverages in storage containers
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67DDISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D1/00Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
    • B67D1/08Details
    • B67D1/0829Keg connection means
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67DDISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D1/00Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
    • B67D1/08Details
    • B67D1/0857Cooling arrangements
    • B67D1/0858Cooling arrangements using compression systems
    • B67D1/0859Cooling arrangements using compression systems the evaporator being in direct heat contact with the beverage, e.g. placed inside a beverage container
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10TTECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T137/00Fluid handling
    • Y10T137/2931Diverse fluid containing pressure systems
    • Y10T137/3115Gas pressure storage over or displacement of liquid
    • Y10T137/3127With gas maintenance or application
    • Y10T137/314Unitary mounting for gas pressure inlet and liquid outlet

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A premix dispenser system including a housing for holding three replaceable four-liter PET beverage bottles, a refrigeration system, a CO2 cylinder, three adapters for connecting the CO2 cylinder to the bottles for pressurizing the bottles to dispense therefrom and to maintain the carbonation thereof, and three beverage dispensing valves, for dispensing a desired quantity of cold beverage from a selected one of the bottles. The refrigeration system can be easily switched between an electrical system and a cold plate system.

Description

~323338 PREMIX DISPENSING SYSTEM

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to beverage dispensers, and in particular to a premix beverage dispenser that i5 inexpensive, simple, easy to operate and to maintain, and can be operated in either an electrical or a nonelectrical mode.

Beverage dispensers are well-known, particularly for post-mix operation in which a syrup is mixed with carbonated water in a valve and nozzle, for example, as shown in U.S. Patents 4,357,284; 4,479,520; and 4,493,441.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A premix dispensing system for use with three replaceable four-liter PET beverage bottles including a C2 cylindex, an adapter for connecting the C02 cylinder to the bottles for pressurizing the bottles for dispensing therefrom and for maintaining the carbonation thereof, a refrigeration system for cooling beverage conduits extending from the bottles to dispensing valves, and three dispensing valves for dispensing the desired amount of cold beverage from a particular bottle. The adapter allows an empty bottle to be easily ; replaced with a new full bottle. The entire refrigeration system can be easily removed for switching between an electrical system and a cold plate system.
It is an object of an aspect of the present invention to provide an inexpensive and simple to use premix beverage dispenser.
It is an object of an aspect of the invention to provide a premix beverage dispenser that can be easily converted from electrical to nonelectrical operation.
It is an object of an aspect of the invention to provide a simple, inexpensive, and easy to operate adapter for connecting a CO2 cylinder to a bottle, and to a dis-pensing valve through a cooling system.
It is an object of an aspect of this invention to provide an adapter that automatically opens and closes the C02 line to the bottle as the bottle is connected thereto and disconnected therefrom, respectively.
Various aspects of the invention are as follows:
A premix dispenser comprising:
a) a housing;
b) a refrigeration system mounted in said housing and including a plurality of beverage cooling coils, c) a CO2 cylinder;
d) a plurality of beverage dispensing valves and a plurality of buttons for actuating a respective one of said valves to dispense a beverage;
e) a plurality of adapters for connecting to an opening in a respective one of a plurality of premix beverage containers, said containers being completely open to atmosphere through said openings;
f) CO2 conduit means connecting said CO2 cylinder to each of said adapters;
g) a plurality of beverage conduits connected one each between a respective one of said adapters and a respective one of said cooling coils;
h) a plurality of beverage valve conduits connected one each between a respective one of said cooling coils and a respective one of said valves;

2a i) regulator means for controlling the pressure of CO2 applied to said adapters;
j) each of said adapters including:
i) a beverage passageway having an external fitting for connecting to one of said beverage container conduits and having a dip tube for extending down into beverage container; said beverage passageway including only a check valve therein for preventing beverage from flowing backwards through said passageway and dip tube;
ii) a CO2 passageway including only a single valve means therein movable between a normally closed first pcsition closing said CO2passageway, and a second, open position opening said CO2 passageway; and iii) connecting means for matingly connecting said adapter to a premi~ beverage container connecting means.
A premix dispenser comprising:
a) a housing;
b) a refrigeration system mounted in said housing and including a plurality of beverage cooling coils;
c) a CO2 cylinder;
d) a plurality of beverage dispensing valves and a plurality of buttons for actuating a respective one of said valves to dispense a beverage;
e) a plurality of adapters for connecting to a respective one of a plurality of premix beverage containers;
f) CO2 conduit means connecting said CO2 cylinder to each of said adapters;
g) a plurality of beverage conduits connected one each between a respective one of said adapters and a recpective one of said cooling coils;
h) a plurality of beverage valve conduits connected one each between a respective one of said cooling coils and a respective one of said valves;

