US3813010A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Beverage dispenser
Assignee: Cornelius Co
•
Filing: 1972-11-27
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Granted: 1974-05-28
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Expires: 1992-11-27
Abstract
Abstract A combined carbonator-dispenser of post-mix beverages includes a storage tank for carbonated water in which a selected pressure of carbon dioxide gas is maintained, and to which still water is added which normally is at line pressure, through a flow control, and to which carbon dioxide gas is added at a still higher pressure. The still water and the carbon dioxide gas are combined in a mixer and the mixture passes through a turbulator enroute to such storage tank. The storage tank is refrigerated by a refrigerant line that encircles the tank in heat-exchange relation therewith, and the water line passes through the bore of the refrigerant line enroute to the mixer. The direction of water flow is counter to that of the refrigerant flow, and a portion of the water line and a portion of the refrigerant line are disposed above the uppermost level of carbonated water. A syrup line encircles the refrigerant line, there being one such syrup line for each flavor to be dispensed. The space above the carbonated water in the storage tank is directly coupled to the space above syrup in the syrup storage tank, so that any tendency for pressure to increase in one of such tanks is absorbed in part by the space above the liquid in the outer tank or tanks.
Inventors
- 👤 D Hassell
- 👤 Millin J Mc
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 15:19
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25D; F25D31/00; F25D31/002; B; B01; B01F; B01F23/00; B01F23/20; B01F23/23; B01F23/236; B01F23/2363; B67; B67D; B67D1/00; B67D1/0042; B67D1/0057; B67D1/0058
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
A combined carbonator-dispenser, comprising: a. a storage tank for carbonated water, said tank being arranged to be pressurized by a source of carbon dioxide gas under the control of a first pressure regulating valve to a selected first pressure; b. a dispensing faucet connected to said storage tank to receive carbonated water therefrom; c. a water line arranged to be connected to a pressurized supply of still water having a second pressure higher than said first pressure; d. a gas line arranged to be connected to a pressurized supply of carbon dioxide gas under the control of a second pressure regulating valve for producing a third pressure higher than said first pressure; e. a T-mixer having water and gas inlets connected respectively to said water and gas lines, and leading to a mixing zone therein, and an outlet leading therefrom; and f. a mixing line leading from said mixing zone to said storage tank.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
A combined carbonator-dispenser, comprising: a. a storage tank for carbonated water, said tank being arranged to be pressurized by a source of carbon dioxide gas under the control of a first pressure regulating valve to a selected first pressure; b. a dispensing faucet connected to said storage tank to receive carbonated water therefrom; c. a water line arranged to be connected to a pressurized supply of still water having a second pressure higher than said first pressure; d. a gas line arranged to be connected to a pressurized supply of carbon dioxide gas under the control of a second pressure regulating valve for producing a third pressure higher than said first pressure; e. a T-mixer having water and gas inlets connected respectively to said water and gas lines, and leading to a mixing zone therein, and an outlet leading therefrom; and f. a mixing line leading from said mixing zone to said storage tank.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
82 words
A combined carbonator-dispenser according to claim 1 which includes a check valve in said water line to prevent reverse flow of carbon dioxide gas therethrough, and a three-way venting valve in said water line upstream of said check valve for venting the portion of said water line between said check valve and said three-way valve to the atmosphere whenever said check valve and three-way valve are closed, whereby any gas leakage past the closed check valve cannot flow into the water supply.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
A combined carbonator-dispenser according to claim 1 which includes a pair of valves disposed in said water line and said gas line, and a level control responsive to the level of carbonated water in said tank for controlling said pair of valves to maintain the liquid level in said tank between predetermined upper and lower limits.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
A combined carbonator-dispenser according to claim 1 including means for refrigerating said water line, and a flow-rate control valve in said water line sized to limit the volumetric rate of water flow therethrough based on the refrigerating capacity of said refrigerating means, whereby only an acceptable temperature rise of refrigerated water occurs during steady dispensing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A combined carbonator-dispenser according to claim 1 in which said water and gas inlets in said T-mixer have bores facing each othEr which are unrestricted therebetween.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A combined carbonator-dispenser according to claim 1 which includes a length of tubing of restricted bore size, smaller than the bore size of the water inlet, connecting said gas inlet to said mixing zone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A combined carbonator-dispenser according to claim 1 which includes a tubulator disposed in and extending along a length of said mixing line.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
