EP0488586A2 - Karbonisierungssystem - Google Patents

Karbonisierungssystem Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0488586A2
EP0488586A2 EP91310731A EP91310731A EP0488586A2 EP 0488586 A2 EP0488586 A2 EP 0488586A2 EP 91310731 A EP91310731 A EP 91310731A EP 91310731 A EP91310731 A EP 91310731A EP 0488586 A2 EP0488586 A2 EP 0488586A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
tank
soda
water
pressure
source
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP91310731A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0488586A3 (en
Inventor
Joseph W. Shannon
Thomas S. Green
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ABC/TECHCORP Inc
Original Assignee
ABC/TECHCORP Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by ABC/TECHCORP Inc filed Critical ABC/TECHCORP Inc
Publication of EP0488586A2 publication Critical patent/EP0488586A2/de
Publication of EP0488586A3 publication Critical patent/EP0488586A3/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
    • B67D1/04—Apparatus utilising compressed air or other gas acting directly or indirectly on beverages in storage containers
    • B67D1/0406—Apparatus utilising compressed air or other gas acting directly or indirectly on beverages in storage containers with means for carbonating the beverage, or for maintaining its carbonation
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F23/00—Mixing according to the phases to be mixed, e.g. dispersing or emulsifying
    • B01F23/20—Mixing gases with liquids
    • B01F23/23—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids
    • B01F23/236—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids specially adapted for aerating or carbonating beverages
    • B01F23/2362—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids specially adapted for aerating or carbonating beverages for aerating or carbonating within receptacles or tanks, e.g. distribution machines
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F23/00—Mixing according to the phases to be mixed, e.g. dispersing or emulsifying
    • B01F23/20—Mixing gases with liquids
    • B01F23/23—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids
    • B01F23/236—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids specially adapted for aerating or carbonating beverages
    • B01F23/2363—Mixing systems, i.e. flow charts or diagrams; Arrangements, e.g. comprising controlling means
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F35/00—Accessories for mixers; Auxiliary operations or auxiliary devices; Parts or details of general application
    • B01F35/20—Measuring; Control or regulation

