Post-mix nozzle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11078066-B2
Application number	US-201916702428-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 3, 2019
Priority date	Dec 3, 2018
Publication date	Aug 3, 2021
Grant date	Aug 3, 2021

Abstract

Disclosed is a post-mix beverage dispensing nozzle. The dispensing nozzle includes an input fitting, a cap, an insert, and a body. The dispensing nozzle defines a first flow path and a second flow path. The first flow path flows from a first input port offset from a central axis of the dispensing nozzle to a mixing chamber. The second flow path flows from an input port offset from the central axis of the dispensing nozzle to the mixing chamber. At the point of the mixing chamber both the first flow path and second flow path have uniform flow rates in all radial directions around the central axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A post-mix beverage dispensing nozzle, comprising:
a body comprising a top opening, a bottom opening opposite the top opening, a central vertical axis extending between the top opening and bottom opening, and an inner surface extending between the top opening and the bottom opening and surrounding the central vertical axis;
a first input port disposed at the top opening and radially offset from the central vertical axis;
a second input port disposed at the top opening and radially offset from the central axis; and
an insert within the body, wherein the insert comprises a conical portion, an upper plate positioned between the conical portion and the top opening, and a lower plate positioned between the conical portion and the bottom opening;
wherein a first flow path for a first beverage component is defined to flow from the first input port, through the body, and out the bottom opening,
wherein a second flow path for a second beverage component is defined to flow from the second input port, through the body coincident to the central axis, and out the bottom opening,
wherein a portion of the first flow path within the body is separate from and surrounds a portion of the second flow path within the body,
wherein the first flow path and the second flow path are configured so that the first beverage component and the second beverage component mix prior to exiting the bottom opening,
wherein the first flow path flows from the first input port into an upper chamber defined by the inner surface and the upper plate,
wherein the first flow path flows from the upper chamber to a first middle chamber defined by the inner surface, the upper plate, and an a conical surface of the conical portion,
wherein the first flow path flows from the first middle chamber to a second middle chamber defined by the inner surface, the lower plate and a bottom surface of the conical portion,
wherein the first flow path flows from the second middle chamber to a mixing chamber defined by the inner surface, the lower plate and the bottom opening,
wherein the conical portion defines a lumen coincident to the central axis and defining a portion of the second flow path, and
wherein the second flow path flows from the second input port, through the lumen, and into the mixing chamber.

2. The post-mix beverage dispensing nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the upper chamber is substantially a toroid in shape, and wherein the second flow path flows through a hole of the toroid of the upper chamber.

3. The post-mix beverage dispensing nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the upper plate comprises a plurality of first through holes in a circular pattern around the central vertical axis and defining a portion of the first flow path between the upper chamber and the first middle chamber.

4. The post-mix beverage dispensing nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the conical surface of the conical portion is frustoconical in shape, and wherein a downstream cross-section of the first flow path in the first middle chamber is smaller than an upstream cross-section of the first flow path in the first middle chamber.

5. The post-mix beverage dispensing nozzle of claim 4 , wherein a ring gap is defined between a lower portion of the conical portion and the inner surface of the body, and wherein the first flow path flows from the first middle chamber through the ring gap to the second middle chamber.

6. The post-mix beverage dispensing nozzle of claim 4 , wherein the conical surface of the conical portion is concave in a cross-sectional plane parallel to the central axis.

7. The post-mix beverage dispensing nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the second middle chamber is substantially a toroid in shape, and wherein the second flow path flows through a hole of the toroid of the second middle chamber.

8. The post-mix beverage dispensing nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the lower plate comprises a plurality of second through holes in a circular pattern around the central axis and define a portion of the first flow path from the second middle chamber to the mixing chamber.

9. The post-mix beverage dispensing nozzle of claim 8 , further comprising an outlet nozzle within the mixing chamber,
wherein the second flow path flows from the lumen of the conical portion to the outlet nozzle and into the mixing chamber to mix with the first flow path.

10. The post-mix beverage dispensing nozzle of claim 9 , wherein the outlet nozzle comprises a plurality of outlets, wherein the plurality of outlets direct the second flow path in a plurality of directions radially from the central axis.

Assignees

• Automatic Bar Controls Inc

Inventors

• Crackel Cullen James
• Hecht Thomas
• Veloz Silas

Classifications

• B67D1/005 Primary

  with means for converging streams · CPC title

• B67D1/0021

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