초록 ▼

A carbonator for a beverage dispenser is characterized by a carbonator tank that is placed at a generally inaccessible first location in the beverage dispenser. Liquid and CO2 are supplied to the tank to carbonate liquid in the tank and carbonated liquid at an outlet from the tank is delivered to a

A carbonator for a beverage dispenser is characterized by a carbonator tank that is placed at a generally inaccessible first location in the beverage dispenser. Liquid and CO2 are supplied to the tank to carbonate liquid in the tank and carbonated liquid at an outlet from the tank is delivered to a beverage dispensing valve. To control delivery of liquid to the carbonator tank and thereby the level of liquid in the tank, a liquid level sensor is fluid coupled to an interior of the tank and is placed in the beverage dispenser at a generally accessible second location that is remote from the first location and from the tank. Placement of the liquid level sensor remote from the carbonator tank and at an accessible location facilitates its repair and replacement.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A carbonator, comprising: a carbonator tank having a liquid inlet for delivery of liquid into said tank, a carbonating gas inlet for delivery of carbonating gas into said tank to carbonate within said tank liquid delivered into said tank, and a carbonated liquid outlet for fl

What is claimed is: 1. A carbonator, comprising: a carbonator tank having a liquid inlet for delivery of liquid into said tank, a carbonating gas inlet for delivery of carbonating gas into said tank to carbonate within said tank liquid delivered into said tank, and a carbonated liquid outlet for flow of carbonated liquid from said tank; liquid level sensing means to the exterior of and located remote from said carbonator tank; and means for fluid coupling said liquid level sensing means to said tank for sensing the level of liquid in said tank. 2. A carbonator as in claim 1, further including: pressure relief valve means to the exterior of and located remote from said carbonator tank; and means for fluid coupling said pressure relief valve means to said tank, said pressure relief valve means opening to relieve pressure in said tank solely in response to the pressure being at least equal to a selected pressure. 3. A carbonator as in claim 2, wherein said means for fluid coupling said pressure relief valve means to said tank includes said means for fluid coupling said liquid level sensing means to said tank. 4. A carbonator as in claim 1, further including: first fluid conduit means having an inlet remote from said carbonator tank for fluid coupling to a source of liquid and an outlet fluid coupled to said tank liquid inlet; second fluid conduit means having an inlet remote from said carbonator tank for fluid coupling to a source of carbonating gas and an outlet fluid coupled to said tank carbonating gas inlet; and third fluid conduit means having an inlet coupled to said tank carbonated liquid outlet and an outlet remote from said carbonator tank for fluid coupling to a point of use of carbonated liquid. 5. A carbonator as in claim 1, further including: means for being coupled to a supply of liquid and responsive to said liquid level sensing means sensing less than a predetermined level of liquid in said carbonator tank for delivering liquid from the supply to said tank liquid inlet. 6. A beverage dispensing apparatus, comprising: a housing; a beverage dispensing valve carried by said housing; a carbonator including a carbonator tank positioned at a first location in said housing, said tank having a liquid inlet for delivery of liquid into said tank, a carbonating gas inlet for delivery of carbonating gas into said tank to carbonate within said tank liquid delivered into said tank, and a carbonated liquid outlet for flow of carbonated liquid from said tank; liquid level sensing means positioned at a second location in said housing located remote from said first location and from said carbonator tank; means for fluid coupling said liquid level sensing means to said tank for sensing the level of liquid in said tank; means responsive to said liquid level sensing means sensing less than a predetermined level of liquid in said tank for delivering liquid from a supply of liquid to said tank liquid inlet; and means for fluid coupling said tank carbonated liquid outlet to said beverage valve to deliver carbonated liquid to said valve. 7. A beverage dispensing apparatus as in claim 6, further including: pressure relief valve means positioned at a third location in said housing remote from said first location and from said carbonator tank; and means for fluid coupling said pressure relief valve means to said tank, said pressure relief valve means opening to relieve pressure in said tank solely in response to the pressure being at least equal to a selected pressure. 8. A beverage dispensing apparatus as in claim 7, wherein said means for fluid coupling said pressure relief valve means to said tank includes said means for fluid coupling said liquid level sensing means to said tank. 9. A beverage dispensing system as in claim 7, further including: first fluid conduit means having an inlet at a fourth location in said housing remote from said first location and from said carbonator tank for fluid coupling to a source of liquid and having an outlet fluid coupled to said tank liquid inlet; second fluid conduit means having an inlet at a fifth location in said housing remote from said first location and from said tank for fluid coupling to a source of carbonating gas and having an outlet fluid coupled to said tank carbonating gas inlet; and third fluid conduit means having an inlet fluid coupled to said tank carbonated liquid outlet and an outlet at a sixth location in said housing remote from said first location and from said carbonator tank for fluid coupling to said beverage dispensing valve. 