High Flow, Reduces Foam Dispensing Nozzle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017190554-A1
Application number	US-201515128576-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 25, 2015
Priority date	Mar 25, 2014
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present application provides a dispensing nozzle for use with a flow of a diluent and a flow of a concentrate. The beverage dispenser may include an annular concentrate path of the flow of the concentrate and an annular diluent path surrounding at least in part the annular concentrate path for the flow of the diluent. The annular diluent path may include a shallow angle leading towards the flow of the concentrate such that the flow of the diluent and the flow of the concentrate mix in or downstream of the dispensing nozzle.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A dispensing nozzle for use with a flow of a diluent and a flow of a concentrate, comprising:
an annular concentrate path of the flow of the concentrate; and an annular diluent path surrounding at least in part the annular concentrate path for the flow of the diluent; the annular diluent path comprising a shallow angle leading towards the flow of the concentrate such that the flow of the diluent and the flow of the concentrate mix in or downstream of the dispensing nozzle.

2 . The dispensing nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the flow of the concentrate comprises a flow of a Stevia-based concentrate.

3 . The dispensing nozzle of claim 2 , wherein the annular concentrate path and the annular diluent path comprise a spaced apart configuration such that the flow of the diluent and the flow of the Stevia-based concentrate mix downstream of the dispensing nozzle.

4 . The dispensing nozzle of claim 2 , wherein the annular concentrate path and the annular diluent path comprise an intermediate configuration such that the flow of the diluent and the flow of the Stevia-based concentrate mix downstream of the dispensing nozzle.

5 . The dispensing nozzle of claim 2 , wherein the annular concentrate path and the annular diluent path comprise an adjacent configuration such that the flow of the diluent and the flow of the Stevia-based concentrate mix upon leaving the dispensing nozzle.

6 . The dispensing nozzle of claim 2 , wherein the annular concentrate path and the annular diluent path comprise an upstream configuration such that the flow of the diluent and the flow of the Stevia-based concentrate mix in the dispensing nozzle.

7 . The dispensing nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the annular concentrate path comprises a diffuser and a diffuser cap.

8 . The dispensing nozzle of claim 7 , wherein the diffuser comprises a concentrate spreader attached to a concentrate flange via a number of concentrate spreader ribs.

9 . The dispensing nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the annular diluent pathway comprises a top cover, a diffuser, a diffuser cap, and a lower shroud.

10 . The dispensing nozzle of claim 9 , wherein the top cover comprises a central chamber with a plurality of diluent apertures.

11 . The dispensing nozzle of claim 10 , wherein the diffuser cap extends through the central chamber of the top cover.

12 . The dispensing nozzle of claim 9 , wherein the diffuser comprises a plurality of diffuser diluent ribs defining a plurality of diffuser pathways therethrough.

13 . The dispensing nozzle of claim 9 , wherein the lower shroud comprises the shallow angle.

14 . The dispensing nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the shallow angle comprises about ten degrees or less.

15 . A method of mixing a diluent and a Stevia-based concentrate by a dispensing nozzle to form a beverage in a cup, comprising:
flowing the diluent in an annular diluent stream; flowing the Stevia-based concentrate in a spaced apart annular concentrate stream; and mixing the annular diluent stream and the spaced apart annular concentrate stream downstream of the dispensing nozzle to form the beverage in the cup.

16 . A beverage dispenser, comprising:
a diluent source with a flow of carbonated water; a concentrate source with a flow of a Stevia-based concentrate; and a dispensing nozzle for mixing the flow of the carbonated water and the flow of the Stevia-based concentrate; the dispensing nozzle comprising an annular concentrate path for the flow of the Stevia-based concentrate and an annular diluent path surrounding at least in part the annular concentrate path for the flow of the carbonated water such that the flow of the Stevia-based concentrate and the flow of the carbonated water mix in or downstream of the dispensing nozzle.

17 . The beverage dispenser of claim 16 , wherein the annular diluent path comprises a shallow angle leading towards the flow of the Stevia-based concentrate.

18 . The beverage dispenser of claim 17 , wherein the shallow angle comprises about ten (10) degrees or less.

19 . The beverage dispenser of claim 16 , wherein the annular concentrate path and the annular diluent path comprise a spaced apart configuration such that the flow of the carbonated water and the flow of the Stevia-based concentrate mix downstream of the dispensing nozzle.

20 . The beverage dispenser of claim 16 , wherein the annular concentrate path and the annular diluent path comprise an intermediate configuration such that the flow of the carbonated water and the flow of the Stevia-based concentrate mix downstream of the dispensing nozzle.

Assignees

• Coca Cola Co

Inventors

• Dahlberg Kirk Walter
• Chen Youlung
• Green Charles Bradley
• Klucik Josef
• Martin John
• Brownell Jr Robert B
• Bair Cassilyn

Classifications

• B67D1/0021 Primary

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

• B67D1/0046

  Mixing chambers · CPC title

• B67D1/0052

  by means for directing respective streams together · CPC title

• B67D1/0078

  Ingredient cartridges · CPC title

• B67D1/1272

  preventing froth · CPC title