Method of and apparatus for carbonating, cooling, storing, distributing and dispensing beverages

Claim 1

IN A BEVERAGE SYSTEM FOR CARBONATING, REFRIGERATING STORING AND DISPENSING WATER, A CARBONATOR, A DISPENSING FAUCET REMOTE FROM THE CARBONATOR, CONDUIT MEANS CONNECTING THE FAUCET AND THE CARBONATOR AND PROVIDING SEPARATE PATH TO AND FROM THE FAUCET IN A CLOSED PRESSURIZED CIRCUIT, PUMPS MEANS FORCING WATER OVER THE CIRCUIT, REFRIGERATING MEANS IN HEAT EXCHANGE RELATION TO THE CIRCULATING WATER, SOURCES OF WATER AND OF CARBON DIOXIDE UNDER PRESSURE, A PRESSURE REGULATOR FOR AND CONNECTED TO THE CARBON DIOXIDE SOURCE, AND SUPPLY MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID SOURCES AND REGULATOR TO RECEIVE WATER AND REGULATED CARBON DIOXIDE THEREFROM AUTOMATICALLY SUPPLYING WATER AND CARBON DIOXIDE TO THE PRESSURIZED CIRCUIT IN CONTINUOUS REPLENISHMENT OF THAT DISPENSED THROUGH THE FAUCET, SAID SUPPLY MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO MAINTAIN THE WATER AND THE CARBON DIOXIDE IN THE CIRCUIT WITHIN PREDETERMINED VOLUME AND PRESSURE LIMITS, AND A STORAGE TANK OPERATIVELY COMMUNICATING WITH THE CONDUIT MEANS CONNECTING THE FAUCET AND THE CARBONATOR FOR RECEIVING, CIRCULATING AND STORING CARBONATED WATER THEREIN FROM THE PRESSURIZED CIRCUIT.

Claim 3

THE METHOD OF COOLING, STORING AND DISPENSING CARBONATED WATER WHICH COMPRISES: MAINTAINING A BODY OF CARBONATED WATER IN HEAT EXCHANGE RELATION WITH A REFRIGERATING MEDIUM; WITHDRAWING SUCH REFRIGERATED WATER FROM THE BODY CONTINUOUSLY; CIRCULATING THE WITHDRAWN WATER OVER A CLOSED PATH AND IN CONTINUOUS STREAM OF RELATIVELY SMALL CROSS SECTIONAL AREA PAST A REMOTE DISPENSING POINT FROM WHICH IT MAY BE DISPENSED AS DESIRED; RETURNING THE REMAINING CIRCULATED WATER TO SAID BODY; MAINTAINING A CONFINED ATMOSPHERE OF PRESSURIZED CARBON DIOXIDE IN THE PATH OF THE CIRCULATING WATER; SPRAYING THE CIRCULATING WATER THROUGH THE CARBON DIOXIDE ATMOSPHERE AND PICKING UP CARBON DIOXIDE FROM SUCH CARBON DIOXIDE ATMOSPHERE FOR ARGUEMNTATION OF THE CARBON DIOXIDE CONTENT OF SUCH CIRCULATING WATER; AUTOMATICALLY ADDING SUPPLY WATER TO SAID BODY TO REPLACE THAT RELEASED FOR COMSUMPTION TO MAINTAIN SAID BODY WITHIN PREDETERMINED VOLUMETRIC LIMITS; AUTOMATICALLY ADDING CARBON DIOXIDE TO SAID ATMOSPHERE IN REPLACEMENT OF THAT PICKED UP BY THE CIRCULATING WATER TO MAINTAIN THE CARBON DIOXIDE ATMOPSHER WITHIN PREDETERMINED PRESSURE LIMITS; AND MAINTAINING A RESERVE BODY OF SAID CIRCULATING REFRIGERATED CARBONATED WATER UPSTREAM OF SAID DISPENSING POINT.

Claim 4

THE METHOD OF COOLING, STORING AND DISPENSING CARBONATED WATER WHICH COMPRISES: MAINTAINING A BODY OF CARBONATED WATER IN HEAT EXCHANGE RELATION WITH A REFRIGERATING MEDIUM; WITHDRAWING SUCH REFRIGERATED WATER FROM THE BODY CONTINUOUSLY; CIRCULATING THE WITHDRAWN WATER OVER A CLOSED PATH AND IN CONTINUOUS STREAM OF RELATIVELY SMALL CROSS SECTIONAL AREA PAST A REMOTE DISPENSING POINT FROM WHICH IT MAY BE DISPENSED AS DESIRED; RETURNING THE REMAINING CIRCULATED WATER TO SAID BODY; MAINTAINING A CONFINED ATMOSPHERE OF PRESSURIZED CARBON DIOXIDE IN THE PATH OF THE CIRCULATING WATER; SPRAYING THE CIRCULATING WATER THROUGH THE CARBON DIOXIDE ATMOSPHERE AND PICKING UP CARBON DIOXIDE FROM SUCH CARBON DIOXIDE ATMOSPHERE FOR ARGUEMNTATION OF THE CARBON DIOXIDE CONTENT OF SUCH CIRCULATING WATER; AUTOMATICALLY ADDING SUPPLY WATER TO SAID BODY TO REPLACE THAT RELEASED FOR COMSUMPTION TO MAINTAIN SAID BODY WITHIN PREDETERMINED VOLUMETRIC LIMITS; AUTOMATICALLY ADDING CARBON DIOXIDE TO SAID ATMOSPHERE IN REPLACEMENT OF THAT PICKED UP BY THE CIRCULATING WATER TO MAINTAIN THE CARBON DIOXIDE ATMOPSHER WITHIN PREDETERMINED PRESSURE LIMITS; AND MAINTAINING A RESERVE BODY OF SAID CIRCULATING REFRIGERATED CARBONATED WATER UPSTREAM OF SAID DISPENSING POINT.