,~

2b 1 3 2 3 338 i) regulator means for controlling the pressure of CO2 applied to said adapters;
j) each of said adapters including:
i) a beverage passageway having an external fitting for connecting to one of said beverage container conduits and having a dip tube for extending down into a beverage container;
ii) a CO2 passageway including valve means therein movable between a normally closed first position closing said CO2 passageway, and a second, open position opening said CO2passageway;
and iii) said adapter including means for automatically moving said CO2 valve means from said first to said second position when said adapter is connected to a container.
A method for dispensing any one of a plurality of cold beverages comprising the steps of:
a) pressurizing a plurality of premix containers with CO2 gas at a pressure of about 55 psi to both dispense beverage therefrom and to maintain their carbonation;
b) feeding beverage from each of said containers through a respective adapter and a beverage conduit connected to said adapter to a beverage dispensing valve;
c) cooling the beverages in said conduits; and d) said pressurizing step comprising connecting a CO2 conduit to said adapter having a normally closed C02 valve, having coupling means for connecting said adapter to an opening of a beverage container through which opening said container is completely open to atmosphere r and having valve actuating means for automatically opening said COz conduit when said adapter is connected to a container, and connecting said adapter to a container to pressurize said container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be more fully understood from the detailed description below when read in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements and wherein:
Fig. 1 is a perspective, partly-broken away, view of a premix beverage dispenser according to a preferred embodiment of the Present invention;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the refrigeration system used in the dispenser of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the bottle adapter of the present invention;
Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional side view through the adapter of Fig. 3 taken along line 4-4 thereof;
Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

!F~

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the housing of the dispenser of Fig. l;
Fig. 7 is a partial top view of the water bath enclosure and the cooling coils of the refrigeration system shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 8 i5 a partial side elevational view of the cooling coils and beverage conduits.
Fig. 9 is a broken-away, perspective view of a permix dispenser according to a preferred embodiment of this invention;
Fig. 10 is an exploded, perspective view of the adapter used in the dispenser of Fig. 9;
Fig. 11 is a plan view of the adapter of Fig. lO;
Fig. 12 is a cross-secti~nal view of the adapter in it~ cloæed position taken along line 13-13 of Fig.
11;
Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12 but showing the adapter open;
Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view through the adapter of Fig. ll taken along line 14-14, and showing the C02 passage open; and Fig. 15 is a front, top left side perspective of the dispenser of Fig. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE P EFERR~D_ MBODIMENTS
With reference now to the drawings, Figs. 1-8 show a premix dispenser 10 according to one embodiment of the present ~nvention.
The dispenser 10 includes a housing 12; three four-liter PET beverage bottles 14, 15 and 16; a C02 cylinder 18; 2 rerigeratlon system 20; three mechanical beverage dispensing valves 22, 23 and 24 actuated by three buttons 22', 23' and 24' respectively; three nozzles 26, 27 and 28; a C02 4 132333~
tube 30 from the cylinder 18 to the bottles 14, 15 and 16;
three beverage conduits 32, 33 and 34 from the bottles to the refrigeration system; and three valve conduits, two of which (36 and 37) are shown from the refrigeration system to the valves.
The housing is a rectangular box having a beverage dispensing station 40 with the nozzles 26, 27 and 28 and a drip tray 42. Three buttons 22', 23' and 24' are located above the station 40 for actuating the nozzles. The housing includes a top panel 44 and a front panel 46 for providing access to the bottles and the cylinder 18 for replacing empties. A front panel 48 provides access to the valves. The left rear portion of the housing includes a water bath enclosure 50. The housing can be made of any desired material.
Three beverage bottles 14, 15 and 16 are the source of the beverages. Preferably, four-liter PET bottles are used; however, other containers such as two- and three-liter PET bottles can be used.
The CO2 cylinder 18 is pre~erably a 2.5 pound cylinder with a 55 psi regulator. The C02 cylinder and regulator can be as described, for example, in U.S. Patents 4,357,284 and 4,479,520.
The refrigeration system 20 as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 7 and 8 includes a deck 52, adapted to rest on the water bath enclosure 50, a 1/12 hp compressor 54, a condenser 56, three zets of metal, beverage cooling coils 67, 68 and 69, an ice bank control 60, a motor-agitator 62, and a refrigerator coil 58. This is a standard refrigeration system, such as is shown in U.S. Patent 4,493,441, and thus it need not be shown and described herein in detail. This refrigeration system also includes two handles 54 and 65, which can be used to ~ 5 ~ 1323338 lift the entire system 20 out of the housing 12. The ~ystem 20 can be replaced with a standard cold plate 6ystem cooled by ice, for use when electricity i6 not available. The cooling coils 58 are preferably each 25 feet long. The water enclosure 50 contains fifteen pounds of water. This system~can make approximately one pound of ice. When a cold plate system is used, it can hold twenty pounds of ice. Product inlet and outlet quick connects facilitate the easy exchange of one cooling system for the other.
The valves 22, 23 and 24 are standard mechanical valves for premix application. Beverage is dispensed as long as the spring loaded buttons are depressed.
Plastic tubing 66 connects each valve to one of the three metal coils in the refrigeration 6y3tem, similar to the arrangement shown in Fig. 8. Each valve dispenses the beverage through a respective one of the nozzles 26, 27 and 28.
The C02 tube 30 carries C02 gas to each of the bottles 14, 15 and 16 by a manifold or three-way connector (not shown~. The beverage conduits 32, 33 and 34 are connected from the bottles to a respective one of the refrigeration system cooling coils as shown in Fig. 8.
The dispenser lO include~ three adapters 70, each connected to a respective one of the beverage conduits 32, 33 and 34. The adapters 70 are shown in detail in Fig~. 3, 4 and 5 and include a valve body 72 and a coupler ring 74 held to the body 72 by an E-clip 76. The body 72 and coupler 74 are sealed together by an 0-ring 78. The coupler rinq 74 i8 internally screw-threaded for attachment to a bottle; a gasket 79 seals the coupler ring 74 to the bottle.

The valv~ bcdy 72 includes a beverag~
passageway 80, a fitting (similar to fitting 82) at one end of the passageway 90 for connecting to one of the beverage conduits 32, 33 and 34, and a dip tube ~4 at the other end of the passageway for extending down to the bottom of the bottle. The valve body 72 also includes a spool valve chamber 86 for a slidable, two-position, spool valve 88. The body 72 also includes a C02 gas inlet port 90, a C02 inlet passageway 94 and C02 vent passageway 96. In one position, the spool valve opens communication between port 90 and passageway 94 while closing the vent port 92, to pressurize the bottle. In its other position, the spool valve clo6es communication between the inlet port 90 and inlet pas ageway 94, while opening communication between the vent port 92 and vent passageway 96, to vent the bottle to atmo~phere while preventing loss of C02 to atmosphere from the cylinder 18.
in operation, when a bottle is empty, it is a simple matter to replace it. The front panel 46 i8 removed, the spool valve moved to its vent position, the adapter removed from the bottle and connected to a new bottle, and the spool valve returned to its pressurizing po~ition. The C02 cylinder 18 is adequate for up to about 50 four-liter bottles. It i8 then easily replaced with a full cylinder.
Figs. 9-14 show a premix dispenser 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
The di~penser 100 includes a housing 112; three four-liter PET premix beverage bottle~ 114, 115, and 116; a C02 cylinder 118; a refrigeration system 120;
three mechanical beverage dispenfiing valves 122, 123 and 124 actuated by three push button~ 122', 123', and .

