EP1644281A2 - Beverage carbonating system for a household refrigerator - Google Patents

Beverage carbonating system for a household refrigerator

Info

Publication number
EP1644281A2
EP1644281A2 EP04744101A EP04744101A EP1644281A2 EP 1644281 A2 EP1644281 A2 EP 1644281A2 EP 04744101 A EP04744101 A EP 04744101A EP 04744101 A EP04744101 A EP 04744101A EP 1644281 A2 EP1644281 A2 EP 1644281A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
liquid
gas
vessel
dispensing system
water
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Withdrawn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
EP04744101A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Xavier Hue
Giuseppe Pol
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.)
Electrolux Home Products Corp NV
Original Assignee
Electrolux Home Products Corp NV
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 Electrolux Home Products Corp NV filed Critical Electrolux Home Products Corp NV
Publication of EP1644281A2 publication Critical patent/EP1644281A2/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

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
    • B67D1/0058—In-line carbonators
    • 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

Definitions

  • Liquid dispensing system for a household refrigerator This invention relates to a liquid dispensing system, preferably for carbonated water, for a household refrigerator comprising a cooled vessel supplied by liquid from a liquid source, a gas accumulator containing pressurized gas, a pump connected to the vessel and the gas accumulator for mixing the gas with the liquid.
  • a liquid dispensing system preferably for carbonated water
  • a household refrigerator comprising a cooled vessel supplied by liquid from a liquid source, a gas accumulator containing pressurized gas, a pump connected to the vessel and the gas accumulator for mixing the gas with the liquid.
  • carbonated water dispensers that are integrated with refrigerators and these are mainly designed in two different ways - carbonation in a pressurized tank and carbonation online through a mixing pump.
  • carbon dioxide which is taken from a high pressure gas bottle is fed into a carbonation tank to which a high pressure pump delivers water usually at a pressure of about 15 bar.
  • the purpose of this invention is to create a liquid dispensing system for a household refrigerator that does not have the drawbacks mentioned above but which is cheap, simple, reliable and has a good dissolving effect of the gas in the liquid. This is achieved by means of a device having the characteristics mentioned in the claims.
  • An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing showing a schematic view of a dispensing system according to the invention to be installed in a household refrigerator. Water is supplied from a main supply 10 via a valve 11 through a filter 12 and an inlet 13 into a vessel 14.
  • the vessel is placed in a cooled space of a refrigerator such that the water in the vessel achieves a suitable temperature.
  • the vessel 14 is provided with a first outlet 15 connected to a pump 16, for instance a vibration pump, that via a valve 17 delivers cold water to a mixing unit 18.
  • the refrigerator also encloses a pressurized gas bottle 19 for carbon dioxide, that via a pipe 20 and a check valve 21 is connected to the mixing unit 18 for mixing the gas with the water.
  • the mixing unit 18 is via a tube 22 connected to a reaction tank 23 that via an outlet tube 24 is connected to a first dispensing valve 25.
  • the reaction tank is also placed within a cooled space in the refrigerator and the pressure in the tank which is created by the low pressure pump is about 5 bar .
  • the vessel 14 is provided with a second outlet 26 that via a second dispensing valve 27 and a tube 28 is connected to a fresh water outlet 29.
  • the device described above operates in the following manner. Water is taken in to the vessel 14 firom the main supply 10 via the valve 11 and the filter 12 and is stored and cooled in the vessel. When carbonated cold water is taken out -from the system the dispensing valve 25 is opened. This means that the pressure in the reaction tank and the tube system drops such that the pump 16 is activated and the valve 17 is opened. Consequently cold water flows from the vessel 14 to the pump 16 and further to the mixing unit 18 and simultaneously carbon dioxide flows from the bottle 19 via the valve 21 into the mixing unit and is mixed with the water.
  • the water and gas flows to the reaction tank 23 where the mixture is stored for some time before it is taken out from the system.
  • This storage gives the carbon dioxide sufficient time for dissolving into the water such that a good carbonation effect is achieved.
  • the tubes 22, 24 instead of using a separate reaction tank it is of course also possible to design the tubes 22, 24 such that they have a sufficient volume in order to serve as a reaction tank and it is also possible to use a simple three way valve as a mixing unit.

