GB2200571A - Domestic carbonator - Google Patents

Abstract

A domestic carbonator for carbonating, beverages using low pressures comprises a main body 2 having pressure-reducing disc valves 14, 15, an injector piston 18 for initiating the gas flow, and a pressure relief valve 30. The body is provided with an opening 25 for receiving a CO2 cylinder with a further piston 38 for cutting off the gas supply under the effect of back-pressure from the beverage bottle. The beverage bottle cap includes a one-way valve and is, in use, located in a locating cup 22 formed in the body. <IMAGE>

Description

bULISlr 16ATION DOMESTIC CARBONATOR This invention relates to a small Domestic Carbonator and a simple process to obtain maximum results.

Wine and Beer making are becoming increasingly popular with people who are looking for a hobby or pastime which produces a very enjoyable end product. Apart from wine and beer, a large number of mixer drinks are available, i.e. Rum and Cola, Gin and Tonic, etc. With all these drinks the major drawback is sediment in the bottle, after the drink has been condition in the bottle. Conditioning the drink is after the drink has been bottled from the fermenting vessel, yeast is allowed to be included, a small quantity of sugar is added, the purpose of this is to restart fermentation for the sole purpose of producing CO2 to carbonate the drink which is now in a sealed vessel to retain pressure. This fermentation takes from three to seven days, this is followed by a further period from two to three weeks for the yeast to settle and the drink to clear.After all this, a major problem still remains, the drink has to be handled with great care, and a quantity has to be thrown away with the sediment. It cannot travel, unless it is given a week or more to clear again, pouring has to be with considerable -care, otherwise the sediment is brought up from the bottom and a large amount wasted. A further problem is often encountered through either under or over carbonation, this occurs when either too much or too little sugar has been added. This results in flat drinks or in over carbonation with the danger of glass bottles bursting, or the drink frothing over when it is poured, this in turn brings the sediment up from the bottom thus spoiling a large amount of drink.

With the present invention, fermented drinks can either be allowed to stand and clear, or can be filtered clear, then bottled, capped, and carbonated using low pressures. In this way using the ready available P.E.T.

bottles the homebreuier would be able to enjoy his beverages at an earlier date, with none of the present disadvantages of unfiltered drinks with sediment problems, being able to bring their homebrewing and soft-drink making more in line with the commercial products. The P.E.T. bottles are capable of withstanding pressures far in excess of their tested levels 90 p.s.i. for the one litre and 120 p.s.i. for the two litre bottles.

Beers are normally carbonated to upwards to two and a half volumes, and soft drinks, three and a half to four volumes, 10 to 25 p.s.i. and 35 to 45 p.s.i. approx depending on the temperature of the liquid at the time of bottling.

Ttie thread on the P.E.T. bottles is standard to P.E.T. bottles only, it is not possible to use caps that fit other types of bottles to close P.E.T. bottles.

In a preferred forr.. of the present invention the carbonating apparatus wi)l now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG 1. illustrates the carbonator attached to a cylinder of compressed carbon dioxide gas, and the P.E.T. bottle which has been inverted, positioned in the locating cup and the injector piston entered into the bottle.

FIG 2. is an internal view of the carbonator.

FIG 3. is an internal view of the carbonator in another preferred form of the invention when the CD2 cylinder is fitted with a pin valve and requires manual control of the gas on/off flow.

FIG 4. illustrates the reduction discs with reference to the position of the holes and the self-centralizing groove.

FIG 5. illustrates the non-return valve/insert which is fitted inside the bottle cap, permits injection and seals.

FIG 6. & 7. show the bottle cap and insert above the locating cup, and the cap entering the locating cup to insure accurate entry of the injector into the insert.

FIG 8. & 9. illustrate the insert as an integral part of the cap.