10. A beverage dispensing apparatus as in claim 9, wherein said second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth locations are toward a front of said housing and said first location is toward a rear of said housing. 11. A method of operating a carbonator, comprising the steps of: placing a carbonator tank of the carbonator at a first location; delivering liquid to a liquid inlet to the carbonator tank; delivering carbonating gas to a carbonating gas inlet to the carbonator tank to carbonate within the tank liquid delivered into the tank; providing carbonated liquid from an outlet from the carbonator tank to a point of use; placing a liquid level sensor at a second location located remote from the first location and from the carbonator tank; sensing the level of liquid in the carbonator tank by fluid coupling the liquid level sensor to the carbonator tank; and controlling operation of said delivering step to deliver liquid to the liquid inlet to the carbonator tank in response to said sensing step sensing less than a predetermined level of liquid in the carbonator tank. 12. A method as in claim 11, including the steps of: placing a normally closed pressure relief valve at a third location remote from the first location and from the carbonator tank; and fluid coupling the pressure relief valve to an interior of the tank, the pressure relief valve opening to relieve pressure in the tank solely in response to the pressure being at least equal to a selected value. 13. A method as in claim 12, wherein said step of fluid coupling the pressure relief valve to the carbonator tank interior utilizes said step of fluid coupling the liquid level sensor to the tank. 14. A method as in claim 11, wherein said liquid delivering step comprises fluid coupling a source of liquid to an inlet to a first conduit leading to the liquid inlet to the carbonator tank, wherein the inlet to the first conduit is at a third location remote from the first location and from the tank; said carbonating gas delivering step comprises fluid coupling a source of carbonating gas to an inlet to a second conduit leading to the carbonating gas inlet to the tank, wherein the inlet to the second conduit is at a fourth location remote from the first location and from the tank; and wherein said providing carbonated liquid step comprises fluid coupling a third conduit to the outlet from the tank, wherein the third conduit has an outlet at a fifth location remote from the first location and from the tank. 15. A method of operating a beverage dispenser having a housing and a beverage dispensing valve carried by the housing, comprising the steps of: placing a carbonator tank of a carbonator at a first location in the housing; delivering liquid to a liquid inlet to the tank; delivering carbonating gas to a carbonating gas inlet to the tank to carbonate within the tank liquid delivered into the tank; providing carbonated liquid from an outlet from the tank to the beverage dispensing valve; placing a liquid level sensor at a second location in the housing located remote from the first location and from the tank; sensing the level of liquid in the tank by fluid coupling the liquid level sensor to the tank; and controlling operation of said delivering step to deliver liquid to the liquid inlet to the tank in to said sensing step sensing less than a predetermined level of liquid in the tank. 16. A method as in claim 15, including the steps of: placing a normally closed pressure relief valve at a third location remote from the first location and from the carbonator tank; and fluid coupling the pressure relief valve to an interior of the tank, the pressure relief valve opening to relieve pressure in the tank solely in response to the pressure being at least equal to a selected value. 17. A method as in claim 16, wherein said step of fluid coupling the pressure relief valve to the carbonator tank interior utilizes said step of fluid coupling the liquid level sensor to the tank. 18. A method as in claim 16, wherein said liquid delivering step comprises fluid coupling a source of liquid to an inlet to a first conduit leading to the liquid inlet to the carbonator tank, wherein the inlet to the first conduit is at a fourth location remote from the first location and from the tank; said carbonating gas delivering step comprises fluid coupling a source of carbonating gas to an inlet to a second conduit leading to the carbonating gas inlet to the tank, wherein the inlet to the second conduit is at a fifth location remote from the first location and from the tank; and wherein said providing carbonated liquid step comprises fluid coupling an inlet to a third conduit to the outlet from the tank, wherein the third conduit has an outlet at a sixth location remote from the first location and from the tank and fluid coupled to the beverage dispensing valve. 19. A method as in claim 15, wherein said first location is toward a rear of the housing and said second location is toward a front of the housing. 20. A method as in claim 16, wherein said first location is toward a rear of the housing and said second and third locations are toward a front of the housing. 21. A method as in claim 18, wherein said first location is toward a rear of the housing and said second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth locations are toward a front of the housing.