CA1246024A

CA1246024A - Bulk syrup delivery system

Info

Publication number: CA1246024A
Application number: CA000465370A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Robert Mcgarrah
Original assignee: Pepsico Inc
Current assignee: Pepsico Inc
Priority date: 1983-10-20
Filing date: 1984-10-12
Publication date: 1988-12-06
Also published as: DE3438415C2; US4553573A; GB8425680D0; DE3438415A1; AU3428084A; GB2148252A; AU566558B2; JPS6099899A; GB2148252B; JPH0464955B2

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A bulk syrup delivery system in which a compart-mentized tank delivery truck includes a plurality of separate compartments or tanks, generally one for each of several different types of soft drink syrup. One multichannel delivery hose, having one channel or passage-way for each type of syrup, extends from a hose reel on the delivery truck to a delivery receptacle at the account.
The account has a plurality of separate storage tanks, each of which is coupled to the delivery receptacle, which is designed to couple to the end of the delivery hose, such that each compartment in the delivery truck couples to the proper storage tank in the account. A plurality of separate check or closure valves are installed in each side of the coupling between the hose and the delivery receptacle, such that flow therebetween is prevented until the valves are opened. The compartments in the delivery truck are pressurized (e.g. 100 psi), such that the syrups flow from the truck into the account storage tanks until the latter are full, after which the hose/receptacle connection is terminated. Each of the fluid channels or passageways is coupled to a separate delivery meter such that the amount of each type of syrup is metered during the delivery. The meters can be operated in conjunction with a load ticket carried by the driver, the insertion of which into the meter arrangement resets to zero each of the meters and also enables operation of the delivery system.

Description

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BI~L~; SYRUP DI~LIVE~RY S'L'STE~

The prescnt invention relates generally to a system for the bulk delivery of syrup to an account, and more particularly pertains to an inteyrated system for delivering a plurality of different flavored syrups to an account such as a fast food retail esta~lishment which uses and dispenses those items in heavy volumes.
Soft drink syrups, such as cola syrups, flavored syrups such as grape, lemon, root beer, syrups for diet drinks, caffein free syrups, etc. are currently delivered to accounts which dispense and sell those products in individual transfer containers or tanks, typically in five gallon volumes. A full five gallon transfer tank weighs approximately sixty pounds, and accordingly the delivery of these transfer tanks to user accounts typically requires a substantial ammount of manual labor in a time consuming and labor intensive delivery operation. The transf~r tanks are delivered to accounts, such as fast food establishments and restaurants having fountain service, by a delivery truck equipped to store and handle both full and empty transfer tanks.
The driver of a delivery truck of this kind must carry empty transfer accounts from the co.~missary area of an account and load them onto the delivery truck, and must then unload full tanks from the truck~and transfer them to a commissary storage area at the account. This labor intensive o?eration requires a strong driver, which often 3 restricts the type of personnel capable of making these deliveries.
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60tZ4 1 ~ dclivery opcration o~ thL:; nature is ~juitc ~ime con-~ sumin~, and ~ very c~ficicnt delivcrt,~ person can deliver possibly seven hundrcd and fifty to onc thousand gallons of syrup per day. ~loreovcr, thc delivery person frequently has other responsibilities to be carried out at an account, such as the delivery of other account related itens such as carbon dioxide tanks, paper cups, etc.
This type of prior art delivery system requires a sizable investment in transfer tanks, and also requires a substantial amount of manual labor by personnel at the account. The account personnel must periodically disconnect empty transfer tanks and reconnect full tanks in their place.
Moreover, this replacement operation must be carried out in a sanitary manner, and new 0 rings must be installed on fittings during the connection of each fu].l transfer tank.
A prior art delivery system of this nature has other problems associated therewith such as pilferage of syrup from partially full containers. The commissary areas of accounts also require a substantial amount of storage area for both full and empty storage transfer tanks, and these commissary areas are frequently maintained in a disorderly and unkempt manner.
A field of prior art somewhat related to the present invention exists with respect to the delivery f petroleum products such as heating oil and gasoline from tank delivery trucks. ~owever, these prior art systems typically deliver to a home or station through a single passage delivery hose, and are not concerned with sanitation and other related problems of a syrup distri-bution system analogous to the present invention.