FIG 10. illustrates the top injector piston which also activates gas flow, and; FIG 11. are plan views of the carbonating apparatus from above to show the position of the various openings in the apparatus in relation to each other.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the preferred form of the present invention, Fig 2, the carbonating apparatus has a shell 1, Fig 2, which is in two parts and screws together at 2. The shell 1 has means to accept a gas bottle 25, which usually contains carbon dioxide under pressure, a small space above the CO2 cylinder 25 forms e reduction chamber 27, which contains in this order, 8 Sfmicron filter 32, which will prevent the possibility of any particies from the cylinder entering the system, the gas will now flow through the reduction discs 14 & 15. The filter 32, and the discs 14 & 15 are then compressed together between nitrial compression washers 33, in the reduction chamber 27 by tightening the body 1 onto the cylinder 25.

The reduction discs 14 & 15 reduce the flow of gas to a steady stream, to pass through the system and into the liquid, which is beneficial in carbonating the liquid, the stream of small bubbles passing up through the liquid give a greater opportunity to absorb the C02 than several large bubbles bursting through the liquid. The reduction discs 14 & 15 are drilled and 14 has a groove 12 cut into one face, the drilled holes 16 & 17 (Fig 4) are situated one in the centre and the other to the side, a groove 12, cut across the face of disc 14, from the side of the hole 16, and runs directly to the centre of the disc, the groove is rut to the depth of 5 to 10 thousands of an inch.In this apsect the reduction valve discs 14 & 15 are placed together with the groove 12 between the two faces, they are then placed in the reduction chamber 27, and compressed together.when the carbonator is screwed on.to the cylinder, when gas starts to flow in to the chamber 27 further pressure is exerted on the discs 14 & 15 by the pressure of the gas coming into the chamber 27 from the cylinder. The gas enters hole 16 disc 14 and can only pass to hole 17 disc 15 through the groove 12, which in effect has now become a 5 or 10 thousand of an inch diameter hole and with the close proximity of holes 16 & 17 of a depth of one sixteenth to one eighth of an inch.

The gas flows out of the discs 14 & 15, and around the lower pin section of piston 38, and into the central airways 26, flowing up directly against the base ofpiston 35, the flow then pushes piston 35 into the closed position, gas will still flow, and pressure will build up above piston 38, when the pressure in the space above piston 38 exceeds the spring 39, the piston 38 is forced down and closes off the flow of gas when the bottom of the piston 38 at point 49 closes on aperature 44. Air in the chamber breathes at 40.

A third piston 18 is in communication with the piston 35 and indirectly with piston 38, and is sited in the base of the locating cup 22, and retained by a circlip 36. When a bottle is to be carbonated it is inverted and the cap is directed into the locating cup 22, as it is lowered it is correctly positioned for the injector needle 19 to enter through the cap, into the insert 42, up to the non-return valve 43, and seal on the o-ring 34 in the base. As the bottle is lowered to the bottom of the locating cup 22 it strikes the shoulder on piston 18 pushing it downwards end in turn depressing piston 35, which allows gas to flow past it. The gas route is from the cylinder 25, through:- filter 32, reducing at discs 14 & 15, upwards, entering airway 26 centre of piston 38, -around the sides of piston 35, into the narrow section of the pin portion of 35 to the base of piston 18 and into airway 26 of that piston, and passing through the non-return valve 43 into the sealed bottle.

When the bottle is removed from carbonator gas pressure within pushes the pistol 35 up and seals off the gas flow, at the same time raising the psiton 18 to its original, position.

In this aspect of the invention a series of three pistons are used in the carbonating apparatus and are in communitation either directly or indirectly with each other, however it is piston 18 that enables pistons 35 and 38 each with it's own particular contribution to be linked together in the carbonating apparatus to control C02 flow and the degree of carbonation given to the beverage. It provides the means in conjunction with the locating cup 22, and the injector needle 19 to accurately locate to enter the bole in the cap 20 through the o-ring in the base of the insert to the non-return valve, a shoulder at the base of the injector 19 determines the depth of entry of the injector into the non-return valve, and acts as a shoulder for the bottle to rest on and depress this piston 18 downwards, to activate the gas flow.

Airways are provides at the narrow section of piston 35 and below piston 18 to connect a pressure release valve 30 and a pressure gauge at 31 in to the system.

A preferred form of the present invention has now been described with some possible modifications. However, many others may be made to the apparatus.

