US2888040A - Soda water dispenser - Google Patents

Description

May 26, 1959 H. J. TERWILLIGER ETL 2,888,040

SODA WATER DISPENSER 3 Sheets-Sheet i1 Filed July 26, 1955 *Afro/wins May 26, 1959 A H. J. TERWILLIGER ET 'AL 2,888,040

SODA WATER DISPENSER Filed July 26', 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 H. J. TERWILLIGER ET AL 2,888,040

May 26, 1959 soDA WATER DISPENSER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 26, 1955 I N V EN TOR.$

#amv/ra J. Tiny/a /a'fe By ,Pasir M film/z man i Arro/vfys Mar United States Patent O i SODA WATER DISPENSER Howard J. Terwilliger, Ferndale, Mich., Robert H.

Terwilliger, Los Angeles, Calif., and Henry L. Terwilliger, Detroit, Mich., assignors to Cee and Tee Products, Inc., Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application July 26, 1955, Serial No. 524,452

12 Claims. (Cl. 137-635) This invention relates to a beverage dispenser for a soda fountain and more particularly to a dispenser for discharging soda water either alone or simultaneously with a flavored syrup.

It is an object of the invention to provide a dispenser in the form of a casing provided with a handle that can be actuated such as to dispense the soda water alone or soda water mixed with one of several syrups.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of the dispenser for soda water provided with means for thoroughly mixing the soda water to insure a more even distribution of the CO2 gas in the `Water and thereby insure a soda water having a pleasing taste.

More specifically, the invention contemplates a soda water dispenser which in one embodiment in the form of a casing provided with a handle, the handle being actuatable in a circular path substantially perpendicular to the axis of the casing to select a particular combination of soda water and syrup and actuatable in a direction generally parallel to the axis of the casing to dispense the soda water-syrup mixture selected. The handle is connected with a shaft within the casing, the shaft being in the nature of a valve for controlling the ow of soda water through the dispenser, the shaft also being provided with means for selectively engaging one of several auxiliary valves when the handle is turned for discharging a particular syrup into the stream of soda water being dispensed. The syrup passageway intersects the outlet passageway of the dispenser such that when the handle is released to stop the flow, soda water flows into the syrup passageway to seal off this passageway from the air and thereby prevent the syrup remaining in the passageway from drying out.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical, longitudinal section through one form of the dispenser of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View along the lines 2-2 in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View along the lines 3 3 in Fig. l and showing the arrangement of syrup passages in conjunction with the main soda water discharge passage.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view along the lines 4-4 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an end view of the dispenser shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a vertical, longitudinal sectional view of another form of dispenser according to this invention.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view along the lines 7--7 in Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Fig. l, the ydispenser is illustrated as having a casing 10 comprising a front half section 12 and a rear half section 14 which sections are secured together at their abutting faces 13 and 15, respectively, by socket head screws 16. Casing 10 is fashioned with a central cylindrical bore 18 in which there is slidably arranged a shaft 20. At its front end shaft is provided with a vertical slot 22 therethrough, and there is engaged within slot 22 the lower end of a lever 24. Lever 24 has an enlarged spherical portion 26 which is seated Within a socket 28 on a sleeve 30 rotatably supported on the front end portion 32 of casing member 12. A cap member 34 threadedly engages the portion of sleeve 30 surrounding socket 28 so that when assembled 2,888,040 Patented May 26, 1,7959

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lever 24 is mounted on the casing with a ball and socket joint.

Sleeve 30 is retained on the end portion 32 of casing member 10 by means of an end cap 36 which is secured to the end of portion 32 in abutting relation with sleeve 30 by means of a pin 38. The lower end portion 40 of lever 24 which is engaged in slot 22 is generally circular in shape. The end portion 32 of casing member 12 has an arcuate portion 42 removed from the wall thereof to accommodate the lower end 40 of lever 24. The arcuate slot 42 extends across the upper half of the cylindrical end portion 32 so that lever 24 together with sleeve 30 can be rotated through an angle of about 110 on the end portion 32 of casing member 12. The upper end of lever 24 is threaded to receive handle-forming members 44. It will be observed that the slot 22 in shaft 20 and the end 40 of lever 24 provide a connection between these members such that, when handle 44 is rotated in a plane perpendicular to the axis of shaft 20, the shaft rotates on its axis within bore 18, and when the handle 44 is pivoted about the ball and socket joint 28, 30, 34 in a direction downwardly and towards the end cap 36, shaft 20 4is slidably actuated within bore 18.

