Carbonator system, method and apparatus
AssigneeBunn-O-Matic Corporation
InventorsMark W. Bandixen, Sheryl Dyer, Donald E. Wiley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a water dispensing machine and a carbonated beverage dispensing system which facilitates a combination of carbon dioxide with water in a configuration which provides a smaller footprint and reduces or eliminates dependency on remotely located carbon dioxide tanks and flavoring systems. The system may be configured to produce only carbonated water or to allow the user to select carbonated water or chilled water, and, alternatively, ambient, unchilled water. A carbonator of the system introduces carbon dioxide to a chilled water stream using an injector with slots. This inline, on demand carbonation system provides benefits over carbonator tank systems which carbonate large volumes of carbonated water in bulk.
Claims16
A carbonator assembly for use with a water dispensing system, the carbonator assembly including
- a water inlet line,
- a carbon dioxide line,
- a mixing portion and
- a tubular outlet line;
- the mixing portion including communication with the CO2 line, the inlet line, and the tubular outlet line;
- a tubular water injector in the mixing portion communicating with the water inlet line and being at least partially concentrically retained within a portion of the tubular outlet line, carbon dioxide being controllably introduced into the mixing portion external to the tubular water injector;
- the tubular water injector including openings to facilitate introduction of water into the carbon dioxide flow and mixing of carbon dioxide and water in a space provided between the outside of the tubular water injector and the inside of at least a concentric portion of the tubular outlet line for producing carbonated water to be dispensed from the tubular outlet line.
A water dispensing machine having a carbonator assembly, the carbonator assembly including
- a water inlet line,
- a carbon dioxide line,
- a mixing portion and
- a tubular outlet line;
- the mixing portion including communication with the CO2 line, the water inlet line, and the tubular outlet line;
- a tubular water injector in the mixing portion communicating with the water inlet line and being at least partially concentrically retained within a portion of the tubular outlet line, carbon dioxide being controllably introduced into the mixing portion external to the tubular water injector;
- the tubular water injector including openings to facilitate introduction of water into the carbon dioxide flow and mixing of carbon dioxide and water in a space provided between the outside of the tubular water injector and the concentric inside of at least a portion of the tubular outlet line for producing carbonated water to be dispensed from the tubular outlet line.
A carbonator assembly for use with a water dispensing system, the carbonator assembly including
- a water inlet line,
- a carbon dioxide line,
- a mixing portion and
- a tubular outlet line;
- the mixing portion including communication with the CO2 line, the inlet line, and the tubular outlet line;
- a tubular water injector in the mixing portion communicating with the water inlet line and being at least partially collinearly retained within a portion of the tubular outlet line, carbon dioxide being controllably introduced into the mixing portion external to the tubular water injector;
- the tubular water injector including openings to facilitate introduction of water into the carbon dioxide flow and mixing of carbon dioxide and water in a space provided between the outside of the tubular water injector and the inside of at least a collinear portion of the tubular outlet line for producing carbonated water to be dispensed from the tubular outlet line.
A gas infusion assembly for use with a water dispensing system, the gas infusion assembly including
- a water inlet line,
- a gas line,
- a mixing portion and
- a tubular outlet line;
- the mixing portion including communication with the gas line, the inlet line, and the tubular outlet line;
- a tubular water injector in the mixing portion communicating with the water inlet line and being at least partially collinearly retained within a portion of the tubular outlet line, gas being controllably introduced into the mixing portion external to the tubular water injector;
- the tubular water injector including openings to facilitate introduction of water into the gas flow and mixing of gas and water in a space provided between the outside of the tubular water injector and the inside of at least a collinear portion of the tubular outlet line for producing gas infused water to be dispensed from the tubular outlet line.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.