For example in the form of the invention where the C02 cylinders available for the domestic market are a smaller type and are controlled by a pin valve as opposed to the larger cylinders which are controlled by turn valve.

In a second aspect of the present invention consists of a carbonating apparatus, Fig 3. the apparatus is operated by a side lever 50 and accepts the small CO2 cylinder with a pin valve 23 to control on/off gas flow. When the lever 50 is depressed the piston 24 moves forward, the pin valve 23 in the cylinder 25 is opened and gas flows into the airway 26, piston 24 fits very closely in the lower airway 26 and acts as a partial restrictor-to the gas flow, the gas then flows up into the reduction chamber 27 through the filter 32, then through the reduction discs 14 & 15, entering the injector block 28 which has airway 29 at the side and the lower part is smaller than the reduction chamber 27 and allows the gas to pass to the pressure valve 30 and the pressure gauge 31 it then passes through the injector 19 and into the bottle via the non-return valve 43 which is fitted in the cap 20 (Fig 6 & BR< The pressure gauge is not shown only the opening 31.

At the top of the apparatus is the cap locating cup 22, when the bottle is inverted and directed into the locating cup 22, the bottle fits firmly into the cup 22 and is guided down positively over the injector 19. a seal is made by the o-ring 34 sited in the base of the non-return valve.

In this second aspect of the present invention it consists of a carbonating apparatus (Fig 3) comprises e small shell 3 which has means for attaching a C02 cylinder 25, a lever 50 to move the piston 24 forward to depress the pin valve 23 of the cylinder to release gas into the carbonator, airways 26 to direct the gas to reduction chamber 27, a filter 32, and means to reduce the flow of gas to a steady stream rather a sudden violent burst, airways 26 to pressure gauge 31 which will indicate pressure in the system however the bottle pressure will be 10 p.s.i. lower than the system as the non-return valve requires 10 p.s.i. to open.An airway connects to a pressure relief valve which acts as an indicator when the correct pressure has been reached and as a safety valve to prevent to high a bulld up of pressure in the bottle. An injector block 28 is sited in the base of the locating cup 22 a short injector 19 forms part of the block, the locating cup 22 is sited in the top of the apparatus as previously described.

The reduction discs 14 & 15 in the second aspect of the present function the same as in the first aspect, it is not possible to site them in cylinder 25 by opening by reason of the movement of the piston 24 against the pin valve 23. In both cases the discs 14 & 15 can easily be removed for cleaning should the groove become blocked by just removing them and parting them. The discs can be placed in the reduction chamber 27 in any order, but the groove 12 must be between the two faces, the groove 12 must be cut from hole 16 disc 14 to the centre, the groove will then always locate to the centre hole without the need to position, as would be the case if the groove was cut from the centre hole 17 disc 15.

As has been mentioned, the apparatus has an injector needle 19 which will pass through a small hole in the centre of the cap 20 Figs 6, 7, 8, the caps 20 are so threaded that they will only fit on to P.E.T. bottles, and are deeper than a normal cap so as to be able to accept the insert 42/valve 43, the injector 19 passes through the cap 20 small hole 41 and into the airway 26 of the insert 42, non-return valve 43. The insert 42 in its preferred form will provide means when fitted in the cap 20 and screwed up tightly on e P.E.T. bottle containing liquid to be carbonated will permit C02 to pass into the bottle and remain sealed in the bottle, until the bottle is opened to drink the beverage.The insert 42 completes a variety of functions, firstly, provision is made for a well 46 to accept an o-ring, this will be to seal both on the injector to prevent loss of gas from around the injector 19, and will provide a seal at that point for the contents of the bottle should there be E leak around the washers 47, E shoulder 21 is preferred as this prevents the problem of washers 47 screwing into the bottle when the cap is tightened up, the top of the P.E.T. bottle is very think and this occurs frequently. A non-return valve 43, is sited st the top of the insert 42, this enables drinks to be carbonated to the pre-mix method.