Definitions

  • the invention herein resides in the art of beverage dispensers and, more particularly, to a carbonation system to be employed therewith. More specifically, the invention relates to a carbonation system absent floats or soda level sensors, and in which control of replenishment of water in the carbonation tank is achieved solely by monitoring the pressure head within the tank.
  • liquid level controls have typically been employed to signal the need for adding water to the tank.
  • liquid level control units such as floats or sensor probes have been employed for this purpose.
  • Such prior art tanks typically have a significantly large pressure head space to minimize head compression and resulting restrictions on refill cycles. For example, two gallon tanks often have one gallon of head space when the tank is "full,” allowing for only one gallon of soda. The tank then enters a refill cycle when the soda level has dropped to about a half of a gallon, providing a gallon and a half of head space.
  • Such necessary head space is not only wasteful, but provides for a high pressure head on the refill cycle which does not lower until some dispensing from the recharge tank has been undertaken. Accordingly, the flow from the soda tank is not constant, but takes place under an elevated pressure head on the initial dispensing cycles after refill. Further, such prior art carbonation tanks often found the user with but a half gallon of soda at the commencement of a heavy use period.
  • Liquid level controls such as sensor probes and floats create maintenance problems because of the operating environment in which they are found. Sediment build up on such devices is not at all uncommon and, to varying degrees, the same have been found to be somewhat unreliable in use. While the sensor probes are found to be far more reliable than floats, they still result in a system which is liquid level dependent, and not refilled or replenished on a basis of fluctuations in the pressure head.
  • Another aspect of the invention is to provide a carbonation system which does not rely upon probe switches within the carbonation tank to control the refilling or recycling thereof.
  • Yet another aspect of the invention is the provision of a carbonation system in which the CO2 pressure head within the carbonation tank remains substantially constant over time, and in which recycling or refilling of the carbonation tank is achieved as a function of changes sensed in the pressure head, not in liquid levels.
  • Still a further aspect of the invention is to provide a carbonation system in which a motor driving water to the carbonation tank is actuated only when the soda within the tank is unsaturated or when a dispensing cycle is engaged.
  • Yet an additional aspect of the invention is the provision of a carbonation system in which the refilling and recharging of the carbonation tank occurs as a function of changes in head pressure within the tank, and not as a function of liquid levels.
  • Still an additional aspect of the invention is the provision of a carbonation system which is substantially unaffected by temperature changes, assuring full saturation of CO2 gas within the carbonated water, independent of ambient conditions.
  • Yet an additional aspect of the invention is the provision of a carbonation tank which is reliable and durable in operation, inexpensive to construct and maintain, and conducive to implementation with state of the art elements.
  • a carbonator for generating soda comprising: a tank having a supply of soda beneath a pressure head of CO2 gas; a source of water communicating with said tank; a source of carbon dioxide gas communicating with said tank; and switch means interposed between said tank and said source of water for introducing water from said source of water into said tank when said pressure head drops below a particular level.
  • a carbonator comprising: a tank maintaining a reservoir of soda beneath a pressure head of CO2 gas; pump means for pumping water into said tank; a source of carbon dioxide gas in communication with said tank; and a pressure switch interposed between said pump means and said pressure head, said pressure switch activating said pump means when said pressure head drops below a first level, and deactivating said pump means when said pressure head exceeds a second level.
  • a soda generator comprising: a tank having a supply of soda beneath a pressure head of CO2 gas; a source of water communicating with said tank; a source of CO2 gas communicating with said tank; a dispensing valve communicating with said tank for dispensing soda therefrom; and control means interposed between said dispensing valve and said source of water for actuating said dispensing valve to dispense soda from said tank and to pass water from said source of water to said tank.
  • a carbonation system is designated generally by the numeral 10.
  • the system 10 employs a carbonation tank or soda tank 12, which may be of any suitable construction, but is preferably a sealed vessel of stainless steel construction.
  • the tank 12 maintains a reservoir of carbonated water or soda 14 beneath a pressure head 16 of carbon dioxide (CO2) gas.
  • CO2 carbon dioxide
  • the soda is generated by entraining CO2 gas in water, or otherwise saturating the water with the gas.
  • An output conduit 18 communicates with the reservoir of soda 14 at one end thereof, and terminates at a dispensing head 20 of a soft drink dispenser at the other.
  • a dispensing valve 21 such as a solenoid valve or the like, is positioned within the conduit 18 to initiate and terminate the flow of soda from the reservoir 14 out of the dispensing head 20.
  • the flow of soda is achieved by the force imparted by the pressure head 16 thereupon.
  • a water source 22 such as a municipal water supply or the like, communicates through an input conduit 24 to a high pressure water pump 26 of suitable nature.
  • a high pressure water pump suitable for the intended purposes of the invention can be either a diaphragm, vane, bag-in-box, positive displacement, or other type of pump capable of forcing water through an output conduit 28.
