Device and method for the intermittent impregnation and output of drinking water

• US 8,641,018 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2008
• Issued: 02/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biologic GmbH, Gerrit Sonnenrein
• Original Assignee: SUTO GmbH & Biologic Gesellschaft mbH
• Inventors: Sonnenrein, Gerrit
• Primary Examiner(s): Hopkins, Robert A
• Application Number:
  US12/674,608
• Publication Number:
  US 20110177201A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,993 Days
• Field of Search: 261/76, 261/77, 261/119.1, 992/75
• US Class Current: 261/76
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 2/54 Mixing with gases
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2035/98 Cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/1805 Kitchen, household equipment for mixing
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/2362 for aerating or carbonating within receptacles or tanks, e.g. distribution machines B01F23/2361 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/2363 Mixing systems, i.e. flow charts or diagrams; Arrangements, e.g. comprising controlling means
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/237621 in beverages
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/23 Mixing by intersecting jets
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2209 Controlling the mixing process as a whole, i.e. involving a complete monitoring and controlling of the mixing process during the whole mixing cycle
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2211 Amount of delivered fluid during a period

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and an associated device for intermittently enriching and dispersing drinking water with gases, particularly CO₂ and/or O₂, wherein the water is supplied to a mixing device (5) by means of a miniature pump (3), particularly an electromagnetic oscillating piston pump with a low supply volume and the greater throughput volume required for the tap process is realized by the gas flowing into the mixing device (5).

Claims

1. A device for the continuous enrichment and intermittent output of drinking water with gases, in particular CO₂ and/or O₂, comprising;

a mixing unit having connections respectively to a supply line of liquid, a supply line of gas and a tapping line for drawing the enriched drinking water, and

an electromagnetic miniature pump disposed at the liquid supply line to supply liquid to the mixing unit,

a non-return valve disposed at the gas supply line, and

a magnetic valve disposed in the tapping line;

wherein when enriched water is drawn from the tapping line, the magnetic valve is opened and the pump pumps water to restore the water level in the mixing unit where the water is continually enriched with gas residing in the mixing device, wherein the supply of gas is under pressure to a preset value and wherein the mixing unit has a volume that is equal or greater to the tapping volume.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the miniature pump is an electromagnetic piston pump.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the supply volume of the miniature pump is less than the flow through volume during the tapping process.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the tapping line is provided with a flow through volume control for keeping the flow through volume constant.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the magnet valve and the miniature pump are controlled via timer switches.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein in the gas supply line, a pressure reducer is superposed at the nonreturn valve, and adjustable to a change of a saturation degree.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the mixing device is provided with a nozzle body for enlarging a phase contact surface, and an adjacent mixing chamber.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the nozzle body has a nozzle ring gap and a gas injection nozzle disposed centrally to the nozzle ring gap.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising a water supply manually fillable and/or via the water line from which the water is supplied to the mixing device by means of the miniature pump via the liquid supply.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein a filter element is provided for a water storage or the water supply formed by the water supply line.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the mixing device is provided with a cooling unit.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the cooling unit is disposed in the tapping line.