Patent Grant
9938700
Cold water delivery systems are often incorporated into beverage dispensers, such as bottle-type water coolers, drinking fountains, bottle filling water stations, and refrigerator water dispensers, in order to cool incoming water to a desired drinking temperature prior to dispensing to a user. These systems utilize a water tank and refrigeration unit. The flow path of the water typically follows a single flow path. The water enters the system from a tap or a large bottle, and tubing carries the water to the water tank, which is cooled by the refrigeration unit. The water tank serves as a reservoir to provide a supply of cold water through further tubing to an outlet where the cold water is dispensed.
In systems where water draws from the outlet are frequent and/or relatively large, the system may have difficulty maintaining a desirable output temperature of the water. For example, such difficulties may be encountered in areas with high volume consumption due to repeated, large draws, such as in fitness centers. In addition, with consumers looking to decrease the use of disposable plastic water bottles, consumers have increased their usage of reusable water bottles. Reusable water bottles typically have a volume of sixteen ounces or greater, and many current cold water systems are unable to maintain a desired temperature when providing large draws to fill these bottles.
A cold water delivery system is described that can consistently provide cold water at a desired temperature over repetitive and large draws from the outlet by a consumer. The cold water system can provide multiple pathways for the water to travel from an inlet, or source, to an outlet. A cooling system can be provided that cools a plurality of reservoirs of water. The reservoirs can maintain cold water at different temperatures. Temperature sensors can be disposed in the system to monitor water temperature at desired positions in the system. A control system controls the cooling system to maintain the temperature of the water in the reservoirs. The control system can also control one or more mixing valves to determine the volume of water from each of the reservoirs and the water inlet that can be combined upstream of the outlet. The cold water delivery system can be incorporated into a suitable apparatus for dispensing water such as a bottle-type water cooler, a drinking fountain, a bottle filling water station, or a refrigerator water dispenser. A method of dispensing cold water is also described.
A cold water delivery system comprises an inlet for receiving water at a first temperature, an outlet for dispensing water, and a first reservoir fluidly connected to the inlet and the outlet. The first reservoir may receive water from the inlet and maintain the water received therein from the inlet at a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature. The system may further include a second reservoir fluidly connected to the inlet and the outlet. The second reservoir may maintain the water received therein at a third temperature that is lower than the second temperature. A mixing valve may be fluidly connected to the outlet. The mixing valve may receive water from the first reservoir and water from the inlet at the first temperature, and further receive water from the second reservoir when the water dispensed from the outlet rises above a predetermined threshold temperature. The mixing valve proportions the water dispensed from the outlet from amongst the water received from the first reservoir, the second reservoir, and the inlet at the first temperature to maintain the water dispensed from the outlet at or below the predetermined threshold temperature.
A method of dispensing cold water comprises receiving water at a first temperature from an inlet and directing water from the inlet to a first reservoir fluidly connected to both the inlet and an outlet for dispensing water. The water in the first reservoir may be cooled to a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature. The method further comprises directing water to a second reservoir fluidly connected to the inlet and the outlet, and cooling the water in the second reservoir to a third temperature that is lower than the second temperature. The water from the first reservoir and the inlet at the first temperature may be directed to the outlet. The water from the second reservoir may be directed to the outlet when water dispensed from the outlet rises above a predetermined threshold temperature. The water dispensed from the outlet may be proportioned from amongst the water received from the first reservoir, the second reservoir, and the inlet at the first temperature to maintain the water dispensed from the outlet at or below the predetermined threshold temperature.
In
The control system 216 may be a single controller or may include more than one controller disposed to control various functions and/or features of the cold water delivery system 200. The term “control system” is meant to be used in its broadest sense to include one or more controllers and/or microprocessors that may be associated with the cold water delivery system 200 and that may cooperate in controlling various functions and operations of the system 200. The functionality of the control system 216 may be implemented in hardware and/or software without regard to the functionality. The control system 216 may rely on one or more data maps relating to the operating conditions and the operating environment of the cold water delivery system 200 that may be stored in the memory of control system 216. Each of these data maps may include a collection of data in the form of tables, graphs, and/or equations.
The control system 216 may be located on the cold water delivery system 200 and may also include components located remotely from the cold water delivery system 200, such as at a command center. The functionality of the control system 216 may be distributed so that certain functions are performed at cold water delivery system 200 and other functions are performed remotely. In such case, the control system 216 may include a communications system such as wireless network system for transmitting signals between the cold water delivery system 200 and a system located remote from the cold water delivery system 200.
