US2568980A - Carbonating machine - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 25, 1951 G. w. BAYERS, JR 2,568,980

CARBONATING MACHINE Filed April 16, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. GEOIPGL h. fiAY Rs/R.

ATTOR/VE Sept. 25, 1951 G. W. BAYERS, JR

CARBONATING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 16, 1948 INVENTOR. GORG 14 fiAwms Av.

' ATTORNiY.

Patented Sept. 25, 1951 CARBONATING MACHINE George W. Bayers, Jr., Denver, 0010., assignor of' one-halfto George W. Bayers, Denver, 0010.

Application AprillG, 1948, Serial N'..21-,4.70

2 Claims.

carbonatingsdevice that. does' not require a motor or-a pump'and whichwshallrbe-of a very simple and; substantial. construction and in addition thereto be highly reliable-smits operation;

"Carbon: dioxide for use in carbonatin water is: today dispensed. in liquid :form. and. sold incylindersfwherein the liquid is maintained underhi h pressure; The liquid carbon, dioxide must.

bermixe'd with water at a much lower pressure,

before the water is dispensed as a carbonated drink; Itis the principal objectof this invention. toiproduce a deviceby means of. whichthe carbon.-

dioxideis deliveredto-a stream of flowing Water at a pressure suffioientlygreater thanthat-of -the water to: effect. aproper mixture and, in which the: gas pressure-is automatically regulated bythe water'pressure inwsucha manner that a proper differential is at all times maintained.

The above and other objeots-thatmay become apparent asthe descriptionproceeds-are attained.

bymeansofa construction. and an arrangement of partsthat-willrnow be described: in detail and reference for this-purpose will be had tothev ac oompanying drawings .in-which the invention has beenillustratedand in. which;

I Figurelis adiagrammatic view showing the manner in-which the several elements. are connected, one ofsaid elementsbeing shown. in par-- tiallsection;

Figure 291's aside elevation-of the'mixing. valve;

Figure 3. is a longitudinal diametrical section taken. on line. 3I3,.Figure 2;

Figure: 4 is. a section taken on line 4-4,. Fig: ure 3;

Figure '5 is a section. taken on line 5-5,. Fig-- ure 3';

Figure 6 is a top plan view of a reducing valve; Figure '7 is-a section taken on line 1-1., 'Figure. 6

FigureB is atop plan View of a check valve; Figure 9 is. aside elevation of- .the check valve; and;

Figure 1.0. is, alongitudinal. section taken on line |0|0, Figure 8..

In the. drawing reference numeral I5 designates a gas cylinder. and reference numeral [6 designates a water .pipe which. isusually connected with. the.\water system of the. buildingin. whichthe. apparatus. is employed. Reference nu.- meral. I] designates. a check. valve that will be. hereinafter described. Reference numeral. [8 designates av reducing. valve. and. reference numeral l9. designates a mixingvalve while-reference. numeral 20. designates a mixing. chamber through. which the mixture of. gas. and. liquidv flows andv from which it passes through. the refrigerating coil. 2!. to the dispensing faucet. 22. A-.pressurepipe 23. connects thecheck valve. t! with thebon net of the reducing. valve forapurposeand. in a. manner which willhereinafter appear. Where. the. device is employed in .connection with a. soda. fountain, the operator, by. controlling valve 22, dispenses a. mixture. of water and carbon. dioxide- Which hasbeen. effected by the apparatus which will .now be. described in-detail.

Referring now. more particularly to Figures 6. and '7 which show thereducing valveyreference numeral 24. designates the body: oftthe' reducing.

valve andwreference numeral 25 the bonnetof thevalve. This reducing valve is constructed. in the usual manner with-one or two minor exceptions,

but, in order tolexplainthe operation, a general' description of the valve willbe-given.

