Method of making a manifold system for beverage dispenser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9896322-B2
Application number	US-201615004404-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 22, 2016
Priority date	Nov 10, 2008
Publication date	Feb 20, 2018
Grant date	Feb 20, 2018

Abstract

A manifold for a liquid dispensing system has at least two layers. The first layer has multiple through holes along its thickness direction, and one or more fluid channels perpendicular to the thickness direction. The second layer has one or more through holes along its thickness direction, each communicating with one of the through holes of the first layer. The second layer also has one or more fluid channels perpendicular to the thickness direction. The fluid channels each have an inlet at the edge of the respective layer and an outlet at one of the through holes. The second layer also has one or more holes defining valve bores. A valve in each of the valve bores controls flow of a liquid to a respective one of the fluid channels of the second layer. Also provided are a liquid dispensing system and a method of manufacturing a manifold.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of manufacturing a manifold for use in a liquid dispensing tower, comprising:
manufacturing a first upper layer, the first layer comprising:
one or more first through holes substantially along a thickness direction thereof, and
one or more first fluid channels in a first plane, transverse to the thickness direction, wherein the first fluid channels are disposed entirely within the first layer;

manufacturing a second lower layer, the second layer comprising:
one or more second through holes substantially along a thickness direction thereof,
one or more second fluid channels in a second plane, transverse to the thickness direction, wherein the second fluid channels are disposed entirely within the second layer, and
one or more additional holes, each additional hole defining at least a portion of a valve bore, wherein the valve bore is configured and dimensioned for a valve to be positioned therein and to control flow of a liquid to a respective one of the second fluid channels;

wherein each fluid channel comprises an inlet at an edge of its respective layer and an outlet at a respective one of the through holes;
attaching the first layer directly or indirectly to the second layer, in an orientation in which the thickness direction of the first layer is substantially identical to the thickness direction of the second layer, such that each of the second through holes is in fluid communication with one of the first through holes, wherein the first and second layers of the manifold are discrete pieces of material that are not monolithic with one another; and
incorporating the manifold in an upper portion of a beverage dispensing tower configured to dispense liquid in a generally downward direction, the beverage dispensing tower including:
a trunk extending downward from the upper portion and supporting the upper portion; and
a base extending outward from a bottom portion of the trunk, the base being configured to be stably set on a flat surface to thereby support the tower on the flat surface, the base comprising an upper surface beneath the manifold and configured to stably support a cup thereon such that the cup can receive the liquid from the manifold.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising manufacturing a third layer, the third layer comprising:
one or more third through holes substantially along a thickness direction thereof, and
one or more third fluid channels in a third plane, substantially perpendicular to the thickness direction;
wherein each third fluid channel comprises an inlet at an edge of the third layer and an outlet at a respective one of the third through holes;
the method further comprising:
attaching the first layer directly or indirectly to a first side of the third layer, and attaching the second layer directly or indirectly to a second side of the third layer, in an orientation in which the thickness direction of layers is substantially identical, such that each of the third through holes is in fluid communication with one of the first through holes, and each of the second through holes is in fluid communication with one of the first through holes by way of one of one of the third through holes.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein manufacturing the first and second layers comprises machining the holes and the channels.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein manufacturing the first and second layers comprises injection molding the first and second layers.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein manufacturing the second layer comprises drilling the valve bores.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein attaching the first and second layers comprises bonding.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the outlet of each fluid channel opens immediately to the respective through hole, such that, in use, the liquid undergoes a single turn at the outlet immediately into the through hole.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid channels are configured for fluid connection to valves upstream of the manifold.

9. The method of claim 2 , wherein the third fluid channels are configured for fluid connection to valves upstream of the manifold.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein second fluid passageways defined by the second fluid channels and the second through holes are smaller in cross-section than the first fluid passageways defined by the first fluid channels and the first through holes.

Assignees

• Automatic Bar Controls Inc

Inventors

• Hecht Thomas R

Classifications

• B67D1/0831

  combined with valves · CPC title

• B67D2001/0094

  Valve mountings in dispensers · CPC title

• B67D1/0888

  Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means) · CPC title

• B67D2210/0006

  Manifolds · CPC title

• B67D1/0051

  for mixing outside the nozzle · CPC title