Self-contained high pressure pneumatic beverage dispensing system

A water pump suitable for use in a self-contained beverage dispensing system, said water pump comprising:

• a piston cylinder having first and second ends and first and second sides, said first side of said cylinder being adapted to be filled with high pressure gas and said second side of said cylinder being adapted to be filled with water;
• a piston disposed within said piston cylinder between said first and second ends of said cylinder and dividing said piston cylinder into said first and second sides;
• a gas inlet in fluid communication with said first side of said piston cylinder and adapted to fill said first side of said piston cylinder with high pressure gas;
• a water inlet in fluid communication with said second side of said piston cylinder and adapted to transport water into said second side of said piston cylinder;
• a water outlet in fluid communication with said second side of said piston cylinder and adapted to transport water away from said second side of said piston cylinder;
• wherein water contained in said second side of said piston cylinder can be pressurized by said piston under the pressure of the high pressure gas in said first side of said piston cylinder such that pressurized water can flow through said water outlet under the influence of said piston.

A method for cyclically pressurizing and supplying water, comprising:

• supplying gas to a first side of a water pump;
• supplying water to a second side of the water pump;
• increasing the pressure of the gas in the first side of the water pump such that the first side of the water pump exerts pressure on the second side of the water pump to pressurize the water therein;
• transporting the pressurized water from the second side of the water pump until a near empty state is achieved in which nearly all of the water has been removed from the second side of the water pump;
• and
• sensing the near empty state of the second side of the water pump and sending a pneumatic signal to a control element to cause gas to vent from the first side of the water pump such that the second side of the water pump can be refilled with water.

A beverage dispensing system, comprising:

• a water pressurization and supply system, including:
• a water pump having a piston cylinder having first and second ends and including a gas inlet in fluid communication with a first side of said cylinder and a water inlet and water outlet in fluid communication with a second side of said cylinder, said water pump further having a piston that is disposed within said piston cylinder between said first and second ends, wherein said water pump is adapted to be filled with high pressure gas on said first side of said cylinder through said gas inlet and further is adapted to be filled with water on said second side of said cylinder through said water inlet;
• and
• a water pump control system that comprises a first piston sensor positioned adjacent said first end of said piston cylinder, a second piston sensor positioned adjacent said second end of said piston cylinder, and a water pump control valve operably connected to said first and second piston sensors and in fluid communication with said gas inlet of said piston cylinder, wherein said first piston sensor sends a signal to said control valve when proximity of said piston is sensed to cause said control valve to open to permit high pressure gas to enter said first side of said piston cylinder and pressurize the water contained in said second side of said piston cylinder and said second piston sensor sends a signal to said control valve when proximity of said piston is sensed to cause said control valve to close and vent gas contained in said first side of said piston cylinder, thereby permitting said second side of said piston cylinder to be refilled with water.

A water pump suitable for use in a self-contained beverage dispensing system, said water pump comprising:

• a piston cylinder having first and second ends and first and second sides, said first side of said cylinder being adapted to be filled with high pressure gas and said second side of said cylinder being adapted to be filled with water;
• a piston disposed within said piston cylinder between said first and second ends of said cylinder and dividing said piston cylinder into said first and second sides;
• a gas port in fluid communication with said first side of said piston cylinder;
• a water port in fluid communication with said second side of said piston cylinder;
• and
• a sensing system that is adapted to send pneumatic signals in response to sensed piston positions to a control element, the signals instructing the control element to either pressurize or refill said second side of said piston cylinder.

A method for providing pressurized water in a beverage dispensing system with a pneumatic water pump, comprising:

• supplying water to a water side of the water pump;
• supplying gas to a gas side of the water pump to pressurize the water in the water side of the pump;
• and
• expelling pressurized water from the water side of the pump as required from the dispensing system until a near empty condition is achieved;
• and
• sensing the near empty condition of the water side of the pump and sending a pneumatic signal to a control element to instruct the control element to refill the water side of the pump with water.