EP1579906B1 - Refrigerator including a carbonated liquid supplying unit - Google Patents
Refrigerator including a carbonated liquid supplying unit Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP1579906B1 EP1579906B1 EP05006581A EP05006581A EP1579906B1 EP 1579906 B1 EP1579906 B1 EP 1579906B1 EP 05006581 A EP05006581 A EP 05006581A EP 05006581 A EP05006581 A EP 05006581A EP 1579906 B1 EP1579906 B1 EP 1579906B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- carbon dioxide
- liquid supplying
- carbonated liquid
- water
- supplying unit
- 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.)
- Not-in-force
Links
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 title claims description 40
- CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon dioxide Chemical compound O=C=O CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 67
- 229910002092 carbon dioxide Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 34
- 239000001569 carbon dioxide Substances 0.000 claims description 33
- 238000004090 dissolution Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 39
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 5
- 238000005057 refrigeration Methods 0.000 description 5
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 3
- 235000013361 beverage Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000005192 partition Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000010521 absorption reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 235000014171 carbonated beverage Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000011148 porous material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003068 static effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- 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
- B01F23/232—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids using flow-mixing means for introducing the gases, e.g. baffles
- B01F23/2321—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids using flow-mixing means for introducing the gases, e.g. baffles by moving liquid and gas in counter current
-
- 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
- B01F23/233—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids using driven stirrers with completely immersed stirring elements
-
- 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
- B01F23/233—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids using driven stirrers with completely immersed stirring elements
- B01F23/2335—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids using driven stirrers with completely immersed stirring elements characterised by the direction of introduction of the gas relative to the stirrer
- B01F23/23352—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids using driven stirrers with completely immersed stirring elements characterised by the direction of introduction of the gas relative to the stirrer the gas moving perpendicular to the axis of rotation
-
- 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
- B01F23/233—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids using driven stirrers with completely immersed stirring elements
- B01F23/2336—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids using driven stirrers with completely immersed stirring elements characterised by the location of the place of introduction of the gas relative to the stirrer
- B01F23/23365—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids using driven stirrers with completely immersed stirring elements characterised by the location of the place of introduction of the gas relative to the stirrer the gas being introduced at the radial periphery of the stirrer
-
- 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
- B01F23/29—Mixing systems, i.e. flow charts or diagrams
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
- B01F25/00—Flow mixers; Mixers for falling materials, e.g. solid particles
- B01F25/30—Injector mixers
- B01F25/31—Injector mixers in conduits or tubes through which the main component flows
- B01F25/312—Injector mixers in conduits or tubes through which the main component flows with Venturi elements; Details thereof
-
- 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
- B01F35/30—Driving arrangements; Transmissions; Couplings; Brakes
- B01F35/32—Driving arrangements
- B01F35/32005—Type of drive
- B01F35/32015—Flow driven
-
- 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
- B01F35/30—Driving arrangements; Transmissions; Couplings; Brakes
- B01F35/32—Driving arrangements
- B01F35/32005—Type of drive
- B01F35/32045—Hydraulically driven
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D23/00—General constructional features
- F25D23/12—Arrangements of compartments additional to cooling compartments; Combinations of refrigerators with other equipment, e.g. stove
- F25D23/126—Water cooler
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a refrigerator; and, more particularly, a refrigerator including a carbonated liquid supplying unit with a simpler structure capable of producing and dispensing carbonated liquid with ease.
- U.S. Patent No. 4,866,949 discloses a conventional carbonated liquid supplying system for use in a refrigerator.
- a carbonator unit is located interiorally of and enveloped by an evaporator unit 50 of a closed cycle refrigerator system separate and apart from the main refrigeration system of a refrigerator 10 and which also includes a condenser 52 located in a freezer compartment 12.
- the reason why the carbonator unit is located in the evaporator unit 50 is that it is preferable to maintain the carbonator unit at a low temperature for keeping the carbon dioxide dissolved in water since solubility of the carbon dioxide becomes greater as temperature thereof decreases and pressure increases.
- the separate refrigeration system including the condenser 52 and the evaporator 50 for dispensing a chilled carbonated liquid such as water or beverage from the front door of the refrigerator, so that the arrangements thereof are complicated. As a result, the manufacturing processes thereof are increased, thereby resulting in an increase in the production cost.
