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US 5,842,600 AGranted
Tankless beverage water carbonation process and apparatus
AssigneeStandex International Corporation
InventorsRonald Clinton Singleterry, William M. Larson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Carbonated beverage water is prepared on flow demand by a process that combines respective flow streams of water and carbon dioxide in a mixing venturi. Downstream of the venturi, the mixture of water and carbon dioxide is passed through a static mixer prior to dispenser discharge.
Claims19
A carbonated beverage blending process comprising the steps of:
- discharging a pressurized flowstream of potable water from a motor driven pump;
- directing the potable water flowstream from said pump through a flow restriction that operates to produce a reduced pressure zone in said flowstream, said flowstream having a first pressure upstream of said restriction and a second pressure downstream of said restriction, said first pressure being greater than said second pressure;
- introducing a gaseous carbon dioxide flowstream into said water flowstream at or about said reduced pressure zone for mixture with said water flowstream, said carbon dioxide flowstream having a third pressure that is less than said first pressure and greater than said second pressure;
- flowing a mixture of said water and carbon dioxide flowstreams into a static flow mixing tube to substantially dissolve said carbon dioxide in said water;
- and,
- combining a flow solution of said water and carbon dioxide flowstreams from said static flow mixing tube with a flowstream of beverage flavoring syrup.
3 more elements
A beverage water carbonation process comprising the steps of:
- directing a potable water flowstream from a pump discharge along a substantially axial flow passage through a venturi having a constricted area throat to generate a reduced pressure zone within said venturi, said water flowstream having a first pressure upstream of said throat and a second pressure downstream of said throat, said first pressure being greater than that of said second pressure;
- introducing a gaseous carbon dioxide flowstream into said water flowstream within said venturi at or about said reduced pressure zone for mixture and substantially dissolved combination with said water flow stream, said carbon dioxide flow stream having a third pressure less than said first pressure and greater than said second pressure;
- flowing the substantially dissolved combination of carbon dioxide and water through a static mixing device;
- and
- mixing a solution of water and carbon dioxide from said mixing device with beverage flavoring syrup.
2 more elements
An apparatus for carbonating beverage water comprising:
- a venturi having a substantially axial water flow passage through a flow area constriction between an upstream end of said venturi and a downstream end thereof, said venturi also having a carbon dioxide flow passage entering said water flow passage on the downstream side of said flow area constriction;
- a water carrying conduit connected to the upstream end of said venturi and a carbon dioxide carrying conduit connected to said carbon dioxide flow passage;
- pump means having a suction connected to a potable water supply source and a discharge connected to said water carrying conduit, said pump means being operatively controlled by switch means,
- a first mixture conduit connecting said venturi downstream end with a fluid flow inlet to a static mixer,
- a second mixture conduit connecting a fluid flow exit from said static mixer with a proportionalizing mixer;
- and
- carbonated water valve means in said second mixture conduit operatively controlled by said switch means whereby said carbonated water valve means is opened substantially simultaneously with starting the operating of said pump means.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.