At its opposite end bore 18 is ensmalled as at 46 and a conduit 48 is secured to the end of casing member 14 in communication with the ensmalled opening 46. The face 13 of casing member 12 is formed with a pocket 50 lgenerally concentric with the bore 18. At its inner end, pocket 50 is formed with a shoulder 52. It will be observed that, when members 12 and 14 are secured together as illustrated, pocket 50 defines a chamber surrounding shaft 20. Shaft 20 is provided with an annular valve head member 54 which, when shaft 20 moves in a direction towards the front end of casing 10, seats against shoulder 52 and thereby seals the chamber 50 from the portion of bore 18 ahead of valve head 54. Valve head 54 is preferably formed of a synthetic rubber compound which is unaffected by soda water and tasteless and odorless. A baffle plate 56 is xedly seated on shaft 20 adjacent valve head 54. Battle plate 56 is disposed within chamber 50` but has a diameter slightly less than chamber 50vso that soda water is enabled to flow into chamber 50, around the clearance space 58, between the wall of chamber 50 and the outer edge of baille plate 56, through bore 18, and out of the dispenser through the main discharge passageway 60. The portion of shaft 20 just ahead of valve head 54 is of reduced diameter such as at 62 to enable the soda water owing from chamber 50 to pass freely out through passageway 60. An O ring 64 or the like provides a sliding seal between shaft 20 and bore 18 at a point ahead of the reduced portion 62.

Casing member 14 is formed with a plurality of axially extending bores 66 which are arranged circumferentially of bore 18. The bores 66 are shown as three in number, the axis of each of which is spaced the same radial distance from the axis of bore 18 (see Fig. 2). At the inner face 15 of casing member 14, bores 66 are threaded as at 68 for threaded engagement with a valve housing 70. Valve housing 70 has a snug fit in bore 66 and is sealed therein Iby annular seals 72. Valve housing 70 is provided with an axial bore 74 Iwhich slidably receives a plunger 76. At its rear end housing 70 is fashioned with a conical seat 78, and plunger 76 is provided with an annular valve member 80 which is adapted to seat on seat 78 to prevent the flow of syrup .across the valve.

Each of the bores 66 is provided with a passageway 82 communicating with a socket 84 at the rear end of casing member 14. In each of the sockets 84 there is arranged a conduit 86, each of the conduits leading to a pressurized syrup receptacle. Valve plunger 76 is biased by a spring 88 to a position wherein Valve 80 seats upon seat 78.., Casing members 12 and 1,4 are pro,-

assenso vided with registering passageways 96 and 92, each passageway 90 communicating with a bore 66 and each passageway 92 communicating with the main discharge passageway 60. The arrangement is such that, when plunger 76 is shifted in a direction from right to left as viewed in Fig. l to unseat valve Si), syrup is caused to ow through conduit S6 into passageway 82, into bore 66, around valve head 81%, through central bore 74 in housing 70, and out through a radial passageway S34 in housing 70, through passageways 9@ and 92 and out of the casing through passageway 60.

The means for actuating plunger 76 preferably comprises a button or knob member $6 on baille plate 56. Knob 96 is iixedly secured to baille plate 56 such that it may -be positioned in alignment with the projecting end portion 98 of any of the plungers 76 when shaft 2l) is rotated on its axis. To facilitate positioning of 4button 96 in alignment with the end portion 98 of plunger 76, shaft is provided with a series of slots Itlt which correspond in number and position to the plungers 76. A spring-biased ball detent 102 is arranged to engage within the slots 100 when shaft 20 is rotated. In other words, the slots 199 are disposed such that, when the detent 192 is engaged in one of the slots, button 96 is in alignment with one of the plungers 76. It will be noted that, when handle is pivoted downwardly to shift shaft Ztl in a direction axially rearwardly, button 96 abuts against the end portion in one of the plungers 76 and shifts the plunger axially to thereby unseat valve head and permit the flow of syrup through the corresponding passageways 9G and 92.