- DE 199 57 081 A discloses a refrigerator comprising a carbonated liquid supplying unit whereby the carbonated liquid supplying unit includes a venturi element for introducing the CO 2 into the water.
- US-A-4 866 949 shows the features of the preamble of claim 1.
- a combined evaporator-carbonator unit is located in the front door of the refrigerator.
- the evaporator-carbonator unit comprises a water tank having a still water inlet connected with a still water tank and a carbonated gas inlet connected with a carbon dioxide source.
- EP 0 919 518 A discloses a carbonator to produce carbonated water.
- the carbonator comprises a container having a liquid inlet for supplying liquid into the container and a carbon dioxide inlet for supplying carbon dioxide into the container.
- a pump impeller is located inside the container which may be driven to pump carbonated water from the container to an outlet tube.
- a vane is attached to the pump impeller so that it rotates with it to agitate the water within the tank to assist in the absorption of carbon dioxide.
- US 5,842,600 discloses a tankless beverage water carbonation apparatus, wherein carbonated beverage water is prepared on flow demand by a process that combines respective flow streams of water and carbon dioxide in a mixing venturi. Downstream of the venturi, the mixture of water and carbon dioxide is passed through a static mixer prior to dispenser discharge.
- an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator including a carbonated liquid supplying unit with a simpler structure capable of producing and dispensing carbonated liquid with ease.
- Fig. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of a carbonated liquid supplying unit 110 for use in a refrigerator in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
- carbon dioxide is dissolved into chilled water to produce carbonated water which is supplied to a user through a dispenser 112 installed at a door 115 for a freezer compartment.
- the chilled water is fed through a water feeding line 114 from a water tank provided in a refrigeration compartment to a nozzle 116 of the dispenser 112.
- the water feeding line 114 is also connected to the carbonated liquid supplying unit 110 provided in the door 115, so that water is also supplied to the carbonated liquid supplying unit 110 through a first inlet thereof. Since the carbonated liquid supplying unit 110 is provided in the freezer compartment door 115, the temperature thereof is decreased by the cooled air in the freezer compartment without using any separate refrigeration system and, therefore, solubility of the carbon dioxide is increased.
- Electrically controlled check valves 120 and 122 are provided on the line 114 to selectively feed water to the dispenser 112 or the carbonated liquid supplying unit 110.
- a carbon dioxide supply source 117 for containing liquefied or compressed carbon dioxide is provided in the door 115, and the carbon dioxide is fed through a carbon dioxide feeding line 118 to the carbonated liquid supplying unit 110. Also, a controllable check valve 121 is provided on the line 118 in order to selectively supply carbon dioxide to the carbonated water supplying unit 110.
- the carbonated liquid supplying unit 110 includes a sandglass-shaped container 130 having an upper and a lower portion 130A and 130B, a porous plate 134 provided in the lower portion 130B and an agitating unit 135 installed on the porous plate 134.
- the porous plate 134 is supported by an annular support member 133 protruding from the inner surface of the lower portion 130B of the container 130.
- the upper and the lower portion 130A and 130B of the container 130 are integrally formed, they may be flange-coupled to each other by using bolts (not shown).
- the agitating unit 135 serves to facilitate the dissolution of carbon dioxide into water in the lower portion 130B.
- the agitating unit 135 is constituted by a rotatable member, e.g., rotatable blades.
- the rotatable blades 135 are rotatably installed on the porous plate 134 at an approximately same level as that of a second inlet of the lower portion 130B through which carbon dioxide under pressure (of, e.g., 1 to 10 atmospheres) fed via the line 118 is injected into the lower portion 130B of the container 130, so that the rotatable blades 134 are rotated by the carbon dioxide injected thereonto.
- the agitating unit i.e., by the rotation of the blades 135, the carbon dioxide injected thereonto spreads to be substantially uniformly distributed in the water remaining on the porous plate 134. Therefore, the contact of carbon dioxide with water is increased, so that the dissolution of the carbon dioxide into the water is facilitated.
