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Confection Distribution Vehicle.

Field of Invention:

The invention relates to a confection distribution vehicle and in particular to a vehicle which is suitable for the transport of frozen confections, such as ice creams and iced drinks, to arbitrary selling points for distribution and sale to members of the public.

Description of Prior Art:

Generally speaking, confection distribution vehicles have been used to patrol streets in search of customers, and are usually provided with some audible signalling device to notify the presence of the vehicle and to attract custom. This mode of use necessitates an internal energy source for the refrigeration and dispensing equipment carried by the vehicle, which source of energy is operable while the vehicle is in motion and which will continue in use during frequent stops of short duration as it is not practicable, even if one were available, to connect the equipment to an external source of energy.

Some known confection distribution vehicles have been provided with equipment to store and dispense frozen confection, such as that known as soft ice cream. In prior apparatus of this type, the frozen confection is stored in a refrigeration chamber and kept at the desired consistency by a rotary beater which also served to force the frozen confection from the refrigeration chamber through a dispensing nozzle on activation thereof. The apparatus has included refrigeration equipment comprising an

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evaporator located in or around the refrigeration chamber.

Normally, the source of energy for the refrigeration and dispensing equipment has been an internal combustion engine, which is separate from the engine of the vehicle. The internal combustion engine has been arranged to drive an alternator to provide electric power to operate the equipment. The known arrangement has limitations and normally the known type of vehicle has been restricted to a single confection dispensing device.

Additionally, the known equipment was required to operate under a wide range of conditions entailing the removal of a variable amount of heat from the refrigeration system of the dispensing device. For example, during spells of high temperature or heavy customer traffic, the large amount of heat that had to be removed from the system overtaxed the refrigeration system commonly employed. It often happened that, even after dispensing as few as eight to ten ice creams, the dispensing equipment failed to operate properly and the dispensed confection was not properly prepared, was not properly frozen and, being more milk, than ice cream, was unsuitable for sale.

Prior attempts to overcome these problems, involving heavy duty alternators or generators and bigger motors, proved unsatisfactory because the additional heat thereby introduced merely increased the difficul ies.

Summary of the Invention: It is an object of the present invention to provide a confection distribution vehicle with at least one confection dispensing device.

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It is a further object of the present invention to provide a confection distribution vehicle having driving and controlling means for powering the components selectively.

It is a further object of the present invention to minimise the problems caused by varying weather conditions to which a vehicle is subjected.

It is another object of the present invention to improve the environment inside the vehicle to assist each confection dispensing device to operate more effectively.

It is another object of the present invention to operate selectively the beater in the refrigeration chamber of the confection dispensing device, the compressor of the refrigeration circuit for the device • and the cooling fans drawing air through the vehicle and around the equipment to optimise the conditions under which each confection dispensing device operates.

In accordance with the present invention, a confection distribution vehicle is provided having at least one frozen confection dispensing device, each said device comprising -

: a refrigeration chamber to store frozen confection; a dispensing nozzle from said chamber through which frozen confection may be dispensed; a beater in said refrigeration chamber operable to maintain the frozen confection at the desired consistency and to expel frozen confection through the nozzle on activation of the dispensing mechanism therefor; and

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: a refrigeration system including an evaporator located in or around the refrigeration chamber, a condensor and a compressor, an internal combustion engine for driving the beater(s) and the compresso (s) through a mechanical transmission and means to control the selective operation of the beater(s) and the compressor(s) .

The mechanical transmission may take the form of belts and pulleys or gears or at least one component may be driven hydraulically by means of a hydraulic motor. Selective operation of the beater(s) and the compressor(s) is achieved by electrically operable clutches regulated by the control means.

Besides its use to patrol streets in search of customers, a confection distribution vehicle may sometimes be used among a crowd of potential customers, such as at a sports meet or at a children's picnic. On such occasions, a confection distribution vehicle may remain stationary for several hours and it would then be desirable to be able to power the dispensing and refrigeration equipment from a convenient external source of energy such as the mains power supply. Furthermore, the prior vehicles were not permitted to operate at food markets due to the emission of fumes from the internal combustion engine.

