GB2326157A - Manifolds for dispensing beverage constituents - Google Patents

Abstract

A soda/still water manifold (10) for a dispense tower for carbonated or still beverages which is made from prefabricated sheet metal components bonded together. The manifold (10) comprises separate compartments with recirculation means, and has removable/replaceable connections to the dispense valves.

Description

MANIFOLDS FOR DISPENSING BEVERAGE CONSTIZTENTS This invention relates to manifolds for dispensing beverage constituents. It has particular application in the field of soft drinks such as colas or flavoured sodas which are typically dispensed chilled.

Beverages may be dispensed using a dispense tower which is raised above a serving table level to provide beverage outlets through dispense valves located at or about shoulder height. The tower contains pipework for carrying the beverage ingredients and its outer surface frequently carries advertising material for the beverage(s) to be dispensed.

The tower may have multiple outlets at its upper end, the outlets forming a horizontal line of dispense valves. This permits more than one beverage to be dispensed simultaneously and it is possible to have a number of different beverages dispensable from a single tower.

In the case of beverages such as colas, the tower may carry pipework for chilled soda (carbonated water) and for a cola or other flavoured syrup. The separately supplied soda and syrup are then mixed together in the correct proportions at the outlet in a speciallydesigned dispense valve known as a post-mix dispense valve.

As well as having the facility to dispense carbonated chilled beverages, it is sometimes required that the tower can have dispense outlets for still water or still beverages. In this case, a still water line is also supplied to the tower along with lines for carbonated water and syrup(s). Typically, these water lines are carried to a position adjacent the base of the tower from a remote chiller in an insulated sheath known as a python. The chiller can then be located well away from the serving area. Syrup is typically supplied in special containers which are connected by flexible piping within the same python via the tower to the post-mix dispense valve(s).

The outlet(s) to which the dispense valves are connected typically form part of a manifold made of food grade stainless steel and located at the top of the tower. The manifold and the pipework which supplies it are usually surrounded by thermally insulating material, so that the temperature of the dispensed beverage can be accurately controlled.

Even so, it is frequently required that a recirculating manifold is provided i.e. a manifold that ensures that soda which is not dispensed is constantly being fed back via a recirculation outlet line to the chiller.

Such a construction is shown in British patent application number 9221834.6 published as G.B. 2 271 619. The manifold has welded outlet stems which are tapped to receive a threaded connector piece, which in turn may either be blanked or adapted to provide push-fit connections to a dispense valve.

Such manifolds typically made from seamless tube are difficult and expensive to manufacture. It is an object of the invention to provide a manifold of improved construction.

Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention provides a manifold for dispensing beverage constituents comprising a manifold tank including a tank section, the tank section comprising a plurality of wall portions created from strip or sheet materials and which are secured together in leak-tight manner, separation means being provided within the tank section to create at least two fluid-tight compartments within said tank section, whereby one of said two compartments can contain a first fluid and the second compartment can contain a second fluid, each compartment having inlet means and outlet means for its respective fluid..

In another aspect the invention provides a beverage dispense tower, the tower having multiple outlets and including a manifold as defined in the immediately preceding paragraph.

Thus within the tank section there are separation means for creating a plurality of fluid-tight compartments. The separation means may include a continuous sheet extending substantially along the length of the tank section. Thus the separation means are adapted to create fluid-tight compartments within the tank section, the compartments being capable of holding different fluids.

The wall portions may be made of stainless steel. They may be manufactured by pressing, drawing, stamping, moulding or the like.

The wall portions may be secured together in leak-tight manner by adhesive bonding, roll welding, etc. at the portion perimeters. Holes for providing inlets or outlets may be punched or stamped into the wall portions prior to their assembly e.g. whilst such wall portions are still flat.