The rear end portion of casing It is fitted with a threaded sleeve i04- which encloses the three conduits 36 and the conduit 43. Sleeve 104 is adapted to be threaded into a complementary female tting on a soda fountain or the like for mounting the dispenser in its operative position. The conduits 86 each extend to a pressurized receptacle containing syrup, and the conduit 48 extends to a carbonator or other source of carbonated water. Suitable indicia E86 are inscribed on the outer surface of casing member :t2 to visibly indicate the various positions of rotative adjustment of handle 44. The indicia correspond in position and representation with the plunger 7 6 controlling the ow of the different syrups. For instance, if the plunger 76 directly below shaft 2t) controls the flow of cola syrup through the dispenser, the indicia tl at the center top portion of casing member 12 would read cola It will be appreciated, of course, that under some circumstances it is desired to discharge soda water alone. Therefore, one of the indicia 106 is disposed relative to the others such that, when the handle is turned to the indicia indicating soda water, the button 96 is out of registration with all of the plungers 76. Under such circumstances, when handle 44 is pivoted downwardly, shaft 2@ will rbe shifted axially rearwardly to permit the flow of carbonated water from passageway 60, but at the same time none of the valve plungers 76 will be actuated.

It will be noted that in my novel dispenser construction the shaft 2@ not only serves as a means for controlling the flow of soda water through the dispenser but also as a means for selectively actuating the valves which control the ow of syrup through the dispenser. At the same time, the single handle member 44 is arranged to be rotated about the axis of the dispenser for selecting the proper beverage combination to be discharged from the dispenser and pivoted in a plane generally parallel to the axis of the dispenser for discharging the mixture selected from the dispenser.

It will also be observed that, when shaft 20 is moved axially in bore 18 to unseat valve member 54, the bathe cooperates with chamber 5@ to produce considerable turbulence of the soda water owing therethrough. I have found that this turbulence is desirable because it produces more uniform distribution of CO2 gas in the carbonated water and thereby produces a more pleasing taste. With many soda water dispensers with which I am familiar, the soda water is caused to flow through a devious passageway without appreciable turbulence. Under such conditions, there is a tendency for the CO2 gas to become released from the carbonated water. The bathe plate also provides the means for selectively actuating the plunger controlling the flow of syrup. In addition, it will be noted that the pressure of the carbonated water against the bafe plate and the rear end of shaft 20 tends to seat vave read 54 on seat 52. Thus, the line pressure is utilized for closing the soda water valve.

As mentioned previously, valve housings 7h are threaded as at 6d in the bores 66. The threaded connection at (ad enables valve housing 70 to be adjusted axially in bores 66; and thus, the dispenser can be adjusted so that the opening of the syrup valve can be controlled with respect to time relative to the opening of the soda water valve. For example, if the valve housings 70 are adjused in bores 66 so that there is a short lag between the opening of the soda water valve and the syrup valve, then soda water will start flowing shortly before the syrup valve opens and will continue to ow for a very short interval following the closing of the syrup valve. In this connection, it will be observed that syrup passageway 92 intersects the main discharge passageway 6u at an acute angle so that at its outer end, passageway 92 forms around its lower side a lip lt against which the soda water impinges as it flows down through the main discharge passageway 60.

in observing the operation of this dispenser in the form of a transparent model, it has been noted that `when the handle dit is released to shut off the flow of soda water and syrup, a portion of the soda water flowing down through passageway 6i) ows up into passageway 92 either by capillary action or by reason of the direct impingement against the lip lr03 and thus seals off this passageway. This action occurs even when the valve housings 78 are adjusted so that the soda water valve and the syrup valve shut off at approximately the same instant. A very slight amount of syrup remains in passageway 90, and the soda water which flows up into passageways 92 and seals off these passageways from communication with the air and thus prevents the syrup remaining in passageway 9th from drying out. At the same time, the syrup valve structure is sealed off from the air by the soda water flowing into passageways 90 and 92; and these syrup valves are also prevented from drying out and becoming sticky.

In Figs. 6 and 7, there is illustrated another form of dispenser embodying the present invention. This form of dispenser differs from the embodiment previously described primarily in that the dispenser illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 is adapted for dispensing a combination of soda water and one particular syrup. Thus, the shaft 20 at the handle end of the dispenser is of simplified construction. Shaft 2@ is simply provided with a knob 110 at its outer end and `with an axially extending groove 112 engaged by a detent 1111! so that the shaft 20 is prevented from rotating about its axis. In this position of the shaft 20, the button 96 on baffle plate 56 is aligned axially with the plunger 76 of the syrup valve. In other respects, the arrangement shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is substantially the same as the embodiment of the invention previously described. The action of baffle plate 56, the adjustment of valve housing 70 and the action of the soda water flowing into passageways 90 and 92 is substantially the same as described above with reference to the dispenser shown `in Figs. l and 5. This simplified form of dispenser is adapted for use in those circumstances where a particular faucet will be used for dispensingk only one beverage such as ginger ale, rootbeer or Coca Cola.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a dispenser for beverages, particularly soda water, which is designed such that, by simple manipulation of a single handle,

either soda water alone or a mixture of soda water Aand one of several syrups is discharged from the dispenser.