Positioned between the" body and the -bonnet is av flexible metal diaphragm 26, the: two parts being held. in position bymeans 'of bolts 21. A. spring 28 is positioned'inthe bonnet andrests; onv the diaphragm. -A plate 2.9 rests on the. top of the spring andthis is. engaged by the inner end of screw 30,.Which isthreadedto the bonnet at 31 and passes through a packing'box or-glandz 32. Screw may be rotated by means of the handle '33.. It. is evident that the pressure of the. spring hasa tendency to bow thediaphragm:

39 is positioned inwthe opening in member 35 and is under compression and normally urges.

the yoke member. against. the under surface of the. diaphragm as shownin the drawing Arm.

36a. has an opening through which the. tubular part. 40 extends. This part has a. downwardly.

- wardly against the action of spring 39, thereby separating the two valve me'mbers 38 and 42 as shown in the drawing. By building up a pressure in chamber 45 that is greater than the pressure exerted by the spring 28, the diaphragm can be flexed upwardly so asv to bring the valve members into engagement. It will be observed that the wall of the bonnet is provided with an opening 46 to which reference will presently be made. In the present embodiment, the body portion 24 is provided with two other threaded hubs which have been indicated by reference numerals and 48, in Figure 6. The two threaded hubs 44 and 41 are closed by means of plugs 49, in the construction shown in the drawings. A pipe 58 connects the interior of the gas cylinder l with threaded hub 43 and with chamber 45. A pressure gauge 5| may be connected with pipe 50, if desired. Water pipe I8 is connected with the check valve l1 through opening 52.

The check valve construction will now be described. The body of the check valve is provided with an axial opening 53 extending inwardly from its lower end and this is closed by means of a threaded plug 54. Another axial opening 55 extends into the body of the check valve from the top. The two axial openings terminate in a partition 56 that is provided with a central opening 51. The upper edge of opening 51 has a valve seat 58. A foraminated plate 59 is positioned on the underside of partition 56 and is held against the latter by means of a spring 68. A plug 6| closes the upper opening 55 and this is provided with a central recess 62 that contains a compression spring 83. A movable valve member 64 is positioned in opening 55 and is provided on its under surface with a resilient seal 65 that normally rests on the valve seat 58 and is urged towards the latter by spring 63. The check valve provided with a threaded opening 61 positioned.

above partition 56. Opening 61 is connected with opening 68 in the mixing valve body I!) by means of pipe fittings 69 (Fig. 1).

Referring to Figures 2 to 5, inclusive. the construction of the mixing valve will now be described. The body of the mixing valve has been indicated by l9 and this is provided with a cylindrical threaded upward extension to which cap 1| is connected. Extending through the body I9 is an axial opening having sections of different diameters. The center section of this opening has been designated by reference numeral 12 and terminates in an opening 13 of somewhat larger diameter. Curved walls 14 join the two opening sections. The lower end of opening 13 is threaded and a tubular threaded member is positioned therein. The upper end of section 12 terminates in a valve seat 16 that, in turn, terminates in a cylindrical portion 11. An opening 18 of somewhat larger diameter than 11 extends to the upper end of body I 9. Extending upwardly from the. threaded portion 18 is a tubular extension 18. An opening 80 communicates the area surrounding tubular extension 18 with the interior of axial opening 18. A valve BI has a cylindrical plug 82 that extends into tubular member 19 and serves as a guide for the valve. The upper surface of valve 8| is provided with a resilient disk 83 that engages the valve seat 84 when cap 1| is in position. In the drawing valve 8| has been shown as spaced from valve seat 84 but it is held normally in engagement with the valve seat by the action of spring 85. Cap 1| is provided at its upper end with a threaded projection 86 and connection is made from this to the threaded lug 48 of the reducing valve, by means of pipe fittings 81, as shown in Figure 1. The body 19 is provided at its lower end with a threaded plug 88 to which a pipe 89 is connected by means; of a connector 98. Pipe 88 connects with the lower end of a mixing chamber 9| that contains a quantity of clean graded sand 92. The sand rests on a screen 93 and terminates underneath screen 94. The upper end of the mixing chamber has connected therewith a pipe 85 that has been shown as having formed therein a cooling coil 2| that is located in a refrigerating chamber 96 Pipe 95 extends to dispensing faucet 22.

