US2448306A - Discharge manifold for beverage dispensing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 31, 1948. L. GOTTLIEB 1 2,448,306

DISCHARGE MANIFOLD FOR BEVERAGE DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed April 5, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

LOUlSGOTTLtEB ATTORND Aug. '31, 1948. y L. GOTTLIEB 2,443,305

v DISCHARGE MANIFOLD FOR BEVERAGE DISPENSING APPARATUS I Filed April 5, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY I Lougs GOTTLJEB A TTORN Y Aug. 31, 1948. GOTTLIEB 2,448,306

' DISCHARGE MANIFOLD FOR BEVERAGE DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed April 5, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 W J a A 12 INVENTOR. Lows GOTTLIEB Afro/016k Patented Aug. 31, 1948 DISCHARGE MANIFOLD FOR BEVERAGEv DISPENSING APPARATUS Louis Gottlieb, Philadelphia, Pa,

Application April 3, 1947, Serial No. 739,095

This invention relates to soda fountains in genoral and more particularly to an improved apparatus for selectively dispensing any one of several different kinds of carbonated beverages or the carbonated water itself, the present apparatus being a modification of that shown and described in my copending application Serial No. 569,144, filed: December 21, 1944;

Among the general objects of the present invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and exceedingly compactbeverage dispensing apparatus having a novel arrangement of control valves and discharge tubes for the carbonated water and theseveral flavoring syrups whereby the carbonated water from a single source of supply may be delivered independently of the fiavoring syrups or selectively combined with any one of several syrups as desired, the beverage being dispensed in each case by the. single manipulation of a selected control valve handle.

More pecifically, it is an object of the present inventionto provide a single body manifold for thecarbonated water, :thesai-d manifold body constituting in itself the support for the several valves employed for. controlling the delivery of the carbonated water and the several flavoring syrups and being provided with improved means for quick-detachably connecting the apparatus to a conduit leading to a suitable'supply of the carbonated water. Thus, the apparatus of the present invention is adapted to be readily connected and disconnected from thesupply of carbonated water without the use of any special installation tools and equipment and" without necessitating any major structural changes in .existingbars and soda fountain counters in which it maybe desired to install'the apparatus of the present invention.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully hereinafter, it being" understood that it consists substantially in the combination, construction, location and general arrangement of parts, all as described in detail hereinafter, as shown in the accompanying drawings and as finally pointed out in the appendedclaims.

In the said accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of the beverage dispensing apparatus as constructed in accord.-

ance with and embodying the principles of the present. invention t Figure 2 is a-top plan view thereof;

Figure 3.. is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of. Figure 2;

Figure 4' is a rear elevational view of the appa- 10 Claims. (01.225-26) 2 ratus, showing: the. outer casing. partly broken away to reveal theinterior of the apparatus:

Figure 5 is a view, partly in section, taken along the line 55'of Figure 4;

\Figure 6213 a view, also partly in sec'tion, taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 5';v

Figures '7, 8, 9 and 10 are sectional views taken respectively along the lines 1-1, 8 8,v 99 and ill-10 of Figure 6.;

Figure 11 is a view corresponding to the right hand portion of Figure 6 showing the valve actuating mechanism in position to simultaneously open the valves controlling the delivery of carbonated water and afiavoring syrup;

Figurelz is averticaisectional view taken alon theline I2--l 2 of Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a vertical sectional view taken alon theline l3:'--| 3 of Figure 5; and

Figure 14 is an. exploded view of the several parts of theassembly shown in Figure 12.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be observed that thebeverag-e dispensing apparatus of thepresent. invention is generally of box-like form, including'an upper section II) in which is contained: the several different. flavoring syrups tor mixture with the carbonated water to produce the desired carbonated beverage, and a lower section II in which is. contained. the several valves and supply tubes for'controlling the flow of the carbonated water either alone or in conjunction with a. selected-syrup withwhlch it is to be mixed. The upper section Hi of the apparatus is in the formof a container having front, rear and side Walls and a bottom l2, all formed of sheet metal and joined together to provide a liquid-tight chamber which is interiorly divided, by the partition members 13 and I4, into a plurality of individual syrup compartments A, B and C. The tops of these compartments are partially covered by atop plate 15 which is non-removably secured to the section ill; preferably in the form of a horizontal continuation of the back wall 16 of said section. If desired, the openings in the tops of the compartments A! B and C may be closed by a removablecoveruplate I! (see Figures 1, 2 and 3) The several compartments A, B and C are adaptedrespectively to receive different flavoring syrups: for mixture with carbonated water, each of said compartments being provided with a suitably screened discharge fitting- 18 in the base wall [2: thereof for discharge of the syrup from the compartment, this fitting being provided with a threaded shank I 9 extending, below the base wall I2; Fitted within each of the compartments A, B and C'is a Vertically extending tubular guide 20 within which is fitted a valve control stem 2|, the upper ends of the several stems 2| being respectively provided with the operating handles 22, 23 and 24. It will be noted that the tubular guides 20 for the several valve operating stems extend vertically above and below the fixed top member I5 and the bottom |2 of the upper compartmented section l of the unit, the joints between each tubular guide and the.- said top and bottom members I and I2 being rendered liquid-tight, as by soldering or otherwise.

The valve stems 2| within each of the twocompartments B and C are respectively fitted at their lower ends with a valve operating element of the general form best shown in Figure 6,

35, the gasket being designated by the numeral 46. The spring-embraced portion of each valve stem 42 is encased within a tubular element 41 formed as an integral rearwardly extending part of the manifold body 3|], the rear end of this element being slotted, as at 48, to receive the notched end 49 of a valve operating lever 50, the toe of which is fulcrumed, as at 5|, within an opening 52 provided inithe tubular element 41 immediately below the slot 48 thereof. The outer end of the transverse bore housing the springpressed valve 4| is closed by a removable pluglilre closuremember 53 adapted to be threadedly while the stem 2| within the compartment A is fitted at its lower end with a double-actingvalve operating element 26 of the general form best shown in Figure 11. ments 25, 25 and 25 are respectively operated to actuate the valve mechanisms which control the flowof the syrups from'the compartments .A, B and C as well as those which control the flow of the carbonated water into the liquid mixing heads, designated generally by the reference numerals 21, 28 and 29.

The valve mechanisms just referred to, together with their operating elements 25, 25 and 26, the mixing heads 21, 28 and 29 and other associated parts are compactly disposed within the lower section II of the dispensing apparatus. While these last-mentioned parts are generally similar in function to their corresponding parts shown in my copending application above referred to, their operative assembly, as hereinafter described, constitutes an important feature of the present invention.

As appears most clearly in Figures 3 and 4, in the apparatus of the present invention the several control valves for the carbonated water and the different syrups to be dispensed are operatively arranged Within a unitary body member 30 which serves the function of amanifold for distributing the carbonated water to one or the other of the ' mixing heads 21, 2B and 29. This manifold member 30 is preferably inthe form of an integral casting having a plurality of laterally spaced upwardly projecting elements 3| each of which is axially bored, as at 32, and interiorly tapped, as

at 33, to receive the threaded shanks |9 of the syrup discharge fittings I8 mounted in the base walls of the compartments A, B and C. Thus, the fittings l8 serve to securely mount the manifold member 30 within the lower section I of the dispensing unit.

Also formed as integral element of the member 35, as appears most clearly in Figure 14, are a plurality of laterally spaced depending elements 34 each of which latter terminates in a disk-like part 35 to which is threadedly secured, as at 36, a nozzle cap 31. The elements 34 are respectively axially bored, as at 38, for communication, by way of valve passages 39, with the bores 32 in communication with the compartments A, B and C. The valve passages 39 are formed in the body of the manifold member 3|] by transversely boring the same to provide for each valve passage a valve seat 40 which is normally maintained closed by a spring-pressed valve 4|. Each valve 4| is provided with a rearwardly projecting stem 42, the rear end of which is formed with a flanged enlargement 43 which serves as the rear abutment for a coiled compression spring 44. The forward end of this spring abuts against a gasketed internal flange 45 formed within the body These valve operating e'lesecured in position, it being observed that upon removal of this closure member access may be had to the valve 4| for such repair and replacement thereof as may be necessary.

Operatively associated with each of the dependingelements 34 is a syrup discharge tube 54 which is fitted intermediate its length with an upwardly presenting annular flange 55 into which is adapted to be projected the carbonated water for mixing with the flavoring syrup discharged from said tube, the several discharge tubes 54 being each in communication with thecompartments A, B and C by way of the bores 32 and 38 and their intercommunicating valve controlled 35. Thus, upon opening one or the other of the valves 4|, as shown, for example in Figure 12, syrup contained in the compartments aforesaid may be freely discharged therefrom by way of a discharge tube 54.

In order to project carbonated water upon the flange 55 for mixing with the flavoring syrup discharged from a compartment as above described, the manifold body 30 is internally provided with a series of intercommunicating passages which respectively diverge from a common point 55 (see Figure 13) toward each of the several syrup discharging tubes 54. As appears most clearly in Figures 5, 6 and 13, the manifold body 35 is centrally provided with a transversely extending bore 56 through which is adapted to be removably projected a plug-like member 51 for supplying carbonated Water to the dispensing apparatus, this member being formed intermediate of its length with an annular shoulder 58 for abutment against one face of the manifold body and with a threaded extremity 59 adapted to receive a cap nut 6|] for securing the member 51 in inoperative association with the manifold body, as best shown in Figure 13.

The rear end of the carbonated water supply fitting member is externally threaded, as at 6|, for connection with a supply conduit (not shown) for the carbonated water, the general arrangement being such that the dispensing apparatus may be supported in position by the member 51 when the latter is connected to a relatively fixed supply conduit. The member 51 is provided with a pair of axially extending bores 62 and 63 the proximate ends of which are laterally turned, as at 64 and 55, for common communication with a. lateral recess 66 normally occupied by a rubber plug 61 or the like. This plug is normally pressed against the open ends of the lateral passages 64 and-55 to seal the same from one another, as shown in Figure 13, by means of a threaded stem 58 pressing against the plug 61, the stem 68 being carried in a fitting 69 threaded into the body of the member '51. The forward end of the bore 63 is laterally turned, as at 10, to provide a discharge opening for the carbonated water, this opening being in registry with an annular groove 1| formed in the portion of the I of carbonated water to the mixing nozzle.

member'fil. which is embraced by the. manifold body 301 (see Figure 13). Thus, it will. be p parent that when the stem 68 is backed. out. of its: supporting. fitting 69 sufliciently to. release the. sealing pressure imposed upon the rubber plug 61, the carbonated water supplied to the member 51. under pressure passes freely through the bores 62 and 6.31 and the. lateral port for delivery to the diverging internal passages aforesaid of the manifold body 30.

These diverging passages in the manifold body are most clearly indicated in Figures 5 and. 6, wherein they are respectively designated by the reference numerals 1.2, is and M, these passages being respectively in communication with laterally extending bores I5, 18 and TI formed in the manifold body, one of these latter bores being disposed adjacent. each of the corresponding bores respectively accommodating the valves for controlling the discharge of syrup from the compartments A, B and C. Fitted in each of these bores 15, 16 and H is a spring-pressedvalve for controlling the supply of carbonated water to the mixing nozzle, this valve being similar in, all material respects to that for controlling the supply of syrup as hereinbefore described. Thus, each carbonated. water control valve includes, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, a valve body 18 having a spring-pressed stem 19 whichis actuated by a fulcrumed valve operating lever 80,. the valve body 18 being normally under such bias as to maintain it closed against its seat 8!. Figures 8' and 9 show the valve body 18 in open position so as to. permit, the free passage of carbonated water through the valve passage 82 for discharge upon the upwardly presenting annular fiange 55. of the syrup discharge tube, the discharged carbonated water being thus mixed with the syrup within the mixing nozzle for discharge therefrom as a flavored carbonated beverage.

