IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0473498
(2002-04-05)
|
국제출원번호 |
PCT/US02/010916
(2002-04-05)
|
§371/§102 date |
20030930
(20030930)
|
국제공개번호 |
WO02/081067
(2002-10-17)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Rona,Gyorgy
- Oscenas,Janos
- Nicol,Scott
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- Rona,Gyorgy
- Oscenas,Janos
- Nicol,Scott
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
22 인용 특허 :
10 |
초록
▼
The water carbonation method and apparatus of the present invention consists of a square mixer within a carbonated chamber. The mixer is partially filled with water. Carbon dioxide is then added above the level of water. A rotating member attached to the mixing motor then mixes the water and carbon
The water carbonation method and apparatus of the present invention consists of a square mixer within a carbonated chamber. The mixer is partially filled with water. Carbon dioxide is then added above the level of water. A rotating member attached to the mixing motor then mixes the water and carbon dioxide to from a carbonated solution. Varying the time for which the carbonation operation is carried on may vary the degree of carbonation. After the specified carbonation cycle, excess carbon dioxide is then relieved through an exhaust solenoid and the remaining carbonated solution is released through the dispensing solenoid into a cup.
대표청구항
▼
The invention claimed is: 1. A carbonation apparatus comprising: a carbonation chamber; a source of water; a water inlet valve connecting the source of water to the carbonation chamber; a source of carbon dioxide gas; a carbon dioxide inlet valve connecting the source of carbon dioxide gas to the c
The invention claimed is: 1. A carbonation apparatus comprising: a carbonation chamber; a source of water; a water inlet valve connecting the source of water to the carbonation chamber; a source of carbon dioxide gas; a carbon dioxide inlet valve connecting the source of carbon dioxide gas to the carbonation chamber; a rotatable mixer within the carbonation chamber; a gas exhaust valve connected to the carbonation chamber; a gas exhaust silencer connected to the gas exhaust valve, the gas exhaust silencer comprising a housing having at least one inlet and one outlet, the housing having an internal cavity with a filter therein, the internal cavity being in fluid communication with a first inlet, the first inlet receiving gas being relieved from the carbonation chamber, the outlet being in fluid communication with the first inlet and receiving gas after the gas passes through the filter, wherein the housing has at least two inlets, a second inlet receiving water vented from the carbonation chamber, the vented water being mixed with the relieved gas, the outlet receiving the mixed water and gas; and a carbonated water dispensing valve connected to the carbonation chamber. 2. The carbonation chamber according to claim 1, further comprising: a controller for selectively operating: the carbon dioxide inlet valve; the gas exhaust valve; the water inlet valve; the carbonated water dispensing valve; and the mixer. 3. The carbonation chamber according to claim 1, wherein the carbonation chamber is rectangular. 4. The carbonation chamber according to claim 1, wherein the water inlet valve and the carbonated water dispensing valve are positioned within the carbonation chamber. 5. A method for carbonating water comprising the steps of: partially filling a carbonation chamber with water to a pre-determined level; introducing carbon dioxide gas into the carbonation chamber; agitating the water to mix carbon dioxide gas into the water; relieving gas pressure from the carbonation chamber prior to dispensing carbonated water from the carbonation chamber; silencing the gas pressure being relieved from the carbonation chamber; and dispensing carbonated water from the carbonation chamber, wherein the step of partially filling a carbonation chamber with water comprises introducing water into the carbonation chamber directly over where the carbonated water is dispensed from the carbonation chamber. 6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising maintaining the pressure of the carbon dioxide gas in the carbonation chamber while agitating the water. 7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the step of partially filling a carbonation chamber introduces the water into an upper portion of the carbonation chamber. 8. The method according to claim 5, further comprising: selecting one of a first carbonation level and a second carbonation level. 9. The method according to claim 5, wherein the carbon dioxide gas is introduced above the water. 10. A method for carbonating water comprising the steps of: partially filling a carbonation chamber with water to a pre-determined level; introducing carbon dioxide gas into the carbonation chamber; agitating the water to mix carbon dioxide gas into the water; relieving gas pressure from the carbonation chamber prior to dispensing carbonated water from the carbonation chamber; silencing the gas pressure being relieved from the carbonation chamber; dispensing carbonated water from the carbonation chamber; venting excess water from the carbonation chamber; and mixing the vented excess water and the relieved gas during the step of silencing. 11. A method for carbonating water comprising the steps of: partially filling a carbonation chamber with water to a pre-determined level; introducing carbon dioxide gas into the carbonation chamber; agitating the water to mix carbon dioxide gas into the water; relieving gas pressure from the carbonation chamber prior to dispensing carbonated water from the carbonation chamber; silencing the gas pressure being relieved from the carbonation chamber; dispensing carbonated water from the carbonation chamber; beginning the step of agitating the water about 0.5 seconds after beginning the step of introducing carbon dioxide gas into the carbonation chamber; and after beginning the step of agitating the water, simultaneously performing the steps of agitating the water and introducing carbon dioxide gas into the carbonation chamber. 