Method and apparatus for a product dispenser with increased insulative properties

Abstract

Vacuum insulation panels with a decreased thermal conductivity provide increased thermal effectiveness in a vessel of a product dispenser, when the vessel is substantially encapsulated with the vacuum insulation panels. The product dispenser including insulation having a reduced thermal conductivity provides the ability to convert existing manufacturer product lines from designs requiring foams with hydroflorocarbon blowing agents to foams that utilize non-hydroflorocarbon blowing agents. The vacuum insulation panels may be placed adjacent to the vessel walls, or may be adhered to the vessel walls. In an extension of this embodiment, multiple layers of vacuum insulation panels may be applied to the vessel to further increase the thermal effectiveness of the vessel. Still further, the layers of the vacuum insulation panels may be covered with an as-formed foam insulation, thereby creating a composite thermal barrier.

1 . A product dispenser, comprising:
 a housing;   a product flow circuit disposed within the housing; and   at least one vacuum insulation panel disposed in the housing, wherein the at least one vacuum insulation panel provides an increased thermal efficiency to the product dispenser.   
   
   
       2 . The product dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a vessel. 
   
   
       3 . The product dispenser according to  claim 2 , wherein the vessel includes a chamber. 
   
   
       4 . The product dispenser according to  claim 3 , wherein the chamber stores ice. 
   
   
       5 . The product dispenser according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a layer of as-formed insulation disposed over the vacuum insulation panel, thereby providing a composite thermal barrier having an increased thermal efficiency, wherein the as-formed layer of insulation adheres to the vacuum insulation panel and secures the vacuum insulation panel in place.   
   
   
       6 . The product dispenser according to  claim 5 , wherein the layer of as-formed insulation is blown with a non-hydroflorocarbon blowing agent. 
   
   
       7 . The product dispenser according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second vacuum insulation panel disposed over the vacuum insulation panel, thereby providing a composite thermal barrier having an increased thermal efficiency, wherein the second vacuum insulation panel protects the first vacuum insulation panel.   
   
   
       8 . The product dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum insulation panel is blown with a non-hydroflorocarbon blowing agent. 
   
   
       9 . The product dispenser according to  claim 3 , wherein the vacuum insulation panel is adhered to an exterior surface of the vessel. 
   
   
       10 . The product dispenser according to  claim 4 , wherein the product flow circuit stores and delivers ice disposed within the vessel. 
   
   
       11 . The product dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the product flow circuit is a beverage flow circuit, and further wherein the beverage flow circuit delivers a concentrate from a concentrate source to a product dispensing valve for use. 
   
   
       12 . The product dispenser according to  claim 11 , further comprising at least one diluent flow circuit disposed within the housing, wherein the at least one diluent flow circuit delivers a diluent for mixing with the concentrate, and delivery exterior to the housing. 
   
   
       13 . The product dispenser according to  claim 12 , wherein the vessel houses a cold water bath for chilling lines product and diluent lines. 
   
   
       14 . The product dispenser according to  claim 3 , wherein the vessel is disposed above a cold plate. 
   
   
       15 . The product dispenser according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a refrigeration circuit disposed within the housing, wherein the refrigeration circuit includes coils disposed within the water bath, thereby chilling the water bath, the product lines passing through the water bath, and any products passing through the product lines.   
   
   
       16 . The product dispenser according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a refrigeration deck that closes out an open portion of the chamber, and   at least one additional vacuum insulation panel disposed on the deck, thereby covering an upper portion of the chamber, and providing increased thermal efficiency to the vessel.   
   
   
       17 . The product dispenser according to  claim 3 , wherein the chamber houses a product source. 
   
   
       18 . The product dispenser according to  claim 17 , wherein the product source is packaged in a disposable package. 
   
   
       19 . The product dispenser according to  claim 3 , wherein the chamber is refrigerated. 
   
   
       20 . The product dispenser according to  claim 17 , further comprising at least one diluent flow circuit disposed within the housing, wherein a diluent from a diluent source and a concentrate from the product source are mixed for delivery exterior to the housing. 
   
   
       21 . The product dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum insulation panel is utilized in a reduced foam thickness area. 
   
   
       22 . The product dispenser according to  claim 21 , wherein the thin foam thickness area is in proximity to a cold plate. 
   
   
       23 . The product dispenser according to  claim 22 , wherein the vacuum insulation panel eliminates the formation of condensation on an outer surface of the product dispenser in proximity to the cold plate. 
   
   
       24 . A method of increasing the thermal efficiency of a product dispenser, comprising:
 a. providing a product dispenser including a housing; and   b. placing a first vacuum insulation panel having an increased thermal efficiency in the housing, thereby increasing the thermal efficiency of the product dispenser.   
   
   
       25 . The method of increasing the thermal efficiency of a product dispenser according to  claim 24 , further comprising:
 c. placing a second vacuum insulation panel on top of the first vacuum insulation panel, thereby further increasing the thermal efficiency of the product dispenser.   
   
   
       26 . The method of increasing the thermal efficiency of a product dispenser according to  claim 24 , further comprising:
 c. placing a layer of as-formed insulation over of the first vacuum insulation panel, thereby forming a composite thermal barrier, and securing the first vacuum insulation panel in place.   
   
   
       27 . The method of increasing the thermal efficiency of a product dispenser according to  claim 24 , wherein the first vacuum panel is disposed adjacent to an exterior surface of a vessel disposed within the housing, thereby increasing the thermal efficiency of the vessel. 
   
   
       28 . The method of increasing the thermal efficiency of a product dispenser according to  claim 27 , wherein the first vacuum insulation panel is glued to the exterior surface of the vessel, thereby eliminating any voids between the first vacuum insulation panel and the exterior surface of the vessel. 
   
   
       29 . The method of increasing the thermal efficiency of a product dispenser according to  claim 25 , wherein the second vacuum insulation panel is glued to the first vacuum insulation panel, thereby eliminating chance of air pocket between the vacuum insulation panels. 
   
   
       30 . The method of increasing the thermal efficiency of a product dispenser according to  claim 24 , wherein the first vacuum insulation panel is disposed in proximity to a cold plate, thereby increasing the thermal efficiency of the cold plate and the product dispenser. 
   
   
       31 . The method of increasing the thermal efficiency of the product dispenser according to  claim 30 , wherein the isolation of the cold plate eliminates the build up of condensation in proximity to the cold plate on an outer surface of the product dispenser. 
   
   
       32 . A method of converting a product dispenser manufacturing line from non-HFC foams to HFC-free foams, comprising:
 a. placing at least one vacuum insulation panel into a void of an area to be foamed, wherein the to be foamed area was previously filled with non-HFC-free as-formed insulation; and   b. filling the remaining void of the to be foamed area with HFC-free as-formed insulation, thereby increasing the thermal efficiency of the product dispenser.   
   
   
       33 . The method of converting a product dispenser manufacturing line from non-HFC foams to HFC-free foams according to  claim 32 , wherein the at least one vacuum insulation panel is disposed adjacent to an exterior surface of the vessel. 
   
   
       34 . The method of converting a product dispenser manufacturing line from non-HFC foams to HFC-free foams according to  claim 33 , wherein the vacuum insulation panels are glued to the exterior surface of the vessel.