Apparatus for manufacturing carbonated water

• US 5,681,507 A
• Filed: 05/29/1996
• Issued: 10/28/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kazuma, Yasuo
• Primary Examiner(s): MILES, TIM
• Application Number:
  US08/655,058
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 261/119.1, 261/DIG. 7, 261/27
• US Class Current: 261/27
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/23211 the liquid flowing in a thin film to absorb the gas
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/234 Surface aerating
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/23413 using nozzles for projecting the liquid into the gas atmosphere
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/72 with nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0057 Carbonators
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0068 Cooling bath
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0073 Carbonating by spraying the liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0074 Automatic carbonation control
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00157 Level detected electrically by contact with sensors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 261/07 Carbonators

Abstract

An apparatus for manufacturing carbonated water according to the invention can quickly produce carbonated water with a high carbonic acid gas content which does not easily lose carbonic acid gas and hence satisfactorily stimulates the throat with agreeable pungency. Since it has a simple configuration and hence is economic and effective, it can suitably be used in an carbonated beverage supplying apparatus such as an automatic vending machine, an automatic dispenser or the like. With such an arrangement, the apparatus improves its safety and hence can constantly supply delicious carbonated water.

Claims

1. An apparatus for manufacturing carbonated water by contact between carbonic acid gas and water introduced into a carbonic acid gas pressure container said apparatus comprises, characterized in that said apparatus further comprises a mixing vessel arranged in the carbonic acid gas pressure container below the inlet port for introducing carbonic acid gas into the carbonic acid gas pressure container and the spray for introducing water into the carbonic acid gas pressure container and having the introduced water collide and become mixed with the water already in the pressure container, said mixing vessel being separated from the inner peripheral wall of the carbonic acid gas pressure container by a gap, in order for the sprayed water to be mixed with the water staying in the mixing vessel and a partition panel having an end rigidly secured to the inner peripheral wall of the carbonic acid gas pressure container and the opposite end extending close to the bottom of the mixing vessel so that the produced carbonated water passes through the gap between the partition panel and the peripheral wall of the mixing vessel and overflows the peripheral wall to flow down through the gap between the inner wall of the carbonic acid gas pressure container and the peripheral wall of the mixing vessel to the bottom of the carbonic acid gas pressure container.

2. An apparatus for manufacturing carbonated water according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral wall of the mixing vessel extends downward beyond the bottom of the mixing vessel.

3. An apparatus for manufacturing carbonated water according to claim 1, wherein water is discharged from the spray with a pressure higher than the predetermined pressure of carbonic acid gas in the carbonic acid gas pressure container by more than 3 Kg/cm².

4. An apparatus for manufacturing carbonated water according to claim 1, wherein a water level control sensor is arranged in the carbonic acid gas pressure container to detect the level of the carbonated water in the pressure container and produce a signal representing the level in order to control the water supply pump of the apparatus by referring to the upper limit water level, the lower limit water level and the critical water level for carbonated water.