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US 9,309,103 B2Granted
Water dispenser system
AssigneeCgp Water Systems, LLC
InventorsErdogan Ergican, Giancarlo Fantappie, Mukul Anil Khairatkar, Sann Myint Naing, Jing Huang, Yoganathan Thierumaran
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus is disclosed for dispensing water including: a main inlet configured to receive water from a source; a chilled water line, including: an in-line carbonator; a carbonator water inlet valve configured to selectively direct water from the main inlet to the carbonator; a carbonator gas inlet valve configured to selectively direct carbonating gas to the carbonator; and a chilled water line outlet. The apparatus may be integrated in a refrigerator or other major appliance.
Claims22
An apparatus for dispensing water comprising:
- a main inlet configured to receive water from a source;
- a chilled water line, comprising:
- an in-line carbonator;
- a carbonator water inlet valve configured to selectively direct water from the main inlet to the carbonator;
- a carbonator gas inlet valve configured to selectively direct carbonating gas to the carbonator;
- and
- a chilled water line outlet;
- a heat exchanger configured to chill water passing through the chilled water dispensing line, wherein the heat exchanger comprises a cooling tank configured to receive water from the main inlet and at least a portion of the chilled water line is immersed in the cooling tank;
- a controller configured to control the carbonator water and gas inlet valves;
- a cooling tank fill sensor in communication with the controller and configured to generate information indicative of a fill level of the cooling tank;
- and
- a cooling tank fill valve controlled by the controller and configured to selectively direct water from the main inlet to the cooling tank;
- wherein:
- when the carbonator water inlet valve is open and the carbonator gas inlet valve is closed, the chilled water line dispenses still water at the chilled water line outlet;
- when the carbonator water inlet valve is open and the carbonator gas inlet valve is open, the chilled water line dispenses carbonated water at the chilled water line outlet;
- and
- the controller is configured to control the operation of the cooling tank fill valve based on the information indicative of a fill level of the cooling tank.
14 more elements
An apparatus for dispensing water comprising:
- a dispenser integrated in a refrigerator, the dispenser comprising:
- a main inlet configured to receive water from a source;
- a chilled water line, comprising:
- an in-line carbonator;
- a carbonator water inlet valve configured to selectively direct water from the main inlet to the carbonator;
- a carbonator gas inlet valve configured to selectively direct carbonating gas to the carbonator;
- and
- a chilled water line outlet;
- a heat exchanger configured to chill water passing through the chilled water dispensing line, wherein the heat exchanger comprises a cooling tank configured to receive water from the main inlet and at least a portion of the chilled water line is immersed in the cooling tank;
- a controller configured to control the carbonator water and gas inlet valves;
- a cooling tank fill sensor in communication with the controller and configured to generate information indicative of a fill level of the cooling tank;
- and
- a cooling tank fill valve controlled by the controller and configured to selectively direct water from the main inlet to the cooling tank;
- wherein:
- when the carbonator water inlet valve is open and the carbonator gas inlet valve is closed, the chilled water line dispenses still water at the chilled water line outlet;
- when the carbonator water inlet valve is open and the carbonator gas inlet valve is open, the chilled water line dispenses carbonated water at the chilled water line outlet;
- and
- the controller is configured to control the operation of the cooling tank fill valve based on the information indicative of a fill level of the cooling tank.
15 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.