Abstract

This invention relates to a liquid dispensing system, preferably for carbonated water, for a household refrigerator. The system comprises a cooled vessel (14) supplied by liquid from a liquid source (10), a gas accumulator (19) containing pressurized gas, a mixing unit (18) connected to the vessel and the gas accumulator for mixing the gas with the liquid. The outlet (22) of the mixing unit (18) is connected to a reaction tank (23) for dissolving the gas in the liquid and from which the gas/liquid mixture is dispensed via a first outlet valve (25).

Description

Liquid dispensing system for a household refrigerator This invention relates to a liquid dispensing system, preferably for carbonated water, for a household refrigerator comprising a cooled vessel supplied by liquid from a liquid source, a gas accumulator containing pressurized gas, a pump connected to the vessel and the gas accumulator for mixing the gas with the liquid. There are different types of carbonated water dispensers that are integrated with refrigerators and these are mainly designed in two different ways - carbonation in a pressurized tank and carbonation online through a mixing pump. According to the "pressurized tank concept" carbon dioxide which is taken from a high pressure gas bottle is fed into a carbonation tank to which a high pressure pump delivers water usually at a pressure of about 15 bar. Due to the pressure the carbon dioxide is quickly dissolved in the water and the carbonated water can be dispensed directly from the tank through an outlet provided with a valve. This system gives a highly carbonated water but is rather expensive because the costs of the high pressure pump, the safety valve and the pressurized carbonation tank design. According to the "carbonation on line concept", see for instance WO 02/02455, water is instead delivered to a cooled vessel by means of the pressure in the main supply. When dispensing carbonated water from system water is taken from the vessel and is mixed with carbon dioxide from a gas bottle by means of a low pressure pump, usually operating at a pressure of about 5 bar, and the mixture then flows directly to the dispensing device. This system is rather cheap due to the small costs of the low pressure pump and the design of the vessel but on the other hand the carbonation is very poor. The purpose of this invention is to create a liquid dispensing system for a household refrigerator that does not have the drawbacks mentioned above but which is cheap, simple, reliable and has a good dissolving effect of the gas in the liquid. This is achieved by means of a device having the characteristics mentioned in the claims. An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing showing a schematic view of a dispensing system according to the invention to be installed in a household refrigerator. Water is supplied from a main supply 10 via a valve 11 through a filter 12 and an inlet 13 into a vessel 14. The vessel is placed in a cooled space of a refrigerator such that the water in the vessel achieves a suitable temperature. The vessel 14 is provided with a first outlet 15 connected to a pump 16, for instance a vibration pump, that via a valve 17 delivers cold water to a mixing unit 18. The refrigerator also encloses a pressurized gas bottle 19 for carbon dioxide, that via a pipe 20 and a check valve 21 is connected to the mixing unit 18 for mixing the gas with the water. The mixing unit 18 is via a tube 22 connected to a reaction tank 23 that via an outlet tube 24 is connected to a first dispensing valve 25. The reaction tank is also placed within a cooled space in the refrigerator and the pressure in the tank which is created by the low pressure pump is about 5 bar . Further the vessel 14 is provided with a second outlet 26 that via a second dispensing valve 27 and a tube 28 is connected to a fresh water outlet 29. The device described above operates in the following manner. Water is taken in to the vessel 14 firom the main supply 10 via the valve 11 and the filter 12 and is stored and cooled in the vessel. When carbonated cold water is taken out -from the system the dispensing valve 25 is opened. This means that the pressure in the reaction tank and the tube system drops such that the pump 16 is activated and the valve 17 is opened. Consequently cold water flows from the vessel 14 to the pump 16 and further to the mixing unit 18 and simultaneously carbon dioxide flows from the bottle 19 via the valve 21 into the mixing unit and is mixed with the water. The water and gas flows to the reaction tank 23 where the mixture is stored for some time before it is taken out from the system. This storage gives the carbon dioxide sufficient time for dissolving into the water such that a good carbonation effect is achieved. It is also possible to take out non sparkling water via the second dispensing valve 27. When this valve is opened cold water flows by means of the pressure in the mains supply from the vessel 14 through the tube 28 directly to the fresh water outlet 29 and new water is simultaneously taken in to the vessel from the mains supply. It should be mentioned that instead of using a separate reaction tank it is of course also possible to design the tubes 22, 24 such that they have a sufficient volume in order to serve as a reaction tank and it is also possible to use a simple three way valve as a mixing unit.

Claims

Claims
1. Liquid dispensing system, preferably for carbonated water, for a household refrigerator comprising a cooled vessel (14) supplied by liquid from a liquid source (10), a gas accumulator (19) containing pressurized gas, a mixing unit (18) connected to the vessel and the gas accumulator for mixing the gas with the liquid characterized in that the outlet (22) of the mixing unit (18) is connected to a reaction tank (23) for dissolving the gas in the liquid and from which the gas/liquid mixture is dispensed via a first outlet valve (25).
2. Liquid dispensing system according to claim 1 characterized in that a pump (16) is placed between the vessel (14) and the mixing unit (18).
3. Liquid dispensing system according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the pump (16) is a low pressure pump.
4. Liquid dispensing system according to any of claims 1-3 characterized in that the gas is carbon dioxide and the liquid is water.
5. Liquid dispensing system according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the cooled vessel (14) has an inlet (13) that via a valve (11) and a filter (12) is connected to a liquid mains supply.
6. Liquid dispensing system according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the pressure prevailing in the reaction tank (23) is below 10 bar.
7. Liquid dispensing system according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the cooled vessel (14) is connected to a second outlet valve (27) for dispensing fresh non carbonated water.
8. Liquid dispensing system according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the reaction tank (23) is placed in a cooled space of the refrigerator.
EP04744101A 2003-07-04 2004-07-01 Beverage carbonating system for a household refrigerator Withdrawn EP1644281A2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE0302002A SE0302002D0 (en) 2003-07-04 2003-07-04 Liquid dispensing system for a household refrigerator
PCT/IB2004/002448 WO2005003019A2 (en) 2003-07-04 2004-07-01 Beverage carbonating system for a household refrigerator

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1644281A2 true EP1644281A2 (en) 2006-04-12

Family

ID=27731123

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP04744101A Withdrawn EP1644281A2 (en) 2003-07-04 2004-07-01 Beverage carbonating system for a household refrigerator

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1644281A2 (en)
SE (1) SE0302002D0 (en)
WO (1) WO2005003019A2 (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN104019361A (en) * 2014-06-10 2014-09-03 中国海洋石油总公司 Online unclogging device for small-size valves
NL2017940B1 (en) 2016-12-06 2018-06-19 Apiqe Holdings Llc Water dispensers for dispensing carbonized water

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2391003A (en) * 1942-01-15 1945-12-18 Frostidrink Inc Carbonating apparatus
DE1692739A1 (en) * 1951-01-28 1972-03-16 Noll Maschfab Gmbh Method and device for producing beverages
US6021922A (en) * 1996-11-08 2000-02-08 Bilskie; Richard P. Self-contained high pressure pneumatic beverage dispensing system
DE20011682U1 (en) * 2000-07-05 2000-09-21 Kundo Systemtechnik Gmbh Device for producing carbonated water

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO2005003019A2 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2005003019A3 (en) 2005-02-17
SE0302002D0 (en) 2003-07-04
WO2005003019A2 (en) 2005-01-13

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Owner name: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS CORPORATION N.V.

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