JP2011092895A - Aerated water generator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an aerated water generator capable of saving spacing for installation and easily producing aerated water with a simple handling. <P>SOLUTION: The aerated water generator includes: a pressurized container into which a compressed carbon dioxide gas is introduced through a gas introducing tube connected with carbon dioxide sources such as a carbon dioxide bottle, in which the carbon dioxide gas is dissolved in a cold water with its gas pressure to produce the aerated water, and which can inject the aerated water outside the container with the gas pressure; a cooling water tank that accommodates a fixed amount of water from an ice or water source; a communicating tube where the cold water tank and pressurized container whose bottoms are each connected; and an exhaust gas capillary in which while its one end is opened to a place where there is a gaseous portion inside the pressurized container, the other end is opened to a place where there is a cold water inside the cold water tank, wherein the ice and water are stirred with a part of the compressed carbon dioxide gas inside the pressurized container discharged through the exhaust gas capillary. It is preferable that the pressurized container is provided inside the cold water tank, and it is more preferable that the bottoms of both are configured flush. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an apparatus for generating carbonated water by dissolving carbon dioxide gas in cold water by pressure in a pressure vessel, and relates to a configuration that is controlled by the gas pressure of carbon dioxide gas from supplying water to dispensing of carbonated water. It is.

  As an apparatus for generating carbonated water by pressurizing carbon dioxide gas after supplying cold water to a pressure vessel, for example, techniques disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 are known.

JP 2008-188577 A JP 2007-771 A

  Since the conventional carbonated water generating apparatus exemplified above uses a pump when supplying water to the pressure vessel or pouring out the generated carbonated water, the entire apparatus becomes large and takes up space for installation. Therefore, not only was it not possible to meet the desire to make carbonated water with a simple device at home, but it was difficult to introduce even small restaurants.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a carbonated water generator that can easily generate carbonated water by a simple operation without taking an installation place. It is to be.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, in the present invention, compressed carbon dioxide gas is introduced through a gas introduction pipe connected to a carbon dioxide gas source such as a carbon dioxide gas cylinder, and carbon dioxide gas is dissolved in cold water by the gas pressure to generate carbonated water. , A pressure vessel capable of pouring the carbonated water out of the vessel by the gas pressure, a cold water tank containing a fixed amount of water from ice and a water source, and a communication connecting the cold water tank and the bottom of the pressure vessel A pipe, and an exhaust thin tube having one end opened in the gas phase portion in the pressure vessel and the other end opened in the cold water in the cold water tank, and the pressure vessel in the pressure vessel discharged through the exhaust thin tube A means of jetting a part of the compressed carbon dioxide gas to a cold water tank and stirring the ice and the water in the cold water tank was used.

  In the present invention, cold water is generated by ice and water in the cold water tank. And the cold water produced | generated by the cold water tank is supplied to a pressure vessel through a communicating pipe. Therefore, it is possible to naturally supply cold water to the pressure vessel regardless of forced supply means such as a pump. In addition, since the communicating pipe in this invention connects the bottom parts of a cold water tank and a pressure vessel, it can be comprised by the U-shaped reverse siphon most typically. On the other hand, the exhaust thin tube escapes a part of the gas phase in the pressure vessel to the outside. When supplying the cold water described above, the water pressure in the cold water tank and the pressure vessel is in equilibrium, and the gas phase in the pressure vessel is kept until the water levels coincide. A part is allowed to be exhausted. In addition, this exhaust tubule jets a part of the compressed carbon dioxide gas during carbonated water generation or carbonated water discharge to the cold water in the cold water tank and stirs the ice and water. Generate. In addition, this stirring action avoids a temperature deviation of the cold water in the cold water tank, and low temperature cold water having a uniform temperature distribution is stored. Of course, if an agitator or a pump is used in combination, the temperature deviation of the cold water can be avoided more reliably.

  Moreover, by providing the pressure vessel so as to be immersed in the cold water in the cold water tank, the entire apparatus can be made compact, and the cold water in the cold water tank acts as a refrigerant, and the pressure vessel is cooled to cooler carbonated water. Can be generated.

  Regardless of whether or not the pressure vessel is installed inside the cold water tank, the cold water can be supplied more smoothly by the communication pipe by configuring the two bottoms to be flush with each other.

