US2648274A - Beverage vending machine - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 11, 1953 H. A. BENDFEL-r l 2,648,274 BEVERAGE VENDING MACHINE u Filed Aug. 9, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet l .v l o o im T26 Il o |I -25 Hw Wh f/Z,

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Aug. l1, 1953 H. A. BENDFELT BEVERAGE VENDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 9, 1947 M @Mw w Aug. l1, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 9, 1947 Aug. 1l, 1953 H. A. BENDFELT 2,648,274

BEVERAGE VENDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 9, 1947 5 sheets-sheet 4 I-l. A. BENDFELT BEVERAGE VENDING MACHINE` Aug. 11, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 9. 1947 BEVERAGE VENDIN G MACHINE Herbert A. Bendfelt, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to Mills Industries, Incorporated, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application August 9, 1947, Serial No. 767.779

12 Claims.

This invention relates to beverage vending machines and more particularly to a coin operated beverage vending machine for automatically vending the ingredients of a cold drink into a positioned cup.

In general the machine of my invention comprises a cabinet having therein two compartments, one of which is refrigerated and contains separate readily removable containers, one for a supply of a beverage liquid, such as water, and the other for a supply of a second ingredient of the beverage, such as a flavored syrup. The refrigerated compartment is arranged to also contain a filter and a carbonating unit in which the beverage liquid may be conditioned to improve the palatability of the drink. Substantially all of the lines and valves through which the beverage liquid and the syrup are caused to flow are housed within the refrigerated space of this compartment and said liquid and syrup are thus maintained in a cold condition until the moment they are discharged into said cup. The second compartment above mentioned is unrefrigerated and contains mechanism and parts not requiring refrigeration, as well as a gas cylinder from which carbon dioxide gas may be supplied to the carbonating unit and the syrup pump hereinafter mentioned.

An important object of my invention is to provide an inexpensive, small and light weight automatic beverage vending machine having a.

capacity for storing and refrigerating a sizeable supply of beverage ingredients whereby a large number of cold drinks may be dispensed from the machine during a very short period of time.

Another important object of my invention is to provide a beverage vending machine of this character having means for replenishing the supply of refrigerated beverage liquid therein whereby cold drinks may be rapidly dispensed from the machine over an extended period of time.

A further object of my inventionl is to provide in such a beverage vending machine an arrangement of cooling coils whereby said coils will occupy a minimum of space and efliciently cool the beverage ingredients regardless of whether said beverage is dispensed from the machine at a rapid or at a slow rate.

y Still another object of the invention is to provide means for maintaining the beverage ingredients in said machine in a refrigerated condition until they are ldischarged into a positioned cup.

Another object of my invention is to provide in said machine readily removable containers for the beverage ingredients whereby said containers may be easily inspected, cleaned and serviced.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: v

Fig. l is a front elevational view of a beverage vending machine incoporating my invention, a door on the front of a cabinet for housing the machine being shown in an open position;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 in Fig. 1 to illustrate the arrangement of compartments Within the cabinet;

Fig. 3 is a similar view taken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2 to show the arrangement of parts in the refrigerated compartment;

Fig. 4 is another sectional view taken substantially on the line 4 4 in Fig. l and illustrates the manner in which portions of the beverage discharge lines are refrigerated and the beverage ingredients therein kept cold until the latter are discharged into a positioned cup;

Fig. 5 is a schematic illustration of the refrigeration circuit and the arrangement of the various pipes and valves within the machine; and

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of the electric circuits in the machine.

As thus illustrated the beverage vending machine is embodied in an open front metal cabinet having sides II and I2, a top I3, and a bottom I4, to the latter of which may be attached castors I5. The back of the cabinet is enclosed by a back plate I6, and upon the front of the cabinet a full length door, shown generally at II, is mounted as by a piano hinge I8.

