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US 7,114,707 B2Granted
Carbonation system and method
AssigneeScott Nicol
InventorsGyorgy Rona, Janos Oscenas, Scott Nicol
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The water carbonation method and apparatus of the present invention consists of a square mixer within a carbonated chamber. The mixer is partially filled with water. Carbon dioxide is then added above the level of water. A rotating member attached to the mixing motor then mixes the water and carbon dioxide to from a carbonated solution. Varying the time for which the carbonation operation is carried on may vary the degree of carbonation. After the specified carbonation cycle, excess carbon dioxide is then relieved through an exhaust solenoid and the remaining carbonated solution is released through the dispensing solenoid into a cup.
Claims24
A carbonation apparatus comprising:
- a carbonation chamber;
- a source of water;
- a water inlet valve connecting the source of water to the carbonation chamber;
- a source of carbon dioxide gas;
- a carbon dioxide inlet valve connecting the source of carbon dioxide gas to the carbonation chamber;
- a rotatable mixer within the carbonation chamber;
- a gas exhaust valve connected to the carbonation chamber;
- a gas exhaust silencer connected to the gas exhaust valve, the gas exhaust silencer comprising a housing having at least one inlet and one outlet, the housing having an internal cavity with a filter therein, the internal cavity being in fluid communication with a first inlet, the first inlet receiving gas being relieved from the carbonation chamber, the outlet being in fluid communication with the first inlet and receiving gas after the gas passes through the filter, wherein the housing has at least two inlets, a second inlet receiving water vented from the carbonation chamber, the vented water being mixed with the relieved gas, the outlet receiving the mixed water and gas;
- and
- a carbonated water dispensing valve connected to the carbonation chamber.
7 more elements
A method for carbonating water comprising the steps of:
- partially filling a carbonation chamber with water to a pre-determined level;
- introducing carbon dioxide gas into the carbonation chamber;
- agitating the water to mix carbon dioxide gas into the water;
- relieving gas pressure from the carbonation chamber prior to dispensing carbonated water from the carbonation chamber;
- silencing the gas pressure being relieved from the carbonation chamber;
- and
- dispensing carbonated water from the carbonation chamber,
- wherein the step of partially filling a carbonation chamber with water comprises introducing water into the carbonation chamber directly over where the carbonated water is dispensed from the carbonation chamber.
5 more elements
A method for carbonating water comprising the steps of:
- partially filling a carbonation chamber with water to a pre-determined level;
- introducing carbon dioxide gas into the carbonation chamber;
- agitating the water to mix carbon dioxide gas into the water;
- relieving gas pressure from the carbonation chamber prior to dispensing carbonated water from the carbonation chamber;
- silencing the gas pressure being relieved from the carbonation chamber;
- dispensing carbonated water from the carbonation chamber;
- venting excess water from the carbonation chamber;
- and
- mixing the vented excess water and the relieved gas during the step of silencing.
6 more elements
A method for carbonating water comprising the steps of:
- partially filling a carbonation chamber with water to a pre-determined level;
- introducing carbon dioxide gas into the carbonation chamber;
- agitating the water to mix carbon dioxide gas into the water;
- relieving gas pressure from the carbonation chamber prior to dispensing carbonated water from the carbonation chamber;
- silencing the gas pressure being relieved from the carbonation chamber;
- dispensing carbonated water from the carbonation chamber;
- beginning the step of agitating the water about 0.5 seconds after beginning the step of introducing carbon dioxide gas into the carbonation chamber;
- and
- after beginning the step of agitating the water, simultaneously performing the steps of agitating the water and introducing carbon dioxide gas into the carbonation chamber.
6 more elements
A carbonation apparatus comprising:
- a carbonation chamber;
- means for partially filling the carbonation chamber with water to a pre-determined level;
- means for introducing carbon dioxide gas into the carbonation chamber above the water;
- means for, mounted within the carbonation chamber, agitating the water to mix carbon dioxide gas into the water;
- and
- means for dispensing carbonated water from the carbonation chamber, the means for partially filling and the means for dispensing including combined filling and dispensing valves.
3 more elements
A carbonation apparatus comprising:
- a carbonation chamber;
- a source of water;
- a water inlet valve connecting the source of water to the carbonation chamber;
- a source of carbon dioxide gas;
- a carbon dioxide inlet valve connecting the source of carbon dioxide gas to the carbonation chamber;
- a rotatable mixer within the carbonation chamber;
- a gas exhaust valve connected to the carbonation chamber;
- a gas exhaust silencer connected to the gas exhaust valve;
- and
- a carbonated water dispensing valve connected to the carbonation chamber;
- and
- a spring, the spring biasing both the water inlet valve and the carbonated water dispensing valve towards a closed position.
9 more elements
A carbonation apparatus comprising:
- a carbonation chamber;
- a source of water;
- a water inlet valve connecting the source of water to the carbonation chamber;
- a source of carbon dioxide gas;
- a carbon dioxide inlet valve connecting the source of carbon dioxide gas to the carbonation chamber;
- a rotatable mixer within the carbonation chamber;
- a gas exhaust valve connected to the carbonation chamber;
- a gas exhaust silencer connected to the gas exhaust valve, the gas exhaust silencer comprising a housing having at least one inlet and one outlet, the housing having an internal cavity with a filter therein, the internal cavity being in fluid communication with a first inlet, the first inlet receiving gas being relieved from the carbonation chamber, the outlet being in fluid communication with the first inlet and receiving gas after the gas passes through the filter, the housing further comprising a second inlet, the second inlet receiving water vented from the carbonation chamber, the outlet being in fluid communication with the first inlet and the second inlet;
- and
- a carbonated water dispensing valve connected to the carbonation chamber.
7 more elements
A method for carbonating water comprising the steps of:
- partially filling a carbonation chamber with water to a pre-determined level;
- introducing carbon dioxide gas into the carbonation chamber;
- agitating the water to mix carbon dioxide gas into the water;
- relieving gas pressure from the carbonation chamber prior to dispensing carbonated water from the carbonation chamber;
- silencing the gas pressure being relieved from the carbonation chamber;
- dispensing carbonated water from the carbonation chamber;
- and
- delaying the step of relieving gas pressure for about 2 seconds after the step of agitating the water completes.
5 more elements
A carbonation apparatus comprising:
- a carbonation chamber;
- a source of water;
- a water inlet valve connecting the source of water to the carbonation chamber;
- a source of carbon dioxide gas;
- a carbon dioxide inlet valve connecting the source of carbon dioxide gas to the carbonation chamber;
- a rotatable mixer within the carbonation chamber;
- a gas exhaust valve connected to the carbonation chamber;
- a gas exhaust silencer connected to the gas exhaust valve;
- and
- a carbonated water dispensing valve connected to the carbonation chamber, wherein the water inlet valve and the carbonated water dispensing valve are coaxial.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.