Apparatus for manufacturing carbonated water

• US 5,958,307 A
• Filed: 03/26/1998
• Issued: 09/28/1999
• 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): Chiesa, Richard L.
• Application Number:
  US09/047,931
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• Field of Search: 261/27, 261/119.1, 261/115, 261/DIG. 7, 239/462, 239/504, 239/524, 239/518
• US Class Current: 261/115
• 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 a 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 comprising:

a spray for introducing water drops into the carbonic acid gas pressure container; and

a cylindrical guide for atomizing the water drops introduced by said spray, said cylindrical guide including;

an end rigidly secured to a front end of said spray,

an open opposite end for directing water drops discharged from said spray into said pressure container and mixing said water drops with water already contained in said pressure container, and

an inner wall surface upon which the water drops from said spray are collided and reduced in size, said water drops being reflected from said inner wall surface such that they collide with each other and experience a further reduction in size;

said spray and said cylindrical guide being totally disposed within an upper portion of the carbonic acid gas pressure container.

2. An apparatus for manufacturing carbonated water by contact between carbonic acid gas and water introduced into a carbonic acid gas pressure container, said apparatus comprising:

a spray for introducing water drops into the carbonic acid gas pressure container; and

a cylindrical guide for atomizing the water drops introduced by said spray, said cylindrical guide including;

an end rigidly secured to a front end of said spray,

an open opposite end for directing water drops discharged from said spray into said pressure container and mixing said water drops with water already contained in said pressure container, and

an inner wall surface upon which the water drops from said spray are collided and reduced in size, said water drops being reflected from said inner wall surface such that they collide with each other and experience a further reduction in size;

wherein;

said spray and said cylindrical guide are totally disposed within an upper portion of the carbonic acid gas pressure container, and

said spray includes a hollow interior and a conically converging end.