Beverage Cooling and Pumping System

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to ice-bank beverage or beverage component cooling systems and, more specifically to the pumping and agitating components thereof.

2. Background of the Invention

Ice bank cooling systems are well known. Such systems incorporate a reservoir containing water and two sets of coils. The first coil comprises the expansion portion of a refrigeration circuit and the second coil is a heat exchanger for cooling beverage or a beverage component, such as a concentrate or carbonated water. Operation of the refrigeration system builds up a layer of ice on the refrigerant coils which acts as a source or store of cooling ability, and enables a smaller refrigeration unit to cool beverages where the demand occurs in peaks throughout the day. Normally, such systems incorporate an agitator in the form of a paddle rotated by an electric motor which agitates water within the reservoir to wash it over the ice bank to keep the water cold and prevent temperature stratification within the resevoir.

In a particular type of ice-bank system, there is provided a re-circulating loop through which a beverage portion, typically carbonated water, is continuously pumped and is tapped off at locations therearound for supply to a post-mix dispensing valve. A major portion of the loop is the heat exchanging coil, and thus, the carbonated water in the loop is always maintained at a suitable dispensing temperature. The carbonated water is pumped by means of a conventional electrical pump which, therefore, has to handle the cold carbonated water. Such pumps normally operate continuously to circulate the chilled water through the soda circuit. A problem with such a system concerns the location of the pump on the exterior of the reservoir in the ambient air. As the pump will typically be substantially colder than the ambient conditions due to the pumping of the soda water, any moisture in the air will therefore have a tendency to condense on the pump resulting in corrosive damage thereto and to that portion of the reservoir in the immediate vicinity of the pump.

A further problem with such prior art ice bank systems concerns the driving of the pump wherein the pump is operated by connection thereof to a drive shaft of an electric motor. This manner of connection inherently requires the use of seals around the shaft. A problem can arise if the integrity of the seals is compromised and contaminants are allowed to enter the flow of the carbonated water.

By the present invention there is provided a beverage or beverage component cooling and pumping system including a reservoir of coolant liquid, an agitator for agitating liquid in the reservoir, power means located above the reservoir and connected to the agitator to rotate the agitator, and a pump for pumping the beverage or beverage component through a cooling dispensing circuit. The pump is driven by the same power means as the agitator wherein the pump is magnetically coupled to the agitator.

The magnetic coupling eliminates any shaft seals, and the like, that could wear and allow contamination of the carbonated water beverage component. The pump can therefore be very effectively and permanently sealed from its external environment thereby virtually eliminating the chance of beverage contamination. As a result of such sealing it was found that the pump can also be totally immersed within the coolant reservoir providing the added advantages of doing away with the condensation related corrosion thereof and removing the pump as a source for the addition of unwanted heat to the carbonated water.

In a further embodiment, the pump is located on the exterior of a bottom wall of the reservoir, wherein such bottom wall is formed, at least in part, of a non-ferromagnetic material for permitting magnetic coupling of the agitator end and pump therethrough. The pump, when mounted in an exterior position, is thermally insulated from the external atmosphere.

Further understanding of the structure, operation, objects and advantages of the present invention can be had in light of the following detailed description which refers to the figures below, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the fluid circuit of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a coolant reservoir.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional side elevational view of a recirculating pump and agitator system of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along lines 4--4 of FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 1, a fluid circuit is shown and generally designated 1. Circuit 1 incorporates a T-fitting 3. Fitting 3 provides for fluid communication to a valve 4 which controls a flow of carbonated water to an exit point or nozzle 5. It will be understood that the system beyond fitting 3 is perfectly conventional and valve 4 may be of the post-mix type for mixing carbonated water with a drink concentrate, or may be a simple control valve.

Pump 2 has a pair of inlets 6 and 7. Inlet 6 is for the return from loop 1, and inlet 7 is for replenishment of carbonated water from a carbonator 8. Pump 2 runs continuously and normally circulates water around circuit 1. In the event of carbonated water being drawn through valve 4, replenishment of loop 1 is provided by carbonator 8. Carbonator 8 is supplied by a carbon dioxide line 9 and a water line 10 incorporating valves 11 and 12 respectively for providing regulated connection to sources of carbon dioxide and potable water (not shown). Carbonator 8 is remote from circuit 1 and is of conventional form.

