Autonomous gravity-feed beverage dispenser with cooling device
US6442960B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 10, 2001 |
| Grant date | Sep 3, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 10, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25D31/003
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A gravity-feed unit that dispenses cool drinks form a carboy includes a breakable inner seal. The carboy is supported by its neck, which is centered on a striker. The striker includes a discharge passage for the carboy that communicates with a coiled pipe to cause the beverage to flow through a secondary exchanger. A heat transferring agent is previously cooled in a primary exchanger and brought to the secondary exchanger by a pump. Actuation is controlled by a temperature sensor that measures the temperature of the heat transfer agent in the secondary exchanger. The primary exchanger includes a heat source that causes the heat transfer agent to pass continuously inside a closed circuit mutually connecting the primary and secondary exchangers regardless of whether the pump is operating.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.