Beverage dispensing apparatus with a refrigerated dispensing tube bundle and adjustable bypass manifold

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10053353-B2
Application number	US-201615018070-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 8, 2016
Priority date	Nov 16, 2011
Publication date	Aug 21, 2018
Grant date	Aug 21, 2018

Abstract

Beverage dispensing apparatus, systems, and related methods are provided that have a recirculation loop to cool fluids in a dispensing tube bundle that delivers beverage fluids to a beverage dispensing assembly. A beverage dispensing apparatus includes an adjustable bypass manifold having an adjustable flow restriction that is configurable to enable the use of the beverage dispensing apparatus with different chilled soda recirculation systems. The adjustable bypass manifold includes ports for connection to the recirculation loop and ports for connection to a soda recirculation system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable bypass manifold for use in a beverage dispensing apparatus, the adjustable bypass manifold comprising:
a main body that includes
a cooling fluid supply inlet configured to receive a first flow of a cooling fluid,
a cooling fluid supply duct in fluid communication with the cooling fluid supply inlet,
a recirculation loop supply outlet in fluid communication with the cooling fluid supply duct,
a cooling fluid return inlet,
a cooling fluid return duct in fluid communication with the cooling fluid return inlet,
a cooling fluid return outlet in fluid communication with the cooling fluid return duct, the cooling fluid return outlet configured to output at least a portion of the first flow of the cooling fluid,
a bypass duct fluidly connecting the cooling fluid supply duct to the cooling fluid return duct or passage, wherein the bypass duct is transverse to the cooling fluid supply duct and the cooling fluid return duct; and

a restriction member engaged with the main body, the restriction member providing a flow restriction between the cooling fluid supply duct and the cooling fluid return duct, the cooling fluid return duct being in fluid communication with the cooling fluid supply duct through the restriction member, the restriction member being adjustable to control a rate of flow of the cooling fluid through the bypass duct between a maximum flow rate when the restriction member is in an open position and a minimum non-zero flow rate when the restriction member is in a closed position such that the restriction member allows a non-zero flow rate at all positions, wherein the restriction member is inserted into a receptacle in the main body, the receptacle being perpendicular to and intersecting the bypass duct.

2. The adjustable bypass manifold of claim 1 ,
wherein, in the open position, the restriction member defines a first passageway through the bypass duct, the first passageway having a first cross-sectional area,
wherein, in the closed position, the restriction member defines a second passageway through the bypass duct, the second passageway having a second cross-sectional area smaller than the first cross-sectional area.

3. The adjustable bypass manifold of claim 1 , wherein the restriction member comprises an orifice, the cooling fluid return duct being in fluid communication with the cooling fluid supply duct through the orifice when the restriction member is in the closed position.

4. The adjustable bypass manifold of claim 1 , wherein the restriction member is mounted for rotation relative to the main body.

5. The adjustable bypass manifold of claim 4 , wherein the restriction member comprises an orifice, the cooling fluid return duct being in fluid communication with the cooling fluid supply duct through the orifice when the restriction member is in the closed position.

6. The adjustable bypass manifold of claim 4 , further comprising a locking mechanism operable to selectively inhibit relative rotation between the restriction member and the main body.

7. The adjustable bypass manifold of claim 4 , wherein position of the restriction member relative to the main body is continuously adjustable between the open and closed positions to provide a corresponding continuous variation in the flow restriction provided.

8. The adjustable bypass manifold of claim 1 , wherein the maximum flow rate is between 50 gallons per hour (gph) and 100 gph at a supply pressure of 75 psi to 110 psi and the minimum non-zero flow rate is 15 gph at a supply pressure of 80 psi to 100 psi.

9. The adjustable bypass manifold of claim 1 , wherein the main body further includes a cooling fluid supply outlet to output at least a portion of the first flow of the cooling fluid to be dispensed by a beverage dispensing assembly, the cooling fluid being a beverage fluid.

10. The adjustable bypass manifold of claim 9 , wherein the cooling fluid supply outlet extends parallel to the cooling fluid supply duct and the cooling fluid return duct, the cooling fluid supply outlet is in fluid communication with the cooling fluid supply duct and is in fluid communication with the cooling fluid return duct through the restriction member.

11. The adjustable bypass manifold of claim 1 , further comprising:
a gap between the restriction member and the main body that provides a path for bypass of the cooling fluid, wherein an opening of the gap is controlled with the restriction member.

Assignees

• Automatic Bar Controls Inc

Inventors

• Tuyls Jim
• Hecht Thomas R

Classifications

• B67D1/0884

  Means for controlling the parameters of the state of the liquid to be dispensed, e.g. temperature, pressure · CPC title

• B67D1/0865

  by circulating a cooling fluid along beverage supply lines, e.g. pythons · CPC title

• Y10T137/87338

  Flow passage with bypass · CPC title

• B67D1/12

  Flow or pressure control devices or systems {, e.g. valves, gas pressure control, level control in storage containers} · CPC title

• B67D1/0857 Primary

  Cooling arrangements (cooling systems per se F25B) · CPC title