Beverage carbonation system and method

• US 20170120204A1
• Filed: 10/27/2016
• Published: 05/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guy Tipton
• Original Assignee: Guy Tipton
• Inventors: TIPTON, Guy
• Granted Patent: US 10,143,978 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 2/54 Mixing with gases
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2002/00 Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/15 Mixing of beer ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/23123 consisting of rigid porous or perforated material
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/231265 being tubes, tubular elements, cylindrical elements or set of tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/2362 for aerating or carbonating within receptacles or tanks, e.g. distribution machines B01F23/2361 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/2363 Mixing systems, i.e. flow charts or diagrams; Arrangements, e.g. comprising controlling means
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/237621 in beverages
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2115 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2213 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/04 Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: C12C 11/11 Post fermentation treatments, e.g. carbonation, or concentration methods for reducing the alcohol content after fermentation C12H3/00; methods for increasing the alcohol content after fermentation C12H6/00

Abstract

In a method of carbonating a beverage using a carbon dioxide diffusing stone, temperature is measured in a flow of that beverage immediately before the flow changes from laminar to effervescent, thereby obtaining a true temperature at which carbon dioxide is diffused into the beverage. In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable controller having connectors joinable to a gas pressure regulator of a gas cylinder and to any one of several beverage carbonation containers. The portable controller has instruments therein for controlling a flow of carbon dioxide gas to the beverage in any one of the containers and for controlling a pressure gradient of the carbon dioxide gas in the beverage over a period of time. There is also provided an elongated carbon dioxide diffusing stone assembly having an elongated temperature probe well extending parallel to and immediately below a diffusing stone.

Claims

1. A method of carbonating a beverage, comprising the steps of:

creating an upward laminar flow in said beverage;

during a period of time, periodically forcing carbon dioxide gas bubbles into said beverage, in said upward laminar flow of said beverage, thereby changing said upward laminar flow to an effervescent flow;

using said carbon dioxide gas, applying a pressure gradient on said beverage during said period of time;

measuring a temperature of said beverage immediately before said upward laminar flow changes to said effervescent flow, and

adjusting said pressure gradient according to a pressure/temperature ratio dependent on said temperature.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said steps of measuring a temperature and adjusting said pressure gradient are repeated periodically.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said beverage is contained in a container and said step of changing said upward laminar flow to an effervescent flow is effected in a central lower portion of said container.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said step of measuring a temperature is effected with a precision of 0.1°

C. (0.18°

F.).

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, further including the step of maintaining a majority of said carbon dioxide gas bubbles relatively small.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of adjusting a pressure gradient is effected by one of the following steps:

momentarily interrupting said step of periodically forcing carbon dioxide gas bubbles into said beverage;

venting a portion of said carbon dioxide gas outside said container; and

venting a portion of said carbon dioxide gas outside said container and forcing said portion of said carbon dioxide gas back into said beverage.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said steps of applying a pressure gradient and adjusting said pressure gradient are effected at a pressure of less than 15 psi.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, further including the step of selecting a maximum flow of said carbon dioxide gas bubbles in said step of periodically forcing carbon dioxide gas bubbles into said beverage.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said step of selecting a maximum flow comprises the step of:

forcing said carbon dioxide gas through a carbonation stone and selecting said maximum flow of said gas bubbles when said gas bubbles exit said stone and form an uniform layer of bubbles with an uniform density, from an entire surface of said stone.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of increasing a carbon dioxide gas pressure inside said container and emptying said container by force of said carbon dioxide gas pressure.

11. A system for carbonating a beverage, comprising:

a first and second containers of beverage;

said first and second containers of beverage each having a carbon dioxide diffusing stone mounted therein;

a temperature probe mounted immediately below said carbon dioxide diffusing stone, a head space above a liquid level of said beverage in each of said first and second containers, and a fill pipe therein;

said first and second containers each having respective connections there through to said carbon dioxide diffusing stone, said temperature probe, said head space and said fill pipe;

a tank of carbon dioxide gas under pressure;

said tank having a gas pressure regulator mounted thereto;

a portable controller having a first set of connectors joinable to said gas pressure regulator and to said respective connections of each of said first and second containers, and instruments mounted therein for controlling a flow of said carbon dioxide gas to said beverage in one of said first and second containers and a pressure gradient of said carbon dioxide gas in said beverage in said one of said first and second containers over a period of time.

12. The system as claimed in claim 11, further including a bottling installation having a second set of connectors joinable to said fill pipes of said first and second containers.

13. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said first set of connectors of said portable controller being connected to said carbon dioxide diffusing stone, said temperature probe, said head space of said one of said first and second containers, and said second set of connectors of said bottling installation being connected to said fill pipe of another of said first and second containers.

14. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said first set of connectors of said portable controller and said second set of connectors and said respective connections are quick connect-disconnect couplings.

15. A carbon dioxide diffusing stone assembly comprising:

a first gas-porous stone mounted to an elongated tubular holder;

an elongated temperature probe well extending parallel to said elongated tubular holder and said first stone;

a bunghole plug having a first and second parallel holes there through;

said elongated tubular holder extending through said first hole and said temperature probe well extending through said second hole.

16. The carbon dioxide diffusing stone assembly as claimed in claim 15, further including a second gas-porous stone mounted to said elongated tubular holder, inline with said first stone.

17. The carbon dioxide diffusing stone assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein said parallel holes are vertically spaced, and said temperature probe well is mounted directly under said first stone.

18. The carbon dioxide diffusing stone assembly as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a quick disconnect-reconnect coupling along said tubular holder.

19. The carbon dioxide diffusing stone assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein said first stone has a cylindrical shape.

20. The carbon dioxide diffusing stone assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein said first stone is a 0.2 micron stone.