Liquid proportioning apparatus and method

• US 5,642,761 A
• Filed: 02/21/1996
• Issued: 07/01/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fountain Fresh, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fountain Fresh, Inc.
• Inventors: Holbrook, Ben F.
• Primary Examiner(s): JACYNA, J CASIMER
• Application Number:
  US08/604,707
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 141/5, 141/6, 141/9, 141/39-41, 141/47-50, 141/95, 141/100, 141/104, 141/105, 72/299
• US Class Current: 141/104
• CPC Class Codes: B67C 3/06 using counterpressure, i.e. filling while the container is under pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0035 the controls being based on the same metering technics
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1222 Pressure gauges
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1293 Means for changing the ratio by acting on commands

Abstract

A liquid proportioning apparatus for proportioning two or more liquids into a bottle. The liquids are accurately proportioned in the bottle by sensing the respective pressure increases in the bottle as each liquid is introduced into the bottle. The bottle is initially pressurized to a first pressure setting to establish a base-line so that subsequent pressure change caused by an incoming liquid will be proportional to the volume of that liquid to the total volume of the bottle. This invention is primarily directed to the selective production of a beverage from a syrup and water or carbonated water.

Claims

1. A liquid proportioning apparatus comprising:

a fill head;

a container sealingly attached to said fill head;

a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the interior of said container;

pressurization means for pressurizing said container with a gas to a first pressure setting on said pressure sensor;

injection means for introducing a first liquid into said container, said first liquid compressing said gas in said container to a second pressure setting as sensed by said pressure sensor;

pressure release means for releasing said pressure in said container; and

fill means for filling said container with a second liquid.

2. The liquid proportioning apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said apparatus includes fill means for injecting a third liquid into said container to raise said pressure in said container to a third pressure prior to releasing said pressure with said pressure release means.

3. The liquid proportioning apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said pressurization means comprises a carbon dioxide gas for pressurizing said container.

4. The liquid proportioning apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said second liquid comprises carbonated water and said pressure release means comprises a restriction means for holding a back pressure on said container to reduce effervescence of said carbonated water.

5. The liquid proportioning apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said fill means includes a pressure change sensor means for sensing a pressure spike to stop said fill means.

6. An apparatus for producing a beverage from accurate proportions of a flavored syrup and a water comprising;

a fill head;

a bottle suitable for receiving said beverage;

seal means for releasably sealing said bottle to said fill head;

a pressure sensor for sensing pressure in said bottle;

gas means for pressurizing said bottle to a first pressure setting;

syrup means for introducing said flavored syrup into said bottle, said flavored syrup compressing said gas from said first pressure setting to a second pressure setting;

vent means for venting said gas from said bottle; and

fill means for filling said bottle with said water.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 6 wherein said water comprises a water selected from the group consisting of water and carbonated water.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 6 wherein said apparatus includes a liquid means for introducing a liquid into said bottle after said syrup said liquid compressing said gas to a third pressure setting.

9. A method for proportioning at least two liquids in a container comprising the steps of:

pressurizing said container with a gas to a first pressure setting;

increasing the pressure in said container from said first pressure setting to a second pressure setting by introducing a first liquid into said container;

said first liquid compressing said gas to said second pressure setting;

venting said gas from said container; and

filling said container with a second liquid.

10. The method defined in claim 9 wherein said increasing step is followed by a second increasing step by compressing said gas to a third pressure setting by introducing said second liquid into said container prior to said venting step and following said venting step by introducing a third liquid into said container.

11. The method defined in claim 10 wherein said venting step comprises creating a back pressure on said gas by restricting said gas during said venting step, said back pressure reducing effervescence of carbonated water when said carbonated water is said second liquid and said third liquid.

12. The method defined in claim 9 wherein said pressurizing step comprises selecting carbon dioxide as said gas.

13. The method defined in claim 9 wherein said increasing step includes producing a beverage in said container by selecting a flavored syrup as said first liquid.

14. The method defined in claim 13 wherein said selecting step includes providing a plurality of bulk containers of said syrup and interconnecting said bulk containers in fluid communication in series thereby providing an extended supply of said syrup.

15. The method defined in claim 9 wherein said filling step includes creating a pressure spike during said venting step by interrupting said venting step upon filing said container with said second liquid and sensing said pressure spike thereby terminating said filling step.