The interior of the cabinet is divided, by a vertical insulated wall I9, into two compartments. The rearmost compartment is completely insulated, and is ydefined by the wall I9, a floor 20, sides2l and 22, and by a top 23 and a back 24. Said compartment may be lined with,

sheet metal I9 (Fig. 4) and the outer surface of the wall I9 may be similarly covered with metal.

The forward compartment is uninsulated. Attached to the cabinet floor I4 in the forward compartment is a. refrigerant compressor 25 of a suitable commercial construction provided with a fan 26 and a refrigerant condenser unit 21. Above the condenser and attached in a suitable manner to the lower portion of the wall I9 is a water pump unit 28 comprising an electric motor '29 and a smallwater pump 30 driven by said motor. Above the unit 28. and also xed to the outer surface of the wall I9, is a control box 3| which may contain certain electric relays and controls which are hereinafter more fully described.

Immediately above the control box 3| a block 32, of wood or other material having insulatory properties, is fixed to the wall I9. as best shown in Fig. 4. A hollow cylinder 33 of insulatory material, such as processed paper, is disposed horizontally through the block .and arranged to extend through the wall I9 into the insulated compartment. Said cylinder may be threadedon each end to receive retaining spanner nuts 34 and 35, and a rubber washer 36 may be placed beneath the nut at the outer -end -of the block .D

32, the latter of which may bef-countersunk as at 31 (Fig. 4) to receive the nut 35.

A vending stage is attached to the'outer end of the block 32 by means of screws 38 and brackets 39. (See Fig. 4.) Said vending stage comprisesa back plate 40 adapted to fit flush with the outer end of tthe block 32 to cover an open end ofthe -cylinder 33, and avendingstage floor 4 Iis formed on the lower end of the back plate 40 and provided `with a removable grate `42 and a drain spout 43. Sidewalls 44 and 45 of the vending stage (Fig. 1) may be attached to the back'plate 40 and the floor L4I as by soldering. 'The surfaces on the back plate, floor and walls, may be chrome plated and Jthewalls may be curved'in va modern design to improve the appearance of the vending stage.

The door I1is provided with an opening, shown generally at 46, through which the vending stage is accessible when the door is in its normally closed position. A drinking cup vending mechanism 41 is mounted on the-inside of the door in a position so that when the door is closed the mech- Aanism will be positioned directly above the vending stage. Said cupvending mechanism may be of any suitable construction and is shown in the drawings,^by way of example, as an apparatus for Vvending a single column of paper cups. A cup 48 discharged from the cup vending mechanism when'the door I1 is in a closed position will fall through a hole 49'in a topf50 of the vending stage in the direction shown by the arrow 5I inFig. 4.

-The. cup will strike an arc shaped deflector'52 and be deflected'to prevent its coming into contact with two beverage discharge nozzles 53 and 54 which protrude from the'backfplate 40 into the vending stage. ".Fheupper` rim"55' of'the `cup'will .come into contact, on opposite sides of lsaid cup, with two parallel rails 56 and 51 which-extend `diagonally downwardly from a flange 58 on the top-5I) of the vending stage. vThe cup-will then .slide down the rails into a ring 59 which will support said cup in a beverage receiving position below the discharge nozzles as shown in Figs. 1,' 2

.and 4. From this position the cup maybe removed by a customerafter it has been filled in a manner to be hereinafter described.

An overflow tank 60 may be suspended in any suitable manner below the drain spout 43 to receive therefrom any of the beverage which may .may `be covered with a sheet of protective metal V'6.'5 as illustrated in-Fig.4.

Within the insulated 'compartment a hollow open-bottomed mounting member 66 is mounted to the' lower side of the insulated top 23. Mounted to said member is a water inlet valve 61 operated by a float 68 on a stem 69, a cooling coil 10 and a temperature sensitive switch 1 I. Immediately below the member 66 is a readily removable beverage liquid storage tank 12 suitable for receiving water from an outlet 13 of the float operated valve 61. Said tank may be supported by quickly attachable fasteners 14 mounted upon the insulated wall 22, the back 24, and the wall I9. When the tank is 4inits operative position, as shown iniFigs. 2 and 3, `the coil 10 and the floatv68 extend downwardly into the interior of said tank for which the member 66 serves as a cover.