l ~onn~rd ct al. U S. P.~cnt 2 ~(,5 1~ is somewhat of inter~st to the prcscnt inv~ntion by disclosing a multicompartmcnted tank truc~ for usc in the petroleu-n industry for the dclivery of what arc known as white products and brown products. White products includc gasoline, while brown products includc diesel fuel, kcrosene etc., and mi~ing or contamination of the two products must be avoided or reduced to a minimum. In the disclosed arrangement, contamination between the two types of products is minimized by using separate meters and delivery hoses.
Weston et al. U.S. Patent 3,360,000 is also somewhat of interest to the subject invention by disclosing a multicompartmented tank truck wherein the tank compartments have separate delivery lines leading to a distributor or junction box which has valves for routing the delivery from any compartment to either one of two outflow lines but not both simultaneously. A mannually-operable selector is coupled to the distributor valves to enable valves correspond-ing to selected tank compartments to be opened in an arrange-ment wherein the manner of opening of the valves can beselected in advance so that each tank compartment is connect-able through the distributor to only a particular one of the outflow lines.
Billington et al. U.S. Patent ~,230 161 is also somewhat relevant to the present invention by disclosing an arrangement in which a tank delivery truck is loaded from a bulk storage tank for the delivery of various flammable petro-leum products. The disclosed arrangement includes a plurality of check valves which are provided for safety reasons in the event of an inadvertent rupture of one or more of the riller and vapor return flexible hose lines.

~Z46Q:24 1 ~ commcrcially available systom for ~he ~elivcry of carbon dio~ide to fas~ ~ood esta~lishmcnts is also par4 of the known prior art. ~lowever this system is somewhat analogous to -the aforellcntioned petroleum delivery systcms 5 in that a single compartment insulated tank truck dclivers carbon dio~ide through a single hose to an insulated carbon dio~ide storage tank in an arrangement which does not re-quire the deliverv person to have cryogenic skill.
However none of the aforementioned fluid 10 product delivery systems disclose a multiple productdelivery system utilizing a multichannel delivery concept similar to the present invention and none is concerned with the sanitation and other related problems of a syrup distribution system analogous to the present invention.
1~ , Accordingly the present invention provides a system for the bulk delivery of syrups to an account such as a fast food re~ail establishment.
The subject invention also provides a system or the bulk delivery of syrups of the aore-mentioned kind which: reduces delivery costs and thereby should increase sales and profits reduces the -requirement for capital equipment investment and inventory 25 alleviates the several previously mentioned problems associated with deliveries to commissaries reduces both the manual labor and the time required for a delivery and simultaneously frees the delivery person for the performance of other tasks such as the delivery of other items such as cups etc. eliminates the required handling and transfer of heavy containers and thereby eliminates the danger and safety factors associated therewith ;

2~a 1 allo~s d~liveries of s~rui~ t~ ~o n-ad~ at morc convcnient ~ ti~es such as at ni~ht when ~hcre is less traffic, allo~,Js dcliveries to be made with a minimum of inconvenicnce and disturbance to an account, provides a suhstantially totally sealed dcliver~ systcm to achicve a more sanitary delivery, eliminates problcms associated with pilferage of par~ially filled return transfer containers, is extremely attractive to and compatiblc with delivery to high volume accounts, allowing estimated deliveries with one tan~
truck to achieve delivery volumes of two thousand gallons of syrup per day, is convenient and extremely efficient in maintaining accurate records of deliveries to accounts, substantially reduces the labor and responsibilities of personnel a~ the account to maintain syrup containers full, allows an account to reduce syrup transfer container storage space, allows an account to relocate syrup storage containers to more remote and convenient storage areas such as basements and back rooms, eliminates the need for the return of empty or partially full transfer containers, and eliminates or substantially reduces many cleànliness and sanitary problems associated with current syrup distribution systems.
In accordance with the teachings herein, the present invention provides a system for the bulk delivery to an account of a plurality of different flavored syrups in which a compartmentized tank delivery truck has a plurality of separate compartments for the storage and delivery of a plurality of different flavored syrups. A plurality of delivery meters are provided for metering the delivered syrups, with a separate meter being provided for each different ty?e of s~rup to be delivered.

