GB2618813A

GB2618813A - Carbonated water cooler

Info

Publication number: GB2618813A
Application number: GB2207240.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Coverdale Thomas
Original assignee: Ebac Ltd
Current assignee: Ebac Ltd
Priority date: 2022-05-18
Filing date: 2022-05-18
Publication date: 2023-11-22
Also published as: GB202207240D0

Abstract

Carbonated liquid C is dispensed via valve 10 through dispense passage 11 to outlet 12. Controller 16 operates the valves such that, after dispense valve 10 closes, the dispense passage 11 is briefly flushed with still liquid S (e.g., non-carbonated) by opening valve 14. This removes liquid containing absorbed gas from the dispense passage 11, which may help prevent dripping. The carbonated liquid C is chilled by cooler 7. Still liquid S may also be cooled. Ambient-temperature liquid A may be dispensed via valve 15.

Description

CARBONATED WATER COOLER

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to dispensing apparatus, particularly water coolers of the kind which dispense chilled water containing carbon dioxide or other gases which are dissolved under pressure.

BACKGROUND

Carbonated water coolers dispense CO2 which is dissolved in water. Such water coolers are well known for dripping after the user releases the dispense button, and this often continues for a considerable period. This appears to be due to carbonated water which remains in the dispense passage after closure of the dispense valve. Over time, bubbles of CO2 are released which drive water out of the dispense outlet. Although a drip tray is usually provided this can give users the erroneous impression that the cooler has developed a fault. -2 -

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

When viewed from one aspect the present invention proposes that in dispensing apparatus, such as a water cooler which dispenses carbonated water through a dispensing passage (11) by means of a first dispense valve (10), a second dispense valve (14) is arranged to supply liquid to the dispensing passage (11) without mixing with the pressurised gas. A control system (16) operates the first and second dispense valves (10, 14) such that, upon each opening of the first dispense valve (10), following closure of the first dispense valve the control system automatically operates the second dispense valve (14) to flush liquid containing absorbed gas from the dispensing passage (11).

The flushing liquid is preferably pre-chilled to substantially the same temperature as the liquid containing the absorbed gas.

In one embodiment the flushing liquid can also be dispensed when required by opening the second dispense valve (14) on demand, e.g. to dispense chilled still water.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description and the accompanying drawings referred to therein are included by way of non-limiting example in order to illustrate how the invention may be put into practice. In the drawings: -3 -Fiaure 1 is a schematic diagram of dispensing apparatus in the form of a carbonated water cooler.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to Fig. 1, the drawing shows a schematic diagram of a carbonated water cooler which dispenses chilled potable water containing carbon dioxide (weak carbonic acid). Water is supplied from a source 1 which is suitable for drinking, such as a local water supply or bottle. The incoming water passes through a particulate filter 2 before entering a cold tank 3. This tank 3 has a water inlet 4 and a water outlet 5 and houses a carbonation vessel 6 which provides a mixing chamber for CO2 and water. The tank 3 is provided with a cooling system 7, for example a vapor-compression refrigeration system or a thermoelectric cooler which uses the Peltier effect. Filtered water enters the cold tank 3 through the water inlet 4 and is cooled therein by the cooling system 7. Chilled water leaves through the water outlet 5 and thence flows into the carbonation vessel 6 where the water remains chilled to substantially the same temperature due to thermal contact between the carbonation vessel and the chilled contents of the cold tank 3.

A CO2 cylinder 8 provides a pressurised gas supply which feeds pressurised CO2 to the mixing chamber within the carbonation vessel 6 wherein the pressurised gas is absorbed by the water -4 -within the vessel. Carbonated water can thus be dispensed for drinking purposes via a dispensing pipe 9, a first solenoid-operated dispense valve 10, and a dispensing passage 11 to be supplied to the user through a dispense outlet 12. It will be appreciated that although the dispensing passage 11 is shown horizontal in the diagram it is not necessarily straight. The outlet end of the passage will generally be upright so that water is dispensed in a downward direction into a suitable drinking vessel, for example.

In the present embodiment the water cooler provides the user with a choice of chilled carbonated water C, chilled still water S, or ambient water A at the temperature of the supply 1, all of which may be issued through a single dispense outlet 12. Chilled still water comes direct from the cold tank 3 through the water outlet 5 and a supply pipe 13 which connects with the upstream end of the dispensing passage 11 via a second solenoid-operated dispense valve 14. The two dispense valves 10 and 14 are preferably both mounted adjacent to each other so that the carbonated water and still water enter the dispensing passage 11 at adjacent positions. The carbonated water C could also enter the dispensing passage 11 downstream of the still water S. The ambient water is taken direct from the output of the filter 2 and travels to the dispense outlet 12 via a third solenoid-operated dispense valve 15. The ambient water may enter the dispensing passage 11 at any convenient position, but it will generally be preferable for this to be adjacent to the dispense outlet, as shown, so that the temperature will not be reduced by any chilled water -5 -remaining in the dispensing passage.

The three dispense valves 10, 14 and 15 are operated by an electronic control system 16 which includes user input controls such as dispense buttons 17, 18 and 19. When the user selects chilled carbonated water by pressing the button 17 the first solenoid valve 10 opens to allow carbonated water to flow from the carbonation vessel 6 to the dispense outlet 12. When a suitable volume of carbonated water has been dispensed the user releases the button 17 causing the first dispense valve 10 to close. This immediately stops the supply of carbonated water, but a quantity of carbonated water may remain in the dispensing passage 11, which could result in drips being emitted from the dispense outlet over a considerable period. The control system 16 is configured such that, upon each opening of the first dispense valve 10 to dispense carbonated water, following closure of the first dispense valve the control system 16 operates the second dispense valve 14 for a short period which is sufficient to flush carbonated water from the dispensing passage 11. Although this results in a slight dispensing over-run the additional volume is normally insufficient to be a problem. Furthermore, since the passage is being flushed by chilled water it will not affect the temperature of the dispensed water, nor is there any significant dilution of the CO2 concentration.

Still water remaining in the dispensing passage does not contain dissolved gases at pressure so there is unlikely to be significant dripping over time. -6 -

Dispensing of chilled still water by the second valve 14 is achieved by pressing the button 18 in the normal way. Similarly, pressing the button 19 causes the third valve 15 to open dispensing ambient water when required.

The time for which the control system 16 automatically opens the second solenoid valve 14 after each dispensing of carbonated water depends on various factors such as the volume of the dispensing passage 11, the flow rates, and the pressure of the supply 1. The opening time is set to ensure thorough flushing of the dispensing passage taking all of these factors into account.

It will be appreciated that although the water cooler dispenses carbonated water it could also be used to dispense other liquids such as fruit juices. Furthermore, other pressurised gases could be used, e.g. oxygen.

Whilst the above description places emphasis on the areas which are believed to be new and addresses specific problems which have been identified, it is intended that the features disclosed herein may be used in any combination which is capable of providing a new and useful advance in the art. -7 -

Claims

CLAIMS1. Dispensing apparatus: - a liquid source (1); - a mixing chamber (6) to receive liquid from the liquid source - a cooling system (7) arranged to cool liquid in the mixing chamber; - a pressurised gas supply (8) arranged to feed pressurised gas to the mixing chamber wherein the gas is absorbed by the liquid; - a dispense opening (12) for dispensing liquid containing the absorbed gas; - a first dispense valve (10) to control the supply of liquid from the mixing chamber to the dispense opening; - a dispensing passage (11) leading from the first dispense valve (10) to the dispense opening; - a control system (16) to control the first dispense valve; wherein - a second dispense valve (14) is arranged to supply liquid from the liquid source (1) to the dispensing passage (11) without mixing with the pressurised gas; - the control system (16) operates the first and second dispense valves (10, 14) such that, upon each opening of the first dispense valve (10) to dispense liquid through the dispense opening (12), following closure of the first dispense valve the control system operates the second dispense valve (14) to flush liquid containing the absorbed gas from the dispensing passage (11).
2. Dispensing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the second valve (14) dispenses chilled liquid.
3. Dispensing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 wherein liquid dispensed by the first dispense valve (10) enters the dispensing passage (11) adjacent to the entry position of liquid dispensed by the second dispense valve (14).
4. Dispensing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 wherein liquid dispensed by the first dispense valve (10) enters the dispensing passage (11) downstream of the entry position of liquid dispensed by the second dispense valve (14).
5. Dispensing apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the second dispense valve (14) can be operated to dispense liquid on demand independently of the opening of the first dispense valve (10).
6. Dispensing apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the mixing chamber (6) is located within a cold tank (3) which pre-chills the liquid before entering the mixing chamber.