The carbonating apparatus has a cap locating cup 22, which is a cup or well the diameter of the cap 20 and of a depth, which accepts the inverted bottle into the opening 22, the cap 20 fits closely into the opening, and the bottle is accurately guided onto the injector 19 ensuring a good fit, Figs. 6, 7, 8. The injector block 28, rig 3, is screwed into the base of the locating cup 22 or has the injector piston 1B sited in the locating cup 22, and is secured by a circlip. The locating cup 22 will support an inverted bottle so placed in it. The injector block 28 Fig 3 is screwed into the base of the locating cup 22 and does not act as an on/off device as does the injector piston 18, but forms part of the reduction chamber, and compresses the reduction discs 14 & 15, otherwise the injector 19 performs as previously mentioned.

A simple process should be followed for good carbonation; this applies to beer, wine, or any type of soft drinks, only the amount of C02 used will vary. There are, four factors that affect the capacity of a liquid to absorb COS, two affect the physical ability, the third the rate of absorption, a fourth is the amount of pressure exerted on the liquid, the fourth factor can be overcome simply by an increase in pressure to drive more C02 into the liquid. The third, the rate of absorption, depends on either time or agitation, a small amount of agitation will induce a liquid to absorb a given quantity of C02 in a very short time, the same quantity of C 2 would be absorbed if the liquid was left for several days. The two other factors are temperature and the greatest problem in carbonation is air.Temperature affects the amount of C 2 that a liquid will absorb at a given pressure, at a pressure and a temperature of 60F the liquid will absorb one volume of C02, at a temperature of 32F at the same pressure the liquid will absorb one point seven volumes. The lower the temperature the greater the amount of C 2 absorbed. The last factor creates the biggest problem, namely air, the large bottling concerns de-aerate their water at considerable expense. Air should be removed from the presence of the liquid being carbonated. One part air dissolved in the liquid will keep fifty parts of C02 out of the solution, producing a poorly ca-rbonated drink and a drink that would be very unstable when poured, 8 lot of effervescence as it is poured, but little carbonation left in the drink.

In another aspect of the present invention, the carbonating apparatus has a process which the user may follow to take advantage of several of the factors and to be able to overcome the others. The process follows the Pre-mix method, i.e. the drink whether it is a mixture of a syrup and water, to make soft drinks, beer, wine, fruit pulp mixes, fruit juices or e mixture of eny of them, is rarbonated as E whole in a sealed bottle, or container as opposed to the post-mix method which produces carbonated water and this is then added to the syrup with a loss of tarbonatinn when the are mexed.

For example:- With domestic carbonators that produce carbonated water using an open bottle or container that contains a measure of liquid and are placed in the apparatus and a nozzle enters the bottle and is submerged in the liquid, a seal is made between the apparatus and the opening of the bottle to retain pressure in the bottle.At this point the liquid is carbonated, a pressure is built up in the bottle, and a carbonated water is produced with reliance placed on the following to effect carbonation, a low temperature, an amount of agitation when the C02 bubbles through the liquid, and finally pressure, some carbonators of this type operate with pressures up to 200 p.s.i. when the operating pressure is exceeded it is vented off through a pressure relief valve which is in direct communication with the contents of the bottle, this could result in -a loss or waste of C 2 If this system carbonated on the pre-mix system the following problem would occur, a certain amount of frothing or foaming is brought about during carbonation, when the pressure relief valve vents the pressure in the bottle this froth could be, together with moisture laden C02 carried into the orifices and through the airways to the pressure valve, since the syrup used to make soft drinks contains a high percentage of sugar there is a risk of crystallization in the narrow airways or in the pressure relief valve itself and either could become blocked or gummed up.When the bottle is removed from the apparatus, it has CO2 which is under pressure in the bottle, this gas is then released to allow the bottle to be removed from the apparatus, from this point on the drink will lose carbonation, even when capped the drink will give up CO2 to equalise the pressure in the bottle between the drink and the air space left.