  Moreover, by providing a check valve in the pipe line of the communication pipe, it is possible to prevent the cold water or carbonated water in the pressure vessel from flowing back into the cold water tank. In particular, by providing an electromagnetic valve in the pipe line of the communication pipe instead of the check valve, it is possible to more reliably prevent the backflow of air and carbon dioxide gas as well as the above-described backflow of cold water.

  Further, carbon dioxide gas is introduced into two pipes, a gas introduction pipe for generating carbonated water having one end opened in cold water in the pressure vessel and a gas introduction pipe for discharging carbonated water having one end opened in the gas phase portion in the pressure vessel. By connecting to a source, carbonated water can be more reliably generated and carbonated water can be poured out.

  According to the present invention, since the cold water in the cold water tank is naturally supplied to the pressure vessel by the communication pipe, the apparatus can be simplified and miniaturized without using forced water supply means such as a pump. In addition, since a part of the gas phase of the pressure vessel is exhausted by the exhaust thin tube, the natural water supply can be more reliably performed using the exhaust gas, and the ice and water can be stirred to lower the temperature suitable for carbonated beverages. Of carbonated water (cold water) can be produced. Furthermore, since a part of the compressed carbon dioxide gas is discharged by the exhaust thin tube, it is possible to easily generate fine carbonated water that is particularly suitable for alcoholic carbonated beverages such as highballs and strawberries.

  Further, in the configuration in which the pressure vessel is built in the cold water tank, the entire apparatus becomes more compact, and introduction into a small store or home becomes easy. In addition, if the bottom of the pressure vessel is fitted to a part of the bottom of the cold water tank so that both the bottoms are flush with each other, the difference in height between the cold water tank and the pressure vessel is eliminated, and the communication pipe is smoother. Through this, cold water can be supplied. Furthermore, by providing a check valve or solenoid valve in the pipe line of the communication pipe, the backflow of cold water or the like from the pressure vessel to the cold water tank is prevented, the safety of the device is increased, and high-purity carbonic acid is added. Water can be generated.

The circuit diagram which showed the whole carbonated water production | generation apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention Same (automatic water supply process to cold water tank) Same (natural water supply process to pressure vessel) Same (carbonated water generation process) Same (carbonated water pouring process) Circuit diagram showing another embodiment in which two pressure vessels are provided in parallel

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows an overall circuit diagram of a carbonated water generating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 is a cold water tank and 2 is a pressure vessel. The cold water tank 1 has a predetermined volume (for example, for 5 to 6 glasses) that simultaneously contains ice and water, and has an opening / closing lid 1a for preventing entry of dust and the like and splashing of water at the upper surface opening. . In addition, a fixed amount of water is introduced into the cold water tank 1 through a water supply pipe 3 that can be connected to a water pipe through an appropriate joint (both not shown). As a configuration for introducing a fixed amount of water, an electromagnetic valve V1 is provided in the pipeline of the water supply pipe 3, a water level sensor C is provided in the cold water tank 1, and the water level sensor C detects the set water level of the cold water tank 1. A means for closing the electromagnetic valve V1 can be employed. However, instead of the electromagnetic valve V1 and the water level sensor C, a conventionally known constant water amount means such as an automatic faucet can be adopted.

  In addition, since the opening / closing lid 1a holds the inside and outside of the cold water tank 1 in a sanitary or clean manner as described above, the open / close lid 1a has a structure for sealing the cold water tank 1 except when performing maintenance inside the cold water tank 1. It is preferable to do. Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in the figure, the water supply pipe 3 is provided on the tank body side of the cold water tank 1 so that water can be supplied to the cold water tank 1 with the open / close lid 1a being closed. Further, in order to prevent the opening / closing lid 1a from being opened as much as possible even when ice is charged, it is preferable to provide a small window (not shown) that can be opened and closed on the opening / closing lid 1a or the tank body as a dedicated ice inlet. However, it is not excluded from the present invention to employ the non-sealing type opening / closing lid 1a.

  On the other hand, in the case of this embodiment, the pressure vessel 2 is formed by attaching a sealing lid 2b to the vessel body 2a having an upper opening, and the capacity of the cold water tank 1, the supply amount (pressure) of compressed carbon dioxide gas, etc. However, in this embodiment, the volume is set such that about 1 to 2 glasses of carbonated water enters and the gas phase portion remains on the top.