12. A carbonation apparatus comprising: a carbonation chamber; means for partially filling the carbonation chamber with water to a pre-determined level; means for introducing carbon dioxide gas into the carbonation chamber above the water; means for, mounted within the carbonation chamber, agitating the water to mix carbon dioxide gas into the water; and means for dispensing carbonated water from the carbonation chamber, the means for partially filling and the means for dispensing including combined filling and dispensing valves. 13. The carbonation apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the water partially filling the carbonation chamber is introduced into an upper part of the carbonation chamber. 14. The carbonation apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the means for introducing carbon dioxide gas comprises: a source of carbon dioxide gas; and a pressure regulator regulating the pressure of the carbon dioxide gas introduced into the carbonation chamber. 15. The carbonation apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the pressure regulator regulates the pressure of the carbon dioxide gas to about 5 bar. 16. The carbonation apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the means for filling and the means for dispensing are water valves comprising: a flexible seal sealingly engaging an interior surface of the carbonation chamber; a valve sleeve movable between a first position and a second position, the valve sleeve, when in the second position, lifting the flexible seal out of engagement with the interior surface of the carbonation chamber, the flexible seal fitting over an interior end of the valve sleeve; and a spring biasing the valve sleeve to the first position. 17. The carbonation apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the carbonation chamber has a through aperture therein, an aperture side being elongated forming a valve housing, the valve sleeve being positioned within the aperture, the flexible seal sealing about an inner end of the aperture. 18. The carbonation apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising: a solenoid operatively connected to the valve sleeve, the solenoid moving the valve sleeve from the first position to the second position; and wherein the aperture side has an operator aperture therein, a pivotable arm extends from the solenoid through the operator aperture to the valve sleeve, and a second flexible sleeve seals the pivotable arm to the operator aperture. 19. The carbonation apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising: a single spring biasing both valve sleeves to the first position. 20. The carbonation apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the means for partially filling the carbonation chamber with water introduces the water vertically above where the means for dispensing carbonated water from the carbonation chamber removes the carbonated water from the carbonation chamber. 21. A carbonation apparatus comprising: a carbonation chamber; a source of water; a water inlet valve connecting the source of water to the carbonation chamber; a source of carbon dioxide gas; a carbon dioxide inlet valve connecting the source of carbon dioxide gas to the carbonation chamber; a rotatable mixer within the carbonation chamber; a gas exhaust valve connected to the carbonation chamber; a gas exhaust silencer connected to the gas exhaust valve; and a carbonated water dispensing valve connected to the carbonation chamber; and a spring, the spring biasing both the water inlet valve and the carbonated water dispensing valve towards a closed position. 22. A carbonation apparatus comprising: a carbonation chamber; a source of water; a water inlet valve connecting the source of water to the carbonation chamber; a source of carbon dioxide gas; a carbon dioxide inlet valve connecting the source of carbon dioxide gas to the carbonation chamber; a rotatable mixer within the carbonation chamber; a gas exhaust valve connected to the carbonation chamber; a gas exhaust silencer connected to the gas exhaust valve, the gas exhaust silencer comprising a housing having at least one inlet and one outlet, the housing having an internal cavity with a filter therein, the internal cavity being in fluid communication with a first inlet, the first inlet receiving gas being relieved from the carbonation chamber, the outlet being in fluid communication with the first inlet and receiving gas after the gas passes through the filter, the housing further comprising a second inlet, the second inlet receiving water vented from the carbonation chamber, the outlet being in fluid communication with the first inlet and the second inlet; and a carbonated water dispensing valve connected to the carbonation chamber. 23. A method for carbonating water comprising the steps of: partially filling a carbonation chamber with water to a pre-determined level; introducing carbon dioxide gas into the carbonation chamber; agitating the water to mix carbon dioxide gas into the water; relieving gas pressure from the carbonation chamber prior to dispensing carbonated water from the carbonation chamber; silencing the gas pressure being relieved from the carbonation chamber; dispensing carbonated water from the carbonation chamber; and delaying the step of relieving gas pressure for about 2 seconds after the step of agitating the water completes. 24. A carbonation apparatus comprising: a carbonation chamber; a source of water; a water inlet valve connecting the source of water to the carbonation chamber; a source of carbon dioxide gas; a carbon dioxide inlet valve connecting the source of carbon dioxide gas to the carbonation chamber; a rotatable mixer within the carbonation chamber; a gas exhaust valve connected to the carbonation chamber; a gas exhaust silencer connected to the gas exhaust valve; and a carbonated water dispensing valve connected to the carbonation chamber, wherein the water inlet valve and the carbonated water dispensing valve are coaxial.
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