In this aspect of the present invention the carbonating apparatus has a pressure relief valve 30 Fig 2 & 3, as previously mentioned, it is in direct communication with the gas flow or gas pressure from the cylinder 25, as it flows through the airways 26 to the non-return valve 43 in the bottle. It is not in direct communication with the contents or pressure in the bottle, but with the back pressure that is created in the system or airways 26 before the non-return valve, by the pressure inside the bottle. The pressure relief valve will re-act and relieve pressure within the airways 26, not from the bottle, this pressure is higher than the pressure in the bottle by virtue of the non-return valve which requires a 10 p.s.i. to open it to permit gas to flow into the bottle.As the flow of gas in the carbonating apparatus has been reduced by means of the reduction discs 14 & 15 in the reduction chamber 27 Fig 2 & 3 the amount of gas flowing is small and when the pressure reaches a point where the pressure relief valve 30 relieves it has been found that the following occurs. The valve 30 has a capacity to relieve a greater volume of gas than is flowing into the system,.a pressure drop occurs and the non-return valve 43 seals, gas exits through the pressure relief valve 30 and gas flow into the bottle ceases. The pressure relief valve is fitted as a safety feature, its intended use is as an indicator in the second aspect of the carbonating apparatus Fig 3.

When pressure builds up in the carbonating apparatus airways 26 a pressure is exerted on the piston 52 in the pressure relief valve 30, as pressure increases the piston stem 53 will protrude from the hole 54 in the valve, this will indicate that a given pressure has been reached, and the user will release the activating lever 50 halting the flow of gas. Should the user continue to pass gas into the system further pressure will be exerted on the piston 52 which has an o-ring 34 fitted around the crown, will pass hole 51 and the gas vented as with a pressure relief valve. In the first aspect of the invention Fig 2 the pressure relief valve 30 is intended as a safety device.

The position of the pressure relief valve 30 enables the carbonating apparatus to use the pre-mix method and to be able to carbonate any type of beverage in the bottle as CO2 passing into the bottle will not exit through the valve. This provides the means for the bottle which has had C02 injected into it to be removed from the carbonating apparatus, and some C02 will have been absorbed as it bubbled through the liquid, it can now be shaken or agitated, the beverage will absorb most of the CO2 in the bottle and the bottle will soften as the C02 is absorbed. As with other carbonators the best results are obtained with cold water, the bottle can now be placed on the carbonating apparatus and the beverage carbonated one or more times, depending on the degree of carbonation required.However, each 'injection will become smaller as after each carbonation a certain degree of.pressure will remain after the bottle has been agitated.

At this point three factors have been included into the process, temperature use cold water or refrigerate all beverages before carbonating, agitation by shaking the bottle, pressure by injecting a quantity of C02 into the bottle, controlled by the spring 39 in conjunction with piston 38 Fig 2 or the spring in the pressure relief valve 30, agitating and giving further injections until a high level W 2 has been attained. The pressure sequence has been found to climb as follows:- 1st carbonation to 75 p.s.i. agitate to 15 p.s.i., 2nd, to 75 p.s.i. agitate to 25 p.s.i., 3rd, to 75 p.s.i.

agitate to 32 p.s.i. or equal to 3.5 volumesat 500. The last factor is air, the air must be removed from the bottle, if the bottle was agitated and air had been remaining in the bottle, carbonation would have been greatly reduced and an unstable beverage resulting.

In this preferred form of the invention the apparatus requires that a formula for filling the bottle and a process for eliminating the air in the bottle to maximise the results of carbonation, as well as consideration for temperature, pressure, and agitation. Based on a one litre bottle, larger or smaller bottles would be multiples of this, fill the bottle with the liquid to be carbonated or in the case of soft drinks a mixture of the desired syrup and water to a total of 900 cc. This level has been found the most suitable, it provides for a good rato of liquid filling in a one litre sized bottle, but more important it provides a chamber in the bottle to receive CO2 under pressure.Since most P.E.T. bottles have a capacity total of 1100 cc this gives a chamber of 200 cc to receive C 2 Having filled the bottle to the correct level, the bottle is now lightly capped i.e.