Positioned in the opening in body I8 is a valve comprising a frustoconical valve member 91 that fits against the valve seat 16. The valve has a guide stem 98 that extends into the opening 11. The valve stem below valve 81 terminates in a cylindrical flange 99 that is positioned a short distance above the juncture of sections 12 and 13. A spring I88 urges the valve upwardly into the position shown in Figure 3. Spring I80 is a weak spring but has been shown to an exaggerated scale in the drawing.

From Figure 1 it will be seen that a pipe 23 is connected at its lower end with threaded opening 66 in the check valve l1 and has its upper end in communication with the interior of bonnet 25 through opening 48. It is therefore apparent that any pressure in opening 53 is communicated to the interior of bonnet 25 through pipe 23 and therefore this pressure is added to the force exerted by spring 28 for the purpose of moving diaphragm 26 downwardly.

Let us now assume that the parts are con- I nected as shown in Figure 1 and that valve I8! is open letting CO2 gas pressure from cylinder I5 into chamber 45 through pipe 58. This pressure is greater than the combined pressure of spring 28 and the pressure of the fluid communicated thereto through pipe 23 and therefore diaphragm 26 will bow upwardly until the two valve members 38 and 42 come into engagement. Water from pipe l6 enters opening 53 and exerts an upward pressure on valve 84 and passes by this valve through opening 81 and pipe 68 into the center section 12 of the axial opening in mixing valve l9. If valve 22 is closed, there is, of course, no flow of water, especially after the pipe has been completely filled with water. It will now be apparent that since pipe 23 communicates the interior of check valve l1 with the interior of bonnet 25, the pressure of the water will be exerted on th diaphragm as above mentioned. So long as no water is flowing, the parts remain in substantially the position shown in Figures 3 and 10.

Attention will now be called to the fact that the pressure at which the gas valve 38, 42 opens is slightly greater than the pressure of the water in section 12 of the mixing chamber and therefore when valve 22 is opened to permit water absence to now; the =movement ofs-th'ewater will; first f. all} move the valve assembly, comprising valves 91 and 99 downwardly; Since the pressure ofthe' gas-inchamber45 is-higher than the pressure of the water, gas, will,noyv flow, downwardly through pipe connection 81" and flow around valve';8l.,and;mix with thestream ofiwater where it enters through opening 68. 'Themixture of gas and water-will nowpass through the mixing chamber, and through the sand 92 positioned therein; and flnally emerge through valve, 22, ascarbonated jwater: The" proportion of gasand water canbe'regulated by-changing thepressure exertedpnthe diaphragm'by, spring 28.;-

In: the above specificationyit has, been pOinted out-that the pressure of the water is somewhat variable and due to this fact and to the fact that the proportion of gas and water .depends upon the differential pressure at which they come into contact, the mixture would be variable unless some means were taken to maintain the pressure differential substantially constant at all normal variations in water pressure. For the purpose of regulating the gas pressure in accordance with the water pressure, the interior of the check valve assembly has been communicated with the interior of the bonnet by means of pipe 23 as above pointed out, and therefore if the water pressure drops, the pressure against the diaphragm will also diminish in the same proportion, and, conversely, if the water pressure increases, the pressure on the diaphragm will also increase. With this simple interconnection, a constant differential in the gas and water pressure can be maintained at all times.

Particular attention is called to the great advantage of communicating the water pressure to the diaphragm of the reducing valve, by means of a tubular connection as shown. In the first place there is a great advantage inherent in the tubular connection and the hydraulic means of communicating the pressure over any mechanical means that might be designed for this purpose, and in the second place, the connection shown is of utmost simplicity and does not involve any difficult mechanical design. That part of the valve stem 98 is of slightly smaller diameter than opening 11 so that gas may pass by at this point in amounts proportionate to the distance valve 99 has moved downwardly when valve 16 is unseated. It is also necessary to have flange 99 of somewhat less diameter than the opening 12,

The clearance between guide stem 98 and the wall of opening Ti and between flange 99 and the wall of openin 12 is of major importance because they control the proportioning of the CO2 gas to the volume of water flowing, as the volume of water flowing increases valve 91 and guide stem 98 move downwardly and allows more gas to fiow.