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1 ~ multlchanncl delivery ho5e is c~tcllcii~le ~rozn the tank delivery truck and includes at least onc channel for each different flavored s~u~ ~ultichar.nel delivery couL~liny is provided at the deliv~ry cnd of thc multichanncl hose and has a plurality of closure valves thcreill, onc for each channel in the delivery coupling. The multichannel delivery coupling can also incorporate therein a plurality of check valves, one for each channel, to ensure that syrup does not flow in the wrong direction, as might otherwise be caused by an inadvertent reversal of pressures.
In greater detail-, the bulk syrup delivery systen includes a plurality of separate tanks at the account, one for each different flavored syrup, and the account is fitted with a terminal in which a corresponding matching multichannel receiving coupling is provided for connection to the delivery coupling. The receiving coupling can also be provided with a plurality of check valves therein, one for each channel in the receiving coupling. The terminal is preferably mounted on an e~terior wall of the account building, and comprises a terminal housing with a lock thereon to prevent unauthorized access thereto. The multichannel delivery and receiving cou?lings also incor-porate a manually operated coupling member for securing the delivery coupling to the receiving coupling, with the connection of the coupling members simultaneously securing and sealing the coupling members together and also opening the plurality of closure valves to enable delivery of the difrerent flavored syrups to an account.
Delivery of the syrups to the account is accomplished by pressurizing the syrup compartments on the truck to punp the syrups into the corresponding tanks at the acco~nt, such that the syrups flow under pressure into the corres~onding account tanks until the latter are full, at which time an equilibrium is reached and the delivery can be tcrminated.

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, 6C~;Z4 1 Anot}lcr advantaclcous ~eature o th~ prc~cnt in-vention is that the mctcrs are pro~idcd ~ith an associated receptacle for tilC rccci~t of a load ~ic~ct, thc inscl~~isn of which therein zeroes all of the mcters and cnables 5 operation of the delivcry systcm. The load tickct thcn records the quantity of each differcnt flavored syrup delivered to the account.
In different embodiments disclosed herein the multichannel delivery hose is formed as a one piece, 10 e~truded honeycomb hose, or comprises a plurality of separate tubes which are encased by an outer jacket. ~he multichannel delivery hose can have the channels configured with a central channel and a plurality of circumferential channels positioned therearound. ~oreover, the delivery hose can advantageously include a plurality of different sized channels, with the Iarger sized channels being provided for flavored syrups which the account dispenses in greater volumes, and one larger sized channel is advantageously positioned as one of the circumferential channels to provide for proper positioning of the delivery coupling with res?ect to the rec~eiving coupling. The central channel can also comprise a larger sized channel.
The bulk syrup delivery system can further ~advantageously include a hose storage drum on the delivery truck, about which the multichannel delivery hose is wound between deliveries to different accounts.

The foregoing advanta~-es of the present lnvention for a bulk syrup distribution system ~ay be more 3o readily understood by one skilled in the art with reference being had~to the followitl~ detailed description of several :

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1 preferred cm~odimcnts thcrcof, ~at;en i.n conjurlction ~ith the accompanying drawings whcrcin likc clc~ncnts arc dcsignatcd by idcntical rcfcrctlcc numcrals throughout the several views, and in which:
Figure 1 is a plan view of an cxemplarl embodi-ment of a compartmentized tank, bulk syrup delivery truck constructed pursuant to the teachings of the present invention;
Figure 2 illustrates an elevational view of the compartmentized tank truck and an enlarged schematic view of the metering arrangement on the tank truck and a multi-channel delivery hose extending therefrom, with the delivery coupling at -the end thereof being shown in enlarged detail;
Figure 3 is an enlarged elevational front view of only the metering arrangement of Figure 2;
Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of an account building showing a syrup délivery terminal housing mounted on an exterior wall thereof;
: Figure 5 is a schematic illustration of a multichannel conduit which extends from the syrup..-délivery terminal of Figure ~ to a plurality of separate storage tanks located inside the account building;
Figure 6 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a multichannel delivery coupling at the end of the delivery hose placed opposite the end of a multichannel receiving coupling which is normally positioned in a delivery terminal housing at an account building;
Figure 7 illustrates the multichannel couplings or Figure 5 coupled to each other in an operative delivery position;
Figure 8 is a perspective view of the componcnts of the multichannel receiving coupling in a disassembled state;

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g l Figure 9 illustrates a schematic arrangement of a closure valve and check valves provided in the connection of one channel of the multichannel couplings; and ~igurc 10 is a CLOSS sectioncd vicw of a socona embodiment of a multichanncl dclivcry hosc or conduit formed as a one ~iece, extruded honcycomb hose.

Referring to thc drawings in detail, ~igure 1 is a plan view of an e~emplary embodiment of a compart-mentized tank, bulk syrup delivery truck 10 having five smaller sized syrup compartments 12, two larger sized syrup compartments 14, and seven carbon dioxide tanks 16 mounted thereon. The larger syrup compartments are for the delivery of syrups such as a cola syrup which accounts typically dispense in greater volumes than other different flavored syrups. The compartments 12 and 14 can contain a variety of syrups such as cola, root beer, lemon, grape or other fruit based syrups, diet syrups or caffein free syrups.
Each of these syrup compartments is connected through indivi-dual flow conduits to individual delivery meters 18 in a metering arrangement 20 mounted at the rear of the truck.
~ Each of the metered fluids then flows into one flow channel of a multichannel delivery hose 22, which between deliveries to different accounts, is wound around a hose storage drum 24 mounted on the rear of the truck.
The multi~channel delivery hose in the illustrated embodiment has seven individual channels, although either a lessnr or greater number of channels could be implemented in alterna-tive embodiments depending upon the design of the deliverysystem and the types of accounts serviced there~y.
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~Z~Z4 l The multichannel hose can be comprised of seven individual tubes, in a manner similar -to the multichannel conduit of Figure 7, which can be any type of NS~ food grade approved tubing, which are encased by a suitable outer jacket 26. The center channel 28 and one circumferential or pcripheral challnel 30 havc .a larger diamcter than ivc othcr peripheral channcls. Thc largcr diametcr channels deliver a flavored ~yrup such as a cola syrup which accounts typically dispense in greatcr volumcs than othcr diffcrent flavored syrups, and which are carried in the larger compartments 14 of the truck. The multichannel delivery hose terminates in a multichannel delivery coupling 32 at the delivery end of the multichannel delivery hose and having a plurality of closure valves therein, one for each channel in the delivery coupling.
The multichannel delivery coupling is designed to plug in and be secured to a corresponding multichannel receiving coupling as described in greater detail hereinbelow.
The carbon dioxide tanks 16 are coupled to each of the individual syrup tanks 12 and are utilized to pressurize (e.g.100 psi) each compartment to pump the syrups during a delivery operation into corresponding separate tanks at an account,~such that the syrups flow under pressure into the corresponding tanks at an account until the tanks are full, at which time an equilibrium is reached and the delivery can be terminated. - -The metering arrangement 20 includes seven deliverymeters 18, Figure 3, one for each compartment, and can be ~somewhat automated by incorporating therein an associated receptacle 34 for receipt of a load ticket. The insertion of

3 the load ticket into the receptacle æeroes each of the meters and enables operation of the delivery system, and the load ticket later records the quantity of each different flavored ~., .
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6(~;Z4 1 syrup delivered to an account. The zero setting of the meters can be accomplished electromechanically by microswitch 36 tripped at 38 by the load ticket, or optically by a light beam interrupted by the presence of the load ticket. The resetting of the individual meters can be accomplished in any known manner, for instance electromechanically in a manller similar to the resetting of a ~rip odomcter in an automobile. In greater detail, each mctcr is coupled to a corresponding printing device. Each meter can consist of a wheel typ~ unit in the fluid line that is rotated by the passing of liquid. i~ magnctic or similar pickup is utilized to detect rotation of the wheel axle to count the revolutions of the wheel. The meter can be designcd such that it must be reset to zero either mechanically or electrically before a syrup delivery operation can be initiated. Further, the meter can be designed such that a delivery ticket, invoice, bill or similar docu~ent must be in place before delivery can start. This interlock can be incorporated into the zero set interlock. The document can be locked into the unit until liquid flow ceases and the meter readings are printed on the document. Restart of liquid flow will then be prohibited until another document is in-serted and the meters are zeroed. A cumulative meter can also be incor?orated into each unit to record the total flow of each channel. This unit can be resettable by a special key, either electrically or mechanically, and is utilized to monitor total deliveries per day or per route.
~ igure 3 illustrates a perspective view of an account building 39 with a syrup delivery terminal housing 3 40 mountcd on an e~terior wall thereof. The te.minal housing ~0 ~:ill normally have a lock 42 thereon to prevent unauthorized access to a multichannel receiving coupling ~.

