US2643791A - Apparatus for dispensing carbonated beverages - Google Patents

Description

June 30, 1953 KQLLSMAN 2,643,791

APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING CARBONATED BEVERAGES Filed Feb. 15, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 24 UL Imam/AN dbmmm 1d. ATTORNEY June30, 1953 KOLLSMAN 2,643,791

APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING CARBONATED BEVERAGES Filed Feb. 15, 1946 2 Sheet s-Sheet 2 Fig 2 INVENTOR 41m koLLsmN QLQux LMW ATTORNEY Patented June 30, 1953 APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING CARBONATED BEVERAGES Paul Kollsman, New York, N. Y.

Application February 15, 1946, Serial No. 647,806

.5 Claims.

This invention provides an apparatus for dis pensing measured quantities of carbonated beverages.

Conventional handling and dispensing of carbonated beverages usually involves storage of the carbonated beverage under carbon dioxide pressure and the dispensing or feeding of the beverage into a measuring chamber or a dispensing cup under pressure, whereby the beverage is subjected to a sudden substantial drop of pressure accompanied by turbulence causing a considerable portion of a charge of carbon dioxide to be driven out. As a result, the beverage reaching the consumer has lost much of its efrervescence.

According to the present invention, the carbonated beverageis maintained under pressurethroughout its handling and measuring, and the carbon dioxide pressure is not relieved until immediately prior to dispensing. Quantities of beverage to be dispensed are measured by the filling and subsequent emptying of a measuring chamber of predetermined volume into which the carbonated beverage is fed. In order to prevent loss of a portion of the charge of carbon dioxide, the measuring chamber is filled with carbon dioxide under pressure before it is filled with the beverage so that the beverage flowing into the chamber under turbulence will not lose part of its charge;

The objects, features and advantages of this invention will appear more fully from the detailed description which follows accompanied by drawings, showing for the purpose of illustration an apparatus for practicing the invention.

The invention also consists in certain new and originalfeatures of construction and combination of parts, as well as certain combinations of steps, as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Although the characteristic features of this invention which are believed to be novel will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, its objects and advantages, and the manner in which it may be carried out, may be better understood by referring to the following description, and taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which:

v Fig. l is an elevational view, partly in section of a machine for carbonating anddispensing measured quantities of beverage; and

Fig. 2 is an elevational side view of the machine shown in Fig. 1.

. In the following description and in the claims,

various details will be identified by specific names 56 for convenience. These names, however, are intended to be as generic in their application as the art will permit.-

Like reference characters refer to like parts in drawings. In the drawings accompanying, and forming part of, the specification certain specific disclosure of the invention is made for the purpose of explanation of broader aspects of the invention, but it is understood that the details may be modified in various respects without departure from the principles of this invention and that the invention may be applied to other structures than the one shown.

The carbonating and dispensing apparatus shown in the drawings comprises a housing H resting on a base 12. In the interior of the housing ll, acarbonating chamber l3 and a beverage chamber 14 are separated by a wall [5 having a valve passage [6 therethrough controlled by a valve member I! movable in a valve chamber I8 and acted upon by a spring [9.

The carbonating chamber l3 receives carbon dioxide under pressure from a suitable source (not shown) through a carbon dioxide duct 20 leading to a pipe connection 2|.

Beverage under pressure is supplied from a suitable source (not shown) through a beverage supply duct 22 leading to a valve 23 controlled by a float 24. A further duct 25 extends from the float valve 23- and leads to a nozzle 2% discharging the beverage in the form of a spray against a series of baiiles 21 to insure intimate contact of the liquid particles of the beverage with-a carbon dioxide in the carbonating cham ber IS. The carbonated beverage collects at the bottom of the carbonating chamber 13 and rises to a normal liquid level indicated at 28 maintained by the float valve 23 which controls the supply of beverage from the supply duct 22.

