EP1047624B1 - Apparatus for the delivery of a gassified liquid, and beverage carbonator - Google Patents
Apparatus for the delivery of a gassified liquid, and beverage carbonator Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP1047624B1 EP1047624B1 EP99901015A EP99901015A EP1047624B1 EP 1047624 B1 EP1047624 B1 EP 1047624B1 EP 99901015 A EP99901015 A EP 99901015A EP 99901015 A EP99901015 A EP 99901015A EP 1047624 B1 EP1047624 B1 EP 1047624B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- liquid
- conduit
- chamber
- gas
- beverage carbonator
- 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.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Images
Classifications
-
- 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
- B67D1/0042—Details of specific parts of the dispensers
- B67D1/0057—Carbonators
- B67D1/0069—Details
- B67D1/0071—Carbonating by injecting CO2 in the liquid
-
- 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
- B67D1/0042—Details of specific parts of the dispensers
- B67D1/0057—Carbonators
Definitions
- This invention relates to beverage carbonators.
- a conventional beverage carbonator comprises a chamber in which the potable liquid is stored, there being provided a space in the chamber above the level of the liquid in which a quantity of pressurised gas, usually carbon dioxide, is maintained, such that a state of equilibrium is achieved whereby the required amount of carbon dioxide is dissolved in the liquid to provide the appropriate degree of carbonation.
- a quantity of pressurised gas usually carbon dioxide
- the liquid is agitated by mechanical means such as an impeller, located towards the bottom of the chamber, so that the liquid may circulate freely and evenly around cooling elements located within the chamber, and also so that the degree of carbonation is substantially even throughout the liquid.
- mechanical means such as an impeller, located towards the bottom of the chamber, so that the liquid may circulate freely and evenly around cooling elements located within the chamber, and also so that the degree of carbonation is substantially even throughout the liquid.
- a beverage carbonator comprising a circuit through which liquid is continuously circulated, the circuit extending through a dispensing head of the carbonator, from which liquid may be selectively withdrawn from the circuit, and a chamber for receiving the liquid and gas, the chamber having a space above the level of the liquid in which a supply of free gas is maintained, and a conduit, forming part of the circuit, which extends into the chamber and passes through said space to a position below said level through which liquid may be fed into the chamber to enter the chamber below the level, the conduit comprising gas inlet means whereby liquid flowing through the conduit entrains gas from said space.
- the beverage carbonator comprises cooling means for liquid in the chamber, where an ice bank may be built up around the inside of the chamber wall.
- the conduit preferably comprises, at or adjacent the gas inlet means, liquid flow restricting means, conveniently in the form of a venturi tube, whereat the area of the conduit through which the liquid passes is reduced, producing a reduction in pressure within the conduit causing gas to be withdrawn from the space above the level of the liquid, and entrained with the liquid flowing through the conduit, and subsequently delivered with the liquid to the chamber at the position below the level.
- liquid flow restricting means conveniently in the form of a venturi tube
- the conduit is so arranged that flow of liquid from the conduit produces agitation of the liquid in the chamber, whereby mixing of the gas and liquid in the chamber may be achieved without the need for mechanical stirring means.
- Preferably additionally means is provided, preferably adjacent to the exit of the conduit, to impart a degree of angular momentum to the liquid flow, which has been found by the applicants to improve the degree of mixing of the gas and liquid within the chamber.
- the conduit is so directed as to produce a flow of liquid from the conduit which has a tangential component.
- conduit extends substantially the full depth of the chamber, such that the gas/liquid mixture is emitted at the bottom of the chamber.
- a removable closure member in the bottom of the chamber, removal of which enables the chamber to be drained, for example during cleaning.
- the closure member when attached to the chamber, may provide an additional cavity into which a lower part of the conduit may extend, such that in use, the gas/liquid mixture is emitted to the inside of the closure member, with the gas/liquid mixture then rising up through the chamber, causing the required agitation.
- guide means adapted to guide the gas/liquid mixture rising from the end of the conduit towards the side wall(s) of the chamber, to enable a relatively uniform distribution of gas bubbles to be achieved within the liquid.
- the guide means is preferably located on or just above the surface of the liquid, and conveniently, is adapted to float on the liquid.
- the guide means may comprise one or more baffles within the chamber.
- the guide means preferably comprises a disc having a generally centrally located hole through which the conduit passes, and conveniently further comprises one or more baffles extending below the disc towards the conduit so as to guide generally upwardly moving gas/liquid away from the conduit, towards an underside of the disc, and eventually towards an outer portion of the disc.