The compartments may include baffle plates extending within the tank section and may similarly comprise sections created from strip or sheet material. Such plates may be sandwiched between or spot welded to perimeter features of said wall portions. Outlet or inlet features may be secured to the tank section by brazing or adhesive bonding. For example, components may be coated with a braze alloy and then vacuum-brazed to the tank section. Outlet/inlet collars may be formed as part of a wall portion prior to assembly of the wall portions to form the tank or may be provided, for example, as flanged bushes to be fitted into holes through wall portions. The various components including the wall portions for the tank section may conveniently be assembled in a jig and then secured together.

The outlet means may incorporate or be fitted with a further fluid admission means. Said further fluid admission means or said outlet means may have a removably connected extension means. Said extension means may be adapted to provide a passageway therethrough from the outlet means whilst preventing passage therethrough of a further fluid from the further fluid admission means. An alternative extension means may be provided which has a passageway therethrough for the further fluid to pass from the further fluid admission means whilst preventing passage therethrough of first fluid or second fluid from one of the compartments via the outlet means.

In an alternative arrangement, similar extension means may extend directly into one of the fluid-tight compartments and be removably secured to retention means attached to or forming part of the separation means within the tank section.

First conduit means may be provided for conducting a fluid into a first portion of a compartment within the tank section. A second conduit means may extend into a second portion of the compartment section such that the fluid has to pass around a baffle within the compartment before returning through the second conduit, thus providing for recirculation of the fluid should it not be dispensed from the manifold.

Each compartment may be so provided with recirculation means.

The manifold tank and at least part of the outlet means may be encased within a thermally conducting material. Optionally, part of the further fluid admission means may also be so encased. A layer of thermally insulating material may surround the manifold, the outlet means, any thermally-conducting material, and the further fluid admission means. The extension means may project outwardly from said thermally insulating material.

The further fluid admission means may comprise a "banjo" fitting extending co-axially with the outlet means. For example, the further fluid may be still water and one of the fluids in one of the compartments of the tank may be soda. The extensions may be threaded at their inner ends to engage screw threads on the outlet means, the retention means or the further fluid admission means.

The first extension means may have a central passageway co-axial with and of the same diameter as one through the outlet means. Once screwed in tightly, e.g. using a hexagon drive at its outer end, a fluidtight passageway is provided for, e.g., soda from a compartment of the manifold tank to a valve mounted on the outer end of the extension.

The second extension means may have a blind central passageway such that first fluid (e.g. soda) will not be admitted thereto. Extending through the sidewall of the second extension means may be one or more radially directed passageways which permit a different fluid (still water) to enter the central passageway, either from a compartment of the tank or from the further fluid admission means.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows in cross-section a first manifold in accordance with the invention with a removable extension inserted therein; Figure 1 A shows part of an alternative removable extension to that shown in Figure 1; Figures 1B and 1C show alternative constructions ofthe tank sections illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 2 shows in cross section a second embodiment of the invention, also with a removable extension thereto; Figures 2A and 2B show features of an alternative removable extension to the one shown in Figure 2; Figures 3 and 3A show partial assemblies of manifolds in accordance with the invention; Figure 4 shows schematically a view of the interior of the tank section of a fourth embodiment; Figure 5 shows schematically a view of the interior of the tank section of a fourth embodiment; Figure 6 is an isometric view of a fifth manifold of the invention showing entry and exit conduits for two different fluids; Figure 7 is an elevation corresponding to Figure 6; Figure 8 is a longitudinal section through the manifold of Figure 6 encased in insulation material; Figure 9 is an enlarged transverse cross-section through the manifold; Figure 10 is a transverse cross-section along line X-X of Figure 8; and Figure 11 is a transverse cross-section along line Xt of Figure 8.

Figure 1 shows a manifold having a tank section 10 which is generally rectangular and formed of stainless steel sheet. Tank 10 has a first wall portion 41 which is generally L-shaped in section having flat flanges bent back through 45" at each extremity of the L. A number of circular collars 42 are pressed out from one side of the L-shape so that they extend in line along the wall portion and form outlets. A second wall portion 43 of similar overall dimensions to the first wall portion and similarly L-shaped is pressed out from another sheet of stainless steel. Second wall portion 43 has flanges 49 which co-extend with flanges 49 of the first wall portion 41 when the two portions are placed together. The wall portions are joined together by roll welding the respective flanges and the tank 10 is completed by the brazing of rectangular end plates (see later description).

A separator 44, also made from stainless steel sheet, is inserted within the tank prior to the fitting of the end plates. The separator 44 extends the full length of the tank, and creates two compartments, an upper compartment 45 and a lower compartment 46, with no communication between the two compartments 45, 46.

Entry conduits, 47 and 48, extend upwardly through holes prepunched in the first wall portion 43 and the separator 44. Entry conduit 47 opens into the lower compartment 46. Entry conduit 48 opens into the upper compartment 45. Conduit 48 is behind conduit 47 as seen in Figure 1, the two conduits being located close to one another approximately centrally along the length of the tank 10. A first fluid to be dispensed (e.g. soda) enters tank 10 in lower compartment 46 and circulates to both ends of tank 10. Soda not dispensed is recirculated to a remote chiller via recirculation means (not shown but which may be, for example, similar to the recirculation means described below with reference to Figure 5). A second fluid to be dispensed enters tank 10 in upper compartment 45 and may be recirculated in similar fashion.

Dispense means are shown for the upper compartment 45 only but it will be appreciated that similar dispense means (not shown) will be used for the lower compartment 46.

The circular collar 42 in first wall portion 41 is surrounded by a portion of a banjo fitting 14 which provides a further fluid admission means and has an internal bore 17 extending parallel to the central axis of the collar 42. Banjo fitting 14 has an axially outer shoulder 16, providing a land extending radially outwardly from the inner bore 17. A radially-extending inlet 18 for still water opens into bore 17 provided through the banjo fitting. A stainless steel tube 19 is welded to inlet 18.

A casting of thermally conductive material e.g. aluminium, surrounds tank 10 and its entry and exit conduits (over all or part of their extent within the dispense tower) and its periphery is indicated by dashed line 13. Thermally-insulating material 20 e.g. foamed polyurethane, the outer extent of which is indicated by a dashed line surrounds the banjo fitting 14 and the aluminium casting 13 which surrounds tank 10.

The axially outer end of collar 42 has an internal screw thread which co-operates with a thread on the inner end of a first extension means (see Figure 1) provided by stem 21. Stem 21 can be removably connected to collar 42 by means of the co-operating threads. Ring seals are fitted between banjo fitting 14 and the wall portion 41/collar 42.

Stem 21 has an axially-extending passageway 22 therethrough and at its axially outer end has connection means 23 enabling a valve connector to be a push-fit onto the stem. A hexagon socket 24 (see Figure 1) may be provided in the outer end of stem 22 to facilitate assembly to and disassembly from the collar 42. Stem 21 has a radially inwardly extending shoulder 25 partway along its length which co-operates with shoulder 16 of banjo fitting 14 when the stem is fully home. A seal may be provided between the two shoulders 16 and 25. The tightening of stem 21 into the screw thread of collar 42 may be employed to hold the assembly together.

Stem 21 provides a passageway for the second fluid from compartment 45 of the manifold tank to a valve connected to the outer end of stem 21, whilst preventing still water from entering the valve from inlet 18.

Figure 1A shows part of an alternative or second stem 31 in place of stem 21. The part of stem 31 not shown is identical to the same part of stem 21. Stem 31 is in external shape similar to stem 21 but its central passageway 32 is blind at its axially inner end (i.e. the screwthreaded end) and it has cross-drilled passageways 36 extending radially from the central passageway 32 adjacent its screw threaded end. Radial passageways 36 connect the central passageway 32 via an annular region 37 with inlet 18 (for still water). Thus, when the second stem 31 is inserted, still water only passes along the central passageway 32 of stem 31.