not screwed on tight enough to seal, air can now be removed from the bottle, this is broughtabout in the following method. By deforming the bottle by squeezing, the liquid level is raised to the top of the bottle, thus removing the air from the bottle. Holding the lightly capped bottle in one hand, gently squeeze the bottle by applying pressure in the middle of the bottle with the fingers end thumb, this will bring theliquid to the top, as it starts to break out or overflow with the other hand thighten the cap. The air should have been removed, this can be checked by tipping the bottle on its side, if bubbles appear on the side of the bottle, return the bottle to the upright position, loosen the slightly and exert a little more pressure to bring the liquid to the top of the bottle.If the liquid, is reasonably cold the beverage can now be carbonated giving it two, three, four or more injections, depending on the type of beverage, and the individual's taste.

Further de-aeration can be carried out by the user should they so desire to obtain even better results, the deformed bottles can be warmed by placing them in hot water for ten to fifteen minutes by which time a number of bubbles will have formed in the bottle. These are removed by further deforming or squeezing of the bottle, at this point the water would virtually be de-aerated and the air totally removed from the bottle. This second de-aeration is not necessary when the liquid to be carbonated is a previously fermented liquid i.e. beer or wine as any air in the liquid would have gone during fermentation.

The bottle is then refrigerated until required, as there is not any air remaining in the bottle there is no possibility of the liquid absorbing air again as the temperature drops. When the liquid is ready for carbonation the bottle is inverted and lowered into the locating cup 22, as W 2 flows into the bottle and passes through the liquid, some is absorbed by the liquid, the C02 that is not absorbed begins to build up pressure in the bottle. As pressure increases the bottle reforms back to its original shape, and 8 pocket of pressurized CO2 forms in the bottle1 the bottle is now removed from the carbonator, and can now be shaken to agitate the contents, most of the CO2 will be absorbed within a few seconds of shaking.The contents can now be re-carbonated until the desired level is reached. The bottle will soften considerably ae it is shaken and the pressure drops as the CO2 is absorbed.

As will be understood by the present invention and its process, all the CO2 that is injected into the bottle is contained in the bottle, and by agitation induced into the beverage. This is in constrast to all prior normal domestic type carbonators and their procedures wherein the bottle is removed from the carbonating apparatus and the seal is broken, the portion of pressurized C02 in the top of the bottle is released and no benefit is obtained from it.

No useful purpose would be served in capping the removed bottle and agitating as there remains no C02 to be absorbed, rather there would be a loss of carbonation as the beverage would give up C02 to equalize the pressures between the beverage and the space above it.

The airways 26 Fig 2 & 3 form an important part of the system and differ from the prior art in as much as they only carry CO2 to the bottle or the non-return valve 43, when the injector needle has entered the cap 20 and the non-return valve, a seal is made between the injector needle 19 and the o-ring 34 in the base of the insert 42, this has the effect of forming a sealed chamber from the gas cylinder 25, through the carbonator to the non-return valve 43 on the insert 42. The airways branch out to make provision for the pressure relief valve 30 and the pressure gauge 31. This difference will be seen for example with U.S. Patent No. 4,082,123 wherein a seal is made between the open bottle and the apparatus, and gas flows fro the supply through tubing to the injecting nozzle which extends in to the bottle nearly to the bottom, the gas passes from the injecting nozzle into the liquid, then flows upward, exiting around the nozzle and then through flexible tubing to the pressure relief valve which will relieve when the pressure in the bottle reaches a pre-set level. Thus the pressure relief valve functions after the fact indifference to the present invention wherein it functions before the fact.

Various modifications of the apparatus or process of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope thereof, end it should be understood that the invention is intended to be limited only as defined in the claims.