Below the tank 12 is a removable container 15 supported .by -.a sloping platform 1S attached to zthezinsulated sidel22 andto the back 24. Said fcontainer is lprovided with a removable cap 11 and is adapted to hold a supply of flavored syrup or the like. Suspended within said container is a gas operated diaphrampump shown generally at 18. Said pump may bei one of a well known construction adapted to discharge a measured quantity-of vsyrup 'from-said-tank through an internal line V1-9 each'time compressed gas is introduced into the pump through another line 80.

A water carbonating unit 8| and a water filter assembly A182 vare mounted upon a base '83 supported Yon the insulated bottom 20. Both the carbonating unit and the filter assembly may be of suitable commercial construction and a cooling coil-84 may be disposed about both as illustrated in Figs. 3 and Y5.

-A water inlet pipe 85, which may be connected to a city water supply or other water source, en- -ters 'the cabinet-through a hole 86 in the back plate I6, extends through a hole 81 in the insulated wall I9, and thence passes upwardly in the linsulated compartment to the'cover member 66. Said inlet water'pipe penetrates the cover memo ber and is attached to the water intake valve 61.

Water discharged from the outlet 13 of said valve falls downwardly into the `storage tank 12, the liquid level in which is maintained substantially constant by the controlling action of the float 68 on the valve 61.

From said tank water ows through a com- 'mercial attachinglfltting 88 into a pipe B9 which `l'eads downwardly through the insuiated'compartment to the hole 81, through said hole and into `the inlet sideio'f the pump 30. From the pump 30 said .water under pressure enters a pipe 98 which extends through'the hole 81 and into the insulated compartmentto'the intake side 'of the 'filter 82.

After ,passing through said filter, said water is conducted to the carbonating unit 8| through a pipe.9| which traverses the interior of the cooling coil .84 (Figs. 3 and 5). Carbon dioxidegas may be furnished to the carbonating unit through a pipe F92 which is connected to 'a Astandard gas cylinder 93 located within the uninsulated forward compartment. Said lgas cylinder may be supported upon a base 94 attached to the side I I -of .the cabinet and by a detachable bracket 95 `having one of its ends Vfastened to the forward face of .the .wall I9 and the other to the side II ,(Fig. le). The gas cylinder may also have associ- .atedtherewith a shut-off valve .96, a-safety valve 91 (Figc). a pressure-.gauge (not shown), and a pressure sensitive .switch (also `not shown) for making the machine inoperative when the pres- Asure insaid cylinderfhas been reduced Vbelowa Vpredetermined minimum.

.From the carbonating unit said vwater in a carbonated condition is conducted through a pipe V98 to the beverage discharge` nozzle 54, a discharge control valve 99 operated by a solenoid 99 (Figs. 5 and 6), and a pressure reducing valve I 00 (Fig. 4) of the well known capillary type being incorporated in the pipe 98. 'I'he solenoid 99' may be automatically energized by means hereinafter described to open the valve 99 for a time suiiicient to allow a proper amount of the carbonated water to be discharged into the cup 48 each time a drink is to be dispensed. The pressurepreducin'g valve |00 serves to reduce the pressure of the carbonated water passing therethrough to approximately atmospheric pressure.

A T-tting |0| is provided in the carbon dioxide pipe 92. From said T-tting a pipe |02 extends to a valve |03 operated by a solenoid |03. Energization of said solenoid causes said valve to open and allow compressed gas to enter a flexible rubber tube |04 and pass thence into the pipe 80 extending downwardly within the syrup container to operate the diaphragm pump 18. Operation of said pump causes a measured quantity of said syrup to be discharged through the pipe 19 and through a connecting flexible rubber tube |05, the latter of which extends, with the pipe 98, through the cylinder 33 and is fastened to the discharge nozzle 53. In this manner a measured quantity of syrup will be discharged from said nozzle 53 each time the valve |03 is operated. A ball check valve |06 (Fig. 4) is provided in the tube |05, the purpose of this valve being to -prevent dripping of syrup from the nozzle 53.