_ 7 _ 1 32 3338 124', respectively; i ree nozzles 126, 127 and 128; a CO~ tube 130 from the C02 cylinder 118 to a manifold 119 and from there to the bottles 114, 115 and 116; three beverage conduits 132, 133 and 134 from the bottles to the refrigeration system; and three valve conduits (of which only two are shown, i.e. 136 and 137) from the refrigeration system to the valves.
The housing 112 i8 a rectangular box having a beverage dispensing station 140 with the nozzles 126, 127 and 128 and a drip tray 142. Three selector buttons 360, 361 and 362 are located above the station 140 for pushing the buttons 122', 123' and 124'. The housing includes a top panel 364 and a front panel 146 for providing access to the bottle~ and the cylinder 118 for replacing empties. A front panel 366 provides access to the valves. The left rear portion of the hou~ing includes a water bath enclosure 150.
The housing can be made of any desired material. The front panel includes an upper panel 340 hinged to a lower panel 342. The lower p~nel includes a pair of sidewalls 343 and 344 and a floor (not shown) on which a C02 bottle fitting 131 is mounted. The floor is connected to a pair of slide6 346, whe.eby the front panel can be slid out from the dispenser. A holder 348 rests on the floor and receives the three bottles and the C02 cylinder. Thu8, access to the bottles and C02 cylinder iR easily provided by folding down the upper panel 340 and pulling out entire assembly on the slide~ 346. One half of each of the slide~ 346 i8 connected to the floor of ths housing 112 while the movable half of each slide i8 connected to the floor of the front panel.
Three beverage bottles 114, 115 and 116 are the source of the beverages. Preferably, four-liter PET

8 132333~
bottles are used; however, other containers such as two-and three-liter PET bottles can be used.
The C02 cylinder 118 is preferably a 2.5 pound cylinder with a 55 psi regulator. The C02 cylinder and regulator can be as described, for example, in U.S. Patents 4,357,284 and 4,479,520.
The refrigeration system 120 as shown in Fig. 9, includes a deck 152, adapted to rest on the water bath enclosure 150, a 1/12 hp compressor 154, a condenser 156, three sets of metal, beverage cooling coils 67, 68 and 69 as shown in Figs. 1, 7 and 8, an ice bank control 160, a motor-agitator 162, and a refrigerator,coil 158. This is a standard refrigeration system, such as is shown in U.S.
Patent 4,493,441, and thus it need not be shown and described herein in detail. This refrigeration system can include handles for use in lifting the entire system 20 out of the housing 12. The system 120 can be replaced with a standard cold plate system cooled by ice, for use when electricity is not available. The cooling coils 158 are preferably each 25 feet long. The water bath enclosure 150 contains fifteen pounds of water. This system can make approximately one pound of ice. When a cold plate system is used, it can hold twenty pounds of ice. Product inlet and outlet quick connects facilitate the easy exchange of one cooling system for the other.
The valves 122, 123 and 124 are standard mechanical valves for premix application. Beverage is dispensed as long as the spring loaded buttons are depressed. Plastic tubing 66 connects each valve to one of the three metal coils in the refrigeration system, similar to the arrangement shown in Fig. 8.