Claims (18)

1. Apparatus for carbonating liquid in a container comprising an adaptor for the, container having an injector passage closed by a one way non return valve, in combination with a body having means for mounting a bottle of pressurised carbon dioxide having a flow valve control, a reduction chamber to which carbon dioxide from the bottle is supplied a bore connecting the reduction chamber to an outlet adapted to be sealingly-received in the injector passageway of the adaptor, the bore housing pressure-reducing means and control valve means for controlling flow from the reduction chamber to the outlet, the control valve means comprising an injector piston incorporating the inlet and control piston means urged by the supply pressure to shut off flow through the bore, and operated by the injector piston to allow flow through the bore to the outlet,and a pressure release valve connected into the bore between the control piston means and the outlet,

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the control piston means comprising a single piston working in the bore and engaging with means to shut off flow through the bore.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the control means comprising a shut off piston operated by the injector piston and a differential pressure regulating piston located between the reduction chamber and the shut off piston, with a pressure space defined between the two pistons, the regulating piston having means allowing flow from the reduction chamber to the pressure space and being movable against the loading in a spring to shut off the flow, the arrangement being such that in an inoperative position pressure in the space urges both pistons to shut off flow, and on operationof the injector piston the shut off piston is moved from the shut off position and allows flow from the pressure space to the outlet, whereby the regulating piston is moved by the spring to allow flow from the reduction chamber to the pressure space, around the depressed shut off piston and through the injector piston into the container the container and the pressure space are two separate areas and are interconnected by the back pressure from the container which is exerted on the one way valve, when this pressure increases then back pressure is increased,then pressure in the pressure space also increases and when the pressure exceeds the force of the spring, the regulating piston operates to shut off flow from the supply.

4, Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which the stroke of the regulating piston is adjustable , to alter the pressure at which the regulating piston shuts off flow,

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4in which the shut off piston and the regulating piston engage to shut off the flow th-rough the bore.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, in which the pressure-reducing means comprises a valve in the form of a pair discs, each disc having a hole, and the holes being connected by a groove formed on one of the discs, the groove being small in size reduces flow from one hole to the other.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any claims 7 to 6, in which a filter is incorporated in the reduction chamber.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 7, in which a. pressure gauge is connected into the bore between the regulating piston means and the outlet.

9, Apparatus as claimed in any Claim 1-to 8, in which the body incorporates a cup for locating the adapter on the body with the outlet received in the injector passage

10. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 7 to 9, in which the adapter comprises an adapter member for attachment to the container, and a cone member incorporating the injector passage sealingly received in the adapter member.

11, Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 10, in which the adapter comprises a adapter member for attachment to the container, formed integrally with a cone member incorporating the injector passage.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any Claims 1 to 71, whereby the method to utilise the apparatus, and method of carbonating to a predeterminded standard as is required by the various types of drinks, carbonation is in a flexible container to be closed by an adapter having the inlet closed by a non-return salve, comprising filling the container with the liquid to about 90% of its capacity , excluding the air by squeezing the container, tightening the adapter to seal the container, injecting pressurised carbon dioxide through the inlet to a preset or the required pressure, and agitating the container by shaking.

13. The method to utilize the apparatus as claimed in Claim 12, in which the step of injecting pressurised carbon dioxide into the liquid, if the liquid was not reasonably cold or chilled is performed by injecting carbon dioxide to bring the container back to shape, chilling the container, and injecting carbon dioxide to the required pressure.

14. The method of utilizing the apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 12 or 13, in which the steps of injecting pressurised carbon dioxide and agitating are repeated to increase the level of carbonation of the liquid to the required standard.

15. The method to utilise the apparatus of any Claims 12 to 14, in which the container is squeezed by hand to exclude the air,

16. The method to utilize the apparatus of any Claims 12 to 15, in which the container is squeezed by a device to exclude the air .

17. Apparatus and method as claimed in any Claim 1 to n6 in which a given amount of carbon dioxide that is preset by the spring bias of the regulating piston, is injected into a sealed container that has been deformed by squeezing, and then being agitated, that has only been filled to 90% of its capacity, forms the basis and balance to produce consistent results, and increase the level of carbonation by further injections to the required level according to the type of drink that is being carbonated on each application.

18. Apparatus and method as claimed in any claim 1 to 17, substantially described herein vxith reference to Figures 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.

18, An apparatus and method to carbonate a liquid in a container flexible or otherwise substantially as described herein.

eq, R 4 v cut a' A suitable flexible container would be a P.E.T.

bottle of the type used by the manufacturers of soft drinks or other carbonated beverages.

