Cold plate heat exchanger

Claim 2

A cold plate heat exchanger for use in a beverage dispenser comprising: a generally planar heat conducting surface having a layer of ice on one side thereof to extract heat from the beverage components; a first tubular member to convey a liquid and positioned along the other side of said heat conducting surface, said first tubular member having first and second ends and coiled in a serpentine shape with the central axis thereof lying substantially in a plane generally parallel to said heat conducting surface to provide a large area of said first tubular member adjacent said heat conducting surface; an outlet fitting located on said first end of said first tubular member to connect the heat exchanger for conveying the cooled liquid to a dispensing location; a second tubular member to convey the liquid and positioned along said first tubular member on the side away from said heat conducting surface, said second tubular member having first and second ends and coiled in a serpentine shape with the central axis thereof lying substantially in a plane generally parallel to said heat conducting surface to provide a relatively large area of said second tubular member adjacent said first tubular member; an inlet fitting located on said first end of said second tubular member, said first end of said second tubular member being adjacent said second end of said first tubular member; and a third tubular member interconnecting said second end of said first tubular member and said second end of said second tubular member.

Claim 3

A cold plate heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first, second and third tubular members are a single continuous coil of tubing.

Claim 4

A cold plate heat exchanger as claimed in claim 2 wherein: said coil of tubing is encased in a heat conducting casting with sweet water and flavored syrup conveying lines; and said heat conducting surface is the top of said heat conducting casting.

Claim 5

A cold plate heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1 wherein the liquid is carbonated water.

Claim 6

A cold plate heat exchanger for use in a beverage dispenser comprising: a heat conducting casting having a generally rectangular shape; a depression formed in the top of said casting, said depression covering most of the top of said casting but for an outer rim and the bottom of said depression defining the top surface of the cold plate heat exchanger, said depression collecting the melt water from ice located in and above said depression; a drain extending from said depression out through said casting; a plurality of flavored syrup coils embedded in said casting; a sweet water coil embedded in said casting; a carbonated water coil embedded in said casting, said carbonated water coil comprising first, second and third tubular portions, said first and second tubular portions each having first and second ends; an outlet fitting located on said first end of said first tubular portion of said carbonated water coil to provide for conveying cooled carbonated water to a dispensing location, said first tubular portion having a serpentine shape formed substantially in a plane generally parallel to the bottom of said depression, said first tubular portion being positioned immediately adjacent the bottom of said depression; and an inlet fitting located on said first end of said second tubular portion of said carbonated water coil to provide for the insertion of carbonated water to be cooled, said first end of said second tubular portion being adjacent said second end of said first tubular portion, said second tubular portion having a serpentine shape formed substantially on a plane generally parallel to the bottom of said depression, said second tubular portion being positioned adjacent the side of said first tubular portion away from the bottom of said depression, said third tubular portion interconnecting said second end of said first tubular portion and said second end of said first tubular portion.

Claim 7

A cold plate heat exchanger for use in a beverage dispenser comprising: a heat conducting casting having a generally rectangular shape; a depression formed in the top of said casting, said depression covering most of the top of said casting but for an outer rim and the bottom of said depression defining the top surface of the cold plate heat exchanger, said depression collecting the melt water from ice located in and above said depression; a drain extending from said depression out through said casting; a plurality of flavored syrup coils embedded in said casting; a sweet water coil embedded in said casting; a carbonated water coil embedded in said casting, said carbonated water coil comprising first, second and third tubular portions, said first and second tubular portions each having first and second ends; an outlet fitting located on said first end of said first tubular portion of said carbonated water coil to provide for conveying cooled carbonated water to a dispensing location, said first tubular portion having a serpentine shape formed substantially in a plane generally parallel to the bottom of said depression, said first tubular portion being positioned immediately adjacent the bottom of said depression; and an inlet fitting located on said first end of said second tubular portion of said carbonated water coil to provide for the insertion of carbonated water to be cooled, said first end of said second tubular portion being adjacent said second end of said first tubular portion, said second tubular portion having a serpentine shape formed substantially on a plane generally parallel to the bottom of said depression, said second tubular portion being positioned adjacent the side of said first tubular portion away from the bottom of said depression, said third tubular portion interconnecting said second end of said first tubular portion and said second end of said first tubular portion.

Claim 8

A cold plate heat exchanger as claimed in claim 5 wherein: said casting is formed primarily of aluminum; and said flavored syrup, sweet water and carbonated water coils are formed of stainless steel.

Claim 9

A heat exchanger for fluids comprising: a generally planar heat exchange surface through which heat transfer is effected; a first conduit to convey the fluid and positioned along one side of said heat exchange surface, said first conduit having first and second ends and formed in a convoluted shape with the central axis thereof lying substantially in a plane generally parallel to said heat exchange surface to produce a large area of said first conduit adjacent to said heat exchange surface; an outlet located at said first end of said first conduit; a second conduit to convey the fluid and positioned along said first conduit on the side away from said heat exchange surface, said second conduit having first and second ends and formed in a convoluted shape with the central axis thereof lying substantially in a plane generally parallel to said heat exchange surface to provide a large area of said second conduit adjacent said first conduit; an inlet formed at said first end of said second conduit, said first end of said second conduit being adjacent said second end of said first conduit; and a third conduit interconnecting said second end of said first conduit and said second end of said second conduit.

Claim 10

A heat exchanger for fluids comprising: a generally planar heat exchange surface through which heat transfer is effected; a first conduit to convey the fluid and positioned along one side of said heat exchange surface, said first conduit having first and second ends and formed in a convoluted shape with the central axis thereof lying substantially in a plane generally parallel to said heat exchange surface to produce a large area of said first conduit adjacent to said heat exchange surface; an outlet located at said first end of said first conduit; a second conduit to convey the fluid and positioned along said first conduit on the side away from said heat exchange surface, said second conduit having first and second ends and formed in a convoluted shape with the central axis thereof lying substantially in a plane generally parallel to said heat exchange surface to provide a large area of said second conduit adjacent said first conduit; an inlet formed at said first end of said second conduit, said first end of said second conduit being adjacent said second end of said first conduit; and a third conduit interconnecting said second end of said first conduit and said second end of said second conduit.

Claim 11

A heat exchanger for fluids as claimed in claim 7 wherein the fluid is a liquid.

Claim 12

A heat exchanger for fluids as claimed in claim 8 wherein the liquid is carbonated water.

Claim 13

A heat exchanger as claimed in claim 7 wherein said first, second and third conduits are unitarily formed tubes to provide a continuous tubular coil for the fluid.

Claim 14

A heat exchanger for fluids as claimed in claim 10 wherein: said tubular coil is embedded in a casting; and said heat exchange surface is the top surface of said casting.

Claim 15

A heat exchanger for fluids as claimed in claim 11 wherein ice is located on top of said casting to extract heat from the fluid in said tubular coil.

Claim 16

A heat exchanger for fluids as claimed in claim 7 wherein said convoluted shape is a serpentine arrangement.