In a preferred form of the invention, it is an object to provide at least one electric motor as an alternative and additional energy source for the dispensing and refrigeration equipment when the vehicle is stationary for an extended period at a location with accessible electricity.

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Other preferred objects include the provision of means to supply hot water and the provision of a supplementary heater to warm chocolate or the like.

Brief Description of Drawings: The invention will be described in relation to a confection distribution vehicle having two confection dispensing devices. In the drawings -

Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a confection distribution vehicle, with the roof of the rear section omitted to illustrate the general layout of the various components;

Figure 2 is a side, partly sectional, view of the vehicle taken along the line 2 - 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view taken along the line 3 - 3 of Figure 2 illustrating the driving components;

Figure 4 is an end view taken along the line 4 - 4 of Figure 3 illustrating the mechanical transmissio ,-

Figure 5 illustrates the means for heating the water in the storage tank;

Figure 6 illustrates the means for supplying heat to a supplementary heater; and

Figure 7 illustrates the refrigeration circuits for the two confection dispensing devices and for an ancillary refrigerator.

Description of Preferred Embodiment:

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a confection distribution vehicle with an engine housing 1, a driving cabin 2 with access 3 to a rear section 4 having a front wall 5,

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a rear wall 6 and two side walls 7 and 8. The apparatus is arranged in the rear section 4 so that service may be provided at side 8. To that end, the rear section 4 of the vehicle has a bench 9 extending longitudinally of the vehicle along side 8 and a serving hatch 10 which has a closure member (not shown) which can be conveniently positioned away from the hatch opening to provide access for potential customers and allow unimpeded passage for service.

A shelf 11 extends transversely of the vehicle adjacent the rear wall 6 and supports two confection dispensing devices 12 and 13, the former being adapted to dispense soft ice cream and the latter a frozen drink confection.

Positioned in the rear section,4 of the vehicle adjacent the rear wall 6 and beneath the shelf 11 is an internal combustion engine 14 which is connected through mechanical clutch 15 to a mechanical transmission including a number of belts and pulleys from which various components are drawn. The internal combustion engine is started with the mechanical clutch 15 in its disengaged position and clutch 15 is arranged to be operated through rear access doors 16 and 17. The other controls for the internal combustion engine 14 are also located so that they may be conveniently operated through the rear access door 16 and 17. The output from the internal combustion engine is a continuation of the crankshaft of the engine although it may be in driven relation therewith. The internal combustion engine is provided with a governor which operates to maintain optimum engine revolutions as the load varies when the various driven components of the equipment operate.

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Although the internal combustion engine could be air cooled, it is preferred that it is water cooled and, as illustrated in Figure 5, the heated water from the cooling system of the internal combustion engine 14 is passed by pipes 18 to a heat exchange coil 19 located in an insulated hot water storage tank 20 of, say, twelve gallon capacity. The circulation of the heated water from the engine cooling system through pipes 18 and coil 19 may be assisted by the inclusion of a water pump (not shown) , if desired. In this way, waste heat from the internal combustion engine 14 may be used to heat the water in the storage tank 20 to provide a supply of hot water for washing purposes. To this end, the outlet from the storage tank is fed by a water pump 21 to tap 22 located above sink 23.

The hot water in the storage tank 20 is also used to supply heat to a supplementary heater 24. This is achieved as shown in Figure 6 by hot water from the storage tank 20 being circulated by water pump 21 through a control tap 25 to a heating coil 26, located in jacket 27 of supplementary heater 24, and thence back to storage tank 20. The supplementary heater 24 is used to heat container 28 of, say, chocolate which is thus maintained in melted condition and which may be used to provide a chocolate coating on an iced confection plunged therein. As the amount of hot water passing through the supplementary heater 24 can be controlled by tap 25, the construction of the supplementary heater ensures that the contents of container 28 are kept at an even temperature and do not burn.

The internal combustion engine 14 is used to provide the necessary energy to drive the various

components whilst the vehicle is in motion and during short selling stops. However, when the vehicle is to remain stationary for an extended length of time, say, several hours and is conveniently positioned in relation to a mains electric supply, it is preferable to use the latter supply. To achieve this, two electric motors 29 and 30 are provided. When the electric motors are operating, the internal combustion engine 14 is isolated by the mechanical clutch 15 so that it is not driven by the electric motors. hen the vehicle is connected to the mains electricity supply, the internal combustion engine 14 is not operating and the water in storage tank 20 is then heated by a supplementary electric heater 31 of, say, 2 K.V. loading which is powered from the mains supply. The heater 31 is provided with a thermostat 32 to control the temperature of the water in the storage tank 20. The water pump 21 is connected in the transmission in that it operates continuously while either the internal combustion engine, or the electric motors, is operating.

The rear section 4 is provided with a light which may be powered from the vehicle accumulator or the accumulator for internal combustion engine 14. Additionally, switching means may be provided so that light is powered from the mains electric supply via a suitable transformer and rectifier.

The confection dispensing devices 12 and 13 are basically of the same known construction. Briefly, each device has a mixing chamber into which the product mixture is fed - and which is in communication with a refrigeration chamber into which the product mixture is pumped and is frozen, but which is kept moving by a rotatable beater mounted for movement in the

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the refrigeration chamber. The beaters are driven by pulleys 33 and 34.

Because the frozen confection is kept in a state of movement within the refrigeration chamber by rotation of the beater, it is maintained at the desired consistency for dispensing. In known manner, the rotating beater also urges the frozen confection towards a dispensing nozzle at one end of the refrigeration chamber, through which nozzle, on activation of the dispensing mechanism therefor, frozen confection is forced to fill a cone, cup or other container.

As is normal, each confection dispensing device has a four position manual function switch to determine the mode of operation of the device. In one. position, the confection dispensing device is switched off.

In a second position, the dispensing device operates in its conservation mode. Initially, both the beater and the compressor commence operation together. It is important that the refrigeration system does not run for any length of time without the beater operating as hard freezing of confection in the refrigeration chamber is to be avoided. The beater and the compressor operate together and intermittently under the control of a thermostat to keep the confection in the refrigeration chamber at a chill temperature (e.g. 17 F.) . The temperature of the evaporator gas is taken as a measure of that of the confection. In this mode, the dispensing device works in the same way as a domestic refrigerator, serving to preserve the confection. Thus, for example, it may be desired to leave the confection in the dispensing device overnight rather than clean out the device. At the commencement of the conservation mode, a pump in the dispensing device feeds a small quantity

of the product mix into the refrigeration chamber and it is possible to start dispensing of, say, two or three ice creams almost immediately.

In a third position of the function switch, the confection dispensing device is in its dispense mode of operation wherein the beater is always r.inning. The chill thermostat is by-passed and the compressor operates intermittently under the control of a second thermostat to keep the refrigeration chamber at a freeze temperature (e.g. - 34°F.) . In determining when the compressor operates, the control means has regard for both the temperature and the viscosity of the confection in the refrigeration chamber as well as both the internal and external temperatures of the vehicle. During this mode, product mix is pumped into the refrigeration chamber gradually until it is filled and as confection is dispensed. The equipment is ready for normal dispensing after approximately two minutes after switching on the device.

In the fourth position of the function switch, the confection dispensing device is in its cleaning mode wherein the beater runs continuously and the compressor is always inoperative. The dispensing device can be emptied and cleaned with cold water and any ice cream taken from the device stored in a refrigerator.

As illustrated in Figure 7, the refrigeration circuits for the confection dispensing devices 12 and 13 each comprises a compressor 36, a pressure line 37, a condensor 38, an expansion valve 39, an evaporator 40 and a suction line 41 which passes through the mixing chamber to provide preliminary cooling for the product

mix before returning to the compressor 36. Each refrigeration circuit also includes a filter 42 and an inspection glass 43. The evaporator is formed as a coil and is located within, or maybe passed around,. the refrigeration chamber.

In the refrigeration circuit of one of the confection dispensing devices, an additional evaporator 40 is connected in parallel with evaporator 40. The evaporator 40-*- serves to cool refrigerator 44, located in the rear section 4 adjacent side 7.

Refrigerator 44 can be used to store soft drinks and the like. The two refrigeration circuits with parallel connected evaporators 40 and 40 have their own controls so that they can operate independently. - The condensor unit 38 is in front of door 17 located at the rear of the vehicle. Air is drawn through the condensors for cooling purposes by at least fan 45 and supplementary condensor fan 46.

In addition to engine fan 47, there is also a supplementary engine fan 48.

The bottom half of each door 16 and 17 is provided with a mesh covered duct or aperture of substantial extent so as to provide a free passage for the expulsion of air drawn over the equipment by the fans. Not only does the current of air serve to cool the internal combustion engine 14 and condensor unit 38, it forms an insulating barrier around the confection dispensing devices 12 and 13 which stops penetration of heat and permits the confection dispensing devices 12 and 13 to operate more effectively.

Depending upon the source of energy for the equip¬ ment, fans 45, 46 and 48 are driven by the internal

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combustion engine 14 through an alternator 49 or from the mains electricity supply.

The engine fan 47 operates when the internal combustion engine 14 is operating. Supplementary engine fan 48 is brought into operation by the control means 54 when the engine rises to a predetermined temperature. Condensor fan 45 is caused by the control means 54 to operate whenever a compressor is operating while supplementary condensor fan 46 is brought into operation when the temperature of the condensor unit 38 rises to a predetermined temperature.

To feed the necessary information to the control means 54, it is provided with a plurality of sensors to measure the temperature of the confection in each refrigeration chamber (taken as the temperature of the evaporator gas) , the temperature of the internal combustion engine 14, the temperature of the condensor unit 38, and the external temperature of the vehicle. Even when internal combustion engine 14 is not operating, the engine sensor is still effective to measure the internal temperature of the vehicle. Viscosity switches operated by the respective beaters are used to control the operation of the equipment in accordance with the viscosity of the confection.

The mechanical transmission from the internal combustion engine 14 and the electric motors 29 and 30 is illustrated in Figure 4 and comprises a series of belt coupled pulleys. Pulleys 50 and 51, which drive the respective compressors, and pulleys 52 and 53 in the drive to the beater pulleys 33 and 34, respectively, are provided with electrically operated clutches and the control means 54 switch the components into operation

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according to the functional mode of operation of the confection dispensing devices 12 and 13 and the information fed to it by the various sensors. Beater pulley 33 of device 12 is driven via pulleys and belts. However, for convenience of location, it is preferred that beater pulley 34 of device 13 is driven by hydraulic motor 55. The hydraulic circuit comprises an hydraulic pump 56 driven from pulley 53, regulator 57, motor 55 and ^' oil reservoir (not shown) . The pump 56 is adapted to supply fluid at a predetermined pressure, such as 800 p.s.i., to the motor 55. In practice, the line from the pump may be run at approximately twice that pressure and passes from the regulator 57 to motor 55 with any bled fluid returning to the oil reservoir together with the fluid from the outlet of motor 55.

The two compressors 36 are also driven via pulleys and belts.

When it is desired to use the confection distribution vehicle, the mixing chambers of the confection dispensing devices are charged with the appropriate product mix. By working through the rear doors, the internal combustion engine 14 is started and the mechanical clutch engaged. As soon as the internal combustion engine 14 has been started, water from its cooling system begins to circulate through pipes 18 and heat exchange coil 19 to heat water in tank 20. As the water pump 21 operates continuously, it pressurises the hot water tap 22 and causes water to circulate to heat the supplementary heater 24. The function switches on the confection dispensing devices 12 and 13 are adjusted, and the vehicle is ready for use.

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When connected to the mains supply, the control means 54 firstly operates to start the two electric motors 29 and 30 sequentially - with an approximate four seconds delay - as the power drain would be excessive if both motors were started at the same time. The control means 54 also serves to connect the other components such as the electric heating element and the fans to the mains supply. The operation of the equipment is much the same as when the internal combustion engine 14 is operating.

Although the internal temperature of the van may vary over a far wider range than a shop, the confection to be dispensed is readily maintained in the desired condition throughout that range of temperature variation by the use of the equipment described. By taking into account far more variables than is now the case, the control means cause the confection dispensing devices to operate effectively to enable proper dispensing quickly and continually despite large variations in the atmospheric conditions, the internal temperature of the vehicle and customer traffic.

Although the invention has been described in relation to a particular confection distribution vehicle with particular layout and operation of equipment, the description is not to be taken as restricting the broad scope of the invention which is set forth in the appended claims.

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