In this connection it Will be observed that the carbonated water passing through the valve passage 82- is delivered to the mixing nozzle by way of a suitably bored member 83 formed as an integral extension between the main body portion of the manifold 38 and the disk-like part upon which is threadedly secured the nozzle cap 31, these extensions 83 being each provided with a laterally extending needle valve 84 or the like operative to close off or meter the supply As in the case of the valves for controlling the supply of syrup, each of the spring-pressed valves for controlling the supplying of carbonated water to the mixing nozzle is enclosed at its outer end by a removable plug-like closure member 85.

. As mostclearlyappearsin Figures 5 and 6, the several spring-pressed valve mechanisms hereinbefore described are arranged in closely associated pairs, each pair of such valves including one for controlling the supply of syrup and another for controlling the supply of carbonated water to the mixing nozzle. The means for selectively actuating these spring-pressed valve mechanisms is substantially similar to that described in my copending application aforesaid, Serial No. 569,144. Thus, one pair of operating levers, designed to be commonly actuated by the operating handle 22 disposed above syrup compartment A, are joined together by a plate 86, while the next pair of operating. levers, designed to be commonly actuated by the operating hamdie 23 disposed above syrup compartment B, are similarly joined together by a plate 81. The remaining pair of operating levers, designed; to

be. selectively actuated by the. third, operating handle '24 disposed. above syrup compartment. G; are individually provided with plates 8.8 and 8.9... asbest shown in Figures. 6, 9,.10 and 1.2, the. plate. 89 carried by the operating lever Bil (for control of the carbonateduwater-l being of. a. length ter minating. short of the lever 50 (for control of the syrup. to. be discharged. from compartment C), while the plate 88 carried by the lever 50 is of; a length sufficient to engage the lever 80.

The. plates 86, and. 8.1 are respectively adapted for engagement by the actuators 215- fixed to the lower ends. of; the handle-operated stems. 21 extending: upwardly through compartments Aand 3;. the actuators 25-25 being each in the form of. an arcuated wing lement extending laterally from the. lower end of" its supporting. stem, 2|...

The actuator 26,, for selectively actuating the separated plates 88 and QQ' TESPBQHYGIY' USSOQiQiWd with the third pair oi thesp ine-p essed valves 50. and 80, is of the duplex form best. shown". in ures 11 and 12, said actuator ha ing a pair of oppositely extending vertically ofiset areuated Wms elements it. and 26 respectively adapted to engage the cam plates 88, andBQ. carried by the operating levers andllll.

Inasmuch as the, function and. operation of these a tuators; 25., 25;.and 2.6. are escribed in destai-l inmy. copending application aforesaid, furs ther detailed description. herein, is not believed? to be necessary beyond. pointing out. that. they all provide for selective discharge of syrup: from. one or another of the syrup; compartments A B and C simultaneous with delivery of carbonated water to. the mixing nozzle from whichthe desired carbonated beverage is to be dispensed, while the duplex actuator 26 additionally provides; for. do livery of carbonated water to a. mixing nozzle for discharge therefrom in plain state. that is,, unmixed with any Syrup.

When it is desired to remove the dispensin unit from. its, mounting, as for'purposesof repair. maintenance or servicing of any kind. it is merely necessary to remove the cap nut from the end. of the. member 51 whereby the entire dis.- pensing unit, may he slipped oft of said member; the delivery of carbonated water through. the latter member from its source. of: supply (not shown) being, of. course, first closed by: tightly sealing the rubber-plug 6-1 in. position (as shown in Figure 13) to seal the passages 64; and liifrom one another, thereby interrupting the supply: of. carbonated Water to. the manifoldbody 3B. The rubber plug 61, in normal operation of the dis:- penser, is. urged awa from its sealing seat by the pressure of the carbonated water supplied tothe bore 62 of the member 51 and to this end the stem. 68. is normally backed out of its supporting fitting 69 by means of an operating handle 90.