After the solenoid controlled valve |03 has been operated to cause a discharge of syrup in the manner above described, the valve will return to its normal position when the solenoid is de-'energized and an escape of gas therefrom will release the gas pressure in the pump 18. A diaphragm (not shown) in the pump Will then resume its normal position and in so doing will collect in the pump another measured quantity of the syrup which will be discharged upon the next operation.

Liquid refrigerant, such as Freon, passes from the compressor 25 and condensor 21 into a pipe |01 which extends into the insulated compartment through the hole 81 in the wall I9 and thence to a constant pressure control valve |08 of a well known suitable type. From the valve the refrigerant is conducted into the bottom of the cooling coil 84 through a pipe |09. The refrigerant passes upwardly through the coil 84 in a direction opposite to the direction of the flow of water in the pipe 9| which traverses the interior of said coil as hereinbefore explained. At the top of the coil 84 the refrigerant enters a pipe ||0 and ilows upwardly therethrough to the cooling coil 10 within the water storage tank 12. After passing through the latter coil the refrigerant enters a pipe III and is returned thereby to the compressor 25 to be recompressed and thereafter cooled in the condensor 21 in a manner well known in the art. (See Fig. 5.)

It will be readily understood that as the refrigerant passes into the coil 84 said refrigerant may expand and vaporize therein to absorb heat from the air in the insulated compartment and from the carbonating unit, filter assembly and from the water flowing therein through the pipe 9|. Further expansion and vaporization of the refrigerant when the same passes through the coil 10 will likewise cool the supply of water in the tank 12. In practice the valve |08 may be set at a pressure to maintain the temperature of the coil 84 at slightly above 32 degrees Fahrenheit, and the temperature sensitive switch 1| lo- 6 cated within the water in the tank 12 may be set to open a circuit to the compressor and thus stop the flow of refrigerant when the temperature of the water within the tank drops below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Because the refrigerant first enters the coils 84, refrigeration is always first available therein at the point atwhich the refrigerant is introduced into the coil. If drinks are not dispensed from the machine at a. rapid rate, the water in the pipe 9| within the coil, and the water within the carbonating unit and filter assembly will be quickly cooled. So long as cold water remains in the pipe 9|, a minimum amount of vaporization of the refrigerant and resultant refrigeration will take place in said coil. During such periods the refrigerant will pass upwardly to the coil 10 in a liquid or nearly liquid condition and VVaporize therein to refrigerate all of the water in the tank 12. In this way a large supply of refrigerated ingredients for the beverage will be prepared for rapid discharge should the rate at which drinks are vended from the machine be suddenly increased. If said drinks are vended from the machine at a high rate over an extended period of time the supply of pre-refrigerated water in the tank 12 may become substantially exhausted. During such periods the water passing through the pipe 9| within the coil 84 will be warmer than desired and consequently the rate at which the refrigerant vaporizes and expands within the coil 84 will be automatically increased by the present of heat in the water to bring the temperature of said water in the pipe 9| down to the desired temperature. During extended periods when drinks are vended rapidly from the machine substantially all of the refrigeration of the water will thus take place in the coil 84.

It will be understood that no valves, solenoids or other apparatus are required to shift the point of maximum refrigeration from one coil to the other and that the rate at which cold drinks may be vended from the machine is materially increased by this arrangement. In the machine which I have constructed, for example, sufficient water for drinks may be pre-refrigerated and contained within the tank 12, the carbonating unit, thev filter assembly and the various connecting pipes. The compressor, for example, may have a capacity for cooling sufiicient water each hour for 80 drinks. Thus if the machine is suddenly required to dispense drinks at a rapid rate, a total of drinks may be dispensed during the first hour, and 80` drinks may be dispensed during each hour thereafter for an indeiinite period, the supply of syrup in the tank 15 being replenished when necessary.