Each valve dispenses the beverage through a respective one of the no~zles 126, 127 and 128.
The C02 tube 130 carries CO2 gas to each of the bottles 114, 115 and 116 by the manifold 119. The beverage conduits 132, 133 and 134 are connected from the bottles to a re~pective one of the refrigeration system cooling coils.
The di6penser 110 includes three adapters 170, each connected to a respective one of the beverage conduits 132, 133 and 134. The adapters 170 are shown in detail in Figs. 10-14.
The adapter 170 includes a beverage passageway 300 with a check.valve 312, a C02 passage 302 with a Schraeder valve 316, a C02 vent hole 304, and coupling means 306 for connecting the adapter 170 to a bottle.
The beverage passageway 300 includes a fitting 308 to attach to one of the beverage conduits 132, 133 or 134, and a tube 310 extending down into the bottle and into which the top end of a dip tube 184 is i~serted.
The top end of the tube 310 preferably includes the check valve 312; this check valve can prevent product in the dip tube from leaking out the adapter when the product conduit is di~connected.
The C02 pa~sage includes a fitting 314 and the Schraeder valve 316. The valve 316 include~ a movable valve stem 318 that control~ C02 flow through the valve 312 from an inlet port 320 to an outlet port 322.
An O-rinq 324 provides a seal between tho~e two ports.
The adapter 170 also includes a valve actuator 326.
The valve actuator 326 include~ a movable plate 328 biased downwardly (as viewed in Fi~. 12-14) by a spring 330, but movable upwardly by the top edge of a bottle as the adapter i~ ~crew-threaded thereon. As the bottle moves up into the adapter, the plate 328 contacts the valve stem 318 and eventually open~ the C2 passage 302. The CO2 then can flow through the fitting 314, into port 320, out port 322, through a ~lanted passage 334, and then through port 336 in the plate 328 and into the bottle; A plug 332 holds the valve 316 in place.
The adapter 170 includes the following venting feature. As the bottle is removed from the adapter 170, the stem 318 moves enough to close the CO2 passage while the screw threads still hold the bottle.
Then, a~ the bottle continues to move down, but while the screw thread6 continue to hold the bottle, the CO2 vent pa~sage 304 i8 uncovered allowing the pre~sure in the bottle to be released, while the bottle is ~till connected to the adapter 170. Further unscrewing will finally disconnect the bottle from the adapter.
While the adapter can be made in any way and of any desired material, it is preferably made of upper and lower bodies 350 and 352, respectively, held together by screws. The lower body includes the coupling mean~ 306 which are preferably internal ~crew threads 354. The movable plate 328 includes an opening 356 to accommodate the lower end of the tube 310 into which the dip tube lB4 is inserted.
While two embodiments of thi~ invention have been described above in detail, it i~ to be understood that variation~ and modifications can be made therein without departing from the 6pirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in tXe appended claims.
For example, while standard bottles have been shown, e~pecially shaped containers can be used to increase capac~ty. Also, other numberg and ~izes of bottles can be used. The preferred adapter ha~ been shown, but other designs can be u6ed. Other types and location~

of valves and nozzles can be used. The preferred pressure has been de~cribed, but others can be used, especially if diferent containers are used.

Claims (14)