By virtue ofthe fact that the manifold body 3.0 serves as the support for the several pairs. of spring-pressed valves and is itself in the form of a self-contained unit embodying therewithin the several passages for distributing the carbonated water to the several mixing nozzles, it becomesan exceedingly simple matter to operatively as.- semble the compartmented casing with the manifold. To effect such assembly, it is. merely necessary to connect the threaded discharge nipples l8 in the base wall [2' of the main casing to the vertically extending members 3! formed as integral elements of the manifold body, the as, sembled unit being then readily mounted upon the carbonatedwater supply member 51 as hereinbefore described.

i It will be understood, of course, that the apparatus of the present invention is susceptible of various changes and modifications in the construction and arrangement of its several parts all without departing from the general principles or real spirit of the present invention, and it is accordingly intended to claim the same broadly, as well as specifically, as indicated by the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. A dispensing apparatus for carbonated beverages comprising, in combination, a container having a plurality of compartments for difierent syrups, each of said compartments being provided with an indvidual syrup discharge fitting in the base wall thereof, and means for combining carbonated water with the syrup discharged from any one of said compartments to form a carbonated beverage, said means including a manifold body having separate valve controlled passages in respective communication with said syrup discharge fittings and a plurality of valve controlled intercommunicating passages for supply of carbonated Water for mixing with a selected discharged syrup, said intercommunicating passages having a common inlet opening into a bore extending transversely of said manifold body, and a supply conduit for the carbonated water removably fitted in said bore, said conduit having a valve controlled passage therethrough terminating in an outlet in registry with said common inlet in the manifold body.

2. In a dispensing apparatus for carbonated beverages, in combination, a container having a plurality of compartments for different syrups, means for controlling the discharge of syrup from any selected one or said compartments and for mixing carbonated water with the discharged syrup, said means including a manifold body having separate valve controlled passages respectively in communication with said compartments and a plurality of internal passages through which carbonated water is delivered for mixin with a selected discharged syrup, said internal passages being interconnected to provide a common inlet opening into a bore extending transversely of said manifold body, and a supply conduit for the carbonated water removably fitted in said bore, said conduit having a valve controlled passage therethrough terminating in an outlet in registry with said common inlet in the manifold body.

3. In a dispensing apparatus for carbonated beverages, in combination, a container having a plurality of compartments for different syrups, a carbonated water mainfold body disposed immediately below said compartments, said manifold body being provided with a plurality of laterally spaced pairs of oppositely projecting tubular bosses and internal recesses interconnecting the bores of each pair of said bosses, tubular means interconnecting the bosses projecting from one side of said manifold body to the base walls of said compartments, said tubularmeans and each pair of oppositely projecting bosses providing a continuous passage for discharge of syrup from a compartment, externally controlled valve means disposed in each of said recesses for controlling the discharge of syrup through said continuous passage, and means for delivering carbonated water through said manifold body from a common source of supply for selective mixing with one or the other of the syrups discharged from said compartments.

4. In a dispensing apparatus for carbonated beverages, in combination, a container having a plurality of compartments for different syrups, a carbonated water manifold body disposed immediately below said compartments, said manifold body being provided with a plurality of laterally spaced upwardly presenting tubular bosses, means interconnecting the bosses to the base walls of said compartments with the bores of said bosses in communication with the interiors of said compartments, a plurality of syrup discharge members respectively in communication with the bores of said tubular bosses, a plurality of internal passages in said manifold body respectively extending from a common inlet to carbonated water discharge members closely associated with said syrup discharge members, said inlet being in communication with a bore extending transversely of said manifold body, and an adaptor removably disposed in said transversely extending bore having a passage therethrough for delivering carbonated water to said common inlet.