A duct 29 extends from the upper portion of the'carbonating chamber l3 from a point outside the reach of the spray of beverage issued by the nozzle 26 to a valve chamber 29' in whichoperable by a servo-piston 36 movable in a servocylinder 31 and subdivides the space of the servoin a servo-cylinder 5B. The servo-cylinder is subdivided by the piston 48 into chambers 5| and 52, the upper chamber 51 being vented by a passage 53.

The several valves are operable bya control valve assembly 54 comprising a vent valve 55 normally held open by a spring 55 and a pressure control valve 5'! normally held closed by spring 58. Both valves are operable from the outside by a push button 59 against which a spring 50 bears.

A pressure duct Bl branching off from the carbon dioxide duct 29 at a T-connection 62 leads to the pressure control valve 5?. Opening of the pressure control valve 51 causes carbon dioxide under pressure to flow into a control duct 63 having branches 64, 65 and 66 leading to the servomotor of the vent valve 35 and to the valve chambers of the admission valve 11 and the pressure supply valve 33, respectively.

For an explanation of the operation of the carbonating and dispensing apparatus, it may be assumed that the apparatus is connected to suitable sources of supply, the carbon dioxide duct being connected to a source of carbon dioxide supply under pressure and the beverage supply duct 22 being connected to a source of beverage, likewise under pressure. It may further be assumed that the carbonating chamber [3 be filled with carbonated beverage under pressure up to a level 28 and that the beverage chamber M be filled with carbonated beverage up to a level 61. The apparatus is now ready for dispensing beverage, the valves being in the position shown. More particularly, the pressure supply valve 30 is open admitting carbon dioxide under full pressure to the beverage chamber 14. The admission valve ii is likewise open thereby establishing communication between the beverage filledcarbonating chamber and the beverage chamber It. The vent valve is closed, maintaining the beverage in the beverage chamber M under pressure, and the discharge valve 45 is closedshutting off the beverage from the dispensing spout. In the control valve assembly 54, the vent valve is open, establishing communication between the atmosphere and the control duct 63 and its branches through a vent duct 38. The pressure control valve 5'! is closed thereby shutting off carbon dioxide under pressure from the control duct 63.

Beverage is dispensed from the apparatus by pressing the push button 59. This causes the vent 55 to close and the pressure valve 51 to open. Carbon dioxide under pressure is now admitted from the pressureduct 6! to the control duct 63 and its branches.

The pressure above the pressure supply valve member 30 rises and becomes equal to the pressure below the valve member. Both pressures cancel out and the spring 3i closes the pressure supply valve 39, thus shutting off further supply of carbon dioxide to the beverage chamber I4 except for a limited flow which passes through the by-pass duct 33.

The pressure above the admission valve memher i? likewise rises and becomes equal to the pressure acting on the other side of the valve member I? with the result that the admission valve closes shutting off further supply of beverage from the carbonating chamber I3.

Further, carbon dioxide under pressure is admitted to the other side of the servo-piston 36 causing the piston to rise and open the vent valve 35, relieving the carbon dioxide pressure in the beverage chamber l4.

Lastly, carbon dioxide under pressure flows into the servo-motor chamber 52 of the discharge valve through a branch duct 69 and acts on the underside of the servo-piston 48 causing the piston to rise and the discharge valve 45 to open.

Carbonated beverage now flows slowly through the discharge spout 4'1, the rate of discharge being controlled by admission of additional carbon dioxide fiowing through the by-pass duct 33, past the pressure supply valve 30. No air is admitted into the beverage chamber 16 since the check valve 44 prevents entry of air into the vent valve chamber 42. I

After the flow of beverage has ceased, the push button 59 is released. At this time, the beverage chamber [4 is completely filled with carbon dioxide gas. Release of the push button 59 causes the vent valve 55 of the control valve assembly 5 to open and the pressure control valve 51 to close. Further supply of carbon dioxide is now shut off and the control duct 63 is vented to the atmosphere through the vent duct 68. The discharge valve 45 closes and the vent valve 35 closes likewise under the action of their respective springs 49 and 40. The pressure now begins to rise in the beverage chamber l4 due to the continued flow of carbon dioxide throgh the by-pass duct 33. After a certain rise in pressure, the pressure supply valve 30 opens admitting full pressure to the beverage chamber 14. This pressure new acts on the underside of the valve I! of the admission valve and causes the admission valve to open. Carbonated beverage now flows into the beverage chamber 14 by gravity, the carbon dioxide gas in the chamber being displaced into the carbonating chamber both through ducts 32, 39 and through the open valve passage 16. Since the beverage flowing into the beverage chamber I 4 is not subjected to any drop in pressure, it loses none of its carbon dioxide charge in spite of the turbulence caused by the flow through the passage I6. i The drop of the liquid level 28 in the carbonating chamber I3 causes the float 24 to drop and the float valve 23 to open. Beverage under pressure is now admitted from the beverage supply duct 22 through the duct 25 to the nozzle 26 where it issues in the form or" ,a'spray and be-j comes carbonated. After the normal liquid level 28' is reestablished, the convene 23 closesand interrupts the fiowoi beverage into the carbon ating. chamber H. The apparatus is now ready. for the next discharge of carbonated beverage.

It is, of course, not necessary that the entire carbonation process takeplace in the carbonat-' ingchamber l3. Pre-carbonated beverage may be fed into the apparatus which will then automatically replace any loss of carbon dioxide which may have occurred previously, thus insur.

' ing'that only'fully'carbonated beverage is dis-' pensed from the apparatus.

The invention thus provides the method of and apparatus for carbonating, handling and dispensing carbonated beveragesin such manner tween the chambers l3 and I4.

mum. Entry of air into the emptying beverage-1 chamber -isprevented by a continued-supply of carbon dioxide :intoit.

The invention is not restricted to the particular form of. apparatus illustratedin the. drawings,

but may be-embodied in variousother forms: For 15 example, the carbonating' aiidjthebeveragelchfam- Aber may. be differently 'arrangediwithiirespectf to each other, may be locatdi-Isidegby side,fl.iorithe beveragebhamber abovethe c'arbonatingbhamber. Also, it is not indispensable that the beverage be discharged from the beverage chamber by gravity. It may be discharged by reduction of the volume of the beverage chamber in which event the beverage chamber would be constructed as a chamber of variable volume.

While in the illustrated embodiment of the apparatus, carbonated beverage is fed into the beverage chamber by gravity under the pressure which is equal to the liquid column from the discharge passage E6 to the normal liquid level 28, filling of the beverage chamber M can be accelerated by gas pressure on the liquid in the carbonating chamber :3 in which event a gas pressure differential would be maintained beneed not be great in order to shorten the filling time of the beverage chamber I 4 appreciably. Since even under such pressure filling the beverage chamber [4 is under substantial pressure with respect to the atmosphere, turbulence of the carbonated liquid rushing into the beverage chamber I4 does not lead to loss of the carbon dioxide charge.

It is of course not necessary to maintain the beverage chamber M under pressure of carbon dioxide although this is a very convenient way of doing it. The pressure can likewise be exerted by any other gas, for example, by air. It is also evident that the gas which fills the beverage chamber immediately before filling of the chamber with carbonated beverage, be it carbon dioxide, air, or any other gas, need not be displaced into the carbonating chamber I3 through the passage !6 at the top of the beverage chamber I4. The passage 56 could manifestly be in any other wall of the beverage chamber l4 and the gas therein be displaced into some other space or chamber whence it is returned upon emptying of the beverage chamber.

The apparatus can, of course, be combined or equipped with means for chilling the beverage or with insulating means for preventing transfer of heat to the various chambers of the apparatus supplied with chilled beverage.

These and various other additions and modifications, as well as numerous other changes, omissions and substitutions will readily occur to persons skilled in the art and do not involve a departure from the teaching or the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A beverage dispenser comprising, in combination, a supply chamber for beverage under CO2 pressure; a beverage chamber below said supply chamber; an admissionvalve between said 76 This pressure.

