Circuit arrangement for regulating the filling and refilling of containers with liquids

Claim 1

A system for supplying water to a carbonator tank, said carbonator tank in operation having a gaseous head space of a variable volume above the level of water in said tank, comprising: (a) single liquid level sensor means for sensing when the level of water falls below a first predetermined level and generating a water demand signal; (b) supply means energized by said water demand signal for supplying water to said carbonator tank; (c) control circuit means enabled by said water demand signal for generating control signals which maintain said supply means energized while said liquid level sensor means are generating said water demand signal to permit the water level in the tank to rise to said first predetermined level; and (d) timer means included in said control circuit means for generating a further control signal subsequent to the end of said water demand signal, whereby said further control signal maintains said supply means energized for a period of time sufficient to permit the water level in the tank to rise to a second predetermined level above said first predetermined level; whereby said period to time is selected so that short cycling is substantially eliminated and the volume of said head space and pressure within said tank is maintained substantially constant.

Claim 2

A system for supplying water to a carbonator tank, said carbonator tank in operation having a gaseous head space of a variable volume above the level of water in said tank, comprising: (a) single liquid level sensor means for sensing when the level of water falls below a first predetermined level and generating a water demand signal; (b) supply means energized by said water demand signal for supplying water to said carbonator tank; (c) control circuit means enabled by said water demand signal for generating control signals which maintain said supply means energized while said liquid level sensor means are generating said water demand signal to permit the water level in the tank to rise to said first predetermined level; and (d) timer means included in said control circuit means for generating a further control signal subsequent to the end of said water demand signal, whereby said further control signal maintains said supply means energized for a period of time sufficient to permit the water level in the tank to rise to a second predetermined level above said first predetermined level; whereby said period to time is selected so that short cycling is substantially eliminated and the volume of said head space and pressure within said tank is maintained substantially constant.

Claim 5

A system for supplying water to a carbonator tank, said carbonator tank in operation having a gaseous head space of a variable volume above the level of water in said tank, comprising: single liquid level sensor means for sensing when the level of water falls below a first predetermined level and generating a water demand signal; supply means energized by said water demand signal for supplying water to said carbonator tank; control circuit means including timer means enabled by said water demand signal for generating control signals which maintain said supply means energized for a period of time sufficient to permit the water level in the tank to rise to a second predetermined level above said first predetermined level; whereby said period of time is selected so that short cycling is substantially eliminated and the volume of said head space and pressure within said tank is maintained substantially constant; said tank is comprised of electrically conductive material and said liquid sensor means comprises a variable resistance including an electrode, adapted to contact the liquid in said tank, and the electrically conductive material of said tank; and said control circuit means additionally includes a level setting variable resistance connected in series with said liquid sensor variable resistance , said series connected variable resistances being further coupled across a source of voltage and forming a voltage divider thereby, said voltage divider having a voltage tap providing a water level signal.

Claim 6

A system for supplying water to a carbonator tank, said carbonator tank in operation having a gaseous head space of a variable volume above the level of water in said tank, comprising: single liquid level sensor means for sensing when the level of water falls below a first predetermined level and generating a water demand signal; supply means energized by said water demand signal for supplying water to said carbonator tank; control circuit means including timer means enabled by said water demand signal for generating control signals which maintain said supply means energized for a period of time sufficient to permit the water level in the tank to rise to a second predetermined level above said first predetermined level; whereby said period of time is selected so that short cycling is substantially eliminated and the volume of said head space and pressure within said tank is maintained substantially constant; said tank is comprised of electrically conductive material and said liquid sensor means comprises a variable resistance including an electrode, adapted to contact the liquid in said tank, and the electrically conductive material of said tank; and said control circuit means additionally includes a level setting variable resistance connected in series with said liquid sensor variable resistance , said series connected variable resistances being further coupled across a source of voltage and forming a voltage divider thereby, said voltage divider having a voltage tap providing a water level signal.