In use, a manifold may have a number of outlet means with first extension means installed, with one or more outlet means having second extension means to provide for the alternative of beverages containing still water.

Figure 1 B shows an alternative construction for assembling the tank 10. In this example, the separator 44 is sandwiched at its ends between flanges 49 on the first wall portion 41 and the second wall portion 43. Flanges 49 can then be roll welded as in the first example, thus fixing separator 44 in position.

Figure 1 C shows a further alternative tank construction which does not require the flanges 49 to be bent back through 450. If the extremities of the separator 44 are to be sandwiched between flanges 49, these extremities will have to be bent at an angle to fit between the two pairs of flanges.

Figure 2 shows an alternative construction of the manifold. In this embodiment, a tank 60 is formed from a first wall portion 61 and a second wall portion 63 together with end plates. The wall portions 61 and 63 are pressed into U-shapes having flanges 69. A separator means 64 extends between the two wall portions 61 and 63 and its extremities are sandwiched between the flanges 69. The assembled portions may be roll welded together to form the tank section. Wall portion 61 has a plurality of collars 62 extending in line along the length of the tank section. The tank 60 is thus formed with two side-by-side compartments 65 and 66 such that no leakage can occur between the two compartments. The left-hand compartment 66 may be used for soda and the right-hand compartment 65 for still water.

A plurality of screw-threaded annular bosses 67 are secured to one side of separator 64, each boss being co-axial with a respective collar 62 and co-axial with a hole punched in separator 64. The bosses 67 may be TIG or resistance welded in place prior to the tank assembly.

Extension stems 70 of generally similar configuration to stems 21 shown in Figure 1 are shown screwed into each boss 67. Extension stems 70 have an annular seal 68 adapted to seal between stem 70 and collar 62.

Compartments 65 and 66 may have horizontally extending baffles (not shown) part-way up the compartments, together with inlet and outlet conduits (also not shown for clarity). Thus there may be provision for recirculation of the soda via compartment 66 and recirculation of still water via compartment 65.

Figure 2A illustrates an alternative stem 71 which may be used in place of stem 70 when it is desired to dispense still water or a drink containing still water. Stem 71 is generally similar to stem 31 illustrated in Figure 1 A and described previously. The screw thread 72 (present on all stems) is seen more clearly in Figure 2A, as is annular recess 73 into which seal 68 fits. Figure 2B shows the end of both stems 70 and 71 (and stems 21 and 31 of Figures 1 and 1A) with a hexagon drive hole.

Figures 3 and 3A illustrate ways of making up a tank section from folded and roll welded stainless steel sheet material. The tank in Figure 3 has wall portions 61 and 63 with flanges 69 which can be roll formed and welded. Separator 64 extends between the two flanges thereby creating two side-by-side rectangular compartments. The tank end 76 is brazed onto each end of the tank.

In Figure 3A the separator 64 is sandwiched between flanges 69 and is roll welded together with them to create two leak-proof compartments within the tank. At the tank ends, each extremity of the separator 64 is also sandwiched between flanges 77 which are created by roll forming of the end plate 76.

Figure 4 shows an alternative tank construction created by pressing or drawing. Only one wall portion 83 is illustrated, the other wall portion (not shown) would be a mirror image, although it could be drawn more deeply to create a deeper compartment than the compartment formed by wall portion 83. The two wall portions would have a separator plate (not shown) between them, the tank being formed by roll welding together the flanges 81 which had the edges of the separator plate sandwiched between them. Wall portion 83 would have a plurality of collars 82 formed in a line along the length of the tank to provide outlets for fluid to be dispensed.

Figure 5 shown the interior of one compartment formed as one half of a tank. The separator plate has been removed for clarity. A wall portion 85 has flanges 86 extending longitudinally from its U-shaped section. Part way down the internal wall of wall portion 85, a baffle plate 87 is attached by spot welding its flange 88 to wall portion 85.

