US 11,745,997 B2
Method and apparatus for cooling a dispensing station
Adan Sanchez, Seguin, TX (US); Mel Kyees, New Braunfels, TX (US); and Marcus Buscemi, Brooksville, FL (US)
Assigned to Lancer Corporation, San Antonio, TX (US)
Filed by LANCER CORPORATION, San Antonio, TX (US)
Filed on Mar. 10, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/197,452.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/989,266, filed on Mar. 13, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0284521 A1, Sep. 16, 2021
Int. Cl. B67D 1/00 (2006.01); B67D 1/08 (2006.01); F25D 31/00 (2006.01); F16L 41/00 (2006.01); B67D 1/06 (2006.01)
CPC B67D 1/0862 (2013.01) [B67D 1/0867 (2013.01); F16L 41/00 (2013.01); F25D 31/002 (2013.01); B67D 1/06 (2013.01); B67D 2210/0006 (2013.01)] 31 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cooling system for a dispensing station, comprising:
a modular manifold adapted for incorporation into the dispensing station, the modular manifold, comprising a recirculation block, an interface block, one or more expander blocks, and one or more spacer blocks adapted for interconnection to produce the modular manifold including therein a recirculation line, comprising a feed line and a return line connected by a recirculation conduit, the recirculation line at the feed line being adapted to couple with a cooling fluid feed line to receive a cooling fluid into the modular manifold from a cooling fluid system and the recirculation line at the return line being adapted to couple with a cooling fluid return line to deliver the cooling fluid from the modular manifold to the cooling fluid system;
the feed line via the cooling fluid feed line receives cooling fluid therein from the cooling fluid system and flows the cooling fluid through the modular manifold and into the recirculation conduit whereby the recirculation conduit redirects the cooling fluid into the return line;
the return line via the recirculation conduit receives the cooling fluid therein whereby the return line flows the cooling fluid back through the modular manifold and into the cooling fluid return line for return to the cooling fluid system; and
the modular manifold adapted for coupling with a first drink source and with a first drink outlet of the dispensing station, whereby a first drink flowing through the modular manifold from the first drink source transfers heat to the cooling fluid circulating through the recirculation line resulting in a chilling of the first drink prior to a dispensing thereof from the first drink outlet.