초록 ▼

A carbonator tank assembly is disclosed for use in a beverage machine that dispenses a carbonated beverage therefrom. The carbonator tank includes walls defining a carbonator tank interior. A probe assembly is provided for coupling in a gaseous and fluid-type manner to the walls of the carbonator ta

A carbonator tank assembly is disclosed for use in a beverage machine that dispenses a carbonated beverage therefrom. The carbonator tank includes walls defining a carbonator tank interior. A probe assembly is provided for coupling in a gaseous and fluid-type manner to the walls of the carbonator tank. The probe assembly has no floats but includes electrical, elongated probes having removed ends configured to extend into the interior of the carbonator tank and near ends exposed exteriorly. An electronics module is adapt to fluidly enclose an electronics assembly therein and to receive an electrical cable carrying electrical energy from a remote source. Elements within the electronics module receive the electrical energy from the cable and provide it to the electrodes extending from the walls of the electronics module into the carbonator tank. The electrodes and the electronics module are adapted to removably couple to the probe assembly.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A carbonator tank assembly comprising: a carbonator tank including walls defining a carbonator tank interior;a probe assembly configured for removable gaseous and fluid-tight coupling with the carbonator tank, the probe assembly including a multiplicity of elongated probes, each having a near end

1. A carbonator tank assembly comprising: a carbonator tank including walls defining a carbonator tank interior;a probe assembly configured for removable gaseous and fluid-tight coupling with the carbonator tank, the probe assembly including a multiplicity of elongated probes, each having a near end and a removed end, and a base, the multiplicity of probes fixedly and gaseous and fluid sealingly engaging the base such that most of the probes length extends into the interior of the carbonator tank when the probe assembly is engaged with the carbonator tank;an electronics module removably adapted to couple onto the probe assembly and having an interior; andan electronics assembly configured to fit within the interior of the electronics module and adapted to generate signals responsive to an immersed/exposed condition of the removed ends of the probes;wherein the electronics module and probe assembly include coupling members to electronically and removably couple the probe assembly to the electronics module, without affecting the gaseous and fluid-tight coupling of the probe assembly with the tank; andwherein the electronics module includes a housing and a base, the housing removably coupled to the base in fluid sealing relation with fasteners. 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the coupling members of the probe assembly and the electronics module include walls adapted to receive fasteners for removably fastening the probe assembly to the electronics module while leaving the probe assembly in gaseous and fluid-tight coupling with the carbonator tank. 3. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a multiplicity of electrodes for engaging walls of the electronics module in fluid sealing relation and for engaging the electronics assembly, the electrodes having removed ends adapted to form electrical engagement with the near ends of the probes when the electronics module engages the probe assembly. 4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the coupling members of the probe assembly and the electronics module include plug and socket members on the bases thereof, which plug and socket members locate the removed ends of the electrodes. 5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the plug and socket members include an o-ring for fluidly sealing the plug to the socket. 6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the base and housing of the electronics module include walls to removably attach the base to the housing with fasteners and walls to removably attach the electronics module to the base of the probe assembly. 7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the base and housing of the electronics module are configured to receive sealing members to fluidly seal the surfaces therebetween. 8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the probe assembly and the electronics module include walls adapted to align the two in a specific rotational alignment when they are engaged to one another. 9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the electronics assembly is configured to reduce voltage supplied thereto from a remote source, the reduced voltage for energizing the probes. 10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the probe assembly includes a mounting plate and base, each with fastener walls configured to releasably engage one to the other with fasteners. 11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the mounting plate and base include walls configured to align one with the other in a specific position when they are engaged one to the other. 12. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the near ends of the probes project through the base. 13. A carbonator tank assembly comprising: a carbonator tank including walls defining a carbonator tank interior;a probe assembly configured for removable gaseous and fluid-tight coupling with the carbonator tank, the probe assembly including a multiplicity of elongated probes, each having a near end and a removed end, and a base, the multiplicity of probes fixedly and gaseous and fluid sealingly engaging the base such that most of the probes length extends into the interior of the carbonator tank when the probe assembly is engaged with the carbonator tank;an electronics module removably adapted to couple onto the probe assembly and having an interior;an electronics assembly configured to fit within the interior of the electronics module and adapted to generate signals responsive to an immersed/exposed condition of the removed ends of the probes; anda multiplicity of electrodes for engaging walls of the electronics module in fluid sealing relation and for engaging the electronics assembly, the electrodes having removed ends adapted to form electrical engagement with the near ends of the probes when the electronics module engages the probe assembly;wherein the electronics module and probe assembly include coupling members to electronically and removably couple the probe assembly to the electronics module, without affecting the gaseous and fluid-tight coupling of the probe assembly with the tank. 14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the coupling members of the probe assembly and the electronics module include walls adapted to receive fasteners for removably fastening the probe assembly to the electronics module while leaving the probe assembly in gaseous and fluid-tight coupling with the carbonator tank. 15. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the electronics module includes a housing and a base, the housing removably coupled to the base in fluid sealing relation with fasteners. 16. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the coupling members of the probe assembly and the electronics module include plug and socket members on the bases thereof, which plug and socket members locate the removed ends of the electrodes. 17. The assembly of claim 16 wherein the plug and socket members include an o-ring for fluidly sealing the plug to the socket. 18. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the base and housing of the electronics module include walls to removably attach the base to the housing with fasteners and walls to removably attach the electronics module to the base of the probe assembly. 19. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the base and housing of the electronics module are configured to receive sealing members to fluidly seal the surfaces therebetween. 20. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the probe assembly and the electronics module include walls adapted to align the two in a specific rotational alignment when they are engaged to one another. 21. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the electronics assembly is configured to reduce voltage supplied thereto from a remote source, the reduced voltage for energizing the probes. 22. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the probe assembly includes a mounting plate and base, each with fastener walls configured to releasably engage one to the other with fasteners. 23. The assembly of claim 22 wherein the mounting plate and base include walls configured to align one with the other in a specific position when they are engaged one to the other. 24. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the near ends of the probes project through the base. 25. A carbonator tank assembly comprising: a carbonator tank including walls defining a carbonator tank interior;a probe assembly configured for removable gaseous and fluid-tight coupling with the carbonator tank, the probe assembly including a multiplicity of elongated probes, each having a near end and a removed end, and a base, the multiplicity of probes fixedly and gaseous and fluid sealingly engaging the base such that most of the probes length extends into the interior of the carbonator tank when the probe assembly is engaged with the carbonator tank;an electronics module removably adapted to couple onto the probe assembly and having an interior; andan electronics assembly configured to fit within the interior of the electronics module and adapted to generate signals responsive to an immersed/exposed condition of the removed ends of the probes;wherein the electronics module and probe assembly include coupling members to electronically and removably couple the probe assembly to the electronics module, without affecting the gaseous and fluid-tight coupling of the probe assembly with the tank;wherein the probe assembly includes a mounting plate and base, each with fastener walls configured to releasably engage one to the other with fasteners. 26. The assembly of claim 25, wherein the coupling members of the probe assembly and the electronics module include walls adapted to receive fasteners for removably fastening the probe assembly to the electronics module while leaving the probe assembly in gaseous and fluid-tight coupling with the carbonator tank. 27. The assembly of claim 25 wherein the electronics module includes a housing and a base, the housing removably coupled to the base in fluid sealing relation with fasteners. 28. The assembly of claim 25 further comprising a multiplicity of electrodes for engaging walls of the electronics module in fluid sealing relation and for engaging the electronics assembly, the electrodes having removed ends adapted to form electrical engagement with the near ends of the probes when the electronics module engages the probe assembly. 29. The assembly of claim 28 wherein the coupling members of the probe assembly and the electronics module include plug and socket members on the bases thereof, which plug and socket members locate the removed ends of the electrodes. 30. The assembly of claim 29 wherein the plug and socket members include an o-ring for fluidly sealing the plug to the socket. 31. The assembly of claim 27 wherein the base and housing of the electronics module include walls to removably attach the base to the housing with fasteners and walls to removably attach the electronics module to the base of the probe assembly. 32. The assembly of claim 27 wherein the base and housing of the electronics module are configured to receive sealing members to fluidly seal the surfaces therebetween. 33. The assembly of claim 25 wherein the probe assembly and the electronics module include walls adapted to align the two in a specific rotational alignment when they are engaged to one another. 34. The assembly of claim 25 wherein the electronics assembly is configured to reduce voltage supplied thereto from a remote source, the reduced voltage for energizing the probes. 35. The assembly of claim 25 wherein the mounting plate and base include walls configured to align one with the other in a specific position when they are engaged one to the other. 36. The assembly of claim 25, wherein the near ends of the probes project through the base. 37. A carbonator tank assembly comprising: a carbonator tank including walls defining a carbonator tank interior;a probe assembly configured for removable gaseous and fluid-tight coupling with the carbonator tank, the probe assembly including at least one elongated probe, each probe having a near end and a removed end, and a base, each probe fixedly and gaseous and fluid sealingly engaging the base such that most of the probes length extends into the interior of the carbonator tank when the probe assembly is engaged with the carbonator tank;an electronics module adapted removably couple onto the top of the probe assembly and having an interior;an electronics assembly configured to fit within the interior of the electronics module and adapted to generate signals responsive to an immersed/exposed condition of the removed ends of the probes; andat least one electrode for engaging the walls of the electronics module in fluid sealing relation and for engaging the electronics assembly, each electrode having a removed end adapted to form electrical engagement with the near end of one of the probes when the electronics module engages the probe assembly;wherein the electronics module and probe assembly include coupling members to electronically and removably couple the probe assembly to the electronics module, without affecting the gaseous and fluid-tight coupling of the probe assembly with the tank;wherein the probe assembly and the electronics module include walls adapted to align the two in a specific rotational alignment when they are engaged to one another;wherein the electronics module includes a housing and a base, the housing removably coupled to the base in fluid sealing relation with fasteners. 38. The assembly of claim 37, wherein the coupling members of the probe assembly and the electronics module include walls adapted to receive fasteners for removably fastening the probe assembly to the electronics module while leaving the probe assembly in gaseous and fluid-tight couple with the carbonator tank. 39. The assembly of claim 37 wherein the coupling members of the probe assembly and the electronics module include plug and socket members on the bases thereof, which plug and socket members locate the removed ends of the electrodes. 40. The assembly of claim 39 wherein the plug and socket members are adapted to fluidly seal the plug to the socket. 41. The assembly of claim 37 wherein the base and housing of the electronics module include walls to removably attach the base to the housing with fasteners and walls to removably attach the electronics module to the base of the probe assembly. 42. The assembly of claim 37 wherein the base and housing of the electronics module are configured to receive sealing members to fluidly seal the surfaces therebetween. 43. The assembly of claim 37 wherein the electronics assembly is configured to reduce voltage supplied thereto from a remote source, the reduced voltage for energizing the probes. 44. The assembly of claim 37 wherein the probe assembly includes a mounting plate and base, each with fastener walls configured to releasably engage one to the other with fasteners. 45. The assembly of claim 34 wherein the mounting plate and base include walls configured to align one with the other in a specific position when they are engaged one to the other. 46. The assembly of claim 37, wherein the near ends of the probes project through the base. 47. A carbonator tank assembly comprising: a carbonator tank including walls defining a carbonator tank interior;a probe assembly configured for removable gaseous and fluid-tight coupling with the carbonator tank, the probe assembly including at least one elongated probe, each probe having a near end and a removed end, and a base, each probe fixedly and gaseous and fluid sealingly engaging the base such that most of the probes length extends into the interior of the carbonator tank when the probe assembly is engaged with the carbonator tank;an electronics module adapted removably couple onto the top of the probe assembly and having an interior;an electronics assembly configured to fit within the interior of the electronics module and adapted to generate signals responsive to an immersed/exposed condition of the removed ends of the probes; andat least one electrode for engaging the walls of the electronics module in fluid sealing relation and for engaging the electronics assembly, each electrode having a removed end adapted to form electrical engagement with the near end of one of the probes when the electronics module engages the probe assembly;wherein the electronics module and probe assembly include coupling members to electronically and removably couple the probe assembly to the electronics module, without affecting the gaseous and fluid-tight coupling of the probe assembly with the tank;wherein the probe assembly and the electronics module include walls adapted to align the two in a specific rotational alignment when they are engaged to one another;wherein the probe assembly includes a mounting plate and base, each with fastener walls configured to releasably engage one to the other with fasteners. 48. The assembly of claim 47, wherein the coupling members of the probe assembly and the electronics module include walls adapted to receive fasteners for removably fastening the probe assembly to the electronics module while leaving the probe assembly in gaseous and fluid-tight couple with the carbonator tank. 49. The assembly of claim 47 wherein the electronics module includes a housing and a base, the housing removably coupled to the base in fluid sealing relation with fasteners. 50. The assembly of claim 49 wherein the coupling members of the probe assembly and the electronics module include plug and socket members on the bases thereof, which plug and socket members locate the removed ends of the electrodes. 51. The assembly of claim 50 wherein the plug and socket members are adapted to fluidly seal the plug to the socket. 52. The assembly of claim 49 wherein the base and housing of the electronics module include walls to removably attach the base to the housing with fasteners and walls to removably attach the electronics module to the base of the probe assembly. 53. The assembly of claim 49 wherein the base and housing of the electronics module are configured to receive sealing members to fluidly seal the surfaces therebetween. 54. The assembly of claim 47 wherein the electronics assembly is configured to reduce voltage supplied thereto from a remote source, the reduced voltage for energizing the probes. 55. The assembly of claim 47 wherein the mounting plate and base include walls configured to align one with the other in a specific position when they are engaged one to the other. 56. The assembly of claim 47 wherein the near ends of the probes project through the base.