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1 44 mounted therein. As shown schematically in Figure 4, a multichannel conduit 48, which can be constructed in a manner similar to the multichannel delivery hose, leads from the receiving coupling 44 to a plurality of storage tanks 50 in a commissary or other storage area of the account, with at leas~ onc -torago tan}; bCillg providc~
for each differcnt flavor syrup. Thc storagc tan~;s 5~
can be transfer tan~s as now in commcrcial usagc, or ~an be larger storagc compartmcnts, or could be dis?osabl~ types of tanks such as a bag in a box type of storagc container.
Advantageously, with the inv~ntive bulk syrup deliver~ system, the storage containers can be stored in a remote area of the building, such as in a basement, as constant access thereto for replacement of containers is no longer re-quired, both by the account personnel and the delivery person .
- Figure 6 illustrates a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of both a muItichannel delivery coupling 32 and a corresponding multichannel receiving coupling 44 adapted to mate therewith. ~he receiving coupling 44 includes a plurality of female channel ports configured with a central part 52 and a plurality of circu~ferential ports positioned therearound. The multichannel receiving coupling is also constructed with both larger and smaller sized channels therein, with the larger sized channels being provided for flavored syrups which the account dispenses in higher volumes. At least one larger sized part 54 of the coupling is positioned as one of the circumferential ports to provide for proper positioning of the receiving 3 coupling ~iith respect to the corresponding delivery coupling 32 at an account, as described in greater detail hereinbelow.
In the illustrated em~odiment the central port 52 is also utilized as a larger~sized fluid channel.

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l Referring to Figure 8, the receiving coupling ~ 44 is constructed of several major components, including a major housing member 56 defining the cha~nel parts at one end and having corresponding projecting tubular conncctions at the ?-osit~ end, ovcr w}lich tu}jular hoscs 60 are mounted. The outcr casing 2G of thc multichannel receiving conduit 48 is attached to an externally thre~ded tubular ~ember 58, through which the seven individual delivery tubes 60 of the conduit pass. ~he coupling housing 5G has a circumfercntial collar 62 defined there-around, against which one end of the tubular member 58 abuts. A large nut 64 passes over the opposite,-end of the coupling housing 56, fitting against and over the collar 62, and threadedly engages and attaches to the tubular member 58, drawing that member snugly against the collar 62, thereby assembling the major components of the receiving coupling 44 into one unitary assembly.
The receiving coupling 44 also includes a check valve for each channel port which operates in a manner known, per se in the art~, to prevent a reve-rse flow of syrup through the channel port in the event of a pressure reversal. Referring to Figure 9, each check valve includes a cone shaped check valve element 66 which allows fluid flow as shown but blocks fluid flow in a reverse direction.
The delivery coupling housing 56 also defines a groove 58 ex~ending~ clrcumferentially around the housing body. This groove 58 cooperates with a plurality of radially dis-placeable balls or detents in the delivery coupling 32 to secure and lock the two couplings together in a manner 3 explained in greater detail hereinbelow.
The delivery coupling 32 is constructed with a metal, gonerally cylindrical opening into which the projecting cylindrical portion of receiving housing 56 is adapted to be inserted. Within the cylindrical opening, . ' ' ~ . ' ' ' , ~g6~4 l seven axially projecting male tubular connectors 72 are arranged in a pattern to match the seven channel po~ts of thc recelviil~ cou~linc3 4~, wit}l two OL the ~u~ular conncctors having a largcr diamctcr to match channcl ports 52 and 54. Each malc tubular connection has a arGove 74 extendillg circum~ercntially around its outcr surface in which an O ring 75, ~igure 9, is normally positioned to provide a seal bctween each male tubular connector and a corresponding groove 76 on its corresponding channel port when the delivery and receiving couplings are connccted together. A seal is established during the initial part of the connection such that the seals are functional prior to opening of the closure valves in the delivery coupling 32, as described in greater detail hereinbelow.
The cylindrical housing member 70 has a circum-fertial collar 78 defined therearound. A generally cylin-drical plastic housing member 80 fits over the external cylindrical surface of the delivery coupIing housing member 70, and is axially displaceable relative thereto, as indicated by arrow 82. A plurality of set screws 84 project radially inwardly from a circumfertial collar 86 of the housing member 70 and extend into axially extending grooves 8~ formed in the outer cylindrical surface of cylindrical housing member 70 to limit and define the axial displacement of housing member 80.
The plastic housing member 80 is axially displaceable between a position as illustrated in Figure 7, in which the delivery and receiving couplings are not locked together, and a position in which the shoulder 86 of the plastic 3 housing me~ber 80 abuts against the collar 78, in which the delivery and receiving couplings are locked together. ~or this purpose, a plurality of locking detents or balls 88 are spaced circumferentially around the inner cylindrical surface of the cylindrical housing member 70.