- the carbonated water thus produced passes through pores of the porous plate 134 to be supplied to the user through, in turn, a carbonated liquid supplying line 123 and a carbonated liquid supplying nozzle 119 of the dispenser 112.
- a controllable check valve 137 is provided on the line 123 to selectively supply the carbonated water to the nozzle 119.
- the sandglass-shaped container 130 since the sandglass-shaped container 130 has the upper portion 130A and the lower portion 130B which communicate with each other through a narrow passageway 130C, the water in the lower portion 130B is suppressed from flowing back into the upper portion 130A by the pressure of carbon dioxide injected into the lower portion 130B. Further, as the pressure in the lower portion 130B increases, the dissolution of the carbon dioxide into the water becomes increased.
- Fig. 4 illustrates a schematic diagram of a carbonated liquid supplying unit 210 for use in a refrigerator in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.
- the components identical to those in the first embodiment are presented by like reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereon will be omitted.
- the carbonated liquid supplying unit 210 of the second embodiment includes a tubular main body 230 and a connection body 231.
- the tubular main body 230 includes an upper section 230A, a lower section 230C and an intermediate section 230B connecting them with each other.
- the upper section 230A has a first inner space with a portion that gradually narrows in a water flowing direction, e.g., from a certain position spaced apart from the top end of the upper section 230A to the intermediate section 230B.
- the intermediate section 230B has a second inner space with a diameter substantially same as that of the end of the gradually narrowing portion of the first inner space of the upper section 230A.
- the lower section 230C has a third inner space with a portion that is gradually enlarged in the water flowing direction, e.g., from an end thereof contacting with the intermediate section 203B to a certain position spaced apart from the other end thereof.
- the bottom end of the tubular main body 230 is connected through the line 123 to the nozzle 119 of the dispenser 112.
- connection body 231 One end of the connection body 231 is connected to the intermediate section 230B of the tubular main body 230 such that the inner space thereof communicates with an inlet hole of the intermediate section 230B.
- the other end of the connection body 231 is connected to the carbon dioxide feeding line 118. Carbon dioxide fed via the line 118 is injected into the tubular main body 230 through the connection body 231 and the inlet hole of the intermediate section 230B to be dissolved into water flowing in the tubular main body 230.
- the connection body 231 has an inner space with a portion that gradually narrows to the inlet hole of the intermediate section 230B.
- the tubular main body 230 has a configuration of a venturi tube, in terms of water flowing in the tubular main body 230, the pressure at the intermediate section 230B is lower than that at the upper section 230A while the velocity at the intermediate section 230B is greater than that at the upper section 230A. Accordingly, the water can be prevented from flowing back due to the carbon dioxide injected into the tubular main body 230 and the dissolution of the carbon dioxide into the water can be facilitated.
- the lower section 230C has at least one, e.g., four, partition walls 233 extended downwardly along0 the inner surface thereof, so that the flow of the carbonated water is subject to resistance of the partition walls 233, thereby facilitating the dissolution of the carbon dioxide into the water.
- carbonated liquid supplying unit of the present invention without using a separate refrigeration system for cooling the carbonated liquid supplying unit, carbonated liquid can be obtained with a simpler structure, thereby decreasing the production cost thereof.
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)
Description
- The present invention relates to a refrigerator; and, more particularly, a refrigerator including a carbonated liquid supplying unit with a simpler structure capable of producing and dispensing carbonated liquid with ease.
- Recently, some of home refrigerators have been designed to produce carbonated liquid by dissolving carbon dioxide into cooled water and supply it to a user through a dispenser installed to a door.
- For example, U.S. Patent No. 4,866,949 discloses a conventional carbonated liquid supplying system for use in a refrigerator. Referring to Fig. 1, in the conventional carbonated liquid supplying system, a carbonator unit is located interiorally of and enveloped by an
evaporator unit 50 of a closed cycle refrigerator system separate and apart from the main refrigeration system of arefrigerator 10 and which also includes acondenser 52 located in a freezer compartment 12. The reason why the carbonator unit is located in theevaporator unit 50 is that it is preferable to maintain the carbonator unit at a low temperature for keeping the carbon dioxide dissolved in water since solubility of the carbon dioxide becomes greater as temperature thereof decreases and pressure increases. Accordingly, in the conventional carbonated liquid supplying system, there is provided the separate refrigeration system including thecondenser 52 and theevaporator 50 for dispensing a chilled carbonated liquid such as water or beverage from the front door of the refrigerator, so that the arrangements thereof are complicated. As a result, the manufacturing processes thereof are increased, thereby resulting in an increase in the production cost. - DE 199 57 081 A discloses a refrigerator comprising a carbonated liquid supplying unit whereby the carbonated liquid supplying unit includes a venturi element for introducing the CO2 into the water.
