# US 9,518,691 B2 · Efficiently and easily opening and closing a canister valve

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- Number: US 9,518,691 B2
- Document ID: US9518691B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/209,856
- Filed: 2014-03-13
- Published: 2014-09-18
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2013-03-15
- Assignees: The Coca-Cola Company
- Applicants: The Coca-Cola Company
- Inventors: C. Brad Green; Devon Browne; Joseph Lehman; Brent Burchfield
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9518691B2

## CPC

- F16L 55/07: Arrangement or mounting of devices, e.g. valves, for venting or aerating or draining (apparatus for draining F16T)
- B67D 1/008: {Gas cartridges or bottles}
- B67D 1/0406: {with means for carbonating the beverage, or for maintaining its carbonation (B67D1/0418 takes precedence)}
- B67D 1/125: {Safety means, e.g. over-pressure valves}
- F16L 29/02: with a cut-off device in one of the two pipe ends, the cut-off device being automatically opened when the coupling is applied
- B67D 1/0021: {the components being mixed at the time of dispensing, i.e. post-mix dispensers}
- B67D 1/12: Flow or pressure control devices or systems {, e.g. valves, gas pressure control, level control in storage containers}
- Y10T 137/0318: Processes
- Y10T 137/0402: Cleaning, repairing, or assembling
- Y10T 137/6966: Static constructional installations
- Y10T 137/8593: Systems
- F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- 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)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method including the steps of receiving a canister in a canister connection housing. The canister includes a canister fitment and a canister valve. The housing includes a receiver fitment and a door. The method includes the step of lowering the receiver fitment of the housing over the canister fitment. The lowering of the receiver fitment is caused by a closing of the housing door. The present disclosure further relates to an apparatus. An apparatus including a nest configured to receive a canister, a door configured to rotate about an angle so as to open and close, a receiver fitment configured to connect to a canister fitment, and an over-center movement mechanism connected to the door and the receiver fitment. The over-center movement mechanism is configured to move the receiver fitment along an axis as the door is rotated about the angle.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system comprising:
a canister comprising a canister fitment;
a carbonation tank configured to receive gas from the canister;
a receiver fitment comprising a valve opening component configured to open a valve of the canister and connect to the canister fitment, wherein the receiver fitment is further configured to seal and cover the canister fitment, and wherein the receiver fitment comprises a carbonator throttle configured to restrict gas flow of gas coming out of the valve of the canister to a reduced flow rate to the carbonation tank; and
a controller in communication with the receiver fitment and the carbonation tank.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the canister is a carbon dioxide source configured to deliver carbon dioxide gas to the carbonation tank.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the carbonation tank comprises a pressure sensor configured to detect pressure within the carbonation tank.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein the pressure sensor is in communication with the controller.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the carbonation tank comprises a pressure relief valve configured to exhaust the received carbon dioxide upon command from the controller, wherein the pressure relief valve has a higher maximum allowable flow rate than a maximum allowable flow rate of the carbonator throttle.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the carbonator throttle may be actuated by the controller in communication with the receiver fitment.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein the controller may actuate the carbonator throttle by energizing a solenoid in communication with the controller and the carbonator throttle.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a door sensor in communication with the controller.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the controller restricts gas flow to the carbonation tank via the carbonator throttle until the door sensor indicates a door housing the canister has been closed.