  The pressure vessel 2 is provided with gas introduction pipes 4 and 5 for introducing compressed carbon dioxide gas from a gas source (not shown) such as a carbon dioxide cylinder and a discharge pipe 6 for pouring the generated carbonated water. One gas introduction pipe 4 extends to the vicinity of the bottom of the pressure vessel 2 so that one end opens into the cold water supplied to the pressure vessel 2, and dissolves carbon dioxide gas in the cold water by the gas pressure of the compressed carbon dioxide gas. is there. The other gas introduction pipe 5 is open at one end in the gas phase portion of the pressure vessel 2 and presses the surface of the carbonated water generated by the gas pressure of the compressed carbon dioxide gas to discharge carbonated water. 6 to pour out to the outside. The dispensing pipe 6 is provided with a dispensing valve V2 composed of a solenoid valve, a cock, etc., and after the carbonated water is generated, the user opens the valve arbitrarily to dispense carbonated water. Is.

  In this embodiment, the gas source and the pressure vessel 2 are connected to each other by adopting two gas introduction pipes 4 and 5 having different lengths inside the pressure vessel 2 and immersed in the cold water in the vessel 2. The longer gas introduction pipe 4 is used for carbonated water generation, and the shorter gas introduction pipe 5 opened in the gas phase portion in the container 2 is used separately for carbonated water extraction. This is because the tip of the gas introduction pipe 4 for generating carbonated water is immersed in cold water to increase the contact area with the cold water and dissolve the carbon dioxide gas in the cold water in a short time.

  However, as for the gas introduction pipe 4 for generating carbonated water, as in the case of the gas introduction pipe 5 for discharging carbonated water, even if the tip is not immersed in cold water and has a length that opens at the gas phase portion, the carbon dioxide gas is converted into cold water. It can be dissolved. In particular, if the area of the cold water level in the pressure vessel 2 (the cross-sectional area of the pressure vessel 2) is sufficiently large, the contact area between the cold water and the carbon dioxide gas increases accordingly. Can be dissolved.

  Therefore, it is possible to omit the gas introduction pipe 4 itself for generating carbonated water and use the gas introduction pipe 5 for discharging carbonated water also for producing carbonated water. However, when carbon dioxide is dissolved, a high pressure (for example, around 9 kg) is required. On the other hand, when carbonated water is poured out, carbonated water will be ejected from the dispensing nozzle unless the pressure is lower than this. Therefore, when one gas introduction pipe is used for both carbonated water generation and carbonated water extraction, carbon dioxide gas is supplied to the pressure vessel 2 by a regulator or the like when carbonated water is generated and when carbonated water is extracted. The pressure shall be changed. Moreover, the gas inlet pipes 4 and 5 are not necessarily introduced from the upper side of the pressure vessel 2, and the piping layout can be changed as appropriate, for example, from the lower side to the pressure vessel 2.

  The basic configuration of the present invention has been described so far, and then the characteristic configuration of the present invention will be described. First, the pressure vessel 2 is provided inside the cold water tank 1. That is, the pressure vessel 2 is configured to be immersed in the cold water in the cold water tank 1. With this configuration, the pressure vessel 2 is cooled by using the cold water in the cold water tank 1 as a refrigerant, and can generate cooler carbonated water.

  Further, the bottom of the pressure vessel 2 is fitted into the bottom of the cold water tank 1 so that the bottoms 1a and 2c of both 1 and 2 are flush with each other (meaning that they are located on the same surface), And these bottom parts 1a and 2c are connected with the U-shaped communicating pipe 7. FIG. The communication pipe 7 forms a water channel from the cold water tank 1 to the pressure vessel 2. In addition, an electromagnetic valve V3 is provided in the pipe line of the communication pipe 7. The solenoid valve V3 is connected to the solenoid valve V1 of the water supply pipe 3 so that the opening and closing thereof are reversed. When the solenoid valve V1 is open during water supply to the cold water tank 1, the solenoid valve V3 is closed. When the operation is completed and the electromagnetic valve V1 is closed, the valve is opened to form a water channel to the pressure vessel 2.

  Further, the pressure vessel 2 is provided with an exhaust thin tube 8 having one end opened in the gas phase portion and the other end opened in the cold water of the cold water tank 1. In addition, although a thin tube escapes (discharges) a part of the air and compressed carbon dioxide in the pressure vessel 2 to the outside, the gas is introduced so that the generation amount of the carbonated water and the discharge are not hindered. This means that the tube has a smaller diameter than the tubes 4 and 5.

  Next, the usage method of the carbonated water generating apparatus having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 shows that ice and a fixed amount of water are supplied to the cold water tank 1, and the electromagnetic valve V1 of the water supply pipe 3 is opened by an appropriate start switch to start water supply to the cold water tank 1, while the water level sensor C The electromagnetic valve V1 is closed by the detection signal to complete the quantitative water supply. During the water supply, the electromagnetic valve V3 of the communication pipe 7 connecting the cold water tank 1 and the pressure vessel 2 is closed.

  When the quantitative water supply is completed and the electromagnetic valve V1 of the water supply pipe 3 is closed, as shown in FIG. 3, the electromagnetic valve V3 of the communication pipe 7 is opened, and cold water is supplied from the cold water tank 1 through the communication pipe 7. Is supplied to the pressure vessel 2. Here, since the inside of the pressure vessel 2 is communicated with the outside air by the exhaust thin tube 8, cold water is supplied from the cold water vessel 1 to the pressure vessel 2 until an equilibrium state where the water levels of the cold water vessel 1 and the pressure vessel 2 are equal. The

  Next, FIG. 4 shows a carbonated water generation step after the cold water supply to the pressure vessel 2 is completed. A compressed carbon dioxide gas of a predetermined pressure is introduced from a gas source through one gas introduction pipe 4 and the gas pressure is increased. Thus, carbon dioxide is dissolved in the cold water in the pressure vessel 2. Since the gas introduction pipe 4 for generating carbonated water has a length to be immersed in the cold water in the pressure vessel 2 and a large number of gas holes are formed in the immersed part, the contact area of the carbon dioxide gas and the cold water is large. Thus, carbon dioxide can be efficiently dissolved in cold water to generate carbonated water.

  Here, a part of the compressed carbon dioxide gas in the pressure vessel 2 is discharged to the outside from the exhaust thin tube 8. However, in the present invention, the ice and water in the cold water tank 1 are agitated using this exhaust gas, and cold water at a lower temperature can be generated next time by the agitation. In other words, the cold water thus stirred is used for the next generation of carbonated water. By sequentially supplying ice and water to the cold water tank 1, low temperature cold water is always stored in the cold water tank 1. Moreover, since the pressure vessel 2 is cooled by this cold water, the carbonated water produced | generated can also be made into low temperature. In this carbonated water generation step, the internal pressure increases due to the gas pressure in the pressure vessel 2, but the electromagnetic valve V <b> 3 of the communication pipe 7 is closed, so that carbonated water, cold water, carbonic acid is introduced from the pressure vessel 2 to the cold water tank 1. Backflow of gas or the like is prevented.

  Finally, FIG. 5 shows a process of pouring the generated carbonated water. The pouring valve V2 is opened, and compressed carbon dioxide gas is introduced from the gas source into the pressure vessel 2 through the other gas introduction pipe 5, By applying the gas pressure to the liquid surface of the carbonated water, the carbonated water in the pressure vessel 2 can be pushed out. Even in this carbonated water pouring process, the electromagnetic valve V3 of the communication pipe 7 is closed, so that there is no backflow described above. In this pouring process, a part of the introduced carbon dioxide gas may be discharged from the exhaust thin tube 8, but the discharge amount is low due to the small pressure of the introduced gas at the time of pouring the carbonated water, and the pipe 6 Is sufficiently smaller than that of the exhaust thin tube 8 and so on, and is smaller than that at the time of carbonated water generation.

  As described above, according to the present invention, cold water can be naturally supplied from the cold water tank 1 to the pressure vessel 2 through the communication pipe 7, and agitation by the compressed carbon dioxide gas that is partially discharged during carbonated water generation or carbonated water extraction. The cold water which becomes the next generation source of carbonated water by the action can be generated at a low temperature. Moreover, since the pressure vessel 2 is built in the cold water tank 1, the pressure vessel 2 is kept at a low temperature by the cold water in the cold water tank 1, and cold carbonated water can be generated, which also contributes to downsizing of the entire apparatus.

  However, as will be enumerated below, the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the embodiment described above. First, the pressure vessel 2 of the cold water tank 1 is changed by slightly changing the piping mode of the communication pipe 7 and the exhaust thin pipe 8. It can also be provided outside, and the layout of both 1 and 2 is not limited to this embodiment. Further, if cold water can be supplied from the cold water tank 1 to the pressure vessel 2 by the siphon phenomenon, the layout can be made so that a difference in height occurs between the bottoms of the cold water tank 1 and the pressure vessel 2. Furthermore, in order to improve the product appearance, it is of course possible to separately accommodate the apparatus in a housing, and the drawings only conceptually illustrate the apparatus of the present invention.

  On the other hand, in order to stir water and ice in the cold water tank 1, an agitator that rotates an impeller by a motor or a water flow pump can be used in combination. Further, when such forced stirring means is used in combination, it is possible to obtain a stirring action of ice and water in the cold water tank 1 by this means. The configuration for that purpose is realized by providing an on-off valve in the middle of the exhaust thin tube 8 and closing the on-off valve when gas is introduced from the gas introduction pipe 4, that is, when carbonated water is generated. And by shutting off the conduction of the exhaust thin tube 8 in this way, the pressure vessel 2 is completely sealed when carbonated water is generated, so that the carbon dioxide gas can be dissolved in the cold water in a shorter time. become.

  In addition, in order to supply a fixed amount of water from the cold water tank 1 to the pressure vessel 2, a water level sensor is provided at an appropriate location in the pressure vessel 2, and an electromagnetic valve in the conduit of the communication pipe 7 is detected by a detection signal of the sensor. It is also possible to control opening and closing of V3. In this case, the combination of the water level sensor and the electromagnetic valve can be replaced with a float type constant water level valve that opens and closes by floating of the float provided in the pressure vessel.

  Furthermore, in order to increase the production capacity of carbonated water, as shown in FIG. 6, two pressure vessels 2 and 2 ′ are arranged in parallel with the cold water tank 1 sharing the gas source and the extraction pipe 6. And a water faucet 11 that can switch the water path from the cold water tank 1 to the pressure vessel 2 or 2 ′ is provided at the supply branch with the cold water tank 1. It is also possible to configure so that cold water is alternately supplied to the pressure vessels 2 and 2 '.

1 Cold water tank 2 Pressure vessel 3 Water supply pipe 4 Gas introduction pipe (for carbonated water generation)
5 Gas introduction pipe (for carbonated water extraction)
6 Extraction pipe 7 Communication pipe 8 Exhaust narrow pipe

Claims (6)

Compressed carbon dioxide gas is introduced through a gas introduction pipe connected to a carbon dioxide gas source such as a carbon dioxide gas cylinder, and carbon dioxide is dissolved in cold water by the gas pressure to generate carbonated water. The carbonated water is removed from the container by the gas pressure. A pressure vessel that can be dispensed; a cold water tank that contains a fixed amount of water from ice and a water source; a communication pipe that connects the bottom of each of the cold water tank and the pressure vessel; one end of the gas phase in the pressure vessel An exhaust thin tube having an opening at the other end and an opening at the other end of the cold water in the cold water bath, and a portion of the compressed carbon dioxide gas in the pressure vessel discharged through the exhaust thin tube. A carbonated water generator characterized by stirring the ice and the water. The carbonated water generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressure vessel is provided so as to be immersed in the cold water in the cold water tank. The carbonated water generator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bottom of the pressure vessel and the cold water tank are flush with each other. The carbonated water generating apparatus according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein a check valve is provided in a pipe line of the communication pipe. The carbonated water generating device according to claim 4, wherein an electromagnetic valve is provided instead of the check valve in the pipe line of the communication pipe. A carbon dioxide gas source is composed of a gas introduction pipe for generating carbonated water having one end opened in cold water in the pressure vessel and a gas introduction pipe for extracting carbonated water having one end opened in a gas phase portion in the pressure vessel. The carbonated water generating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which is connected.

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