The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 05, 2017
Filed:
Apr. 28, 2015
Carrier Commercial Refrigeration, Inc., Charlotte, NC (US);
James J. Minard, South Beloit, IL (US);
Mark E. Bush, Rockton, IL (US);
Carrier Commercial Refrigeration, Inc., Charlotte, NC (US);
Abstract
A beverage system includes a pump that draws a set amount of a flavored concentrate into a mixing chamber through a conduit for mixing with water to form a beverage. A sensor detects when the amount of the flavored concentrate in the conduit is low or the amount of the flavored concentrate in a concentrate container is low or out. The sensor includes two wings each including a recessed surface that together define a circular space. A portion of the conduit is received in the circular space. Each of the wings includes an ultrasonic portion that emits ultrasonic waves that are non-intrusive. When the amount of flavored concentrate in the conduit is low, air bubbles are generated in the flow of the flavored concentrate as it flows along the conduit and/or a vacuum is created in the conduit to draw the conduit away from the recessed surfaces. The ultrasonic waves detect either of these two features, indicating that the amount of the flavored concentrate is low.