Baffle 87 extends along the length of the tank to a position just short of each end of the tank section. An inlet conduit 89 extends through a hole cut in the lower wall of wall portion 85 and an outlet conduit 90 extends through holes cut both in the lower wall of wall portion 85 and through baffle 87. Soda or still water entering through conduit 89 thus travels within the compartment in the direction shown by arrow 99. A similar arrangement of inlet and outlet conduits could be arranged for both the still water compartment and the soda compartment which would lie side-by-side as part of the tank with a separator between them.

In Figures 6 to 11 a manifold 120 has a generally rectangular tank section formed of two wall portions 121 and 122. It is provided with six outlets 123A, B, C, D, E, F spaced along its length, each outlet being formed in wall portion 122.

A first pair of entry and exit conduits 1 24A and 1 24B enables continuous circulation of a first fluid (e.g. soda) from a remote cooler (not shown) through the manifold and back to the cooler. A second pair of entry and exit conduits 125A and 125B similarly enables continuous circulation of a second fluid (e.g. still water) from the cooler, through the manifold and back to the cooler. The arrangement of the entry and exit conduits in the manifold is described in more detail below with reference to Figure 9.

As shown in Figures 8 and 9, wall portions 121 and 122 are of generally U-section having flanges 126 and 127 respectively at the ends of the arms of the "U". A separator means 128 extends between the two wall portions with its extremities sandwiched between flanges 126 and 127. The separator 128 extends for the full length of the tank and divides it into two side-by-side compartments 129 and 130.

The ends of wall portions 121 and 122 each has a flange 131, 132 respectively whereby each longitudinal extremity of separator 128 is sandwiched between a pair of flanges 131, 132.

A baffle plate 133 divides compartment 129 into upper and lower compartments 129B and 129A respectively and a baffle plate 134 similarly divides compartment 130 into upper and lower compartments 1 30B and 1 30A respectively. Each baffle plate is of substantially L shape with the tail 133A, 134A ofthe "L" attached to separator 128 by spot welding. The baffle plates 133 and 134 extend within the manifold tank nearly to its ends but are a little shorter than the length of the tank thereby leaving a gap at each end.

As seen most clearly in Figure 9, entry conduit 1 24A opens into lower compartment 1 29A and exit conduit 1 24B opens into upper compartment 129B, entry conduit 125A opens into lower compartment 130A and exit conduit 125B opens into upper compartment 130B. Thus a first fluid to be dispensed (e.g. soda) can enter lower compartment 1 29A towards its central region through conduit 124A, circulate to both ends of the compartment, pass around the ends of baffle 133 and return to the central region in upper compartment 1 29B before exiting through conduit 124B. Similarly a second fluid to be dispensed (e.g. still water) can enter lower compartment 13 0A towards its central region through conduit 125A, circulate to both ends of the compartment, pass around the ends of baffle 134 and return to the central region in upper compartment 130B before exiting through conduit 125B. Thus the fluids that are not dispensed can be returned to a chiller before recirculation.

One outlet 123 is shown in wall 122 in Figure 9. It comprises a circular collar 135 pressed inwardly and a flanged bush 136 fitted into the hole defined by collar 135. A corresponding hole 137 is formed in separator 128 at the same level as the hole defined by collar 135 and a flanged bush 138 is fitted into hole 137. An extension stem (not shown in Figure 9) may then be fitted to extend into the tank through bushes 136 and 138.

In Figure 8 an extension stem 139A to 139F is shown in position in each outlet 123A to 123F respectively and passing through front wall 140 of the tower. Stems 139A to 139E are of the same construction but stem 139F is of different construction, as will be described with reference to Figures 10 and 11 below.

Also shown in Figure 8 are dispense pipes 141A to 141F for a third fluid (syrup). As can be seen the manifold, outlets and pipes are all encased in a block 142 of thermally insulating material.

