US1335874A - Carbonated-water-supply apparatus - Google Patents

Description

L. CAUL.

CARBONATED WATER SUPPLY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. a. 1919.

1,385,.W4. Patentedkpr. 6,1920

LOUIS CAUL, OF DE'ICBGIT, MICHIGAN.

CABBONATED-W'ATEB-SUPELY APPARATUS.

- Application filed February 8, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS OAUL, a citizen ofthe United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garbonatedi ater- Supply Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention aims to provide a carbonated water supply apparatus wherein positive and reliable means are employed, as hereinafter set forth, for supplying carbonated water or other charged liquid to the faucets of a soda fountain, with the charging of the water and the supply of the same underthe control of the operator or attendant of the fountain, thereby permitting the operator to replenish the supply of carbonated water and regulate the phosphorescent quality of the same.

My invention further aims to provide an apparatus of the above class wherein the supply of water for carbonating purposes is electrically controlled by the user or dispenser of the same, and an electrically operated safety device employed to guard against over-charglng.

The apparatus includes a reservoir adapted to be suitably cooled, and receive water and carbon dioxid gas, which commingle and supply faucets, especially constructed to include electrical switches for controlling an electrically operated pump adapted to supply the water to the reservoir. All of the mechanical constructions entering into the apparatus are of'such a nature that they may be readily installed in lieu of the present soda fountains, without materially changing the fixtures or furniture of the fountain, and my apparatus will be hereinafter specifically described and then claimed.

Reference will now be had to the draw ing wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus, partly broken away, illustrating some of the electrical wiring;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a portion of a faucet, partly in section, and

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional. view of the faucet.

In describing my invention by aid of the views above referred to, I desire to point out that the same are intended as merely illus trative of the apparatus as now constructed,

Specification of Letters Patent.

device as at 15.

Patented Apr. 6, 1920.

Serial No. 275,917.

placed in a cooling chamber or located where its contents may be maintained at a low temperature to provide a refreshing drink.

2 denotes a conventional form of portable cylinder or reservoir adapted to contain a supply of carbon dioxid gas (00 and this supply of gas is connected by a pipe 3 to the top of the reservoir 1, said pipe having a conventional form of valve 4: to close the pipe 3, when the gas cylinder 2 is detached therefrom to provide a new supply. The pipe 3 is also provided with a pressure regulating valve 5 and a pressure gage 6, both being of the ordinary and well known type.

7 denotes a pump in communication with a water supply pipe 8 and having another pipe 9 extending to the bottom of the reservoir l and provided with a check valve 10, within the reservoir.

11 denotes an electric motor suitably geared to the water pump 7 for operating said pump, said pump and its motor being electrically controlled as will hereinafter appear.

12 denotes a pressure safety device car.- ried by the top of the reservoir 1, said safety device including a pressure actuated diaphragm of a conventional form which has the diaphragm rod 13 engaging or connected to a resilient switch arm 1 1 carried by and insulated from the diaphragm casing of the The resilient switch arm 14; normally engages a contact member 16 carried by and insulated from the casing of the device, and the switch is normally closed, as shown, but adapted to be opened when pressure within the reservoir 1 flexes the dia-.

phragm of the device and raises the rod 13.

1? denotes one or more fountain faucets connected by pipes 18 to a reservoir conncction 19, said reservoir connection having an outlet pipe 20 within the reservoir and extend ng in proximity to the bottom thereof, so that practically the entire contents of the reservoir may be removed before the same is recharged with water. I

Each faucet includes a valve body 21 having a suitable discharge nozzle 22 in communication with a ported conical plug seat 23 for a ported conical plug 24; which controls the discharge of carbonated water from the nozzle 22. The plug 24 is provided with a threaded stem 25 and a tubular stem 26, and mounted on these stems is a valve operating device comprising a two part yoke 27 having a suitable handle or knob 28. The yoke 27 is made in two parts to facilitate assembling and said yoke parts may be conveniently retained in engagement with each other by a coupling sleeve 29 which also connects the handle 28 to the yoke. One of the yoke parts is grooved or provided with a channel, as at 30, to provide clearance for lead-in wires 31, and the groove or channel of said yoke part is closed by a detachable plate 32. The lead-in wires 31 extend into a socket 333 in the handle 28 and are connected to a conventional form of push but ton or switch 34 located in the outer end of the socket 33 with its button or operating device exposed, so that the same hand gripping the handle 28 may also operate the push button.