This application is a continuation-impart of our copending application Serial No. 240,338, filed August 4, 1951.

We claim:

1. A faucet for dispensing soda water either alone or mixed with one of several syrups comprising a casing having an axially extending bore therein, a shaft rotatably supported within said bore and slidable axially therein, said bore comprising a passageway for soda water and having an inlet at one end, a discharge passageway extending generally transversely of and intersecting said bore, said bore having a radially enlarged portion intermediate said inlet and the point of intersection of said discharge passageway therewith, said radially enlarged portion forming a chamber for producing turbulence in the soda water stream and dividing said bore into axially spaced inlet and outlet portions, said discharge passageway communicating with said outlet portion of said bore, a valve member on said shaft in said chamber, said valve member being arranged lto normally close the inlet portion of said bore from communication with the outlet portion of said bore, a plurality ofindependent syrup passageways each having an inlet at one end and opening at the other end into said discharge passageway, a valve for controlling each of said syrup passageways, said last mentioned valves being arranged circumferentially of said shaft, and means fixed on said shaft rotatable to positions selectively cooperating with each of said syrup passageway valves when the shaft is rotated, said means being arranged to actuate the syrup passageway valve with which it is positioned to cooperate when the shaft is shifted axially.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said discharge passageway has an inlet communicating with said soda water passageway beyond said chamber and has a discharge opening at its opposite end, said syrup passageway opening into said discharge passageway closely adjacent said discharge opening.

3. The combination set forth in claim l wherein said syrup passageway valves project into said chamber, said means for actuating said syrup passageway valves being disposed within said chamber.

4. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said syrup passageway valves project into said chamber and including a bafe plate on said shaft within said chamber, said baffle plate being slightly less in diameter than said chamber and having means thereon selectively engageable with the portion of said syrup passageway valves projecting into said chamber when said shaft is rotated.

5. The combination set forth in claim l including a baffle plate on said shaft and disposed within said chamber, said bafe plate having a diameter slightly less than the diameter of said chamber.

6. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein the portions of said soda water passageway communicating with said chamber are of substantially less diameter than said bafe plate and are aligned coaxially with said baiile plate.

7. A faucet for dispensing soda water either alone or mixed with one of several syrups comprising a front casing member, a rear casing member, said casing members being secured together at abutting faces thereof and having aligned openings therein which form an axially extending bore in said connected casing members which provides a soda water passageway having an inlet at one end, said bore being radially enlarged at said abutting faces to form a chamber for producing turbulence in the soda water stream, a shaft rotatably supported in said bore `and slidable axially therein, a valve member on said shaft in said chamber for controlling the flow of soda water through said bore, a discharge passageway extending transversely of and intersecting said bore on the outlet side of said chamber, a plurality of independent syrup last mentioned valves being arranged circumferentially of said shaft, means fixed on said shaft and rotatable to positions selectively cooperating with each of said syrup passageway valves when the shaft is rotated, said means being arranged to actuate the syrup passageway'valve with which it is positioned to cooperate when the shaft is shifted axially and a baffle on said'shaft and within said chamber, said baffle in axial projection being of greater size than the cross section of said bore.

8. A faucet for dispensing a soda water-syrup mixture comprising a casing having an axially extending bore therein, a shaft slidable axially in said bore, said bore comprising a passageway for soda water and having an inlet at one end, a discharge passageway communicating with said bore adjacent its other end, a valve associated with said shaft for controlling the ow of soda water through said bore in response to reciprocation of said shaft, a syrup passageway in said casing having an inlet at one end and opening into said discharge passageway at its other end, said syrup passageway including a second bore in said casing extending generally parallel to said rst mentioned` bore, a valve structure in said second bore for controlling the ow of syrup through said syrup passageway, said valve structure comprising a valve body threadedly engaged with said second bore and adjustable axially of said second bore, a valve member axially t movable on said valve body and cooperating therewith to open and close said syrup passageway when the valve member is moved axially of said valve body, said valve member having a portion projecting outwardly of said body, said shaft having a portion engageable with the projecting portion of said valve member to actuate said valve member and thereby open and close said syrup passageway in response to axial movement of said shaft whereby said valve body can be adjusted axially of said second bore to adjust the opening and closing of the valve in the syrup passageway in response to axial movement of said shaft.

