Method and means for carbonating liquids in situ
First Claim
1. A self-contained and portable carbonating apparatus comprising a fixed volume rigid container, a resilient bag within the container defining a variable volume carbonating chamber between the resilient bag and the rigid container, a pump communicating with the resilient bag, a relief valve establishing selective communication between the carbonating chamber and the atmosphere, whereby air may be purged from the variable volume carbonating chamber by pumping air into the resilient bag and activating the relief valve.
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Abstract
This invention provides a novel method and means for carbonating liquids in the container from which the liquids are served to the consumer with a minimum of carbonating gas and for maintaining and enhancing carbonation of the remaining liquid without expensive regulatory apparatus after withdrawal of a portion of the carbonated liquid. Inherent in the means and method to induce and regulate carbonation, the invention provides both means and method for regulating or substantially limiting the maximum volume of liquid introduced into the carbonation chamber as well as a means and method to purge air from the carbonation chamber. According to the invention, a fixed volume vessel and a dynamic capacity carbonating chamber, a pump and relief valves enable consistent carbonation and regulation of the carbonating pressure prior to and following dispensing of carbonated liquids while utilizing a finite, minimum quantity of carbonating gas. The dynamic capacity carbonating chamber is defined within a fixed volume vessel by a resilient, flexible relatively non-permeable air bag separating a liquid CO2 gas phase from pressurized air. A manually operated pump and preset relief valves enable the maintenance of predetermined fixed pressures within the air chamber and carbonating chamber of the vessel without introducing atmospheric air into the carbonating chamber.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A self-contained and portable carbonating apparatus comprising a fixed volume rigid container, a resilient bag within the container defining a variable volume carbonating chamber between the resilient bag and the rigid container, a pump communicating with the resilient bag, a relief valve establishing selective communication between the carbonating chamber and the atmosphere, whereby air may be purged from the variable volume carbonating chamber by pumping air into the resilient bag and activating the relief valve.
- 2. A self-contained and portable apparatus for carbonating liquids comprising a container, a carbonating chamber within the container, air actuated means within the carbonating chamber for selectively varying the volume of the carbonating chamber to effect a uniform carbonating pressure in the carbonating chamber and to admit and discharge liquid from the carbonating chamber, means for introducing carbon dioxide into the carbonating chamber, means for venting carbon dioxide from the carbonating chamber to the atmosphere, means for introducing liquid into the carbonating chamber, and means for withdrawing carbonated liquid from the carbonating chamber.
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14. Carbonating apparatus including means to regulate the quantity of liquid to be carbonated, said means comprising a rigid container, a resilient, flexible, impervious bag within the container, means to vent air to the atmosphere from the container exteriorly of the bag, means to pump air to expand the bag to the limits of the container walls, a supply of liquid outside the carbonating apparatus, a tube submerged in said liquid supply and communicating with the container exteriorly of the bag, and means to vent air within the bag to the atmosphere allowing contraction of the bag to draw liquid from said supply through the tube and into the container exteriorly of the bag.
Specification