- FIG. 1 a beverage cooler/carbonator generally indicated at 10, comprising an outer side wall 11, separated from an inner side wall 12 by a layer of insulating material 13.
- the inner side wall 12 defines a chamber 14 in which is received a quantity of potable liquid 15, having an upper level 16.
- a quantity of gas in this example carbon dioxide, is maintained in a space 17 above the upper level 16, at a pressure at which equilibrium may be achieved between the gas and the liquid, whereby an appropriate degree of carbonation is maintained in the liquid.
- One or more cooling coils 19 are provided within the chamber 14, whereby an ice bank 20 is built up around the inside of the inner side wall 12.
- the chamber comprises an outlet 21 a through which carbonated liquid may flow around a circuit 22, which re-enters chamber 14 at inlet 21 b .
- a dispensing head 42 ( Figure 2) is located on the circuit 22, from which liquid may be drawn in the use of the apparatus.
- the inlet 21 a is connected to a conduit 23, terminating at an outlet 26 positioned well below the level 16 of the liquid.
- the conduit 23 comprises a gas inlet 25 in the form of an aperture within the conduit, within the space 17 which is linked to a portion 25 a of restricted flow within the conduit, such as the neck of a venturi tube.
- the reduced pressure of the liquid at a position adjacent the gas inlet 25 causes gas within the space 17 to be entrained with the liquid flowing through the conduit and transferred to the body of the liquid in the chamber.
- the conduit, 23 projects into a supplementary chamber 27 provided by a removable cap 24, conveniently attached to the side wall 12 by a screw thread.
- the outlet 26 of the conduit, and/or a surface of the cap 24 against which liquid exiting the conduit impinges may be formed to produce swirling motion of the liquid as it leaves the conduit, particularly imparting to the liquid a tangential component, in order to provide mixing of the liquid within the conduit, and in particular flow thereof to the outer regions thereof, and impingement against the ice bank.
- the cap 24 may thus be removed when it is desired to clean the apparatus.
- a generally disc shaped float 28 conveniently of a plastics material having a density less than that of the gas/liquid mixture (typically carbonated water), which is adapted to slide relative to the conduit 23, so as to follow the level 16 of the liquid.
- the gas/liquid mixture typically carbonated water
- the float 28 has a generally flat underside 29, but is provided with a generally conical baffle 30 which in use guides the flow sideways to enhance the liquid circulation, as shown by the arrows in Figure 1.
- gas bubbles are dispersed generally evenly across the surface of the liquid, and the build up of a foam around a central part of the liquid is removed.
- Figure 2 shows a flow diagram which may be used in the performance of the invention, wherein pump 44 circulates carbonated liquid from the chamber through the continuous circuit 22, which extends through a dispensing head 42 of the carbonator.
- pump 44 circulates carbonated liquid from the chamber through the continuous circuit 22, which extends through a dispensing head 42 of the carbonator.
- a tap of the dispensing head 42 is opened, to allow carbonated liquid to be withdrawn from the circuit, for use.
- the carbonator comprises means to sense the level of liquid in the chamber, and thus as the level falls valve 49 is operated to allow fresh water to be delivered to the chamber, to maintain the level of liquid in the chamber at an optimum level.
- the conduit 48 extending to the supply of uncarbonated liquid, is associated with the chamber 12 in such a way as to avail itself of the cooling capability of the chamber, so that, as fresh water enters the chamber, it is at a temperature not significantly higher than the temperature of the liquid in the chamber, and hence there is minimum tendency for carbon dioxide to be freed from solution.
- cooling means may be provided, to cool water entering the system through the conduit 48.
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Non-Alcoholic Beverages (AREA)
- Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)
Description
Claims (12)
- A beverage carbonator comprising a circuit (22) through which liquid is continuously circulated, the circuit extending through a dispensing head (42) of the carbonator, from which liquid may be selectively withdrawn from the circuit, and a chamber (14) for receiving the liquid and gas, the chamber having a space (17) above the level of the liquid in which a supply of free gas is maintained, and a conduit (23), forming part of the circuit, which extends into the chamber and passes through said space to a position below said level through which liquid may be fed into the chamber to enter the chamber below the level, the conduit comprising gas inlet means (25) whereby liquid flowing through the conduit entrains gas from said space.
