Nozzle with isolation porting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10494246-B2
Application number	US-201715687264-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 25, 2017
Priority date	Feb 12, 2016
Publication date	Dec 3, 2019
Grant date	Dec 3, 2019

Abstract

Disclosed is a beverage dispensing system for dispensing a non-mixed fluid along with a post-mix fluid. The post-mix fluid is formed by mixing a base beverage with at least one beverage additive. For example, the beverage dispensing system may dispense a post-mix fluid (e.g. cola) and a non-mixed fluid (e.g. spirits) separately. In some embodiments, the post-mix fluid may be dispensed simultaneously with the non-mixed fluid from separate fluid outlet ports. In other embodiments, the post-mix fluid may be dispensed from a first fluid outlet port and, subsequently, the non-mixed fluid may be dispensed from a second fluid outlet port.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A beverage dispensing system, comprising:
a diffuser block having a primary outlet port configured to dispense a first beverage fluid and a plurality of secondary outlet ports disposed around the primary outlet port, the secondary outlet ports configured to dispense a second beverage fluid;
a transition plate coupled to the diffuser block, the transition plate including:
a primary inlet port configured to receive the first beverage fluid,
a first set of channels provided on a top surface of the transition plate, wherein at least one of the first set of channels is in fluid communication with at least one of the secondary outlet ports of the diffuser block for receiving the second beverage fluid,
a second set of channels provided on the top surface of the transition plate for receiving a non-mixed beverage,
a plurality of inner outlet ports, provided on a bottom surface of the transition plate, in fluid communication with the first set of channels of the transition plate forming a first path for the second beverage fluid,
a plurality of outer outlet ports, provided on the bottom surface of the transition plate, in fluid communication with the second set of channels of the transition plate forming a second path for the non-mixed beverage, and
a primary outlet port configured to dispense the first beverage fluid; and

an external port nozzle coupled to the transition plate, wherein the external port nozzle includes:
a primary outlet port extending along the primary outlet port of the transition plate, wherein the primary outlet port receives a mixed beverage formed by mixing the first beverage fluid and the second beverage fluid, and dispenses the mixed beverage; and
a plurality of secondary outlet ports disposed around the primary outlet port,

wherein at least one of the secondary outlet ports of the external port nozzle extends along the second path and is in fluid communication with at least one of the outer outlet ports of the transition plate, wherein the non-mixed beverage flows through the second path without intersecting with the first path such that the non-mixed beverage is dispensed at the at least one of the secondary outlet ports of the external port nozzle without being mixed with the first beverage fluid or the second beverage fluid.

2. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the transition plate further comprises:
a primary inlet port provided on the top surface of the transition plate, wherein the first set of channels are disposed around the primary inlet port, wherein the primary inlet port is in fluid communication with the primary outlet port of the diffuser block forming a third path for receiving the first beverage fluid, wherein the third path intersects with the first path at the primary outlet port of the external port nozzle to mix the first beverage fluid and the second beverage fluid into the mixed beverage; and
a primary outlet port, provided on the bottom surface of the transition plate, in fluid communication with the primary inlet port of the transition plate and extending along the third path.

3. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an extension element provided between the diffuser block and the transition plate such that the transition plate is coupled to the diffuser block via the extension element.

4. The beverage dispensing system of claim 3 , wherein the extension element includes:
a primary inlet port provided on a top surface of the extension element, wherein the primary inlet port is in fluid communication with the primary outlet port of the diffuser block,
a plurality of secondary inlet ports provided around the primary inlet port on the top surface of the extension element, wherein the secondary inlet ports are in fluid communication with the secondary outlet ports of the diffuser block,
a primary outlet port provided on a bottom surface of the extension element, wherein the primary outlet port is in fluid communication with the primary inlet port of the extension element, and
a plurality of secondary outlet ports provided on the bottom surface of the extension element, wherein the plurality of secondary outlet ports are in fluid communication with the plurality of secondary inlet ports of the extension element.

5. The beverage dispensing system of claim 4 , wherein the secondary outlet ports of the extension element are in fluid communication with the first set of channels or the second set of channels provided on the top surface of the transition plate.

6. The beverage dispensing system of claim 2 , wherein the transition plate is configured to provide a first portion of the second beverage fluid received at the first set of channels to the outer outlet ports of the transition plate and a second portion of the second beverage fluid received at the second set of channels to the inner outlet ports of the transition plate.

7. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a diffuser assembly provided in a hollow cavity of the external port nozzle such that the diffuser assembly is embedded within the external port nozzle, wherein the diffuser assembly is configured to mix the first beverage and the second beverage fluid such that an outlet port of the diffuser assembly dispenses the mixed beverage to the primary outlet port of the external port nozzle.

8. The beverage dispensing system of claim 7 , further comprising:
at least one sealing ring provided between an inner surface of the external port nozzle and an outer surface of the diffuser assembly.

9. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the external port nozzle includes a plurality of inlet ports provided on a top surface of the external port nozzle, the inlet ports being in fluid communication with the outer outlet ports of the transition plate.

10. The beverage dispensing system of claim 9 , further comprising:
a sealing ring provided between one of the inlet ports of the external port nozzle and one of the outer outlet ports of the transition plate.

11. A beverage dispensing nozzle assembly comprising:
an external port nozzle having a primary outlet port and at least one secondary outlet port provided on a bottom surface of the external port nozzle;
a diffuser assembly having a primary outlet port, provided in a hollow cavity of the external port nozzle such that the diffuser assembly is embedded within the external port nozzle;
a transition plate coupled to a top surface of the external port nozzle, wherein the transition plate is configured to receive a first beverage fluid, a second beverage fluid, and a non-mixed beverage;
a first path for flow of the first beverage fluid;
a second path for flow of the second beverage fluid, wherein the second path intersects with the first path at the primary outlet port of the diffuser assembly to mix the first beverage fluid and the second beverage fluid into a mixed beverage such that the primary outlet port of the external port nozzle receives the mixed beverage from the primary outlet port of the diffuser assembly and dispenses the mixed beverage; and
a third path for flow of the non-mixed beverage without intersecting with the first path or the second path such that the non-mixed beverage is dispensed at one of the at least one secondary outlet port of the external port nozzle without being mixed with the first beverage fluid or the second beverage fluid.

12. The beverage dispensing nozzle assembly of claim 11 , wherein the transition plate includes:
a primary inlet port provided on a top surface of the transition plate, wherein the primary inlet port is configured to receive the first beverage fluid;
a primar

Assignees

• Automatic Bar Controls Inc

Inventors

• Hecht Thomas R
• Baker Bret D

Classifications

• B67D1/0046

  Mixing chambers · CPC title

• B67D1/005

  with means for converging streams · CPC title

• B67D1/0015

  the beverage being prepared by mixing at least two liquid components · CPC title

• B67D1/0043

  Mixing devices for liquids · CPC title

• B67D1/0021 Primary

  the components being mixed at the time of dispensing, i.e. post-mix dispensers · CPC title