P.E.T. is the trade term for plastic bottles manufactured from polyethylene Terephthalate, AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWS CLAIMS 1. Apparatus for carbonating liquids in a sealed bottle or container, comprising in combination with a body or shell means to accept into the body directly a cylinder of compressed Carbon Dioxide gas, the cylinder can be operated by a turn valve or a pin valve to control the flow of gas from the cylinder into the carbonator, gas flow through the carbonator is controlled and regulated, in a singular flow line from the supply into the reduction chamber into an airway that varies in diameters to be able to contain a series of three pistons that control the flow of 62s within the body, a pressure relief valve is connected into the passageway to control the pressure in the body, the body has a locating cup to receive the bottle to be carbonated, the uppermost piston, the injector piston is located in the base of the locating cup provides the outlet through the injector needle which is part of the injector piston, when a bottle is to be carbonated it is directed into the locating cup, and is sealing received on the injector needle and a sealed chamber is formed in the body, the injector needle passes into the bottle through z snall hole in the bottle cap and into an insert which is sealed by a non-return valve, there is now to sealed units connected together by the injector needle entering the bottle and sealing in the insert, gas flows into the bottle but does not vent from the bottle at any time, the pressure in the bottle is controlled by the pressure that is built up in the sealed body, the pressure in the bottle creats 2 back pressure in the body, this back pressure within the body is controlled by a spring mounted piston when the pressure exceeds the bias of the spring the piston shuts off the flow of gas to the bottle, this method will give a constant amount of CO2 with each injection.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1,in-which the pressure reducing means comprises of a pair of discs, each disc having a small hole, and the holes being connected by a groove formed on one of the discs, the groove being small in size reduces the flow of gas from one hole to the other.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claims 1 or 2, in which the manually -operable cylinder is operated by depressing a lever or a knob.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the passageways or airways include a portion of the airway in which the pistons operate.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a filter is fitted in the reduction chamber.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which a pressure gauge is connected into the airway, above the spring biased piston to indicate the pressure in the body.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the body has a locating cup to accept the bottle into the body with the outlet received in the injector needle airway 8. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which an insert sealed at one end is incorporated into the bottle cap and the injector needle is sealing received into the insert's airways the insert is sealed at one end by a non-return valve that is closed by the pressure exerted on it from within the bottle.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which a series of three pistons are used to control the flow of gas through the carbonator body, and to control the pressure within a sealed bottle or container, and provide means to inject gas into the bottle.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in thich a sealed bottle is connected to an unsealed carbonstor body thus forming to sealed seperate areas and the previous unsealed body being able to control the pressure within the sealed bottle.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which it operates with a single flow passageway or airway to flow gas or CO2 into the container or bottle, an outward flow airway from the bottle is not necessary as the pressure-in the bottle being controlled from within the carbonator body.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which a pressure relief valve is connected into the airway above the spring biased piston and the outlet, and will act as a safety precaution and control the pressure within the airway when the outlet has been sealed by the positioning of a bottle in the locating cup and CO2 is being flowed into the bottle.

13. Apparatus as claimed in any claim 1 to 12 in which the injection of C02 into the bottle is a method to produce consistant levels of carbonation by the control of the pressures within the airways in the body of the carbonating apparatus.

14. A method of carbonating a liquid in a flexible container utilizing the apparatus of any of the preceding claims, the method comprising of filling the container to about 905 of its capacity with liquid, excluding the ,air by squeezing the container to bring the level of the liquid to the top of the container, then tightening the cap, then injecting CO2 into the container, when it has reached the pre-set level removing the container from the apparatus and shaking to agitate the C02 into the beverage1 several more injections can be made to reach the desired level of carbonation.

15. A method of carbonating as claimed in claim 14 wherein the deformed container when it reforms with the injection of gas will then have a space or area to act as a reservior for C02 under pressure in the container.

16. k method of carbonating a liquid as claimed in claims 14 & 15, in which the container is squeezed by hand to exclude the air.

17. A method of carbonating 2 liquid as claimed in claims 14 to 16,in which the container is squeezed by a device to exclude the air.