- US-A-4 866 949 shows the features of the preamble of claim 1. A combined evaporator-carbonator unit is located in the front door of the refrigerator. The evaporator-carbonator unit comprises a water tank having a still water inlet connected with a still water tank and a carbonated gas inlet connected with a carbon dioxide source.
- EP 0 919 518 A discloses a carbonator to produce carbonated water. The carbonator comprises a container having a liquid inlet for supplying liquid into the container and a carbon dioxide inlet for supplying carbon dioxide into the container. A pump impeller is located inside the container which may be driven to pump carbonated water from the container to an outlet tube. A vane is attached to the pump impeller so that it rotates with it to agitate the water within the tank to assist in the absorption of carbon dioxide.
- US 5,842,600 discloses a tankless beverage water carbonation apparatus, wherein carbonated beverage water is prepared on flow demand by a process that combines respective flow streams of water and carbon dioxide in a mixing venturi. Downstream of the venturi, the mixture of water and carbon dioxide is passed through a static mixer prior to dispenser discharge.
- It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator including a carbonated liquid supplying unit with a simpler structure capable of producing and dispensing carbonated liquid with ease.
- The invention achieves this object with the subject-matter of independent claim 1. Preferred embodiments are disclosed in the dependent claims.
- The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
- Fig. 1 provides a schematic diagram of a conventional carbonated liquid supplying system for use in a refrigerator;
- Fig. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a carbonated liquid supplying unit for use in a refrigerator in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;
- Fig. 3 describes an enlarged cross-sectional view schematically showing the carbonated liquid supplying unit in Fig. 2;
- Fig. 4 sets forth a schematic diagram of a carbonated liquid supplying unit for use in a refrigerator in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;
- Fig. 5 depicts an enlarged cross-sectional view schematically showing the carbonated liquid supplying unit in Fig. 4; and
- Fig. 6 illustrates a cross sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in Fig. 5.
- Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
- Fig. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of a carbonated liquid supplying
unit 110 for use in a refrigerator in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the carbonatedliquid supplying unit 110, carbon dioxide is dissolved into chilled water to produce carbonated water which is supplied to a user through adispenser 112 installed at adoor 115 for a freezer compartment. - The chilled water is fed through a
water feeding line 114 from a water tank provided in a refrigeration compartment to anozzle 116 of thedispenser 112. Thewater feeding line 114 is also connected to the carbonatedliquid supplying unit 110 provided in thedoor 115, so that water is also supplied to the carbonatedliquid supplying unit 110 through a first inlet thereof. Since the carbonatedliquid supplying unit 110 is provided in thefreezer compartment door 115, the temperature thereof is decreased by the cooled air in the freezer compartment without using any separate refrigeration system and, therefore, solubility of the carbon dioxide is increased. Electrically controlledcheck valves line 114 to selectively feed water to thedispenser 112 or the carbonatedliquid supplying unit 110. - A carbon
dioxide supply source 117 for containing liquefied or compressed carbon dioxide is provided in thedoor 115, and the carbon dioxide is fed through a carbondioxide feeding line 118 to the carbonatedliquid supplying unit 110. Also, acontrollable check valve 121 is provided on theline 118 in order to selectively supply carbon dioxide to the carbonatedwater supplying unit 110. - Referring now to Fig. 3, the carbonated
liquid supplying unit 110 includes a sandglass-shaped container 130 having an upper and alower portion porous plate 134 provided in thelower portion 130B and anagitating unit 135 installed on theporous plate 134. Theporous plate 134 is supported by anannular support member 133 protruding from the inner surface of thelower portion 130B of thecontainer 130. - Although, in this embodiment, the upper and the
lower portion container 130 are integrally formed, they may be flange-coupled to each other by using bolts (not shown). - The agitating