9. A faucet for dispensing a soda water-syrup mixture comprising a casing having an axially extending bore therein, said bore comprising a passageway for soda water and having an inlet at one end, a discharge passageway communicating with said bore at a point spaced from said inlet end, a shaft slidable axially within said bore and having valve means thereon intermediate said inlet and said discharge passageway for controlling the iioW of soda water through said bore to said discharge passageway, said bore having a radially enlarged portion intermediate said inlet and said discharge passageway, said radially enlarged portion forming a chamber through which said shaft extends axially, said shaft having baille means mounted thereon in said chamber, said baille means having generally the same shape as the inside of said chamber, there being only a slight clearance between the peripheral edge of said baie means and the peripheral surface of said chamber, whereby when said shaft is actuated axially to open said valve, the soda water flowing through said chamber around said baffle means and through said clearance space is subjected to considerable turbulence, a syrup passageway in said casing having an inlet at one end and opening at its other' end into said discharge passageway, a valve for controlling said syrup passageway and means fixed on said shaft and cooperat- 1ng with said syrup passageway valve to actuate the syrup passageway valve when said shaft is shifted axially.

10. A faucet for dispensing a soda water-syrup mixture comprising a casing having an axially extending bore therein, said bore comprising a passageway for soda water and having an inlet at one end, a discharge passageway communicating with said bore at a point spaced from said inlet end, a shaft slidable axially within said bore and having valve means thereon intermediate said inassenso let and said discharge passageway for controlling the flow of soda water through said bore to said discharge passageway, said bore having a radially enlarged portion intermediate said inlet and said discharge passageway, said radially enlarged portion froming a generally circular chamber through which said shaft extends axially, said shaft having a circular baflie thereon disposed in said chamber that substantially matches the inside diameter of said chamber, there being only a slight clearance between the outer edge of said baie and the inner peripheral surface of said chamber, whereby when said shaft is actuated axially to open said Valve, the soda water flowing through said chamber around said baflie means and through said clearance space is subjected to considerable turbulence, a syrup passageway in said casing having an inlet at one end and opening at its other end into said discharge passageway, a valve for controlling said syrup passageway and means fixed on said shaft and cooperating with said syrup passageway valve to actuate the syrup passageway valve when said shaft is shifted axially.

11. The combination set forth in claim 10 wherein the portions of said soda water passageway communicating with said chamber are of substantially less diameter than said baie plate and are aligned substantially co-axially with said baffle plate.

12. A faucet for dispensing a soda water-syrup mixture comprising a casing having a soda water passageway and a syrup passageway therein, valves for controlling said passageways individually, said passageways each having an inlet, a main discharge passageway in said casing extending downwardly from the other passageways and having an outlet at the lower end thereof, said main discharge passageway extending generally transversely downwardly of said syrup passageway at the point of intersection thereof at an angle inclined slightly to the vertical and said syrup passageway terminating at said intersection in a generally horizontally disposed rportion, said syrup passageway opening into said main discharge passageway at a point closer to said outlet than said soda water passageway, the angle formed between the upper edge of the syrup passageway at said point of intersection and the adjacent inclined edge of the main passageway being an acute angle, means for operating said valves such that the syrup passageway valve closes at least as early as the soda water passageway valve, said syrup passageway being of relatively small size as compared with said main discharge passageway and said soda water passageway, whereby when said valves are actuated to close, soda water flowing downwardly through said main discharge passageway past the intersection of said syrup passageway with said main discharge passageway flows into said syrup passageway and seals said syrup passageway from the surrounding air.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 491,272 Schier Feb. 7, 1893 1,600,170 Henderson Sept. 14, 1926 1,603,082 Jacobs Oct. l2, 1926 1,968,375 Curtis July 3l, 1934 2,371,432 Di Pietro Mar. 13, 1945 2,515,570 Rubineld July 18, 1950 2,568,444 Guiliano Sept. 18, 1951

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