1. A premix dispenser comprising:
a) a housing;
b) a refrigeration system mounted in said housing and including a plurality of beverage cooling coils;
c) a CO2 cylinder;
d) a plurality of beverage dispensing valves and a plurality of buttons for actuating a respective one of said valves to dispense a beverage;
e) a plurality of adapters for connecting to an opening in a respective one of a plurality of premix beverage containers, said containers being completely open to atmosphere through said openings;
f) CO2 conduit means connecting said CO2 cylinder to each of said adapters;
g) a plurality of beverage conduits connected one each between a respective one of said adapters and a respective one of said cooling coils;
h) a plurality of beverage valve conduits connected one each between a respective one of said cooling coils and a respective one of said valves;
i) regulator means for controlling the pressure of CO2 applied to said adapters;
j) each of said adapters including:
i) a beverage passageway having an external fitting for connecting to one of said beverage container conduits and having a dip tube for extending down into beverage container; said beverage passageway including only a check valve therein for preventing beverage from flowing backwards through said passageway and dip tube;
ii) a CO2 passageway including only a single valve means therein movable between a normally closed first position closing said CO2 passageway, and a second, open position opening said CO2 passageway; and iii) connecting means for matingly connecting said adapter to a premix beverage container connecting means.
2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 including three four-liter PET beverage bottles in said housing and connected one each to one of said adapters.
3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein both of said connecting means are screw threads.
4. A premix dispenser comprising:
a) a housing;
b) a refrigeration system mounted in said housing and including a plurality of beverage cooling coils;
c) a CO2 cylinder;
d) a plurality of beverage dispensing valves and a plurality of buttons for actuating a respective one of said valves to dispense a beverage;
e) a plurality of adapters for connecting to a respective one of a plurality of premix beverage containers;
f) CO2 conduit means connecting said CO2 cylinder to each of said adapters;
g) a plurality of beverage conduits connected one each between a respective one of said adapters and a respective one of said cooling coils;
h) a plurality of beverage valve conduits connected one each between a respective one of said cooling coils and a respective one of said valves;
i) regulator means for controlling the pressure of CO2 applied to said adapters;
j) each of said adapters including:
i) a beverage passageway having an external fitting for connecting to one of said beverage container conduits and having a dip tube for extending down into a beverage container;
ii) a CO2 passageway including valve means therein movable between a normally closed first position closing said CO2 passageway, and a second, open position opening said CO2 passageway; and iii) said adapter including means for automatically moving said CO2 valve means from said first to said second position when said adapter is connected to a container.
5. The apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said adapter includes movable valve actuator means for moving said CO2 valve means.
6. The apparatus as recited in claim 5 including a plurality of premix beverage containers connected one each to a respective one of said adapters.
7. The apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said adapter includes CO2 vent means for venting to atmosphere CO2 from a container connected to said adapter, after the container has been disconnected far enough to close said CO2 valve means but not far enough to disconnect the container from said adapter.
8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 including a plurality of premix beverage containers connected one each to a respective one of said adapters.
9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said containers are four-liter PET beverage bottles.
10. The apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said vent means is at least one gas passageway through said adapter extending from an inlet port in said screw threads to an outlet port on an outside surface of said adapter.
11. The apparatus as recited in claim 4 including a plurality of premix beverage containers connected one each to a respective one of said adapters.
12. The apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein said containers are four-liter PET beverage bottles.
13. A method for dispensing any one of a plurality of cold beverages comprising the steps of:
a) pressurizing a plurality of premix containers with CO2 gas at a pressure of about 55 psi to both dispense beverage therefrom and to maintain their carbonation;
b) feeding beverage from each of said containers through a respective adapter and a beverage conduit connected to said adapter to a beverage dispensing valve;
c) cooling the beverages in said conduits; and d) said pressurizing step comprising connecting a CO2 conduit to said adapter having a normally closed CO2 valve, having coupling means for connecting said adapter to an opening of a beverage container through which opening said container is completely open to atmosphere, and having valve actuating means for automatically opening said CO2 conduit when said adapter is connected to a container, and connecting said adapter to a container to pressurize said container.
14. The method as recited in claim 13 including disconnecting said adapter from said container, including venting the pressure in said container to atmosphere after beginning said disconnecting step but while said adapter is still connected to said container.
CA 570272 1987-07-14 1988-06-23 Premix dispensing system Expired - Fee Related CA1323338C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US73,041 1987-07-14
US07/073,041 US4836414A (en) 1986-05-02 1987-07-14 Premix dispensing system

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1323338C true CA1323338C (en) 1993-10-19

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 570272 Expired - Fee Related CA1323338C (en) 1987-07-14 1988-06-23 Premix dispensing system

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US (1) US4836414A (en)
EP (1) EP0299767B1 (en)
JP (1) JPS6445292A (en)
KR (1) KR890001865A (en)
CN (1) CN1015702B (en)
AR (1) AR240166A1 (en)
AT (1) ATE71056T1 (en)
AU (1) AU611165B2 (en)
BR (1) BR8803520A (en)
CA (1) CA1323338C (en)
DE (1) DE3867346D1 (en)
ES (1) ES2027762T3 (en)
IE (1) IE60738B1 (en)
MX (1) MX166027B (en)
ZA (1) ZA884979B (en)

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ZA884979B (en) 1989-03-29
IE881790L (en) 1989-01-14
CN1015702B (en) 1992-03-04
US4836414A (en) 1989-06-06
DE3867346D1 (en) 1992-02-13
BR8803520A (en) 1989-02-08
IE60738B1 (en) 1994-08-10
EP0299767A1 (en) 1989-01-18
AU1829088A (en) 1989-01-19
AU611165B2 (en) 1991-06-06
KR890001865A (en) 1989-04-06
MX166027B (en) 1992-12-16
AR240166A1 (en) 1990-02-28
EP0299767B1 (en) 1992-01-02
ES2027762T3 (en) 1992-06-16
CN1030558A (en) 1989-01-25
ATE71056T1 (en) 1992-01-15
JPS6445292A (en) 1989-02-17

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