5. In a dispensing apparatus for carbonated beverages, in combination, a container having a plurality of compartments for different syrups, a carbonated water manifold body disposed immediately below said compartments, said manifold body being provided with a plurality of laterally spaced upwardly presenting tubular bosses, means interconnecting the bosses to the base walls of said compartments with the bores of said bosses in communication with the interiors of said compartments, a, plurality of syrup discharge members respectively in communication with the bores of said tubular bosses, a plurality of carbonated water discharge members respectively closely associated with said syrup discharge members, said discharge members for the carbonated water being formed integrally with said manifold body, and means for delivering carbonated water selectively to said carbonated water discharge members.

6. In a dispensing apparatus for carbonated beverages, in combination, a container having a plurality of compartments for different syrups, a carbonated water manifold body disposed immediately below said compartments, said manifold body being provided with a plurality of laterally spaced upwardly presenting tubular bosses, means interconnecting the bosses to the base walls of said compartments with the bores of said bosses in communication with the interiors of said compartments, a plurality of syrup discharge members respectively in communication with the bores of said tubular bosses,'a plurality of carbonated water discharge members respectively closely associated with said syrup discharge members, said discharge members for the carbonated water bein formed integrally with said manifold body, and means for delivering carbonated water selectively to said carbonated water discharge members, said last-mentioned means including a plurality of internal passages within said manifold body respectively communicating with said carbonated water discharge members and merging at a common inlet connected to a carbonated water supply.

7. In a dispensing apparatus for carbonated beverages, a manifold body for distributing carbonated water for mixing with a selected syrup, said body including a plurality of laterally spaced syrup delivery passages each terminating in 9. depending discharge tube and a plurality of interconnected internal carbonated water delivery passages each terminating in a discharge tube closely associated with one of said syrup discharge tubes, and means for delivering carbonated water commonly to said interconnected passages from an external source of supply, all of said discharge tubes being formed as integral parts of said manifold body.

8. In a dispensing apparatus for carbonated beverages, a manifold body for distributing carbonated Water for mixing with a selected syrup, said body including a plurality of laterally spaced syrup delivery passages each terminating in a depending discharge tube and a plurality of interconnected internal carbonated water delivery passages each terminating in a discharge tube closely associated with one of said syrup discharge tubes, and means for delivering carbonated water commonly to said interconnected passages from an external source of supply, all of said discharge tubes being formed as integral parts of said manifold body, said last-mentioned means including a removable adaptor extending transversely through the manifold body and havin a passage therethrough terminating in an outlet adapted for registry with said internal passages at their point of interconnection.

9. In a dispensing apparatus for carbonated beverages, a manifold body for distributing carbonated water for mixing with a selected syrup, said body including a plurality of laterally spaced syrup delivery passages each terminating in a depending discharge tube and a plurality of interconnected internal carbonated Water delivery passages each terminating in a discharge tube closely associated with one of said syrup discharge tubes, means for delivering carbonated water commonly to said interconnected passages from an external source of supply, all of said discharge tubes being formed as integral parts of said manifold body, said last-mentioned means including a removable adaptor extending transversely through the manifold body and having a passage therethrough terminating in an outlet adapted for registry with said internal passages at their point of interconnection, and externally operable valve means in said adaptor for interrupting the delivery of carbonated water through the adaptor passage.

10. In a dispensing apparatus for carbonated beverages, a manifold body for distributing carbonated water for mixing with a selected syrup, said body including a plurality of laterally spaced syrup delivery passages each terminatin in a depending discharge tube and a plurality of interconnected internal carbonated Water delivery passages each terminating in a discharge tube closely associated with one of said syrup discharge tubes, means for delivering carbonated water commonly to said interconnected passages from an external source of supply, all of said discharge tubes being formed as integral parts of said manifold body, and means in each of said carbonated water discharge tubes for metering the delivery of carbonated water therethrough,

LOUIS GOTTLIEB.

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