Carbonation chamber with sparger for beverage carbonation

Claim 1

A pressurizable container for preparing therein a carbonated beverage from a water-based liquid and carbon dioxide-generating, chemical reactants designed to rapidly carbonate the liquid without agitation, comprising: a. a container having an opening therein providing access to the contents thereof; b. A carbonation chamber, insertable into said opening in the container for holding therein the chemical reactants and for substantially isolating the resultant chemical products of the chemical reaction to prevent their adversely affecting the palatability of the beverage, said chamber having (1) an upper compartment for holding therein the chemical reactants and a quantity of water to promote the reaction, (2) a lower compartment having a bottom sparger for releasing the generated carbon dioxide into a beverage in the container, said sparger having a porosity controlled to provide a first rapid flow of gas through the beverage in the form of large bubbles of CO 2 generated from the chemical reaction and a second moderate flow of small bubbles which rapidly dissolve in the beverage without increasing head space pressure to the point the reaction stops said second moderate flow sufficient to carbonate to a level of 3.5 volumes or more of CO 2 per volume of the beverage, (3) means to provide for the passage of CO 2 from said upper compartment to said lower compartment.