A typical arrangement of electrical circuits for controlling the operation of my machine is illustrated in the Figure 6. Electric current may be introduced into the machine by leads I I2 and I I3 which may be connected to an electric power source (not sho-wn). From the lead II3 a line I I4 extends to one side of a motor 25 adapted to drive the compressor 25. From the other side of the motor 25 a line ||5 extends to one side of the constant pressure switch |08. The other side of the switch |08 is connected by a line ||6 to the temperature sensitive switch 1I to which the lead I I2 is also connected. It will thus be observed that the compressor 25 will be driven by the motor 25 to circulate refrigerant through the coils 84 and 10 only at times when both the switch |08 and the switch 1I are closed.

Electric currentmay be 'directed 'to-the water pump motor 29 by means of av lead i |1` attached to the line ||4 and from thence by a lead ||8 to oneside of a switch ||9 'which-maybe a part of a magnetic switch control-assemblyindlcated generally by the numeral |-20. The-other -side of the switch l||9 is connected to the lead ||2 to complete the circuit-through said motor129 when saidswitch ||9 is closed. -Said switchassembly |`20may becontained within the electriccontrol box 3| and 'may comprise a transformer |`2I having one of its sides-electrically disposed between-theileads -I |-2 andl I3. The other lside of said-transformer may have one end grounded tothe machine-as at AI22,and another endextendedabout afmagnet- |23, as in a coil- |24, and thence to a line |25 lwhich may connect one'side of =a1switch |25 with a'short electrode |21 suspended-in the-carbonating-unit-l. The other side of the switch |26 may-be connected by means 1 bothof the electrodes |21 and-|29, the magnet |23 will be energized'to keep the switchl |9 open and thus prevent the operation of the water pump motor 29 and'prevent thepump 30 from introducing waterinto the carbonating unit. In'tnis manner the level of water in said carbonating unit -may be maintained substantially constant regardless of the rate atrwhich drinks are vended fromthe machine.

A switch |60 electrically disposed between leads |3011 and'l30b (Fig. l) may be associated with a -coin receiving apparatus -'|30' which may be mounted upon the back side of theL doorL|1 and arranged to receive coins through an appropriate slot (not-shown) in thelfront face of saidvdoor. Sa-idswitch is adapted to be `momentarily closed when alcoin-is inserted through the .slot .into said coin receiver. The closing of the :switch causes-the energization of Ya solenoid |3| in .an interlocking -rela-y assembly shown generally at |732. Said relay assembly may be housed within the control box vIll and maycompriseia lever |-3'3loaded`by a spring l|'34,- a link |35 pivoted as at |36'and adapted to engage -a catchv |31 on said lever when 'the latter is attracted toward the solenoidlBI, and'another solenoid |i38 adaptedto l attract the link and cause thesame to disengage the catch |31.

When the switch |30 is momentarily closed by an inserted coin and the solenoid |3| is energized, as explained above, the latter attracts the lever' |31 in a manner which causes the-linkl |35 to engage the catch |31and causes :the closing ofaswitch |38rwhich completes a circuit, through leads |40, |4| -and |42, to an electric'motor |43 whichmay, for example, bemounted upon the rear side of the door |1 andmay be utilized to cause the discharge ofl cups from thecupvending mechanism |41. Saidmotor drives ashaft .|44 upon which'is mounted three cams |45, |46 land '|41. As said motor turns theshaft, aswitch |48 is closed by the cam' |45 to complete another circuit through said motorthrough lines |49 and |50. This latter circuit will-remain closedand the 'motor will continuato run '(regardless of whether the switch |38.remains.inl a closedpo- 8 sition) `until `the '-cam |45 has made -a complete revolution andagain opens--theswitch |48.