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1 The inncr surfacc o~ housing Inembcr 80 dc~in~5 a vcry slightly tapcrcd frustoconica] surfacc with the wider diameter portion thereo near shouldeL 8~. In this arrangement, axial displaccment of housiny memDcr 80 to a position whercat shoulders 78 and 86 abut each othc causes a radially inward movement of locking balls or detents 88 into the circumferential groove 68 on housir.g 56 t~ lock the two couplings 32 and 44 together during a syrup delivery operation.
The delivery coupling 32 includes a round cover plate 90, hingedly mounted at 92 to the housing member 80, which normally is closed to cover and protect all of the elements within housing member 70 between syrup delivery operations. The cover plate 90 is pivoted back and away from the housing member 80 prior to connection for a syrup delivery, as illustrated in both Figures 6 and 7.
Figure 9 illustrates schematically the arrangement of a closure valve or seal 92 and a check valve 94 provided in one male tubular connector of the delivery coupling 32.
The check valve is an axially moveable conical pin 94 which allows fluid flow in the direction of arrow 96, but which is forced closed by any attempted flow in the opposite direction.
The spring 98 biased closure valve 92 is opened by a central axially extending cone shaped pin 100 in the corresponding channel port upon connection of the two components. The pin 100 can be mounted by a spider member 102 in the channel port. The conical check valve 66 in the channel port functions similar to the check valve 94 to allo~ fluid flow only in the direction of arrow 104. The check and closure valves are incorporated into the delivery hose coupling and customer coupling or interface units of the bulk delivery system to ensure that the system passes fluids only when ~æ~

l pLopcrly conncctcd to an in~crfacc. Thc in~erface has check valves thcrcin to prcvcnt thc release of liquid or ~as at the filling port. Thc spring loaded seal or closurc valve 92 in each linc is opcncd only when contacted b~
the conc shaped pin 100 of thc customer interface seal, and these seals arc positioned within the respcctivc lines at a proper distance to ensure proper mating before fluid or gas is permitted to flow.
~igùre lO illustrates a sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a multichannel honeycomb delivery hose or conduit 10~, which can advantageously be extruded in a suitable plastic in one piece through an appropropriate extrusion die. This exemplary multichannel conduit has six separate channels therein, but obviously this principle encompasses other extruded h~ne~e~m~ embodiments having a greater or lesser number of conduits in alternate honeycomb configurations.
The bulk syrup delivery system of the present invention could be modified in many respects from the illustrated embodiment, for instance with regard to the number and arrangement of~channels, the design of the clo-sure and check valves, a reversal of male to female fittings, etc.
One alternative embodiment could combine a carbon dioxide delivery system, with the provision of carbon dioxide delivery and storage tanks and also the pro-vision of a~carbon dioxide delivery channel. In this embodi-ment, the pressurizing carbon dioxide tanks 16 could be elimina~ed in favor'of a single insulated carbon dioxide delivery tanl on the truck which would serve to both supply pressure to the syrup tanks 12, 14 and also deliver carbon dio~lde to an insulated carbon dioxide storage tank at the . .

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l account.
~ hilc scveral cm~odimcnts and variations o~ thc prescllt inventior- for a bul}; syrup dclivcry systcm arc dcscribed in dctail hcrein, it should be apparent that thc disclosure and teachin~s of the prescnt invention will sug~est many alternative designs to thosc skilled in the art.

