EP0488586A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Carbonation system
Assignee: ABC/TECHCORP Inc
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Filing: 1991-11-21
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-11-21
Abstract
Abstract A carbonation system (10) is provided in which replenishment or recharging of the carbonation tank (12) is undertaken upon the basis of sensing and monitoring the CO₂ gas head pressure within the tank. No floats or liquid level sensors are employed. A pressure switch (40), monitoring the head pressure within the tank, is operative to turn a high pressure motor (26) on and off to appropriately introduce water into the carbonation tank as the need is dictated by changes in the pressure head. Such changes are an indication of either dispensing of soda, or the absorption of the CO₂ gas into the soda within the tank, both conditions indicating a need for replenishment of water into the soda tank. The addition of water to the carbonation tank may proceed as a function of pressure within the tank, as a function of the time period of a dispensing cycle, or as a combination of time and pressure.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph W. Shannon
- 👤 Thomas S. Green
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 17:03
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67D; B67D1/00; B67D1/04; B67D1/0406; B01; B01F; B01F23/00; B01F23/20; B01F23/23; B01F23/236; B01F23/2362; B01F23/2363; B01F35/00; B01F35/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A carbonator for generatings soda, comprising: a tank having a supply of soda beneath a pressure head of CO₂ gas; a source of water communicating with said tank; a source of carbon dioxide gas communicating with said tank; and switch means interposed between said tank and said source of water for introducing water from said source of water into said tank when said pressure head drops below a particular level.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
14 words
The carbonator according to claim 1, wherein said switch means comprises a pressure switch.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The carbonator according to claim 2, wherein said source of water comprises a water pump selectively actuated and deactivated by said pressure switch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The carbonator according to claim 3, wherein said pressure switch actuates said water pump when said pressure head is below a first value, and deactivates said water pump when said pressure head exceeds a second value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The carbonator according to claim 4, wherein said source of carbon dioxide gas is a regulated pressure source.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The carbonator according to claim 5, wherein said regulated pressure source of carbon dioxide gas is at a pressure lower than said first value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The carbonator according to claim 6, further comprising an output conduit having a first end thereof received within said tank and having a dispensing valve at a second end thereof, said soda being dispensed through said output conduit under force of said pressure head upon opening of said dispensing value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
78 words
A carbonator, comprising: a tank maintaining a reservoir of soda beneath a pressure head of CO₂ gas; pump means for pumping water into said tank; a source of carbon dioxide gas in communication with said tank; and a pressure switch interposed between said pump means and said pressure head, said pressure switch activating said pump means when said pressure head drops below a first level, and deactivating said pump means when said pressure head exceeds a second level.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The carbonator according to claim 8, wherein said source of carbon dioxide gas is pressure regulated at a pressure level below said first level.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The carbonator according to claim 9, wherein an output conduit having a dispensing valve therein communicates with said reservoir of soda, said soda being dispensed from said reservoir under force of said pressure head of CO₂ gas.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The carbonator according to claim 9, wherein said soda and said pressure head of CO₂ gas are monitored solely by said pressure switch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
82 words
A soda generator, comprising: a tank having a supply of soda beneath a pressure head of CO₂ gas; a source of water communicating with said tank; a source of CO₂ gas communicating with said tank; a dispensing valve communicating with said tank for dispensing soda therefrom; and control means interposed between said dispensing valve and said source of water for actuating said dispensing valve to dispense soda from said tank and to pass water from said source of water to said tank.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
The soda generator according to claim 12, wherein said control means activates said dispensing valve for a period of time sufficient to dispense a desired quantity of soda, said control means comprising a pump actuated for a period of time sufficient to introduce an equal quantity of water into said tank.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
The soda generator according to claim 13, wherein said soda is dispensed at a first flow rate, and said water is introduced into said tank at a second flow rate, said second flow rate being less than said first flow rate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The soda generator according to claim 14, wherein said control means actuates said pump following actuation of said dispensing valve to commence dispensing of soda.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
The soda generator according to claim 12, wherein said control means comprises a pressure sensor in communication with said pressure head, said control means introducing water into said tank from said source of water following actuation of said dispensing valve until said pressure head reaches a predetermined level.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
The soda generator according to claim 16, wherein said control means comprises a pump communicating with said source of water, said pump being actuated following actuation of said dispensing valve, and continuing after closure of said dispensing valve until said pressure head reaches said predetermined level.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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