# US 9,038,991 B2 · Modular electronic carbonator fluid level control mechanism > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,038,991 B2 - Document ID: US9038991B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/655,815 - Filed: 2012-10-19 - Published: 2013-04-25 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2011-10-19 - Assignees: Schroeder Industries, Inc. - Applicants: A. A. Judd Schroeder; Albert Griego; David Santy; Jason Minica - Inventors: A. A. Judd Schroeder; Albert Griego; David Santy; Jason Minica - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9038991B2 ## CPC - B01F 23/2362: {for aerating or carbonating within receptacles or tanks, e.g. distribution machines (B01F23/2361 takes precedence)} - B01F 35/2112: {Level of material in a container or the position or shape of the upper surface of the material} - B67D 1/0057: {Carbonators} - B67D 1/0871: {Level gauges for beverage storage containers (level indicators in general G01F)} - G01F 23/242: {Mounting arrangements for electrodes} - G05D 9/12: characterised by the use of electric means - B01F 2101/14: Mixing of ingredients for non-alcoholic beverages; Dissolving sugar in water - B67D 2210/00157: Level detected electrically by contact with sensors - B01F: MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING (mixing paints B44D3/06) - B67D: DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes B08B9/02; emptying or filling of bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels, or similar containers, not otherwise provided for B67C; water supply E03; pipe systems F17D; domestic hot-water supply systems F24D; measuring volume, volume flow, mass flow or liquid level, metering by volume G01F; coin-freed or like apparatus G07F) - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES ## Abstract A carbonator tank assembly is disclosed for use in a beverage machine wherein the beverage dispensed therefrom is a carbonated beverage. The carbonator tank includes walls defining a carbonator tank interior. A probe assembly is provided for coupling in a gaseous and fluid-type manner to the walls of the carbonator tank. The probe assembly has no floats but includes elongated probes having removed ends configured to extend into the interior of the carbonator tank and near ends exposed exteriorly. An electronics module is adapt to fluidly enclose an electronics assembly therein. The electronics module includes walls adapted to receive an electrical cable carrying electrical energy from a remote source. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A carbonator tank assembly comprising: a carbonator tank including walls defining a carbonator tank interior and a mounting plate; a probe assembly configured for removable gaseous and fluid-tight coupling using elastomeric members, to the mounting plate of the carbonator tank, the probe assembly without float elements, but including a multiplicity of elongated probes, each having a near end and a removed end, each probe having a different length, and a base, the multiplicity of probes fixedly and fluid sealingly engaging the base such that most of the probes length extends into the interior of the carbonator tank to different points when the probe assembly is engaged with the carbonator tank; an electronics module adapted to receive electricity from a remote source through an electrical cable, the electronics module having an interior, the electrical cable engaging the walls of the electronics module in fluid sealing relation; an electronics assembly configured to fit within the interior of the electronics module for receiving electrical energy from the cable and generating signals responsive to an immersed/exposed condition of the removed ends of the probes; multiple electrodes for engaging the walls of the electronics module in fluid sealing relation and for engaging the electronics assembly, the multiple electrodes having removed ends adapted to form electrical engagement with the multiple near ends of the probes when the electronics module engages the probe assembly; wherein the electronics module and probe assembly include coupling members to electronically and removably couple and uncouple the probe assembly to the electronics module, without affecting the gaseous and fluid tight coupling of the probe assembly with the tank. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The invention of claim 1, wherein the coupling members of the probe assembly and the electronics module include walls adapted to receive fasteners for removably fastening the probe assembly to the electronics module while leaving the probe assembly in removable, gaseous and fluid tight couple with the carbonator tank. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The invention of claim 1 wherein the electronics module includes a housing and a base, the housing removably coupled to the base in fluid sealing relation with fasteners. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The invention of claim 3 wherein the coupling members of the probe assembly and the electronics module include plug and socket members, which plug and socket members locate the removed ends of the electrodes. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The invention of claim 4 wherein the plug and socket members include an O-ring for fluidly sealing the plug to the socket. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The invention of claim 3 wherein the base and housing of the electronics module include walls to removably attach the base to the housing with fasteners and walls to removably attach the electronics module to the base of the probe assembly. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The invention of claim 3 wherein the base and housing of the electronics module are configured to receive sealing members to fluidly seal the surfaces therebetween and to fluidly seal the electronical cable where it enters joins the electronics module. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The invention of claim 1 wherein the probe assembly and the electronics module include walls adapted to align the two in a specific one-way alignment when they are engaged to one another. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The invention of claim 1 wherein the electronics assembly is configured to reduce voltage supplied thereto from the remote source, the reduced voltage for energizing the probes. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The invention of claim 9 wherein the remote source provides A/C to the electronics assembly. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The invention of claim 1 wherein the probe assembly includes a base, each with fastener walls configured to releasably engage one to the other with fasteners. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The invention of claim 11 wherein the mounting plate and base include walls configured to align one with the other in a specific one-way only position when they are engaged one to the other. ### Claim 13 A carbonator tank assembly comprising: a carbonator tank including walls defining a carbonator tank interior and a mounting plate; a probe assembly configured for removable, gaseous and fluid-tight coupling using elastomeric members to the mounting plate of the carbonator tank, the probe assembly without float elements, but including a multiplicity of elongated probes, each having a near end and a removed end, each having a different length, and a base, the multiplicity of probes fixedly and fluid sealingly engaging the base such that most of the probes length extends into the interior of the carbonator tank to different points when the probe assembly is engaged with the carbonator tank and the near ends project through the base; an electronics module adapted to receive electricity from a remote source through an electrical cable, the electronics module having an interior, the electrical cable engaging the walls in fluid sealing relation; an electronics assembly configured to fit within the interior of the electronics module for receiving electrical energy from the cable and generating signals responsive to an immersed/exposed condition of the removed ends of the probes; multiple electrodes for engaging the walls of the electronics module in fluid sealing relation and for engaging the electronics assembly, the multiple electrodes having removed ends adapted to form electrical engagement with the multiple near ends of the probes when the electronics module engages the probe assembly; wherein the electronics module and probe assembly include coupling members to electronically and removably couple the probe assembly to the electronics module, without affecting the gaseous and fluid tight coupling of the probe assembly with the tank; wherein the coupling members of the probe assembly and the electronics module include walls adapted to receive fasteners for removably fastening the probe assembly to the electronics module while leaving the probe assembly in removable, gaseous and fluid tight couple with the carbonator tank; wherein the electronics module includes a housing and a base, the housing removably coupled to the base in fluid sealing relation with fasteners; wherein the base and housing of the electronics module include walls to removably attach the base to the housing with fasteners and walls to removably attach the electronics module to the base of the probe assembly; and wherein the base and housing of the electronics module are configured to receive sealing members to fluidly seal the surfaces therebetween and to fluidly seal the electronical cable where it enters the electronics module. ### Claim 14 A beverage dispensing apparatus comprising: a water source; a pump engaging the water source; a source of high pressure CO2 gas; a dispensing head; a source of beverage concentrate; a carbonator tank assembly comprising: a carbonator tank including walls defining a carbonator tank interior and a mounting plate; a probe assembly configured for removable, gaseous and fluid-tight coupling using elastomeric members to the mounting plate of the carbonator tank, the probe assembly without float elements, but including a multiplicity of elongated probes, each having a near end and a removed end, each having a different length, and a base, the multiplicity of probes fixedly and fluid sealingly engaging the base such that most of the probes length extends into the interior of the carbonator tank to different points when the probe assembly is engaged with the carbonator tank and the near ends project through the base; an electronics module adapted to receive electricity from a remote source through an electrical cable, the electronics module having an interior, the electrical cable engaging the walls in fluid sealing relation; an electronics assembly configured to fit within the interior of the electronics module for receiving electrical energy from the cable and generating signals responsive to an immersed/exposed condition of the removed ends of the probes; multiple electrodes for engaging the walls of the electronics module in fluid sealing relation and for engaging the electronics assembly, the multiple electrodes having removed ends adapted to form electrical engagement with the multiple near ends of the probes when the electronics module engages the probe assembly; wherein the electronics module and probe assembly include coupling members to electronically and removably couple the probe assembly to the electronics module, without affecting the gaseous and fluid tight coupling of the probe assembly with the tank; wherein the pump provides water to the carbonator tank responsive to signals from the electronics assembly; and wherein the source of high pressure CO2 gas maintain pressure in the carbonator tank and wherein an outline from the carbonator tank to the dispensing head and lines from the beverage concentrate allows a carbonate of beverage to be dispensed therefrom. ### Claim 15 (depends on 2) The carbonator tank assembly of claim 2, wherein the electronics assembly provides low voltage DC to at least one of the probes. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 14, wherein the electronics assembly provides low voltage DC to at least some of the probes. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 14, wherein the coupling members of the probe assembly and the electronics module include walls adapted to receive fasteners for removably fastening the probe assembly to the electronics module while leaving the probe assembly in removable, gaseous and fluid tight couple with the carbonator tank. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 14, wherein the probe assembly and the electronics module include walls adapted to align the two in a specific one-way alignment when they are engaged to one another.