US3756576A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for charging a liquid with gas
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-02-23
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Granted: 1973-09-04
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Expires: 1991-02-23
Abstract
Abstract In producing carbonated water, CO2 gas from a storage tank is introduced into a charging chamber together with a water spray delivered by a double-acting pump. The charged water is collected in a reservoir from which a portion of the evolving gas is directed to the pump for reciprocating same; on its way to the pump, this gas flow passes through a pair of control valves held open by gas pressure from another reservoir outlet as long as the liquid in that reservoir remains below a predetermined level. When this level is reached, a float cuts off the gas pressure so that the control valves close to arrest the pump. Reciprocation of the pump piston is controlled by a switching valve which is temporarily locked in a terminal phase of each piston stroke to stress a spring in a lost-motion coupling between the piston and the valve body, the subsequent release of the locking detent enabling the instant reversal of the switching valve by snap action.
Inventors
- 👤 F Tremolada
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 19:50
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67D; B67D1/00; B67D1/0042; B67D1/0057; B01; B01F; B01F23/00; B01F23/20; B01F23/23; B01F23/236; B01F23/2362; B01F23/2363; B01F25/00; B01F25/105; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S261/00; Y10S261/07
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
In a system for charging a liquid with gas, in combination: a supply of liquid to be charged; storage means containing a charging gas under pressure; a charging chamber provided with a first inlet for said liquid and a second inlet connected to said storage means; a pump for delivering said liquid to said chamber, said pump comprising a cylinder with a double-acting piston having a pair of spaced-apart heads, said cylinder being provided with an internal partition between said heads defining with the latter a pair of inner compartments each having an entrance port connected to said supply and an exit port connected to said first inlet, said cylinder having end walls defining with said heads a pair of outer compartments; a source of motive fluid for said pump; valve means operable to connect said source alternately to said outer compartments for reciprocating said piston; a reservoir for gas-charged liquid connected to said chamber; sensing means responsive to the amount of liquid in said reservoir; and control means for said valve means operable by said sensing means to cut off the flow of motive fluid to said pump upon said amount of liquid reaching a predetermined magnitude.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
In a system for charging a liquid with gas, in combination: a supply of liquid to be charged; storage means containing a charging gas under pressure; a charging chamber provided with a first inlet for said liquid and a second inlet connected to said storage means; a pump for delivering said liquid to said chamber, said pump comprising a cylinder with a double-acting piston having a pair of spaced-apart heads, said cylinder being provided with an internal partition between said heads defining with the latter a pair of inner compartments each having an entrance port connected to said supply and an exit port connected to said first inlet, said cylinder having end walls defining with said heads a pair of outer compartments; a source of motive fluid for said pump; valve means operable to connect said source alternately to said outer compartments for reciprocating said piston; a reservoir for gas-charged liquid connected to said chamber; sensing means responsive to the amount of liquid in said reservoir; and control means for said valve means operable by said sensing means to cut off the flow of motive fluid to said pump upon said amount of liquid reaching a predetermined magnitude.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said pump is provided with a first pair of check valves ahead of said entrance ports and a second pair of check valves beyond said exit ports.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said pump is provided with a high-pressure conduit originating at said source and with a low-pressure conduit opening into the atmosphere, said valve means including a switching valve for alternately connecting said outer compartments to said high-pressure conduit and said low-pressure conduit, respectively, said valve means further including a pair of shut-off valves in said conduits controed by said sensing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
The combination defined in claim 3 wherein said reservoir is provided with a discharge line for evolving gases with a restricted termination opening into the atmosphere and with branches leading to said shut-off valves, said sensing means comprising a floating member in said reservoir positioned to obstruct said discharge lines upon a rise of the liquid to a predetermined level.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination defined in claim 4 wherein said source is an outlet of said reservoir connected to said high-pressure conduit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
81 words
The combination defined in claim 3 wherein said piston has a hollow rod interconnecting said heads, said switching valve comprising a valve body provided with an axially extending stem lodged in said rod, a spring-loaded lost-motion coupling in said rod linking same with said stem for temporarily immobilizing same in a terminal phase of each reciprocating stroke of the piston, deactivation of said detent means in a dead-center position of said piston resulting in an instant reversal of said switching valve.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
74 words
The combination defined in claim 6 wherein one of said end walls is formed with a socket communicating with said conduits and opening into a passage leading to the proximal one of said outer compartments, said pump being further provided with a channel connecting said socket with the distal one of said outer compartments, said valve body being shiftable in said socket for alternately connecting said conduits with said passage and said channel, respectively.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
79 words
The combination defined in claim 7 wherein said socket has a wall surface provided with terminations of said conduits and said channel at axially spaced locations, the termination of said channel being bracketed by the terminations of said conduits, said valve body having an annular shoulder bearing upon said wall surface in a fluidtight manner and surrounding a recess confronting one pair of adjoining terminations in a first postion and another pair of adjoining terminations in a second position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
86 words
The combination defined in claim 8 wherein said valve body comprises a frame parallel to and spaced from said wall surface, a disk member and a ring member seated side by side in said frame with relative transverse mobility and with formation of a peripheral gap therebetween, said ring member projecting toward said wall surface to form said annular shoulder, and an elastically deformable annular gasket in said gap tending to spread said members apart against said wall surface and an opposite surface of said socket.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
The combination defined in claim 9 wherein said disk member has a concave front face next to said ring member forming part of said recess, said disk member further having a rear face with a depression accessible to high-pressure gas in said socket for urging both said members toward said wall surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
150 words
The combination defined in claim 6 wherein said lost-motion coupling comprises a guide tube for said stem rigid with one of said end walls, said tube being formed with a lateral hole and being provided with a ball of a diameter greater than the wall thickness of said tube seated in said hole, said stem having a pair of axially spaced incisions alternately engageable by said ball for locking said valve body in either of two operating positions thereof, a ferrule inside said rod surrounding said tube in the region of said hole with frictional fIt but axial displaceability between two extreme positions out of line with said ball, and a pair of axially spaced abutments in said rod engaging said ferrule in opposite terminal piston positions for moving through an intermediate locking position aligned with said ball to immobilize said stem temporarily just before the end of each stroke.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
The combination defined in claim 11 wherein said abutments form part of two relatively movable elements in said rod, said coupling including an expanding spring tending to spread said elements axially apart, said elements being respectively engageable with said stem in opposite terminal positions of said piston for shifting said valve body upon movement of said ferrule past said locking position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
The combination defined in claim 12 wherein said elements are a first sleeve, coaxially surrounding said stem and said ferrule, and a second sleeve in line with said guide tube, said valve body having a pair of projections alongside said stem engageable by said first sleeve, said stem having a flanged end engageable by an internal flange of said second sleeve.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2541757A
Cited
US3527213A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-03 | 1977-03-05 | 1977-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-03 | 1981-03-05 | 1981-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-03 | 1985-03-05 | 1985-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |