Low pressure, high efficiency carbonator and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Carbonating apparatus comprising:
- a pressure vessel for containing a selected volume of liquid and gas therein;
a liquid source means operatively coupled to said pressure vessel to supply liquid to be carbonated thereto;
a liquid inlet disposed above the liquid surface inside said pressure vessel, said liquid inlet having at least one liquid nozzle oriented to direct incoming liquid to impact selected surfaces within the vessel;
liquid level sensing means coupled to control said liquid source means to maintain a predetermined level of fluid in said pressure vessel;
gas source means operatively coupled to said pressure vessel to supply carbon dioxide gas thereto;
outlet means coupled to the interior of said pressure vessel for dispensing carbonated liquid therefrom; and
means for venting a selected volume of gas from the space above the liquid inside said pressure vessel response to dispensing of carbonated liquid therefrom.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved method and means for carbonating water includes an inexpensive pressure vessel that operates at low fluid pressures, and that is selectively vented of accumulated atmospheric gases to maintain high carbonating efficiency. Supplemental gasification of the dispensed liquid and selective cooling techniques used on the inlet water and on the carbonator promote high-level carbonation on low volume usage of pressurized carbon dioxide gas. Post-mix apparatus and method produce flavored soft drinks with only minimum additional equipment.
222 Citations
25 Claims
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1. Carbonating apparatus comprising:
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a pressure vessel for containing a selected volume of liquid and gas therein; a liquid source means operatively coupled to said pressure vessel to supply liquid to be carbonated thereto; a liquid inlet disposed above the liquid surface inside said pressure vessel, said liquid inlet having at least one liquid nozzle oriented to direct incoming liquid to impact selected surfaces within the vessel; liquid level sensing means coupled to control said liquid source means to maintain a predetermined level of fluid in said pressure vessel; gas source means operatively coupled to said pressure vessel to supply carbon dioxide gas thereto; outlet means coupled to the interior of said pressure vessel for dispensing carbonated liquid therefrom; and means for venting a selected volume of gas from the space above the liquid inside said pressure vessel response to dispensing of carbonated liquid therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. Carbonator apparatus comprising:
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a pressure vessel for containing a selected volume of liquid and gas therein; a liquid source means operatively coupled to said pressure vessel to supply liquid to be carbonated thereto; a liquid inlet disposed above the liquid surface inside said pressure vessel, said liquid inlet having at least one liquid nozzle oriented to direct incoming liquid to impact selected surfaces within the vessel; liquid level sensing means coupled to control said liquid source means to maintain a predetermined level of fluid in said pressure vessel; gas source means operatively coupled to said pressure vessel to supply carbon dioxide gas thereto; outlet means coupled to the interior of said pressure vessel for dispensing carbonating liquid therefrom, said outlet means being operatively coupled with additional carbonation means to further carbonate the fluid being dispensed; and means for venting a selected volume of gas from the space above the liquid inside said pressure vessel during dispensing of carbonated liquid therefrom.
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4. Carbonator apparatus comprising:
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a pressure vessel for containing a selected volume of liquid and gas therein; a liquid source means operatively coupled to said pressure vessel to supply liquid to be carbonated thereto; a liquid inlet disposed above the liquid surface inside said pressure vessel, said liquid inlet having at least one liquid nozzle oriented to direct incoming liquid to impact selected surfaces within the vessel; liquid level sensing means coupled to control said liquid source means to maintain a predetermined level of fluid in said pressure vessel; gas means operatively coupled to said pressure vessel to supply carbon dioxide gas thereto; outlet means coupled to the interior of said pressure vessel for dispensing carbonated liquid therefrom; means for venting a selected volume of gas from the space above the liquid inside said pressure vessel during dispensing of carbonated liquid therefrom; and means operatively coupled to said outlet means to increase the number and decrease the size of any undissolved gas bubbles in the fluid being dispensed.
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5. Carbonator apparatus comprising:
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a pressure vessel for containing a selected volume of liquid and gas therein; a liquid source means operatively coupled to said pressure vessel to supply liquid to be carbonated thereto; a liquid inlet disposed above the liquid surface inside said pressure vessel, said liquid inlet having at least one liquid nozzle oriented to direct incoming liquid to impact selected surfaces within the vessel; said liquid nozzle being oriented substantially downwardly and including means to reduce the coefficient of friction thereof in directing incoming liquid to impact the liquid surface inside the vessel; liquid level sensing means coupled to control said liquid source means to maintain a predetermined level of fluid in said pressure vessel; gas source means operatively coupled to said pressure vessel to supply carbon dioxide gas thereto; outlet means coupled to the interior of said pressure vessel for dispensing carbonated liquid therefrom; and means for venting a selected volume of gas from the space above the liquid inside said pressure vessel during dispensing of carbonated liquid therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. Carbonator apparatus comprising
a pressure vessel for containing a selected volume of liquid and gas therein; -
liquid source means operatively coupled to said pressure vessel to supply liquid to be carbonated thereto; a liquid inlet disposed above the liquid surface inside said pressure vessel, said liquid inlet having at least one liquid nozzle oriented to direct incoming liquid to impact selected surfaces within the vessel; said liquid nozzle being oriented substantially downwardly and including means to reduce the coefficient of friction thereof in directing incoming liquid to impact the liquid surface inside the vessel; liquid level sensing means coupled to control said liquid source means to maintain a predetermined level of liquid in said pressure vessel; gas source means operatively coupled to said pressure vessel to supply carbon dioxide gas thereto; outlet means coupled to, the interior of said pressure vessel for dispensing carbonated liquid therefrom; and means for selectively venting gas from the space above the liquid inside pressure vessel in response to an increase in the volumetric absorption of the liquid passing through said inlet. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. Carbonating apparatus comprising:
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a pressure vessel for containing a selected volume of liquid and gas therein; liquid source means operatively coupled to said pressure vessel to supply liquid to be carbonated thereto; a liquid inlet disposed above the liquid surface inside said pressure vessel, said liquid inlet having at least one liquid nozzle oriented to direct incoming liquid to impact selected surfaces within the vessel; liquid level sensing means coupled to control said liquid source means to maintain a predetermined level of fluid in said pressure vessel; gas source means operatively coupled to said pressure vessel to supply carbon dioxide gas thereto; outlet means coupled to the interior of said pressure vessel for dispensing carbonated liquid therefrom; and means for venting a selected volume of gas from the space above the liquid inside said pressure vessel in response to a change in the liquid level therein. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. Carbonator apparatus comprising:
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a pressure vessel for containing a selected volume of liquid and gas therein; a liquid source operatively coupled to said pressure vessel to supply liquid to be carbonated thereto; a liquid inlet above the liquid surface inside said pressure vessel, said liquid inlet having at least one liquid nozzle oriented to direct incoming liquid to impact selected surfaces within the vessel; liquid level sensing means coupled to control said liquid source means to maintain a predetermined level of liquid in said pressure vessel; gas source means operatively coupled to said pressure vessel to supply carbon dioxide thereto; outlet means coupled to the interior of said pressure vessel for dispensing carbonated liquid therefrom; and said pressure vessel being formed of plastic material and including a layer of gas impervious material for inhibiting transmission of vapor therethrough; said plastic material including a compound selected from the group of materials which exhibit ductile failure consisting of nylon, polyolefins, and polycarbonate; and said gas-impervious layer including polyvinylidene dichloride. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A carbonator system comprising:
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an elongated fluid conduit for receiving pressurized water; a housing disposed about the fluid conduit for receiving a quantity of ice therein about the fluid conduit; means connected to the housing for draining water therefrom; means for disposing of the liquid water drained from said housing; a carbonator tank operatively connected to said elongated fluid conduit; sensor means disposed to detect the liquid level in said carbonator tank; control means responsive to said sensor means to enable flow of pressurized water into said carbonator tank from the fluid conduit when the fluid level in the carbonator tank falls below a selected minimum level, and to disable said flow of pressurized water when the fluid level in the carbonator tank rises above a selected level; dispensing means to withdraw carbonated liquid from said carbonator tank; and means to engage the withdrawn carbonated liquid in mixing relationship with a quantity of flavoring syrup disposed within a container into which the carbonated liquid is dispensed.
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22. Carbonator apparatus comprising:
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a carbonator tank containing a volume VL of liquid therein with a gas-space volume Vg therein; sensor means for detecting the liquid level in the carbonator tank; control means responsive to the sensor means to enable substantially uninhibited flow of water into the carbonator tank from a source of water at a selected pressure level when the liquid level in the carbonator tank falls below a selected level, and to completely inhibit said flow of water when the liquid level therein rises above a selected level; a source of carbon dioxide gas coupled to supply gas to the carbonator tank at a pressure less than said selected pressure level of the water; relief means operatively disposed to vent gas from the gas space within the carbonator tank in response to decrease in the volumetric of absorption of carbon dioxide gas in the water within the carbonator tank; and dispensing means to selectively withdraw carbonated water from the carbonator tank. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A carbonator system for a refrigerator comprising:
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a carbonator tank to contain a volume of fluid therein, a closed fluid reservoir including a conduit therein disposed to support plug flow of liquid therethrough and having an outlet coupled to the carbonator tank and an inlet coupled to receive a source of pressurized water; housing means disposed about said fluid reservoir for containing in contact therewith a quantity of coolant for cooling the liquid contained within said fluid reservoir; drain means coupled to said housing means for removing liquid coolant therefrom; said carbonator tank and fluid reservoir and housing means being disposed within the cooled space of a refrigerator which includes mechanical cooling apparatus including an evaporator and a liquid reservoir disposed in close proximity to said evaporator; said drain means being connected to supply liquid coolant from said housing means to said liquid reservoir; sensor means for detecting the liquid level in said carbonator tank; control means responsive to said sensor means to enable substantially uninhibited flow of said pressurized water into said carbonator tank when the liquid level therein falls below a selected level, and to completely inhibit said flow when the liquid level therein rises above a selected level; and dispensing means to selectively withdraw carbonated liquid from said carbonator tank. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification