Carbonating apparatus
AssigneeCadbury Schweppes, PLC
InventorEdward L. Jeans
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A carbonated beverage dispenser having a carbonating tank is described. The dispenser is for dispensing beverages comprising a concentrate and a diluent usually carbonated water. The carbonation takes place in the tank by spraying or jetting refrigerated water inside the tank and by spinning a bladed rotor inside the tank so as to intersect the jets or sprays to break up the water into atomized clouds. This is done in a carbon dioxide atmosphere inside the tank and therefore absorption of carbon dioxide takes place rapidly. A magnetic coupling between the bladed rotor and a prime mover outside the tank means that there is no need to make any break in the tank for a drive shaft. The dispenser also has facility to dispense either still water or carbonated water or a mixture depending upon the degree of carbonation required of the diluent.
Claims14
Apparatus for absorbing gas in liquid, comprising:
- (a) an absorption tank;
- (b) means for introducing the liquid into the tank in the form of jets or streams;
- (c) means for introducing the gas into the tank;
- (d) driven mechanical means in the tank located so that when driven such means interferes with the liquid jets or streams to break up the jets or streams into atomized particle or droplet clouds which contact the gas in the tank;
- (e) outlet means enabling the removal of said liquid from said tank;
- and
- (f) a refrigeration unit connected to the means for supplying the liquid so that liquid supplied to the tank passes first through the refrigeration unit and then through the said means for supplying the liquid, said refrigeration unit comprising refrigeration coils for refrigerant, a container containing said coils, inlet means for introducing the liquid into the container, and outlet means connected to said means for supplying liquid, the said refrigeration coils being of tubing comprising an inner layer through which the refrigerant passes and an outer layer arranged so that any refrigerant escaping from the inner layer can escape inside the outer layer without contacting the liquid in the container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.