The water inlet 202 can be connected to a water source such as a water tap or a water bottle to provide water to the system 200. Depending on the source, the temperature T202 of the incoming water is approximately at or below room temperature, e.g., about 70° F. The flowpaths in system 200 can be constructed with tubing, and can be arranged and connected in any suitable manner to deliver water from water inlet 202 to water outlet 204. The tubing can be made of any suitable material, such as copper.
The cold tank 206 can be a tank for storing water that is cooled to a temperature below room temperature. For example, the water can be cooled to a temperature below about 55° F. However, it will be appreciated that the cold tank 206 can be set to provide cold water at any suitable temperature. The cooling system 210 operates to maintain the cold tank 206 at approximately a desired temperature. The cooling system 210 can include tubing for carrying a refrigerant to the tank 206, and the tubing can be arranged in any suitable manner, such as coiled around or disposed in the cold tank 206. The refrigerant moves through the tubing to cool the tank 206 and the water therein. The cold tank 206 has an inlet 206I for receiving water and an outlet 206O for transferring water out of the tank 206. The cold tank 206 can be of any suitable shape and size. A temperature sensor 206T can be disposed on or within the cold tank 206 to monitor the temperature T206 of the water therein.
The ice booster reservoir 208 can be a tank that is cooled to a temperature below the temperature T206 of the cold tank 206. For example, the water in the ice booster reservoir 208 can be cooled to approximately at or above the freezing temperature of water, i.e., about or above 32° F. However, it will be appreciated that the ice booster reservoir 208 can be set to provide cold water at any suitable temperature, it being understood that ice can form in the ice booster reservoir 208. The cooling system 210 can include tubing for carrying a refrigerant to the ice booster reservoir 208, and can be arranged in any suitable manner, such as coiled around or disposed in the ice booster reservoir 208. The refrigerant moves through the tubing to cool the ice booster reservoir 208 and the water therein. The ice booster reservoir 208 has an inlet 208I for receiving water and an outlet 208O for transferring water out of the ice booster reservoir 208. The ice booster reservoir 208 can be of any suitable shape and size. A temperature sensor 208T can be disposed on or within the ice booster reservoir 208 to monitor the temperature T208 of the water therein.
The mixing valves 212, 214 in the system 200 can include one or more inlet ports for receiving incoming water and an outlet port. The mixing valves 212, 214 can be on/off valves or can be variable valves such that they can be either partially or fully opened and closed. Mixing valve 212 can have a first inlet 212I1 for receiving water from inlet 202, a second inlet 212I2 for receiving water from ice booster reservoir 208, and an outlet 212O for dispensing water from mixing valve 212. Mixing valve 214 can have a first inlet 214I1 for receiving water from cold tank 206, a second inlet 214I2 for receiving water from inlet 202, and an outlet 214O for dispensing water from mixing valve 214. The mixing valves 212, 214 can be controlled by the control system 216. It will be appreciated that any suitable mixing valve can be used. The mixing valves 212, 214 can include temperature sensors 212T, 214T to monitor the temperature of water entering and/or exiting the valves 212, 214. In addition, the temperature T202 of the water entering the cold water delivery system 200 can be monitored with a temperature sensor 202T. It will be appreciated that the system 200 can include any suitable number of temperature sensors disposed at any suitable position in the system 200.
The cooling system 210 can include a refrigeration unit having a compressor 210A, an expansion valve 210B, and copper tubing 210C, 210D for the passage of a refrigerant. After the compressor 210A compresses the refrigerant, the refrigerant passes through the expansion valve 210B to expand and lower the temperature of the refrigerant. Downstream of the expansion valve 210B, as mentioned above, tubing 210C, 210D carrying refrigerant may be used to cool the cold tank 206 and the ice booster reservoir 208, respectively. The tubing 210C, 210D may, for example, be coiled around the exterior or disposed within the interior of the cold tank 206 and the ice booster reservoir 208. The tubing 210C, 210D can be made of any suitable material, such as copper. The cold refrigerant moves through the tubing 210C, 210D to cool the cold tank 206 and the ice booster reservoir 208, and the water therein. A valve can be used to direct refrigerant to one or both of the cold tank 206 and ice booster reservoir 208, as needed.
As shown in
Water flowing from the inlet 202 can also be directed to port 214I2 of mixing valve 214. Using temperature measurements, the control system 216 can dynamically control the mixing valve 214 to ensure that the temperature T204 of the water exiting the outlet 204 of the system 200 is at or near a desired drinking temperature Td. For example, the control system 216 can adjust the valve 214 to proportion the water from ports 214I1 and 214I2 to provide water exiting the system 200 at port 214O at a temperature T204 at or near the desired drinking temperature Td.