  • the output conduit 28 communicates with a spray nozzle 30 maintained within the tank 12 at the top thereof.
  • a pressure regulated source of CO2 gas 32 is also provided as part of the system 10. While the source of CO2 gas 32 may be maintained at any of various pressures, for purposes of the preferred embodiment presented herein, it is presented that the source 32 provides CO2 gas under a pressure head of 90 psi.
  • the CO2 gas passes from the source 32 through a conduit 34 and thence through a spray nozzle 36 also maintained within the tank 12 at the top thereof as shown.
  • a conduit 38 communicates with the conduit 34 to communicate the pressure of the pressure head 16 to a pressure switch 40.
  • the pressure switch 40 is interconnected between an electrical voltage power source 42 and the pump 26.
  • the pressure switch 40 will be set to switch “on” at 95 psi, and to switch “off” at 125 psi.
  • the pump 26 will be turned on to pump water from the water source or municipal supply 22 through the conduit 28 and nozzle 30 and into the tank 12. Such pumping action will continue until the pressure head 16 reaches the level of 125 psi, at which time the switch 40 will turn the motor 26 off.
  • a check valve 44 is associated with the pressure regulated source of CO2 gas 32 before the junction of the conduits 38, 34.
  • the check valve 44 prevents any back flow to the source 32 when the pressure head 16 is greater than the pressure regulated source 32.
  • the operation of the instant invention will be discussed below, premised upon the provision that the source 32 provides CO2 gas at 90 psi and the pressure switch 40 is operative to actuate upon sensing 95 psi in the conduit 38, and deactivated upon sensing a pressure in such conduit of 125 psi or greater.
  • the pressure head 16 is at 125 psi.
  • the solenoid valve 21 is opened such that the pressure head 16 urges soda from the reservoir 14 through the conduit 18 and out of the dispensing head 20.
  • the pressure head 16 sharply drops and, upon reaching the level of 95 psi, the switch 40 actuates the pump 26, passing water through the conduit 28 and nozzle 30 into the tank 12.
  • CO2 gas is emitted from the nozzle 36 and absorbed by the water injected via the nozzle 30 and by the soda within the reservoir 14. The CO2 gas also serves to replenish the head 16.
  • the dispensing valve 21 closes. Water continues to be driven by the pump 26 through the nozzle 30, and CO2 gas continues to be emitted through the nozzle 36, until the rising level of liquid within the tank 12 causes the head 16 to reach 125 psi, as sensed by the pressure switch 40. At that time, the switch 40 deactivates the motor 26 and the tank 12 takes a quiescent saturated state with a reservoir of soda 14 having a pressure head 16 of CO2 gas maintained thereabove on the order of 125 psi. Upon actuation of the dispensing valve 21, the cycle begins anew.
  • the pump 26, pressure source 32, output conduit 18, and dispensing head 20 are relatively sized and configured such that the rate of flow of soda from the tank 12 and out of the dispensing head 20 is greater than the rate of flow of water into the tank 12 from the pump 26. Accordingly, the pump 26 runs only once during a dispensing cycle. While the concept of the invention may readily extend to systems in which the flow rate of water into the tank 12 exceeds the flow rate of soda therefrom, such an arrangement may result in excessive cycling of the motor 26.
  • the system 10 operates upon the premise of monitoring the pressure head 16 and accordingly refilling the tank 12 with water. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the pressure head 16 is affected by either dispensing of soda by means of actuating the dispensing valve 21, or by the absorption of CO2 gas into the soda 14. Since the most important aspect of attaining and maintaining proper carbonation is to assure that a proper pressure head is maintained upon the soda, the instant invention operates independent of liquid level, operating solely upon the sensing of changes in the pressure head 16.
  • the pressure head 16 is assured of being maintained at a level of at least 95 psi, for when the head 16 drops below that level, the pressure switch 40 activates the pump 26 to introduce additional water into the tank 12, decreasing the volume of the head 16, thereby increasing the magnitude of the pressure head.
  • cycling of the carbonation system 10 may be time controlled, or controlled by combined functions of time and pressure.
  • a microprocessor or suitable control unit 46 may be interposed between the dispensing valve 21, pump 26, and pressure switch 40. Such interconnection gives rise to a number of operational modes.
  • the duration of actuation of the pump 26 can readily be determined and controlled by the control unit 46 as a function of the duration of actuation of the valve 21 for the dispensing cycle.
  • the period of actuation of the pump 26 is so related to the period of actuation of the valve 21 to assure that the volume of water into the tank 12 is equal to the volume of soda dispensed therefrom during the dispensing cycle. In such a system, actuation of the pump 26 will typically be subsequent to actuation of the valve 21.
  • the system 10 may operate on a combination of time and pressure controls.
  • the pump 26 may be actuated by the control unit 46 upon actuation of the valve 21, or a short time thereafter. Upon closure of the valve 21 at the end of the dispensing cycle, the pump 26 may continue to introduce water into the tank 12 until the pressure head 16 reaches the high threshold of 125 psi as discussed above. At such time, the pressure switch 40, either directly or through the control unit 46, terminates operation of the pump 26.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Non-Alcoholic Beverages (AREA)
EP19910310731 1990-11-27 1991-11-21 Carbonation system Withdrawn EP0488586A3 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US61838290A 1990-11-27 1990-11-27
US618382 1990-11-27