The purpose of the check valve shown in Figure 10 is to prevent reverse flow of water and gas in case the water pressure should accidentally fall to an abnormally low value and in a similar manner valve 8| serves to prevent Water from flowing upwardly into chamber 45 in case the pressure therein should be lowered for any particular reason.

It will be observed from Figure 3 that valve 91 is positioned in a cylindrical opening and therefore when liquid is withdrawn at a capacity rate, valve 91 will move down below the cylindrical wall in which it is seated, thereby producing a wide opening for the entrance of gas.

From the above description it will be seen that by niea-n'sor this simple: apparatus :whichi come... prisesyin combination, the: check valve H," the pressure valve, the mixing valve 1 l 9 :and the filter; 9l, a verysatisfactory carbonation of water-bean gas pressure to conform to variations in the waterpressure.-' 7

Particularattention is called to the construction of the-mixing-walve which is consideredt-to',

be the-lnost important element in the combine tiOnr Having described.theinventions'what isclaimefd:

asnewis;

1. A carbonatii'nglelement-for use in a carbonate ing device having a supply of water under pressure, a tank containing liquid CO2 and a dispensing faucet, said element comprising an elongated body having an axial opening forming a carbonating chamber, the openin extending through the body from one end to the other, a removable cap threadedly connected with one end of said body, said cap having an opening axially aligned with the aforesaid axial opening adapted to be communicated with the gas supply through a pressure reducing valve, an axially movable check valve in said cap opening inwardly and adapted to rest on a seat surrounding the opening in the cap, the body having a water inlet opening in communication with the carbonating chamber, the wall of the latter having an integral valve seat positioned between the water inlet opening and the check valve in the cap, said valve seat flaring towards the water inlet opening, a valve in the carbonating chamber positioned to engage the valve seat, spring means for urging the valve against the seat, the last named valve having a stem that extends across the water inlet and a free end forming a guide stem extending into the axial opening in a direction beyond the valve seat toward said cap, the stem that extends across the water inlet having a radial flange on the outlet side of the water inlet, whereby when water flows towards the dispensing faucet, it will exert a force tending to move the valve from the seat to permit free flow of CO2, the carbonating chamber having an enlarged portioninto which said last named valve may move to provide a relatively large CO2 passageway when the valve is open to maximum flow capacity, the other end of the axial opening in the body forming an axial discharge conduit for connection with the faucet.

2. A carbonating element for use in a carbonating device havin a supply of water under pressure, a tank containing liquid CO2, and a dispensing faucet, said element comprising an elongated body having an axial opening of circular cross section, forming a carbonating chamber, the opening extending the entire length thereof, a removable cap threadedly connected with one end of the body, said cap having an opening to be communicated with the gas supply through a pressure reducing valve, a check valve in said cap, opening inwardly, means comprising a spring for urging the check valve to closing position, the body having a water inlet opening of larger diameter than the carbonating chamber in communication with the latter at a point between its ends, the wall of the carbonating chamber having a valve seat positioned between the check valve and the water inlet opening, at a point spaced from the'latter, the seat facing the water inlet opening, a poppet type valve in the carbonating chamber, positioned to engage thevalve seat, the valve having aguide stem extending into that part of the carbonating chamber between the valve seat and the check valve, the guide being of smaller diameter than the carbonating chamber at that point, and another stem extending across the water inlet opening terminating in that part of the carbonating chamber on the other side of the water inlet opening, the end of the stem having a circular flange of slightly 10 smaller diameter than that of the carbonating chamber at that point, the carbonating chamber being outwardly flared beyond said flange, spring means for urging the valve against its seat, the

parts being so proportioned and arranged that 5 the flange will move to a position in the enlarged 8 1 part of the carbonating chamber and the valve will move into the water inlet opening when the dispensing faucet is wide open.

GEO. W. BAYERS, Jn.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

Images