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Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A bulk syrup delivery system for the bulk delivery to an account of a plurality of different fla-vored syrups, comprising:
a. a compartmentized tank delivery truck having a plurality of separate compartments for the storage and delivery of a plurality of different flavored syrups;
b. a plurality of delivery meters for metering of the syrups passed therethrough, with a separate meter being provided for each different flavored syrup;
c. a multichannel delivery hose coupled to said plurality of separate compartments and having at least one channel for each different flavored syrup; and d. a multichannel delivery coupling at a delivery end of said multichannel delivery hose and having a plurality of closure valves therein, one for each channel in the delivery coupling.

2. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 1, said plurality of separate compartments including means for pressurizing each compartment to pump the syrups into corresponding separate tanks at an account, at least one for each different flavored syrup, such that after connection to an account, the syrups flow under pressure into the corresponding tanks at an account until the tanks are full, at which time an equilibrium is reached and the delivery can be terminated.

3. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 1, said multichannel delivery hose having a plurality of different sized channels therein, with at least one larger sized channel being provided for a flavored syrup which the account dispenses a greater volume of than other different flavored syrups.

4. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 1, said plurality of delivery meters having an associated receptacle for the receipt of a load ticket, the insertion of which into the receptacle zeroes each of the meters and enables operation of the delivery system, with the load ticket recording the quantity of each different flavored syrup delivered to an account.

5. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 1, said multichannel delivery hose comprising a one piece, extruded honeycomb hose.

6. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 1, said multichannel delivery hose comprising a plurality of separate tubes which are encased by an outer jacket.

7. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 1, said multichannel delivery hose and multichannel delivery coupling including the channels configured with a central channel and a plurality of circumferential channels positioned around said central channel.

8. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 7, said multichannel delivery hose having a plurality of different sized channels therein, with at least one larger sized channel being provided for a flavored syrup which the account dispenses a greater volume of than other different flavored syrups, and at least one larger sized channel comprising one of said circumferential channels to provide for proper positioning of the delivery coupling with respect to a corresponding receiving coupling at an account.

9. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 8, said central channel also comprising a larger sized channel.

10. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 1, further including a hose storage drum on said delivery truck, about which said multichannel delivery hose is wound between deliveries to different accounts.

11. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 1, in combination with a plurality of separate tanks at an account, one for each different flavored syrup, the account including a receiving terminal in which a correspond-ing matching multichannel receiving coupling is provided for connection to said multichannel delivery coupling.

12. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 11, said multichannel delivery and receiving couplings having a manually operated coupling member for securing said delivery coupling to said receiving coupling, with the connection of said coupling members simultaneously securing and sealing the corresponding delivery and receiving coupling members together and also opening said plurality of closure valves to enable delivery of the different flavored syrups to an account.

13. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 12, said multichannel receiving coupling including a plurality of check valves therein, one for each channel in the receiving coupling.

14. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 13, said terminal being mounted exterior to a building at the account, and comprising a terminal housing with a lock thereon to prevent unauthorized access thereto.

15. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 14, said plurality of separate compartments including means for pressurizing each compartment to pump the syrups into corresponding separate tanks at an account, one for each different flavored syrup, such that after connection to an account, the syrups flow under pressure into the corresponding tanks at an account until the tanks are full, at which time an equilibrium is reached and the delivery can be terminated.

16. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 15, said plurality of delivery meters having an associated receptacle for the receipt of a load ticket, the insertion of which into the receptacle zeroes each of the meters and enables operation of the delivery system, with the load ticket recording the quantity of each different flavored syrup delivered to an account.

17. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 16, said multichannel delivery hose having a plurality of different sized channels therein, with at least one larger sized channel being provided for a flavored syrup which the account dispenses a greater volume of than other different flavored syrups.

18. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 17, said multichannel delivery hose, multichannel delivery coupling and multichannel receiving coupling including the channels configured with a central channel and a plurality of circumferential channels positioned around said central channel.

19. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 18, at least one larger sized channel comprising one of said circumferential channels to provide for proper positioning of said delivery coupling with respect to said corresponding receiving coupling at the account.

20. A bulk syrup delivery system as specified in claim 19, said central channel also comprising a larger sized channel.