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0488586A2 true EP0488586A2 (de) 1992-06-03
EP0488586A3 EP0488586A3 (en) 1993-02-24

Family

ID=24477469

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19910310731 Withdrawn EP0488586A3 (en) 1990-11-27 1991-11-21 Carbonation system

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0488586A3 (de)
JP (1) JPH06114251A (de)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1998007122A1 (en) * 1996-08-08 1998-02-19 Shemuel Amitai A water carbonating device
WO1998029328A1 (en) * 1996-12-26 1998-07-09 Frank Jimmy I A method and apparatus for monitoring and controlling the amount of liquid in a mixing chamber
EP0976441A1 (de) * 1998-07-31 2000-02-02 Emmetre S.r.l. Vorrichtung für die Belüftung von Wasser, Getränken und Flüssigkeiten im allgemeinem.
WO2001003817A1 (en) * 1999-06-22 2001-01-18 Atchison Investments Limited Water carbonator
EP1118276A2 (de) * 2000-01-20 2001-07-25 Linde Gas Aktiengesellschaft Vorrichtung zur Imprägnierung von Flüssigkeiten mit einem Gas
EP1503263A2 (de) * 2003-07-31 2005-02-02 Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG Verfahren zur Regelung des Kopfdrucks in einem mit Flüssigkeit gefüllten Behälter
EP1892214A1 (de) * 2006-07-28 2008-02-27 Asset S.r.l. Vorrichtung zur Behandlung und Verteilung von Getränken, insbesondere Wasser
WO2018183477A1 (en) 2017-03-28 2018-10-04 Flow Control Llc. Gas/liquid infusion system with intelligent level management and adjustable absorption output
CN109640692A (zh) * 2016-08-30 2019-04-16 百事可乐公司 用于碳酸软饮料设备的低压碳酸化

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2371431A (en) * 1942-09-01 1945-03-13 Pietro Carmelo V Di Beverage dispensing apparatus
US4632275A (en) * 1984-09-21 1986-12-30 Parks Charles K Palatability stabilizer
US4882097A (en) * 1988-09-06 1989-11-21 Abc/Sebrn Tech Corp. Carbonation system

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2371431A (en) * 1942-09-01 1945-03-13 Pietro Carmelo V Di Beverage dispensing apparatus
US4632275A (en) * 1984-09-21 1986-12-30 Parks Charles K Palatability stabilizer
US4882097A (en) * 1988-09-06 1989-11-21 Abc/Sebrn Tech Corp. Carbonation system

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1998007122A1 (en) * 1996-08-08 1998-02-19 Shemuel Amitai A water carbonating device
WO1998029328A1 (en) * 1996-12-26 1998-07-09 Frank Jimmy I A method and apparatus for monitoring and controlling the amount of liquid in a mixing chamber
AU731434B2 (en) * 1996-12-26 2001-03-29 Jimmy I. Frank A method and apparatus for monitoring and controlling the amount of liquid in a mixing chamber
EP0976441A1 (de) * 1998-07-31 2000-02-02 Emmetre S.r.l. Vorrichtung für die Belüftung von Wasser, Getränken und Flüssigkeiten im allgemeinem.
WO2001003817A1 (en) * 1999-06-22 2001-01-18 Atchison Investments Limited Water carbonator
EP1118276A2 (de) * 2000-01-20 2001-07-25 Linde Gas Aktiengesellschaft Vorrichtung zur Imprägnierung von Flüssigkeiten mit einem Gas
EP1118276A3 (de) * 2000-01-20 2003-07-23 Linde AG Vorrichtung zur Imprägnierung von Flüssigkeiten mit einem Gas
EP1503263A3 (de) * 2003-07-31 2005-12-28 Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG Verfahren zur Regelung des Kopfdrucks in einem mit Flüssigkeit gefüllten Behälter
EP1503263A2 (de) * 2003-07-31 2005-02-02 Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG Verfahren zur Regelung des Kopfdrucks in einem mit Flüssigkeit gefüllten Behälter
EP1892214A1 (de) * 2006-07-28 2008-02-27 Asset S.r.l. Vorrichtung zur Behandlung und Verteilung von Getränken, insbesondere Wasser
CN109640692A (zh) * 2016-08-30 2019-04-16 百事可乐公司 用于碳酸软饮料设备的低压碳酸化
CN109640692B (zh) * 2016-08-30 2023-11-10 百事可乐公司 用于碳酸软饮料设备的低压碳酸化
WO2018183477A1 (en) 2017-03-28 2018-10-04 Flow Control Llc. Gas/liquid infusion system with intelligent level management and adjustable absorption output
CN110621610A (zh) * 2017-03-28 2019-12-27 流量控制有限责任公司 具有智能液位管理和可调整的吸收输出的气体/液体灌输系统
EP3601147A4 (de) * 2017-03-28 2021-01-06 Flow Control LLC. Gas/flüssigkeitsinfusionssystem mit intelligentem pegelmanagement und einstellbarer absorptionsleistung
US11266956B2 (en) 2017-03-28 2022-03-08 Flow Control LLC Gas/liquid infusion system with intelligent level management and adjustable absorption output
CN110621610B (zh) * 2017-03-28 2022-04-12 流量控制有限责任公司 具有智能液位管理和可调整的吸收输出的气体/液体灌输系统

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0488586A3 (en) 1993-02-24
JPH06114251A (ja) 1994-04-26

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