Beverage preparation apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for production of carbonated beverages, comprising, in combination: water chiller means connected to receive water from a supply line and operative to provide chilled water; carbonating means connected to receive chilled water from said water-chiller means and to carbonate the chilled water without further cooling it, said carbonating means comprising a first enclosed tank containing a filamentary metal mass and means for supplying carbon dioxide gas to said tank; a syrup supply reservoir; a second enclosed tank having an inlet conduit; and pumping means for simultaneously pumping metered amounts of chilled carbonated water from said first tank and syrup from said reservoir through said inlet conduit into said second tank, said second tank being adapted to be connected to a container-filling machine.

Claim 3

The apparatus according to claim 1 having means for supplying carbon dioxide gas to said second tank; and a conduit containing a shutoff valve and a check valve interconnecting said first and second tanks, whereby when said shutoff valve is opened the pressure in said second tank will not fall below the pressure in said first tank.

Claim 4

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said filamentary metal mass is supported above the bottom of said first tank and said first tank is provided with a spray nozzle to spray said chilled water atop a portion of said filamentary metal mass.

Claim 5

The apparatus according to claim 1 having deflector means situated on the wall of said first tank to re-direct any fluid running down an inner wall of said first tank into said filamentary metal mass.

Claim 6

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pumping means comprises first and second piston-cylinder assemblies driven in synchronism by a motor through a rotary-to-reciprocating motion-converter mechanism.

Claim 7

The apparatus according to claim 1 having first conduit means connecting said first tank to said pumping means; and second conduit means connected from said first conduit means through a shutoff valve to said second tank.

Claim 8

The apparatus according to claim 1 having second pumping means for pumping chilled water from said water-chiller means to said first tank; and liquid-level sensing means connected to said first tank for controlling operation of said second pumping means.

Claim 9

The apparatus according to claim 1 having liquid-level sensing means connected to said second tank for controlling operation of said pumping means.

Claim 10

The apparatus according to claim 5 having means for individually adjusting the stroke lengths of said first and second piston-cylinder assemblies to vary the ratio of said metered amounts of chilled carbonated water and syrup.

Claim 11

Apparatus for production of carbonated beverages, comprising, in combination: a chilled water supply; a carbonation tank; first pump means having its inlet connected to said water supply to pump chilled water from said supply to said carbonation tank; a stabilizing tank adapted to be connected to a container filler and having an inlet conduit; a syrup supply reservoir; metering pump means connected to pump metered amounts of liquids from said carbonation tank and from said syrup supply reservoir to said inlet conduit of said stabilizing tank, conduit means interconnecting upper portions of said carbonation and stabilizing tank, said carbonation tank including heating means; and means for connecting said inlet of said first pump means to said stabilizing tank instead of said water supply, whereby water may be circulated through said first pump means, said carbonation tank and said stabilizing tank, and heated by operation of said first pump means and said heating means to sanitize substantially all portions of said apparatus except said chilled water supply.

Claim 12

Apparatus for production of carbonated beverages, comprising, in combination: a chilled water supply; a carbonation tank; first pump means having its inlet connected to said water supply to pump chilled water from said supply to said carbonation tank; a stabilizing tank adapted to be connected to a container filler and having an inlet conduit; a syrup supply reservoir; metering pump means connected to pump metered amounts of liquids from said carbonation tank and from said syrup supply reservoir to said inlet conduit of said stabilizing tank, conduit means interconnecting upper portions of said carbonation and stabilizing tank, said carbonation tank including heating means; and means for connecting said inlet of said first pump means to said stabilizing tank instead of said water supply, whereby water may be circulated through said first pump means, said carbonation tank and said stabilizing tank, and heated by operation of said first pump means and said heating means to sanitize substantially all portions of said apparatus except said chilled water supply.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 10 having means for connecting said stabilizing tank to said syrup supply reservoir.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said conduit means interconnecting upper portions of said tanks includes a check valve.