Carbonated and non-carbonated water source and water pressure booster

• US 6,394,311 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2001
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: McCann's Engineering & Manufacturing Company LLC (Ali Holding Srl)
• Original Assignee: McCann's Engineering & Manufacturing Company LLC (Ali Holding Srl)
• Inventors: Verley, Donald, McCann, Gerald P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kaufman, Joseph A.
• Application Number:
  US09/800,452
• Publication Number:
  US 20010013522A1
• Time in Patent Office: 448 Days
• Field of Search: 222/61,64,129.1,129.2,129.3,129.4,399 261/DIG. 7
• US Class Current: 222/61
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0009 the beverage being stored in an intermediate container connected to a supply
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/045 using elastic bags and pistons actuated by air or other gas
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 261/07 Carbonators

Abstract

Disclosed is a water pressure booster apparatus which can be employed for the dispensing of beverages. The booster can be combined as a carbonator and water pressure booster apparatus for holding both carbonated and non-carbonated water at elevated pressures, for the dispensing of carbonated and non-carbonated beverages. The apparatus has a tank including a tank chamber with a booster chamber therein. The two chambers are separated by a flexible membrane such that the elevated pressure is essentially the same in the two chambers. The booster chamber is removable through an access port in the tank. A valve provides inlet water to the tank chamber and the booster chamber. The location of the membrane controls the valve between charging of the two chambers. The valve is a spool valve with one end coupled to the membrane. The quantities of water in the two chambers controls activation of a pump which provides charging water to the chambers.

Claims

1. A water source for a beverage dispenser, comprising:

a tank defining a first chamber and an access port, the first chamber including a first inlet;

a second chamber in the tank and including a second inlet, a flexible membrane and a closure element, the flexible membrane sealing the second chamber from the first inlet, the second chamber being in communication with the second inlet through the access port, the closure element being positionable in sealing engagement with the access port, the second chamber having a first configuration allowing insertion and withdrawal from the tank through the access port;

a source of pressurized carbonating gas in communication with the first inlet.

2. The water source of claim 1, the second chamber further including an outlet extending through the closure element, the closure element being removable from the tank with the second chamber, including the second inlet and the outlet.

3. The water source of claim 1 further comprising

a source of pressurized water;

a valve assembly in communication with the second inlet and the source of pressurized water.

4. The water source of claim 3, the valve assembly including a first position with no communication between the source of pressurized water and the second inlet and a second position with communication between the source of pressurized water and the second inlet.

9. The water source of claim 3, the source of pressurized water including a pump and a motor coupled with the shaft of the pump.

10. The water source of claim 1, the membrane being a bladder having a circular opening sealed with the closure.

5. A water source for a beverage dispenser, comprising:

a tank defining a first chamber and an access port, the first chamber includes a first inlet;

a second chamber in the tank and including a second inlet, a flexible membrane and a closure element, the flexible membrane sealing the second chamber from the first inlet, the second chamber being in communication with the second inlet through the access port, the closure element being positionable in sealing engagement with the access port, the second chamber having a first configuration allowing insertion and withdrawl from the tank through the access port;

a source of pressurized carbonating gas in communication with the first inlet;

a source of pressurized water;

a valve assembly in communication with the second inlet and the source of pressurized water, the valve assembly including a first position with no communication between the source of pressurized water and the second inlet and a second position with communication between the source of pressurized water and the second inlet, the valve assembly being operatively coupled with the membrane, one of the first and second positions being with the membrane extended into the tank and the other of first and second positions being with the membrane contracted within the tank.

6. The water source of claim 5, the valve assembly including a bore and a valve in the bore, the source of pressurized water including an inlet port to the bore, the second inlet being in communication with the bore.

7. A water source for a beverage dispenser, comprising:

a tank defining a first chamber and an access port, the first chamber including a first inlet;

a second chamber in the tank and including a second inlet, a flexible membrane and a closure element, the flexible membrane sealing the second chamber from the first inlet, the second chamber being in communication with the second inlet through the access port, the closure element being positionable in sealing engagement with the access port, the second chamber having a first configuration allowing insertion and withdrawal from the tank through the access port;

a source of pressurized carbonating gas in communication with the first inlet;

a source of pressurized water;

a valve assembly in communication with the second inlet and the source of pressurized water, the valve assembly including a first position with no communication between the source of pressurized water and the second inlet and a second position with communication between the source of pressurized water and the second inlet, the valve assmebly being operatively coupled with the membrane, one of the first and second positions being with the membrane extended into the tank and the other of first and second positions being with the membrane contracted within the tank, the valve assembly including a bore and a valve in the bore, the source of pressurized water including an inlet port to the bore, the second inlet being in communication with the bore;

a membrane position switch having a membrane extended position and a membrane contracted position, the source of pressurized water including a first state with the water pressure above the gas pressure of the source of pressurized gas when the membrane position switch is in the membrane contracted position, the second inlet being in communication with the bore between the membrane and the inlet port.

8. The water source of claim 7, the other end of the valve being rigidly coupled to the center of the membrane.