- A beverage carbonator according to Claim 1 comprising cooling means (19) for liquid in the chamber, whereby an ice bank (20) is built up around the inside of the chamber wall.
- A beverage carbonator according to any preceding claim wherein the conduit comprises, at or adjacent to the gas inlet means, liquid flow restricting means (25a) whereat the area of the conduit through which the liquid passes is reduced, producing a reduction in pressure in the conduit causing gas to be withdrawn from the space above the level of the liquid, and entrained with the liquid flowing through the conduit.
- A beverage carbonator according to Claim 3 wherein the restricting means (25a) is in the form of a venturi.
- A beverage carbonator according to any preceding claim wherein means (24) is provided to impart a degree of angular momentum to the liquid flow from the conduit (23).
- A beverage carbonator according to any preceding claim wherein the conduit (23) extends into the chamber (14) at a lowermost portion thereof.
- A beverage carbonator according to any preceding claim wherein the chamber is provided with a removable closure member (24) in the base of the chamber.
- A beverage carbonator according to Claim 7 wherein the closure member provides an additional cavity (27) into which a lower part of the conduit extends.
- A beverage carbonator according to any preceding claim comprising guide means (28) adapted to guide the gas/liquid mixture rising from the end of the conduit towards the side walls of the chamber.
- A beverage carbonator according to Claim 9 wherein the guide means is located on or just above the surface of the liquid.
- I A beverage carbonator according to Claim 9 or Claim 10 wherein the guide means comprises one or more baffles (30) within the chamber.
- A beverage carbonator according to any of Claims 9 to 11 wherein the guide means comprises a disc (28) having a generally centrally located hole through which the conduit passes, and one or more baffles (30) extending below the disc towards the conduit to guide generally upwardly moving gas/liquid away from the conduit.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB9800532 | 1998-01-13 | ||
GBGB9800532.5A GB9800532D0 (en) | 1998-01-13 | 1998-01-13 | Apparatus for enhancing mixing of a liquid and a gas |
PCT/GB1999/000082 WO1999036346A1 (en) | 1998-01-13 | 1999-01-12 | Apparatus for the delivery of a gassified liquid, and beverage carbonator |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1047624A1 EP1047624A1 (en) | 2000-11-02 |
EP1047624B1 true EP1047624B1 (en) | 2003-10-15 |
Family
ID=10825122
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP99901015A Expired - Lifetime EP1047624B1 (en) | 1998-01-13 | 1999-01-12 | Apparatus for the delivery of a gassified liquid, and beverage carbonator |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1047624B1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU2064999A (en) |
DE (1) | DE69912095D1 (en) |
GB (2) | GB9800532D0 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1999036346A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB9919802D0 (en) | 1999-08-21 | 1999-10-27 | Whitlenge Drink Equipment Ltd | Cooling system |
KR100735914B1 (en) * | 2006-02-22 | 2007-07-04 | 주식회사 영원코퍼레이션 | Water supplying apparatus |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB302794A (en) * | 1927-12-05 | 1928-12-27 | August Nicol | Improvements in dispensing apparatus for gaseous drinks |
NL7308179A (en) * | 1972-06-20 | 1973-12-27 | ||
FR2191547A5 (en) * | 1972-06-26 | 1974-02-01 | Brosseau Et Fil | |
US4837039A (en) * | 1987-02-09 | 1989-06-06 | Ramon Escola Gallart | Process of gasification for obtention of gasified candies |
US5124088A (en) * | 1990-09-04 | 1992-06-23 | Stumphauzer William C | Process and apparatus for rapidly carbonating water |
-
1998
- 1998-01-13 GB GBGB9800532.5A patent/GB9800532D0/en not_active Ceased
-
1999
- 1999-01-12 DE DE69912095T patent/DE69912095D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1999-01-12 AU AU20649/99A patent/AU2064999A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1999-01-12 EP EP99901015A patent/EP1047624B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1999-01-12 WO PCT/GB1999/000082 patent/WO1999036346A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1999-01-13 GB GB9900579A patent/GB2334221B/en not_active Revoked
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB2334221B (en) | 2002-02-20 |
EP1047624A1 (en) | 2000-11-02 |
DE69912095D1 (en) | 2003-11-20 |
GB9800532D0 (en) | 1998-03-11 |
WO1999036346A1 (en) | 1999-07-22 |
AU2064999A (en) | 1999-08-02 |
GB2334221A (en) | 1999-08-18 |
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