The water coming in from the water inlet 202 can also be directed to port 208I of the ice booster reservoir 208, which can super cool the water to a temperature T208 well below the temperature T206 of the water in the cold tank 206. The temperature T208 of the water in the ice booster reservoir 208 is monitored by temperature sensor 208T. The temperature sensor 208T communicates with the control system 216, which can activate the cooling system 210 to cool the ice booster reservoir 208 when the temperature T206 in the cold tank 206 exceeds a predetermined threshold temperature Tt. It will be appreciated that the cooling system 210 can independently or simultaneously cool the cold tank 206 and ice booster reservoir 208. Water can exit the ice booster reservoir 208 via port 208O and enter port 212I2 of mixing valve 212. The water from the ice booster reservoir 208 can then be mixed with water from inlet 202 entering mixing valve 212 via port 212I1 before exiting via port 212O. Alternatively, port 212I1 can be closed to pass only the water from the ice booster reservoir 208 out of port 212O and into the cold tank 206. In this manner the water from the ice booster reservoir 208 can be selectively provided to the cold tank 206 to recharge the cold tank 206 to keep up with demand for water within a desired temperature range at the outlet 204. It will be appreciated that the control system 216 can open and close, partially or fully, the ports in the mixing valves 212, 214 in any suitable manner to maintain a relatively steady output of cold water within a desired temperature range at the outlet 204 of the cold water delivery system 200.
In an exemplary scenario, the temperature T202 of the water at inlet 202 can be approximately 70° F., the ambient temperature in which the cold water delivery system 200 is located can be approximately 75° F., and the predetermined threshold temperature Tt can be 55° F. Control system 216 initially directs mixing valve 212 to open ports 212I1 and 212O and to close port 212I2. Cold tank 206 is then supplied with water of temperature T202 from inlet 202, which it chills to a temperature T206 and then provides to mixing valve 214 via port 206O. Control system 216 then directs mixing valve 214 to open ports 214I1, 214I2, and 214O, and water at temperature T204 is then dispensed from the cold water delivery system 200. Initially, the temperature T204 of the dispensed water is equal to or below the desired drinking temperature Td. In this configuration, the cold water delivery system 200 outputs water received from both cold tank 206 and directly from inlet 202.
However, when the system 200 experiences frequent and/or relatively large water draws, the temperature T206 of the water in cold tank 206 may rise above the predetermined threshold temperature Tt (i.e., the temperature T206 of the water in cold tank 206 may rise to, for example, 56° F. or higher). When the temperature T206 of the water in cold tank 206 rises above the predetermined threshold temperature Tt, the temperature T204 of the water dispensed from the cold water delivery system 200 may rise above the desired drinking temperature Td. When this occurs, control system 216 directs mixing valve 212 to close port 212I1 and to open port 212I2 so that water at temperature T208 from the ice booster reservoir 208 can be selectively provided to the cold tank 206 to chill the water in the cold tank 206 to lower the temperature T204 of the water dispensed from the cold water delivery system 200 to at least the desired drinking temperature Td. When cold tank 206 is again able to exclusively satisfy the demand for water at the desired drinking temperature Td, control system 216 directs mixing valve 212 to close port 212I2 and to open port 212I1.
Other configurations of the cold water delivery system 200 are possible. For example, when the temperature T202 of the water at inlet 202 is closer to the desired drinking temperature Td (e.g., near 55° F.), control system 216 can direct mixing valve 214 to further open port 214I2 and to further close port 214I1 so that the system 200 uses a higher proportion of water directly from inlet 202 in addition to the chilled water from cold tank 206. In this manner, the efficiency of system 200 may be improved.
Using temperature measurements, the control system 316 can dynamically control the mixing valve 312 to ensure that the water flowing from the outlet 304 of the system 300 is at or near a desired drinking temperature Td. For example, the control system 316 can adjust the valve 312 to proportion the water from ports 312I1, 312I2, 312I3 to provide water exiting the system 300 at outlet 304 at a temperature T304 at or near the desired drinking temperature Td. It will be appreciated that the control system 316 can open and close, partially or fully, the ports in the mixing valve 312 in any suitable manner to maintain a relatively steady output of cold water within a desired temperature range at the outlet 304 of the cold water delivery system 300.
In an exemplary scenario, the temperature T302 of the water at inlet 302 can be approximately 70° F., the ambient temperature in which the cold water delivery system 300 is located can be approximately 75° F., and the predetermined threshold temperature Tt can be 55° F. Cold tank 306 is supplied with water of temperature T302 from inlet 302, which it chills to a temperature T306 and then provides to mixing valve 312 via port 306O. Control system 316 initially directs mixing valve 312 to open ports 312I1, 312I2, and 312O and to close port 312I3, and water at temperature T304 is then dispensed from the cold water delivery system 300. Initially, the temperature T304 of the dispensed water is equal to or below the desired drinking temperature Td. In this configuration, the cold water delivery system 300 outputs water received from both cold tank 306 and directly from inlet 302.