- fchiambers for admitting :beveragefromzsaid sup- "-ply chamber into: said beveragebhamber by gravity a dispensing-spout; b a "discharge -valve between 'said beverage chainber and*-said'-spout;- a vent'valv forrelieving pressure fromsaid-beverage: chambertd T the atmosphere; a- 'supply du'ct for C02- under' pressure; a pressure supply valve b'etween said duct and said beverage chamber; arestri'cted passage: bypassing --said' supply valve 10 -to= admitarestricted flow of-CO2 into said chamf ber wliile said pressure supplyvalveis closed; and-'-means-' 'for operating --said-= admission, discharge, vent and'supply valves in timed relationship. I V r ZHA beVerage dispenser comprising in -comf'-*bination,'=a 1 beverage. chamber a supply *passage leading to' said cham-ber from asource (if-beverage supply; an admission -va-lve in s'aid' supply passa-geran-outlet passage leadingironr-said'chamher to the atmosphere; an outlet valve in said outlet passage; a gas supply passageleading to said chamber from a source of gas under pressure; a pressure supply valve in said pressure supply passage; means for admitting gas into said chamber at a controlled rate, while said pressure supply valve is closed; and means for operating said admission, outlet and pressure supply valves in timed relationship.

3. The method of dispensing a measured volume of carbonated beverage from a source containing carbonated beverage under CO2 pressure, the method comprising, charging a beverage chamber with 002 to a pressure not less than the beverage pressure; then establishing communication between said chamber and said source and draining beverage into said chamber from said source by gravity, while simultaneously displacing CO2 from said chamber-to said source while maintaining the pressure in said chamber substantially constant; sealing said chamber with respect to said source; relieving pressure from said chamber to the atmosphere after the beverage has assumed a quiescent state; then draining said beverage from said chamber by gravity, and simultaneously admitting gas into said chamber at a controlled rate to a point above the fluid level in said chamber, thereby controlling the rate of beverage discharge from said chamber.

4.. A beverage dispenser comprising, in combination, a supply chamber for beverage under CO2 pressure; a beverage chamber below said supply chamber; an admission valve between said chambers for admitting beverage from said supply chamber into said beverage chamber by gravity; a dispensing spout; 'a discharge valve between saidbeverage chamber and said spout; a vent valve for relieving pressure from said beverage chamber to the atmosphere; a supply duct for 002 under pressure, said supply duct leading into said supply chamber; a pressure supply valve between the upper CO2 filled portion of the supply chamber and said beverage chamber; a restricted passage bypassing said supply valve to admit a restricted flow of CO2 into said beverage chamber while said pressure supply valve is closed; and means for operating said admission, discharge, vent and supply valves in timed relationship.

5. A beverage dispenser comprising, in combination, a supply chamber for beverage under CO2 pressure; a beverage chamber below said supply chamber; a pressure actuable, normally open, admission valve between said chambers for admitting beverage from said supply chamber into said beverage chamber by gravity; a dispensleading into said supply chamber; a pressure actuable, normally open, pressure supply valve between said supply chamberand said beverage chamber; a restricted passage j bypassing said supply valve ;to admit a restricted flow of CO2 into said beverage chamber while said pressure supply valve is closed; a normally closed manually actuable control valve for controlling flow of CO2 under pressure from said supply duct; an operating passage leading from said controlvalve to said pressure actuable valves for moving said valves into their respective opposite positions .with regard to their normal positions; a normally open manually actuable vent valve for venting said operating passage; and a joint manually operable element for moving said control valve and said last named vent valve into their respective opposite positions in consecutive order, first said vent valve and then said control valve.

PAUL KOLLSMAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 260,766 7 Matthews July 11, 1882 976,688 Pindstofte Nov. 22, 1910 2,039,564' Smith May 15, 1936 2,167,123 Meyer July 25', 1939 I 2,380,884 Von Stoeser et al. July 31,1945

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