As the 'cam |48 turns, a switch |5| will be -closedtherebyto complete a circuit through wires |52, |53', |53 andl|54 to simultaneously energize the carbonatedwaterdischarge solenoid 581and the solenoid |38. -The former of-said'solenoids ywill open thewater discharge valve 99 for a'time suiiicient vfor aproper amount of -w-ater for one 'drink'to be discharged-from lthe nozzle 454 into the cup 48. `Thevsolenoid1|38will attract the link |35 to cause the sameto-disengage-the catch |31 of the lever |33 andallow the lattertofreturnAto -its normal position and thus-open Ithe switchii.

VThe cam |41-willcloseaswitch 55 to complete a -circuit Ithrough `wires |55', |58 and |51 and 'through the Iclosedswitch` |5| vto energize ascienoidl03. latter solenoid will open the valve 1 |03 and admit-compressed gas tothe diaphragm pump 18 -toI cause the discharge of a Vmeasured amountof syrup from the nozzle '53 into'the cup in the manner V-l'iereinbefore described. It will be understood that, V'because the circuit 'to the solenoid 03 lis` completed through-the switch |5 the-valve |03A will notl be opened to` cause the dis- -charge of syrup unless the Vswitch |5| Vhas rst been closed and water consequently discharged into the cup.

The discharge ofthe water and syrup'intosaid cup will cause the same to beintermixed-therein, and the cup containing the finished cold drink may then be withdrawn'from the cup support ring-by the customer. Another coin may then be inserted'into the'coin receiver and-the above described dispensing operation'will be repeated to vend still another drink.

It will be seen-that because ofthe arrangement of the compartments and the disposition of thestorage and refrigeration facilities for the ingredients Afor the beverage, 'the vending machine of my invention is very compact and will occupy a minimum of iioor and-wall space. Becausethe machine is -smaller than machines of prior construction having a capacity for dischargingvdrinks at an equally rapid rate, it is also muchlighterin weightand much less expensive.

Another of the important advantages of my `machine over those of learlier construction'is the ease withwhich the containers for the beverage ingredients `may-be inspected, cleaned and serviced. VAWith theY door |-1 andthe inner door 5| in openvpositions;y the container 15 may-be'pulled forward on thesloping platform 18 to -a posi- Vtion in which -the cap 11 may be easily removed and the supply of syrup in the container replenished. JThe flexibility of the rubber tubes |04 and |05 makes it unnecessary to detach the same ffrom `the container except when the latter-is removedf'completely from thevmachine for purposes OfcIeaning-and the like. If said container'is removed 'for this purpose lt may be quickly-replaced by'anidentical spare clean container -and themachine therefore need not be out of rservice during the cleaning operation.

When-the -container Z15 has been pulled to la forward position, the pipe iltting 88 on the tank 12'mayv be detached from'- the latter and the supporting fasteners 1-4 may be released to allow said tankto drop downwardly to Vclear the lower end of the'coil 10 and then be brought forward to be removedlfrom the machine. .In vthis manner the coileas .-well .as `Vthe temperature sensitive switch 1| and `the float and valve `6,1may be made 9 quickly accessible for cleaning and inspection. 'I'he tank may of course also be quickly cleaned and vinspected While it is out of the machine.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appending claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

Iclaim:

l. A beverage vending machine comprising: a cabinet having therein an insulated compartment; a storage tank for a beverage liquid; a container for a second ingredient of the beverage, said tank and said container being disposed within said insulated compartment; means for refrigerating said beverage liquid and said second ingredients including first and second cooling coils within `said compartment, and a refrigerant compressor, said first coil being arranged to receive said refrigerant from said compressor and said second coil being arranged Within said storage tank to receive said refrigerant from said first coil thereby causing first refrigeration at said first coil, and thereafter pre-refrigeration of the beverage liquid to substanti-ally dispensing temperature in said storage tank during periods of infrequent use of the machine and consequent slow transfer of such liquid from said storage tank and means for measuring and conducting quantities of said beverage liquid and said second ingredient from said tank and said container to an accessible point of discharge at the front 0f the machine.