As seen in FIG. 2, pump 2 has an output through a line 13 for fluid connection to a heat exchanging coil 14 which forms part of circuit 1. Feed line 15 from carbonator 8 leads to feed port 7, and feed line 16 leads to port 6. Feed line 15 or pump 2 include a check valve (not shown) for insuring the one directional flow of carbonated water from carbonator 8 to pump 2. Pump 2 is immersed in water 17 contained within an insulated reservoir 18. Reservoir 18 includes rigid insulated sidewalls 18a and bottom wall 18b, and a rigid cover 18c is releasably secured to sidewalls 18a. Also, within reservoir 18, is a refrigeration coil 19 connected to a refrigeration means (not shown) for producing an ice-bank 20 in a conventional manner. Water 17 has a top surface 17a and is agitated by agitator paddle or blades 21, located below surface 17a, and fixed to shaft 22 and driven by an electric motor 23. A magnetic coupling 24 interconnects shaft 22 and pump 2.

The combination of the agitator, pump and motor is shown in more detail in FIGS. 3 and 4. Electric motor 23, which forms the drive means for the combination device or system, comprises a two-pole motor having a cooling fan 25. Motor 23 is connected to a frame 26 having four support rods 26a extending between and secured to a top frame portion 26b and a bottom frame portion 26c. Frame portion 26a and motor 23 are secured together and to reservoir cover 28c, and pump housing 27 is connected to frame portion 26c. Agitator paddle or blades 21 are mounted on shaft 22 and the end of shaft 22 terminates in a magnetic coupling 24.

As will be understood by those of skill, coupling 24 includes an external magnet 28 attached to shaft 22 and an internal magnet 30. Magnet 30 is joined with an impeller 32 of pump 2, and magnets 28 and 30 are separated by a non-ferromagnetic spacer 34 held between frame portion 26c and pump housing 27. An o-ring 36 provides for sealing between spacer 34, housing 27 and magnet 30.

A seen in FIG. 3, pump 2 is immersed in the coolant water 17. In operation, motor 23 turns shaft 22 and agitator 21, and through the magnetic coupling attraction of magnets 28 and 30 simultaneously operates pump 2. As a result thereof, impeller 32 causes the circulating of carbonated water through circuit 1. This circulation is accomplished with pump 2 held below water surface 17a. It can be appreciated that such immersion is permitted because the magnetic coupling avoids the need for shaft seals so that pump 2 can be completely isolated from water 17. There is, therefore, no danger that water 17 could enter pump 2 and contaminate the beverage or carbonated water circulating therethrough. The absence of such seals also ensures that the friction that would otherwise be caused thereby is not present and, therefore, motor 23 can be of the smallest size practicable. Furthermore, because pump 2 is immersed in water 17 and is not in the open air, the risk of condensation damage to motor 23 is greatly reduced, if not eliminated.

It can be understood that frame 26 provides for the rigid stabilizing connection of motor 23 to pump 2 so that during operation of motor 23, pump 2 is held firmly in position and prevented from rotating. In addition, the location of motor 23 above reservoir 18 facilitates dissipation of any heat generated by the operation thereof into the ambient air, and the securing thereof to a top lid or cover 18c keeps the combination pump/agitator/motor unit or device in the proper position within reservoir 18.

In an alternative embodiment, pump 2 has a single inlet wherein a line 15', shown in ghost outline in FIG. 1, replaces line 15 and provides for replenishing connection from carbonator 8 directly to circuit 1. This approach eliminates the need for the inlet port 7 and any associated seals. In a further embodiment, as seen by referring to FIG. 2, the feed line or lines to pump 2 may be led over the top of a sidewall 28a so as to avoid the need for seals in the wall of the reservoir.

As seen in ghost outline in FIG. 2, it can be appreciated that pump 2 can be located on the exterior of bottom wall 18b wherein a portion 38 thereof can be used as a substitute for spacer 34 provided, of course, that such bottom wall portion is made of a non-ferromagnetic material. When mounted in this exterior position it is desirable to cover pump 2 with an insulating layer 40 to prevent condensation damage to pump 2 or its surroundings.