The valve body 21 has that side thereof adjacent the grooved yoke part cut away to accommodate a tubular insulator 34 which surrounds the tubular stem 26, said insulator having openings 35 through which ex- .tend wires 36 that extend out of the faucet,

as shown in Fig. 1. The inner ends of the wires 36 are connected to binding posts 37 carried by the inner wall of the insulator 34 and said binding posts are provided with resilient contact members 38 normally engaging and wiping contact rings 39 set in an insulator 40 mounted on the tubular stem 26. The insulator 4,0 and the stem 26 are provided with openings for the lead-in wires 31, thereby establishing a rotary electrical connection for the two sets of wires within the faucet, permitting of the faucet being operated without breaking any electrical wire connections.

Considering the wiring of the electrical apparatus, one of the faucet wires 36 is connected to the motor 11 and the other faucet wire to the switch arm 14 of the diaphragm pressure actuated switch 12. The contact member 16 of said switch and the motor 11 are connected bywires 41 to a suitable source of electrical energy, for instance I an ordinary electric light circuit of 110 7 in operation. Thus pump supplies water to the reservoir 1 as long as the push button 34 is closed, but should the operator through negligence or for some other cause overcharge the reservoir 1, by keeping his hand on the push button 34, the excessive pressure within the reservoir causes the diaphragm actuated switch 12 to be operated to break the circuit by raising the resilient switch arm 14 off of the contact member 16 thus preventing the reservoir from being burst due to an excessive charge therein.

The pressure of gas to the reservoir 1 is regulated by the valve 5, consequently it is possible to have the water within the reservoir 1 more or less charged as may be desired, as the quantity of water in the reservoir 1 decreases the quantity left therein will naturally become impregnated with the carbon dioxid gas and should the charged water be too strong and provide somewhat of an interrupted flow at the nozzle 22, it is only necessary for the operator of the nozzle to press the push button 34 and replenish the reservoir 1 with water, thereby diluting or reducing the strength of the water within the reservoir.

The pressure safety device may be of any well known type located on the reservoir or at some remote point in the system and it is also obvious that any type of a make and break switch may be associated with the pressure regulator.

Considering the faucet, it is possible to reconstruct the present type of rotary disk outlet member now in use so that it will serve my purpose. It is not actually necessary to use the rotary electric contact device, which I have shown, as with sometypes of faucets it is possible to have direct electrical connections. Furthermore, in the type of faucet shown the yoke may be cast hollow so that wires may be threaded therethrough to the push button, which may be of any type, for instance the plug and socket kind, so that an electric circuit may be controlled.

What I claim is 1. In a carbonated water supply apparatus, the combination of a reservoir adapted to receive carbon dioxid gas, a pump adapted to supply water to said reservoir to be charged by the gas in said reservoir, a faucet communicating with said reservoir and having a pivoted handle. and a push button carried by the handle of said faucet and adapted to control the operation of said pump.

2. In a carbonated water supply apparatus, the combination of a reservoir adapted to receive carbon dioxid gas, an electrically operated pump adapted to supply water to said reservoir to be charged by the gas in said reservoir, a faucet communicatbig with said reservoir and having a yoke handle, a push button carried by the yoke In testimony whereof I afiix my signature handle of said faucet, and a rotary contact in the presence of two Witnesses. device in the faucet to maintain an electrical connection between said push button and LOUIS CAUL' 5 said electrically operated pump at or during Witnesses:

any position of adjustment of the handle of KARL H. BUTLER,

said faucet. ANNA M. DORR.

Images