unit 135 serves to facilitate the dissolution of carbon dioxide into water in thelower portion 130B. In this embodiment, theagitating unit 135 is constituted by a rotatable member, e.g., rotatable blades. Therotatable blades 135 are rotatably installed on theporous plate 134 at an approximately same level as that of a second inlet of thelower portion 130B through which carbon dioxide under pressure (of, e.g., 1 to 10 atmospheres) fed via theline 118 is injected into thelower portion 130B of thecontainer 130, so that therotatable blades 134 are rotated by the carbon dioxide injected thereonto. - With such arrangements, by the agitating unit, i.e., by the rotation of the
blades 135, the carbon dioxide injected thereonto spreads to be substantially uniformly distributed in the water remaining on theporous plate 134. Therefore, the contact of carbon dioxide with water is increased, so that the dissolution of the carbon dioxide into the water is facilitated. The carbonated water thus produced passes through pores of theporous plate 134 to be supplied to the user through, in turn, a carbonatedliquid supplying line 123 and a carbonatedliquid supplying nozzle 119 of thedispenser 112. Acontrollable check valve 137 is provided on theline 123 to selectively supply the carbonated water to thenozzle 119. - Further, in this embodiment, since the sandglass-
shaped container 130 has theupper portion 130A and thelower portion 130B which communicate with each other through anarrow passageway 130C, the water in thelower portion 130B is suppressed from flowing back into theupper portion 130A by the pressure of carbon dioxide injected into thelower portion 130B. Further, as the pressure in thelower portion 130B increases, the dissolution of the carbon dioxide into the water becomes increased. - Fig. 4 illustrates a schematic diagram of a carbonated liquid supplying
unit 210 for use in a refrigerator in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, the components identical to those in the first embodiment are presented by like reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereon will be omitted. - Referring to Fig. 5, the carbonated liquid supplying
unit 210 of the second embodiment includes a tubularmain body 230 and aconnection body 231. The tubularmain body 230 includes anupper section 230A, alower section 230C and anintermediate section 230B connecting them with each other. Theupper section 230A has a first inner space with a portion that gradually narrows in a water flowing direction, e.g., from a certain position spaced apart from the top end of theupper section 230A to theintermediate section 230B. Theintermediate section 230B has a second inner space with a diameter substantially same as that of the end of the gradually narrowing portion of the first inner space of theupper section 230A. Thelower section 230C has a third inner space with a portion that is gradually enlarged in the water flowing direction, e.g., from an end thereof contacting with the intermediate section 203B to a certain position spaced apart from the other end thereof. The bottom end of the tubularmain body 230 is connected through theline 123 to thenozzle 119 of thedispenser 112. - One end of the
connection body 231 is connected to theintermediate section 230B of the tubularmain body 230 such that the inner space thereof communicates with an inlet hole of theintermediate section 230B. The other end of theconnection body 231 is connected to the carbondioxide feeding line 118. Carbon dioxide fed via theline 118 is injected into the tubularmain body 230 through theconnection body 231 and the inlet hole of theintermediate section 230B to be dissolved into water flowing in the tubularmain body 230. Preferably, theconnection body 231 has an inner space with a portion that gradually narrows to the inlet hole of theintermediate section 230B. - With such configurations, since the tubular
main body 230 has a configuration of a venturi tube, in terms of water flowing in the tubularmain body 230, the pressure at theintermediate section 230B is lower than that at theupper section 230A while the velocity at theintermediate section 230B is greater than that at theupper section 230A. Accordingly, the water can be prevented from flowing back due to the carbon dioxide injected into the tubularmain body 230 and the dissolution of the carbon dioxide into the water can be facilitated. - Further, referring to Figs. 5 and 6, the
lower section 230C has at least one, e.g., four,partition walls 233 extended downwardly along0 the inner surface thereof, so that the flow of the carbonated water is subject to resistance of thepartition walls 233, thereby facilitating the dissolution of the carbon dioxide into the water. - In accordance with the carbonated liquid supplying unit of the present invention, without using a separate refrigeration system for cooling the carbonated liquid supplying unit, carbonated liquid can be obtained with a simpler structure, thereby decreasing the production cost thereof.