2. A beverage vending mechine comprising: a cabinet having therein an insulated compartment; a source of compressed gas; a storage tank for a beverage liquid; a container for a second ingredient ofthe beverage; a carbonating unit in which said beverage liquid may be charged with said gas, said tank, container, and carbonating unit being disposed within said insulated compartment; means for refrigerating said beverage liquid and said insulated compartment including first and second cooling coils within the latter, and a refrigerant compressor, said first coil being arranged to receive said refrigerant from said compressor and said second coil being arranged within said storage tank to receive said refrigerant from said first coil thereby causing first refrigeration at said first coil, and thereafter pre-refrigeration of the beverage liquid to substantially dispensing temperature in said storage tank during periods of infrequent use of the machine and consequent -slow transferof` such liquid from said storage tank; a, conduit for conveying said beverage liquid from said storage tank to said carbonating unit; and means for measuring and conducting quantities of said beverage liquid and said second ingredient from said carbonating unit and said container to an accessible point of discharge at the front of the machine.

3. A beverage vending machine comprising: a cabinet having therein an insulated compartment; a source of compressed gas ya storage tank for a beverage liquid; a container for a second ingredient ofthe beverage; a carbonating unit in which said beverage liquid may be charged with said gas, said tank, container, and carbonating unit being disposed Within said compartment; means for refrigerating said liquid beverage and said compartment including first and second cooling coils within the latter, and a, refrigerant compressor, said first coil being disposed about said carbonating unit and said second coil being disposed within said tank to conserve space, and said first coil being arranged to receive said refrigerant from said compressor and said second coil being arranged to receive said refrigerant from said first coil thereby causing first refrigeration at said first coil, and thereafter pre-refrigeration of the beverage liquid to substantially dispensing temperature in said storage tank during periods of infrequent use of the machine and consequent slow transfer of such liquid from said storage tank; a conduit for conveying said beverage liquid from said storage tank to said carbonating unit; and means for measuring and conducting quantities of said beverage liquid and said second ingredient from said carbonatlng unit and said container to an accessible point of discharge at the front of the machine.

4. A beverage vending machine comprising: a

cabinet having therein an insulated compartment; a storage tank for a beverage liquid; a container for a second ingredient of the beverage,

said tank and said container being disposedwithin said insulated compartment; means for refrigerating said beverage liquid and said secondingredient including first and second cooling coils within said compartment, and a refrigerant com-Y pressor, said rst coil being arranged to receive said refrigerant from said compressor and said second coil being arranged within said storage tank to receive said refrigerant from said first coil thereby causing first refrigeration at said first coil, and thereafter pre-refrigeration of the beverage liquid to substantially dispensing tem` for measuring and conducting quantities of said" beverage liquid and said second ingredient to an accessible point of discharge at the front of the machine,