However, when the system 300 experiences frequent and/or relatively large water draws, the temperature T306 of the water in cold tank 306 may rise above the predetermined threshold temperature Tt (i.e., the temperature T306 of the water in cold tank 306 may rise to, for example, 56° F. or higher). When the temperature T306 of the water in cold tank 306 rises above the predetermined threshold temperature Tt, the temperature T304 of the water dispensed from the cold water delivery system 300 may rise above the desired drinking temperature Td. When this occurs, control system 316 directs mixing valve 312 to close port 312I1 and to open port 312I3 so that water at temperature T308 from the ice booster reservoir 308 can be selectively provided to the mixing valve 312 to lower the temperature T304 of the water dispensed from the cold water delivery system 300 to at least the desired drinking temperature Td. When cold tank 306 is again able to satisfy the demand for water at the desired drinking temperature Td, control system 316 directs mixing valve 312 to close port 312I3 and to open port 312I1.
Other configurations of the cold water delivery system 300 are possible. For example, when the temperature T302 of the water at inlet 302 is closer to the desired drinking temperature Td (e.g., near 55° F.), control system 316 can direct mixing valve 312 to further open port 312I1 and to further close port 312I2 so that the system 300 uses a higher proportion of water directly from inlet 302 in addition to the chilled water from cold tank 306. In this manner, the efficiency of system 300 may be improved.
Using temperature measurements, the control system 400 can dynamically control the mixing valve 412 to ensure that the water exiting the outlet 404 of the system 400 is at or near a desired drinking temperature Td. For example, the control system 400 can adjust the valve 412 to proportion the water from ports 412I1, 412I2, 412I3 to provide water exiting the system 400 at outlet 404 at or near the desired drinking temperature Td. It will be appreciated that the control system 416 can open and close, partially or fully, the ports in mixing valve 412 in any suitable manner to maintain a relatively steady output of cold water within a desired temperature range at the outlet 404 of the cold water delivery system 400.
In an exemplary scenario, the temperature T402 of the water at inlet 402 can be approximately 70° F., the ambient temperature in which the cold water delivery system 400 is located can be approximately 75° F., and the predetermined threshold temperature Tt can be 55° F. Cold tank 406 is then supplied with water of temperature T402 from inlet 402, which it chills to a temperature T406 and then provides to mixing valve 412 and to ice booster reservoir 408 via port 406O. Control system 416 initially directs mixing valve 412 to open ports 412I1, 412I2, and 412O and to close port 412I3, and water at temperature T404 is then dispensed from the cold water delivery system 400. Initially, the temperature T404 of the dispensed water is equal to or below the desired drinking temperature Td. In this configuration, the cold water delivery system 400 outputs water that is received from both cold tank 406 and directly from inlet 402.
However, when the system 400 experiences frequent and/or relatively large water draws, the temperature T406 of the water in cold tank 406 may rise above the predetermined threshold temperature Tt (i.e., the temperature T406 of the water in cold tank 406 may rise to, for example, 56° F. or higher). When the temperature T406 of the water in cold tank 406 rises above the predetermined threshold temperature Tt, the temperature T404 of the water dispensed from the cold water delivery system 400 may rise above the desired drinking temperature Td. When this occurs, control system 416 directs mixing valve 412 to close port 412I2 and to open port 412I3 so that water at temperature T408 from the ice booster reservoir 408 can be selectively provided to the mixing valve 412 to lower the temperature T404 of the water dispensed from the cold water delivery system 400 to at least the desired drinking temperature Td. When cold tank 406 is again able to satisfy the demand for water at the desired drinking temperature Td, control system 416 directs mixing valve 412 to close port 412I3 and to open port 412I2.
Other configurations of the cold water delivery system 400 are possible. For example, when the temperature T402 of the water at inlet 402 is closer to the desired drinking temperature Td (e.g., near 55° F.), control system 416 can direct mixing valve 412 to further open port 412I1 and to further close port 412I2 so that the system 400 uses a higher proportion of water directly from inlet 402 in addition to the chilled water from cold tank 406. In this manner, the efficiency of system 400 may be improved.
The cold water delivery system can be incorporated into any suitable apparatus. For example, the cold water delivery system can be incorporated into a bottle-type water cooler, a drinking fountain, a bottle filling water station, or a refrigerator water dispenser.
All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and “at least one” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The use of the term “at least one” followed by a list of one or more items (for example, “at least one of A and B”) is to be construed to mean one item selected from the listed items (A or B) or any combination of two or more of the listed items (A and B), unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.
Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/692,589, filed Aug. 23, 2012, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.
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