- While the invention has been shown and described with respect to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.
Claims (4)
- A refrigerator comprising a carbonated liquid supplying unit (110), wherein the carbonated liquid supplying unit (110) includes a container (130) having a first inlet through which liquid is supplied from a liquid tank (113) thereinto and a second inlet (136) through which carbon dioxide fed from a carbon dioxide supply source (117) is injected thereinto;
characterized in that the carbonated liquid supplying unit (110) further includes:an agitating unit (135) provided in the container (130) for facilitating dissolution of carbon dioxide injected from the second inlet (136) into liquid supplied in the container (130) ;wherein the agitating unit (135) is installed on a porous plate (134) provided at a position spaced apart from a bottom wall of the container (130). - The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the container (130) has an upper portion (130A) with the first inlet and a lower portion (130B) with the second inlet (136), the upper and the lower portions (130A, B) communicating with each other through a narrow passageway (130C); and the agitating unit (135) is provided in the lower portion (130B).
- The refrigerator of claim 1 or 2, wherein the agitating unit (135) is a rotatable member, and the rotatable member is rotated by carbon dioxide injected thereonto through the second inlet (136).
- The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the rotatable member includes a plurality of rotatable blades.
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
KR2004020703 | 2004-03-26 | ||
KR1020040020703A KR20050095340A (en) | 2004-03-26 | 2004-03-26 | A refrigeragtor with a soda water dispenser |
KR1020040020710A KR20050095347A (en) | 2004-03-26 | 2004-03-26 | A soda water supply system for a refrigerator |
KR2004020710 | 2004-03-26 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1579906A1 EP1579906A1 (en) | 2005-09-28 |
EP1579906B1 true EP1579906B1 (en) | 2007-05-16 |
Family
ID=34863633
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP05006581A Not-in-force EP1579906B1 (en) | 2004-03-26 | 2005-03-24 | Refrigerator including a carbonated liquid supplying unit |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1579906B1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE602005001127T2 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US12005408B1 (en) | 2023-04-14 | 2024-06-11 | Sharkninja Operating Llc | Mixing funnel |
Families Citing this family (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP1974802A1 (en) * | 2007-03-29 | 2008-10-01 | Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. | Cool drink dispenser for home use, and refrigerator equipped with such a dispenser |
DE202007014888U1 (en) * | 2007-10-05 | 2009-02-19 | Liebherr-Hausgeräte Ochsenhausen GmbH | Fridge and / or freezer |
US9815678B2 (en) | 2010-05-18 | 2017-11-14 | Aktiebolaget Electrolux | Drink dispensing system and method thereof |
US9033315B2 (en) | 2011-10-11 | 2015-05-19 | Flow Control Llc. | Adjustable in-line on demand carbonation chamber for beverage applications |
MX356100B (en) | 2012-09-13 | 2018-05-14 | Beverage dispensing apparatus with a carbonation system. | |
KR102005453B1 (en) * | 2013-02-28 | 2019-07-30 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Cooling apparatus and controlling method thereof |
EP3102317B1 (en) | 2014-02-06 | 2018-11-14 | Strauss Water Ltd | Carbonation unit |
EP2963366B1 (en) * | 2014-07-04 | 2018-10-24 | LG Electronics Inc. | Apparatus for producing carbonated water, and refrigerator including the same and method for controlling the same |
TR201703440A2 (en) * | 2017-03-07 | 2018-09-21 | Arcelik As | COOLER WITH A DISTRIBUTION DEVICE |
Family Cites Families (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4866949A (en) * | 1988-11-15 | 1989-09-19 | The Coca-Cola Company | Carbonated liquid refrigeration system |
JPH02306078A (en) * | 1989-05-20 | 1990-12-19 | Higuchi Misako | Portable refrigerating storage using dry ice and portable refrigerating storage having carbonated drink producer |
JPH02309166A (en) * | 1989-05-22 | 1990-12-25 | Higuchi Misako | Portable freezing refrigerator using dry ice and portable freezing refrigerator with carbonated beverage producer |
US5842600A (en) * | 1996-07-11 | 1998-12-01 | Standex International Corporation | Tankless beverage water carbonation process and apparatus |
GB2332154B (en) * | 1997-11-29 | 2001-08-29 | Imi Cornelius | Provision of carbonated beverages |
DE19957081A1 (en) * | 1999-11-28 | 2001-05-31 | Spiegel Margret | Additional second tap outlet with adapter possibility for feeding soda water involves normal one hand mixture tap valve or two hand mixture tap valve for feeding hot and cold mains water |