In Figure 10 an extension stem 139F provides a passageway for still water from the manifold tank compartment 130. Stem 139F extends from the exterior of tower face 140 through manifold inlet 123F, across compartment 130, through a corresponding hole in separator 128 and into compartment 129. The stem has a longitudinally extending passageway 143 that is blind at its inner end, i.e. the end extending into compartment 129, so that fluid (soda) in compartment 129 cannot pass through stem 139F. The stem is sealed to bush 136 by a pair of O-rings 144, 145 and to bush 138 by a pair of O-rings 146, 147.

Stem 139F has cross-drilled passageways 148 extending radially from its longitudinal passageway 143 at a position along the stem such that passageways 148 communicate into compartment 130. Thus still water only can be dispensed via stem 1 39F and can be mixed at a postmix dispense valve (not shown) with syrup dispensed through pipe 141F shown in Figure 8. (Dispense pipe 141E, visible in Figure 10, is for use with extension stem 139E).

Entry and exit conduits 124A, 125A and 124B, 125B respectively are visible beyond extension stem 1 39F.

In Figure 11, an extension stem 139B, which is identical in construction to extension stems 139A, 139C, 1 39D and 139E, provides a passageway for soda water from manifold tank compartment 129. Stem 1 39B has a longitudinally-extending passageway 150 that is open at its inner end and again extends from the exterior of tower face 140, through manifold inlet 123B, across compartment 130, through a corresponding hole in separator 128 and into compartment 129. Thus soda water from compartment 129 can be dispensed through stem 139B (as it can through stems 139A, 139C, 139D and 139E) but still water from compartment 130 cannot pass through. The stem is sealed to bush 136 by O-ring seals 151 and 152 and to bush 138 by O-ring seals 153 and 154.

The soda-water dispensed through extension stem 1 39B can be mixed at a post-mix dispense valve (not shown) with syrup dispensed through pipe 141B (Figure 8). (Dispense pipe 141A, visible in Figure 11, is for use with stem 139A).

Claims (12)

1. A manifold for dispensing beverage constituents comprising a manifold tank including a tank section, the tank section comprising a plurality of wall portions created from strip or sheet materials and which are secured together in leak-tight manner, separation means being provided within the tank section to create at least two fluid-tight compartments within said tank section, whereby one of said two compartments can contain a first fluid and the second compartment can contain a second fluid, each compartment having inlet and outlet means for its respective fluid.

2. A manifold as claimed in Claim 1, in which the separation means includes a continuous sheet extending along the length of the tank section.

3. A manifold as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, in which inlet or outlet components are secured to the tank section by brazing or adhesive bonding.

4. A manifold according to Claim 3, in which the components have been coated with a braze alloy and then vacuum brazed to the tank section.

5. A manifold as claimed in any preceding claim, where the outlet means incorporates or is fitted with a third fluid admission means, said third fluid admission means or said outlet means being capable of receiving a removable connected extension means or valve means.

6. A manifold as claimed in Claim 5, in which said extension means is adapted to provide a passageway therethrough from the outlet means whilst preventing passage therethrough of a third fluid from the third fluid admission means.

7. A manifold as claimed in Claim 5, in which said extension means is adapted to provide a passageway therethrough from the third fluid admission means while preventing passage therethrough from the outlet means.

8. A manifold as claimed in any of Claims 1 or 4, in which an extension means extends directly into one of the fluid-tight compartments and is removably secured to retention means attached to or forming part of the separation means within the tank section.

9. A manifold as claimed in any preceding claim, in which at least one of said fluid-tight compartments contains a baffle such that fluid has to pass around the baffle within the compartment before exiting through a recirculation conduit, thus providing for recirculation of said fluid should it not be dispensed from the manifold.

10. A manifold according to Claim 9, which contains one or more baffle plates created from strip or sheet material, sandwiched between or spot welded to perimeter features of said wall portions.

11. A beverage dispense tower, the tower having multiple outlets and including a manifold as claimed in any preceding claim.

12. A manifold according to Claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.