5; A beverage vending machine comprising: a cabinet having therein an insulated compartment; a source of compressed gas; a storage tank for a beverage liquid; a container for a second ingredient of the beverage; a carbonating unit in which said beverage liquid may be charged with said gas, said tank, container and carbonat-y ing unit being disposed within said insulated compartment; means for refrigerating said bev-v erage liquid and said insulated compartment iincluding first and second cooling coils within the latter, and a refrigerant compressor, said first coil being arranged to receive said refrigerant from said compressor and said second coil being arranged within said storage tank to receive said refrigerant from said 4first coil thereby causing first refrigeration at said first coil, and thereafter pre-refrigeration of the beverage liquid to substantially dispensing temperature in said storage tank during periods of infrequent use of the machine and consequent slow transfer of such liquid from said storage tank; aA conduit for conin said rst coil during periods of very frequent 10. In a beverage vending machine: a storage tank for a beverage liquid; refrigeration apparatus including a source of fluid refrigerant and a compressor therefor; a cooling coil arranged to receive said refrigerant from said source; a second cooling coil 4in communication with said rst coil and arranged within said tank for cooling said beverage liquid therein; a conduit through which said beverage liquid may flow from said tank, a part oi said conduit traversing the interior of said rst coil; means for circulating said refrigerant first through said first coil and then through said second coil whereby said beverage liquid, if not sufliciently cooled in said tank by the latter coil, will be further cooled by said first coil and whereby when the beverage liquid traversing said rst coil is sufliciently cold for dispensing the refrigerant uid will pass to said second coil in said storage tank in substantially liquid state and have its principal refrigerating effect there until the beverage liquid in said tank is substantially cold enough for dispensing; and thermostatically controlled means for thereupon rendering said compressor inoperative until the temperature of the liquid in said tank rises to the point that further refrigeration is required.

l1. In a beverage vending machine: a storage tank for a beverage liquid; refrigeration apparatus including a source of fluid refrigerant and a compressor therefor; a cooling coil arranged to receive said refrigerant from said source; a second cooling coil in communication with said first coil and arranged within said tank for cooling said beverage liquid therein; a conduit through which said beverage liquid may ilow from said tank, a part of said conduit traversing the interior of said rst coil; means for circulating said refrigerant rst through said iirst coil, in a direction opposite to the direction of flow of said beverage liquid in said conduit, and then through said second coil whereby said beverage liquid, if not sufficiently cooled in said tank by the latter coil, will be further cooled within said first coil and whereby when the beverage liquid traversing said iirst coil is sufficiently cold for dispensing the refrigerant fluid will pass to said second coil in said storage tank in substantially liquid state and have its principal refrigerating eiect there until the beverage liquid in said tank is substantially cold enough for dispensing; and thermostatically controlled means for thereupon rendering said compressor inoperative until the temperature of the liquid in said tank rises to the point that further refrigeration is required.

12. In a beverage vending machine: a storage tank for a beverage liquid; a supply of compressed gas; a carbonating unit in which said beverage liquid may be charged With said gas; a refrigeration apparatus including a source of liquid refrigerant and a compressor therefor; a cooling coil disposed about said carbonating unit and arranged to receive said refrigerant from said source; a second cooling coil in communication with said rst coil and arranged Within said tank for cooling said beverage liquid therein; a conduit through which said beverage liquid may flow from said tank into said carbonating unit, a part of said conduit traversing the interior of said rst coil; means for circulating said refrigerant rst through said first coil and then through said second coil whereby said beverage liquid, if not sufciently cooled in said tank by the latter coil, will be further cooled by said rst coil and whereby when the beverage liquid traversing said first coil is sufficiently cold for dispensing the refrigerant fluid will pass to said second coil in said storage tank in substantially liquid state and have its principal refrigerating effect there until the beverage liquid in said tank is substantially cold enough for dispensing; and thermostatically controlled means for thereupon rendering said compressor inoperative until the temperature of the liquid in said tank rises to the point that further refrigeration is required.

HERBERT A. BENDFELT.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,874,060 Pettit et al Aug. 30, 1932 2,145,331 Arensberg Jan. 31, 1939 2,211,527 Straub Aug. 13, 1940 2,248,637 McLaughlin July 8, 1941 2,278,225 Taylor Mar. 31, 1942 2,278,226 Taylor Mar. 31, 1942 2,362,104 Smith Nov. 7, 1944 2,427,429 Waite et al Sept. 16, 1947 2,440,397 Erickson Apr. 27, 1948 2,447,769 Pringey Aug. 24, 1948 2,449,127 Kleist Sept. 14, 1948 2,462,019 Bowman Feb. 15, 1949 2,502,608 Tanner Apr. 4, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 691,488 Germany May 28, 1940

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