A combined carbonator-dispenser according to claim 1 which includes means disposed in said gas line between said second pressure regulator and said tank for maintaining a substantially constant pressure drop, and means in said water line for maintaining a substantially constant flow rate therethrough.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
89 words
A combined carbonator-dispenser according to claim 1 which includes a syrup supply tank connected by a syrup line to said dispensing faucent, said faucet being of the mixing type, and a pressure regulator valve having an inlet for being connected to receive pressurized carbon dioxide gas at said third pressure, and an outlet connected directly to said syrup supply tank and to said storage tank to provide said selected first pressure, whereby the gas-filled space above the liquid in either tank has an effective volume of both said spaces.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
A combined carbonator-dispenser according to claim 1 in which said second pressure regulating valve and said gas line regulate said third pressure to be higher at the T-mixer gas inlet than said second pressure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
190 words
A combined carbonator-dispenser, comprising: a. a storage tank for carbonated water, said tank being arranged to be pressurized by a source of carbon dioxide gas under the control of a first pressure regulating valve to a selected first pressure; b. a dispensing faucet connected to said storage tank to receive carbonated water therefrom; c. a water line arranged to be connected to a pressurized supply of still water having a second pressure higher than said first pressure; d. means in said water line for maintaining a substantially constant flow rate therethrough; e. a gas line arranged to be connected to a pressurized supply of carbon dioxide gas under the control of a second pressure regulating valve for producing a third pressure higher than said first pressure; f. means disposed in said gas line between said second pressure regulator and said tank for maintaining a substantially constant pressure drop; g. a mixer having water and gas inlets connected respectively to said water and gas lines, and leading to a mixing zone therein, and an outlet leading therefrom; and h. a mixing line leading from said mixing zone to said storage tank.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
190 words
A combined carbonator-dispenser, comprising: a. a storage tank for carbonated water, said tank being arranged to be pressurized by a source of carbon dioxide gas under the control of a first pressure regulating valve to a selected first pressure; b. a dispensing faucet connected to said storage tank to receive carbonated water therefrom; c. a water line arranged to be connected to a pressurized supply of still water having a second pressure higher than said first pressure; d. means in said water line for maintaining a substantially constant flow rate therethrough; e. a gas line arranged to be connected to a pressurized supply of carbon dioxide gas under the control of a second pressure regulating valve for producing a third pressure higher than said first pressure; f. means disposed in said gas line between said second pressure regulator and said tank for maintaining a substantially constant pressure drop; g. a mixer having water and gas inlets connected respectively to said water and gas lines, and leading to a mixing zone therein, and an outlet leading therefrom; and h. a mixing line leading from said mixing zone to said storage tank.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
129 words
A post-mix beverage dispenser, comprising: a. a refrigerated storage tank for storing carbonated water; b. a dispensing faucet of the mixing type connected to said storage tank to receive carbonated water therefrom; c. a syrup supply tank remote from said storage tank and connected by a syrup line to said dispensing faucet; and d. a pressure regulator valve having an inlet for being connected to receive pressurized carbon dioxide gas, and an outlet connected directly by a continually open lines to said syrup supply tank and to said storage tank to pressurize said tanks, whereby the gas-filled space above the liquid in either tank has an effective volume equal to the combined volume of both of said spaces whereby the pressure increase due to any temperature increase is minimized.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
129 words
A post-mix beverage dispenser, comprising: a. a refrigerated storage tank for storing carbonated water; b. a dispensing faucet of the mixing type connected to said storage tank to receive carbonated water therefrom; c. a syrup supply tank remote from said storage tank and connected by a syrup line to said dispensing faucet; and d. a pressure regulator valve having an inlet for being connected to receive pressurized carbon dioxide gas, and an outlet connected directly by a continually open lines to said syrup supply tank and to said storage tank to pressurize said tanks, whereby the gas-filled space above the liquid in either tank has an effective volume equal to the combined volume of both of said spaces whereby the pressure increase due to any temperature increase is minimized.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-05-27 | 1977-11-26 | 1978-05-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-05-27 | 1981-11-26 | 1982-05-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-05-27 | 1985-11-26 | 1986-05-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |