Inline carbonator
First Claim
1. An inline carbonator apparatus comprising, casing means defining an elongate chamber having a helically grooved inner wall, an elongate inner body disposed in the chamber and having a cylindrical outer surface contacting radially inner crests on the helically grooved inner wall and forming a helical flow passage therewith, means for passing liquid to be carbonated to the helical flow passage adjacent an inlet end thereof, outlet means communicating with an outlet end of said helical flow passage;
- said inner body having an elongate internal chamber extending from a first end adjacent said inlet end of the helical flow passage to a location spaced from the inlet and outlet ends of the helical flow passage, at least the portion of the inner body that extends around the internal chamber being formed of micro-porous material, and means for passing carbon dioxide gas to the internal chamber in the inner body for diffusion through the micro-porous portion of the inner body into the liquid in the helical flow passage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A carbonator comprising a casing defining an elongate chamber having a helically grooved inner wall and an elongate inner body disposed in the chamber and having a cylindrical outer surface contacting radially inner crests on the helically grooved inner wall to form a helical flow passage therewith. Liquid to be carbonated is supplied to the helical flow passage adjacent one end thereof and an outlet communicates with said helical flow passage adjacent a second end. The inner body has an inner gas chamber extending only along a portion of the length of the helical flow passage, which portion is formed of micro-porous material for diffusing carbon dioxide gas from the inner chamber into the liquid in the helical flow passage.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. An inline carbonator apparatus comprising, casing means defining an elongate chamber having a helically grooved inner wall, an elongate inner body disposed in the chamber and having a cylindrical outer surface contacting radially inner crests on the helically grooved inner wall and forming a helical flow passage therewith, means for passing liquid to be carbonated to the helical flow passage adjacent an inlet end thereof, outlet means communicating with an outlet end of said helical flow passage;
- said inner body having an elongate internal chamber extending from a first end adjacent said inlet end of the helical flow passage to a location spaced from the inlet and outlet ends of the helical flow passage, at least the portion of the inner body that extends around the internal chamber being formed of micro-porous material, and means for passing carbon dioxide gas to the internal chamber in the inner body for diffusion through the micro-porous portion of the inner body into the liquid in the helical flow passage.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
- 7. A system for carbonating liquid comprising, casing means defining an elongate chamber having a helically grooved inner wall, an elongate inner body disposed in the chamber and having a cylindrical outer surface contacting radially inner crests on the helically grooved inner wall and forming a helical flow passage therewith, means including a motor driven pump for passing liquid to be carbonated to the helical flow passage adjacent a first end thereof, a dispensing valve, outlet passage means including an adjustable flow restrictor communicating with said helical flow passage adjacent an outlet end thereof for passing carbonated liquid to the dispensing valve, said inner body having an elongate internal chamber extending from a first end adjacent said inlet end of the helical flow passage to a location spaced from the inlet and outlet ends of the helical flow passage, at least the portion of the inner body that extends around the internal chamber being formed of micro-porous material, means including an adjustable gas pressure regulator and a gas-line flow restrictor for passing carbon dioxide gas to the internal chamber in the inner body for diffusion through the micro-porous portion of the inner body into the liquid in the helical flow passage, and means including a pressure switch for controlling operation of the pump to maintain the pressure on the liquid supplied to the helical flow passage in a selected range.
Specification