Water Treating apparatus and method
AssigneeThe Coca-Cola Company
InventorGeorge J. Jarocki
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for treating water in which water from a local supply is mixed with measured quantities of a chlorine disinfectant and introduced into a holding vessel maintained at ambient pressure. CO.sub.2 added to the holding tank enhances the potency of the disinfectant with a resultant effective destruction of micro-organisms in the water. From the holding vessel, the disinfected water is conducted to a point of use, which may be a pressurized carbonator incorporated into a post-mix beverage dispenser. A treating module governed by a microprocessor effects the mixing of disinfectant and water and controls the introduction of water with entrained disinfectant into the holding vessel.
Claims20
A water treating apparatus comprising:
- a treating module incorporating a water supply port, a water discharge port, a first flow passage extending between the water supply port and the water outlet port, a flow sensor and a valve disposed in the first flow passage, a treating agent inlet, a second flow passage extending between the treating agent inlet and the first flow passage and a pump for moving a treating agent supplied to the treating agent inlet through the second passage into the first passage;
- a holding vessel incorporating a water inlet coupled to the water outlet port of the treating module, a water outlet and a water level sensor;
- and
- control means for (1) operating the pump in response to signals generated by the flow sensor and (2) operating the valve in response to signals generated by the water level sensor.
In combination with a post-mix beverage dispenser equipped with a water inlet and a carbonating vessel coupled to the water inlet, the carbonating vessel adapted to hold carbonated water at a pressure which is greater than ambient pressure and being exposed to a chilling medium, the improvement comprising:
- a water treating apparatus coupled to the water inlet, the water treating apparatus incorporating a holding vessel for receiving and mixing water and gaseous CO.sub.2 and holding the mixture of water and CO.sub.2 at ambient pressure, the holding vessel being exposed to ambient temperature.
A method of preparing water for human consumption as a potable liquid or as a component of a beverage formed from a mixture of the prepared water and a beverage syrup, the method comprising the steps of:
- adding a disinfectant to water flowing into a first vessel maintained at ambient internal pressure and exposed to ambient temperature;
- mixing gaseous CO.sub.2 with the water in the first vessel;
- conducting the water in the first vessel to a second vessel maintained at greater than ambient internal pressure and exposed to a chilling medium;
- and
- mixing gaseous CO.sub.2 with the water in the second vessel.
A method of preparing and supplying water to a mixing and dispensing nozzle in a post-mix beverage dispenser, the method comprising the steps of:
- mixing gaseous CO.sub.2 with water in a first vessel maintained at ambient internal pressure and exposed to ambient temperature;
- conducting the water from the first vessel to a second vessel maintained at greater than ambient internal pressure and exposed to a chilling medium;
- mixing gaseous CO.sub.2 with the water in the second vessel;
- and
- conducting the water in the second vessel to the mixing and dispensing nozzle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.