-
2005
- 2005-03-24 DE DE602005001127T patent/DE602005001127T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2005-03-24 EP EP05006581A patent/EP1579906B1/en not_active Not-in-force
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US12005408B1 (en) | 2023-04-14 | 2024-06-11 | Sharkninja Operating Llc | Mixing funnel |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE602005001127T2 (en) | 2007-09-13 |
DE602005001127D1 (en) | 2007-06-28 |
EP1579906A1 (en) | 2005-09-28 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
EP1579906B1 (en) | Refrigerator including a carbonated liquid supplying unit | |
US5310088A (en) | Bottled water station for dispensing carbonated and uncarbonated water | |
US4597509A (en) | Drinking water dispensing unit and method | |
US5842600A (en) | Tankless beverage water carbonation process and apparatus | |
EP2070586B1 (en) | Beverage dispenser, related refrigerator and method for dispensing a beverage | |
CA1308397C (en) | Carbonating apparatus | |
US11613454B2 (en) | Beverage dispensers for dispensing mixed beverages with one or more gases injected therein | |
US5071595A (en) | Water carbonator system | |
EP1866234B1 (en) | System for carbonizing a liquid | |
US5073312A (en) | Water carbonator system | |
JPH0366238B2 (en) | ||
US9770694B2 (en) | Mixing device carbonator appliance comprising a carbonator and method of producing a carbonated beverage | |
JP2002522312A (en) | Beverage dispenser | |
US5160461A (en) | Chilled beverage system | |
US5085810A (en) | Water carbonator system | |
JP3540516B2 (en) | Multi-valve soft drink dispenser | |
US20220402742A1 (en) | Beverage dispenser with removable water container and carbonator assembly | |
US6767009B2 (en) | Carbonator with targeted carbonation level | |
US5422045A (en) | Apparatus for producing carbonated water | |
JPH10194393A (en) | Carbonated water discharging valve, and drink supply device employing the valve | |
KR20050095340A (en) | A refrigeragtor with a soda water dispenser | |
JP3804309B2 (en) | Frozen beverage dispenser | |
EP1364909A1 (en) | Cooled carbonated potable liquid supply apparatus | |
US20240207796A1 (en) | Module for continuously generating high-level carbonated water and method for continuously dispensing high-level carbonated water using the same | |
WO2005003019A2 (en) | Beverage carbonating system for a household refrigerator |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR |
|
AX | Request for extension of the european patent |
Extension state: AL BA HR LV MK YU |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 20060118 |
|
AKX | Designation fees paid |
Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT NL |
|
GRAP | Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1 |
|
GRAS | Grant fee paid |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3 |
|
GRAA | (expected) grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: B1 Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT NL |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: GB Ref legal event code: FG4D |
|
REF | Corresponds to: |
Ref document number: 602005001127 Country of ref document: DE Date of ref document: 20070628 Kind code of ref document: P |
|
ET | Fr: translation filed | ||
PLBE | No opposition filed within time limit |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT |
|
26N | No opposition filed |
Effective date: 20080219 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: NL Payment date: 20090303 Year of fee payment: 5 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: GB Payment date: 20090318 Year of fee payment: 5 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DE Payment date: 20090319 Year of fee payment: 5 Ref country code: IT Payment date: 20090318 Year of fee payment: 5 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: FR Payment date: 20090316 Year of fee payment: 5 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: NL Ref legal event code: V1 Effective date: 20101001 |
|
GBPC | Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20100324 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: FR Ref legal event code: ST Effective date: 20101130 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: NL Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20101001 Ref country code: FR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20100331 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20101001 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: IT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20100324 Ref country code: GB Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20100324 |